[donna]

Yeah, firemen are spending all the tax money, LOL.

[Carry_Okie]

What used to be a truly hazardous job is far from it today. The combination of flame resistant materials and breathing apparatus have reduced the risks of firefighting significantly.

Worse, union work rules have been rewritten such that firefighters seldom take the risks they once did, in part because the crews have women. In many respects, firefighting has become a cushy job. Several times during a wildfire I have seen a row of half a dozen engine crews standing around collecting overtime at a staging area.

[Westlander]

Detroit solved the FD situation years ago. Eliminate personnel, close fire stations, and don’t replace broken equipment. Results were positive since the city looks like Pompei anyway.

[Species8472]

I call BS on the pay numbers

From the O.C. Website (http://www.ocfa.org):

HR Home Employment Opportunities Firefighter/Paramedic Lateral Preparation

Lateral Firefighter/Paramedics (FFPs)

Base Pay: The starting monthly salary for a firefighter/paramedic is $5,207.63 (Step 7), prorated on an hourly basis.

Educational Incentive Pay: The OCFA offers three levels of educational incentive pay to eligible Firefighter/Paramedics . Firefighter/Paramedics with a minimum of 60 college semester units receive 2.5% of base pay for educational incentive, or with a minimum of 90 college semester units receive 5% of base pay for educational incentive, or with a BA/BS degree receive 7.5% of base pay for educational incentive.

Sick Leave: Firefighter/Paramedics accrue sick leave for each regularly scheduled work hour paid. Sick leave accrues at the rate of .0347 for each regularly scheduled work hour paid.

Vacation: Employees are eligible for vacation after one year of continuous service, exclusive of overtime hours.

Holiday Pay: Firefighter/Paramedics are eligible for holiday day. The OCFA observes the following holidays: New Year's, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, Lincoln's birthday, President's day, Memorial day, Independence day, Labor day, Columbus day, Veteran's day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Uniforms: The OCFA furnishes uniforms necessary for all Firefighter/Paramedics.

Health Plans: The OCFA makes a monthly contribution to a trust fund administered by the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (OCPFA) for its own insurance plans for Firefighter/Paramedics. In general, these plans usually include medical, dental, vision, and other optional benefits. Employee out-of-pocket costs vary.

Medical Insurance - There are three medical plans in which Firefighter/Paramedics can chose from: California Care, Blue Cross Plus, and Kaiser. Coverage is available for employee only, employee plus one dependent, or employee plus family.

Dental Insurance - There are three dental plans in which Firefighter/Paramedics can chose from: PacifiCare 940, Delta Care PMI, and Delta DPO/Indemnity. Coverage is available for employee only, employee plus one dependent, or employee plus family.

Combined Dental and Vision Insurance - There are three combined dental and vision plans in which Firefighter/Paramedics can chose from: PacifiCare 940, Delta PMI, and Delta DPO. Coverage is available for employee only, employee plus one dependent, or employee plus family.

Optional Benefits - Optional benefits such as life insurance are available through the OCPFA's broker on a case-by-case basis.

OCPFA Supplemental Retiree Medical Plan: Firefighter/Paramedics contribute 1% of their base pay towards an OCPFA Supplemental Retiree Medical Benefit Program.

Retirement: Employees of the OCFA participate in the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS). Firefighter/Paramedics are designated as "safety" under the Orange County Employees Retirement System.

Deferred Compensation: An employee in a regular position may participate in the OCFA's deferred compensation program. The OCFA does not match employee contributions. The current deferred compensation provider is Nationwide.

Dependent Care Assistance Program: The OCFA provides a dependent care assistance program to employees as permitted under the Internal Revenue Code.

Tuition Reimbursement: The OCFA offers tuition reimbursement for eligible employees limited to $200 per fiscal year.

Retirement Health Savings Plan:  Firefighter/Paramedics are automatically enrolled in this benefit program from the first day of employment.  Firefighter/Paramedics are required to contribute 4% of their base salary towards the Retirement Health Savings Plan.  This program is a health benefit savings vehicle that allows employees to accumulate assets to pay for qualified medical expenses under the IRS code at retirement or when they reach age 55 or meet other special qualifications.  This plan is currently administered by Vantagecare/ICMA RC.

 

A firefighter with a base pay of $5,207.63/mo ($62,491.56/yr) is going to have to work a LOT of overtime to double their base pay, and that speaks to a failure of managment.

[freekitty]

Hey, I have a better idea. Politicians, quit stealing the money.

[Mad Dawg]

I know, I know:

Let's take the money we spend on illegal immigrants and subsidizing indolence, addiction, and bastardy and spent THAT money on equipment.

[Uncle Chip]

Unionized Firemen in all metropolitan areas are overpaid and underworked — like their unionized public school teacher counterparts.

[Species8472]

With all due respect, I would like to see a source for your salary numbers. Here are the top ten fire department pay scales in the United States according to the 2004 Firehouse magazine salery survey:

http://www.firehouse.com/magazine/surveys/04_pay.pdf

Firehouse Magazine 2004 Run and Salary Survey

 

                                                Start Pay               Top Pay

Firefighters:

1. Oakland, CA                    68,615                   79,899

2. Richmond, CA                 68,133                   89,973

3. Davis, CA                         62,651                   NA

4. San Antonio, TX             55,150                   72,635

5. Glendale, CA                    54,444                   71,100

6. Lakewood, CO                52,837                   59,177

7. Seattle, WA                      48,588                   60,732

8. LA County, CA               48,437                   67,060

9. San Francisco, CA          48,360                   67,730

10. Olympia, WA                 47,553                   59,440

 

Paramedics:

1. Oakland, CA                    72,615                   87,879

2. Richmond, CA                 NA                          NA

3. Davis, CA                         62,651                   NA

4. San Antonio, TX             75,791                   78,854

5. Glendale, CA                    58,800                   76,788

6. Lakewood, CO                57,362                   63,702

7. Seattle, WA                      69,840                   NA

8. LA County, CA               56,992                   78,913

9. San Francisco, CA          56,888                   69,160

10. Olympia, WA                 53,496                   65,383