Algood Applying For Full-Time Fire Chief Grant

Algood Fire Department applying for a grant that would pay for a full-time fire chief position.

Interim Fire Chief David Judd said the position would cost about $75,000 per year including benefits. He said with 100 response calls for the fire department this year alone, Algood is getting to a point where it needs someone at the fire hall full-time.

“Having a full-time fire chief you’re going to have someone trained in running that incident,” Judd said. “You’re going to have somebody who is trained in know what special resources to call in.”

Judd said the danger of only having a volunteer firefighter is that they will not be able to look at the big picture for responding to an incident. He said they know how to respond to a fire, but might not have the knowledge should more special resources be needed.

City Manager Keith Morrison said the grant form is meant to help a government entity start a position. He said over the course of four years, the funding would lessen until it was fully incorporated into the budget.