NOWCAST WVTM 13 6:30pm Newscast
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

City to vote on funds for Birmingham Fire and Rescue service
Patsy Douglas
Reporter
City to vote on funds for Birmingham Fire and Rescue service
THE TIME NOW IS 536. HAPPENING TODAY, THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SET TO VOTE TO INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE BIRMINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT. WVTM 13 PATSY DOUGLAS IS LIVE AND LOCAL WITH US THIS MORNING. PATSY, THE VOTE WOULD INCREASE RECRUITMENT AT THAT DEPARTMENT, CORRECT. DEFINITELY IS GOING TO HELP. AND IT MAJOR WAY IF APPROVED. YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE FIREFIGHTERS THAT DEAL WITH A LOT, IT MAY CAUSE AND ALSO FIRE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY. NOW THE BIRMINGHAM FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE KEEPING A SAFE AS THEY’VE RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 70,000 INCIDENTS IN 2022. THE BUSIEST YEAR IN THEIR 151 YEARS OF BEING IN SERVICE. THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW AS WE ENTER INTO A NEW YEAR. BUT TALLYING ACHIEVED, JACKIE HICKS SAYS THEIR GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO BUILD MORE FIREFIGHTERS AND GET SOME MUCH NEEDED UPGRADES. THE CITY VOTING ON A THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR GRANT THAT WOULD ADD A NEW TRANSPORT UNIT WITH THE CITY. IT WORKS WELL WITH CHIEF MOORE. YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE US A LOT THAT WE NEED. SO OF COURSE WE’RE ALWAYS NEEDING NEW EQUIPMENT WHICH THEY WORK HAND IN HAND WITH US TO PROVIDE SO THAT ALONG WITH THE MONEY, EQUIPMENT, IS ALWAYS A NECESSITY. NOW, THE CITY ALSO VOTING ON A $2 MILLION BUDGET TO HELP BIRMINGHAM FIRE AND RESCUE PERSONNEL. HICKS SAYS IF THIS VOTE IS APPROVED, IT WILL HELP THEM WEATHER RECRUITING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE CAREER FIELD, HELP THEM INCREASE PAY AND ALSO MAKE THEM MORE COMPETITIVE. HERE IN THE MAGIC CITY. IT WILL ALSO HELP THEM WITH OUTREACH PROJECTS LIKE GETTING A WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS IN EVERY HOME IN BIRMINGHAM AND BIRMINGHAM. PATSY DOUGLA
Advertisement
City to vote on funds for Birmingham Fire and Rescue service
Patsy Douglas
Reporter
The city has a lot on its agenda Tuesday, including voting to invest millions of dollars in the Birmingham fire department this year.Those funds will help in a major way if approved, as many of the firefighters in Birmingham are in need of help with fire incidents and even EMA calls. The Birmingham Fire and Rescue service responded to more than 70,000 incidents in 2022, the busiest year in their 151 years in service. That number continues to grow as we enter a new year. Battalion Chief Jackie Hicks says their goal is to build more firefighters and get some much-needed upgrades. The city voted on a $3.5 million grant that would add 10 new ground transport units.“The city works well with us. They give us a lot that we need. We are always needing new equipment. They're working hand-in-hand with us to provide. That, along with the money, equipment is always a necessity,” Hicks said. The city also voted on a $2 million budget to help Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel. Hicks says if this vote is approved, it will help them with recruiting more young people who are interested in the career field, help them increase pay and also make them more competitive here in the magic city.It will also help them with outreach projects like getting working smoke detectors in every home in Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

The city has a lot on its agenda Tuesday, including voting to invest millions of dollars in the Birmingham fire department this year.

Advertisement

Those funds will help in a major way if approved, as many of the firefighters in Birmingham are in need of help with fire incidents and even EMA calls.

The Birmingham Fire and Rescue service responded to more than 70,000 incidents in 2022, the busiest year in their 151 years in service. That number continues to grow as we enter a new year.

Battalion Chief Jackie Hicks says their goal is to build more firefighters and get some much-needed upgrades. The city voted on a $3.5 million grant that would add 10 new ground transport units.

“The city works well with us. They give us a lot that we need. We are always needing new equipment. They're working hand-in-hand with us to provide. That, along with the money, equipment is always a necessity,” Hicks said.

The city also voted on a $2 million budget to help Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel. Hicks says if this vote is approved, it will help them with recruiting more young people who are interested in the career field, help them increase pay and also make them more competitive here in the magic city.

It will also help them with outreach projects like getting working smoke detectors in every home in Birmingham.