Cherokee County (Georgia) Fire and Emergency Services (CCFES) has boosted its minimum staffing from two fire fighters per apparatus to three after Local 4047 leaders spent years pushing for the change.
Three-person staffing began August 17, using about 40 new fire fighters from two recent recruit classes. They will be spread among 22 fire stations across the county and bring the total number of fire fighters close to 500.
“Even with the additional personnel, the department still won’t be staffed to national safe fire fighting standards. But this is a huge step in the right direction,” said Ryan Osborne, Local 4047 president. Osborne was on the job for three decades before his recent retirement.
CCFES has been running just two fire fighters per apparatus for years. The shortage, Osborne said, strained response capabilities and contributed to fire fighter recruitment and retention. So when Local 4047 was chartered in June 2020, one of the first goals was to work with management to better resource the department.
Over the years, several attempts were made to improve staffing, including applying for federal grants. But Local 4047 leaders say pushback from the Cherokee Board of Commissioners and other obstacles prevented the increase.
The board of commissioners and fire department management finally agreed more fire fighters were needed to improve public safety, and they included the necessary funds in the 2025 budget.
County leaders said they were inspired to shift from two to three fire fighters per apparatus by a National Institute of Standards and Technology. The study, which was co-led by NIST Deputy Director Jason Averill and former U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrill, found that fire crews with three fire fighters can complete critical tasks 25% faster than crews of two.
“Increasing staffing will not just improve response times, but it will also keep fire fighters safer on the job and improve public safety,” said Walt Dix, 12th District Vice President. “I am pleased that the county decision makers and the community came together to make this possible. The next step should be to work toward compliance with NFPA 1710.”
Local 4047’s win is part of a broader IAFF effort by the IAFF to secure safe staffing for affiliates across the United States and Canada. Earlier this summer, General President Edward Kelly addressed crowds in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Austin, Texas; and Fall River, Massachusetts on the issue.
