Putnam Co. Fire Department Hopes To Hire More Firefighters

Putnam County officials hope a new grant will allow the fire department to hire some additional manpower.

The Fiscal Review Committee gave recommendation Monday night for the county commission to allow the fire department to apply for a SAFER grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

County Executive Randy porter said the grant would fund 75-percent of the salary for three new full-time firefighters for the first two years. The third year the grant would pay 25-percent. After that, the county would consume the full responsibility.

“The fire department’s five year plan, they’re looking at adding three new firemen so we can have a person 24-7 at the Monterey station,” Porter said. “That would allow us to decrease response time.”

Last year, the county budget did not include a request for three full time county firefighters. Chief Tom Brown said he requested the three positions in last year’s budget to add more manpower at station-21 in Monterey.

“Response times in the east end of the county average 12.5 minutes and can be as long as 25 minutes,” Brown said during a county commission meeting last year. “With full-time personnel in the station an apparatus will respond in 90 seconds, which will greatly reduce the response times. This area is currently our problem child with volunteers.”

The full Putnam County Commission will consider the fiscal review’s recommendation when they meet on Monday.