Meanwhile back at the Firehouse?? - Meanwhile back at the firehouse?? - Overtaxed's Blog - Tehachapi News

Jul 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM : I don't know what...

I don't know what they get paid, but if they save my life or my child's life, I really don't care if they are millionaires. If they risk their lives, they don't get enough. I would never bemoan firefighters getting paid too much in salary or benefits. And, if anyone wants to qualifty, get the training, and do the work and sacrifice their life, they should do it. I hope they get rich. That's just my oversimplified perspective.

Jul 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM : Well said Active. I...

Well said Active. I don't care how much they get paid either...who can put a price on feeling safe whether it is firefighters or police officers. They put their lives on the line for us. I know how much my daughter makes as an EMT, I don't think she's overpaid...

Now if we could just get the wages up for nurses and teachers!

Jul 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM : Wow, You know I'm...

Wow, You know I'm used to seeing blogs like this during the "slow" season, but to post it during our peak fire season with the state of Ca burning and these guys working their a$$es off all over the state. Interesting choice.

Jul 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM : I have a friend who...

I have a friend who was bemoaning an effort by the police force of one of the small communities in the L.A. area to increase their wages. His basic position was that since they are public servants they should be happy with what they get! I couldn't disagree more! I think firefighters and police are well worth whatever they get paid. After all, our lives are in their hands in times of need.

Jul 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM : Overtaxed: I...

Overtaxed: I don't know the specifics on current salaries (Shane posted some details a few weeks ago however, I can't find the post right now), but my dad worked for KCFD for 35 years and was a Captain when he retired in 1991. One of the last adjectives I would ever use to describe his salary or retirement income and benefits is "lucrative". My parents are very private about their finances and I would never discuss those details with anyone, let alone publicly. However...

I will tell you that about five years ago I was offered a promotion at work... a move from an hourly to a salaried position. At the time I'd not yet completed my bachelor's (was lacking four credits). In the previous three years as an hourly employee I'd worked a lot of overtime. The salary I was offered was a substantial annual net pay decrease, but the position was a great opportunity for me, especially since it required the degree that I was technically lacking. I tried to negotiate for more money, but they wouldn't budge. I called my dad for advice. When he asked, I told him "the numbers" and was shocked by what he told me about his own salary when he'd retired from KCFD in 1991. I took the job at the salary I was offered and have never regretted my decision. From that experience and discussion with my dad I gained a whole new tier of respect for my parents and have sought their financial advice on numerous occasions since then. We're a "blended" family, and through the (many!) years there have been six children raised on my dad's income.

Like Active4People, I would never, ever begrudge firefighters their earnings... I know all too well the daily risks they take and the inherent dangers that come as part of their jobs. I believe that their earnings are public information via the county website, but will look again for the post from a few weeks ago. If memory serves, the Tehachapi station is among the lowest paid in the county with relative high volume of calls and square miles of response responsibility.

Jul 2, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Whatever firemen and...

Whatever firemen and women get paid is not enough. I have a couple of friends that work for the fire department and they don't make much. I always vote yes when a ballot comes around offering firemen and women, military personal and police men and women a raise. These jobs ask much and pay very little from what I can see. Well trained, qualified, firemen and women can be paid double what they are being paid now and It would not bother me a bit. Go ahead take more taxes from me. I'm good with it. They risk their lives for us.

Jul 2, 2008 at 01:07 PM : I found it......

I found it... here's the link to the discussion I referenced in my comment:

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/gube/25816/sort_A/Offset0

Jul 2, 2008 at 01:07 PM : I have been critical...

I have been critical of fire fighters in the past but with over 1,000 fires burning in California I will be the last to say they aren't earning their pay. In fact this is the time of the year when they really do earn there pay. This may go down as one of the worst fire seasons ever. I worked on a hand crew 20 years ago and I know how hard these guys work during a fire.During the fire season these guys earn their money.

Jul 2, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Here is the Kern...

Here is the Kern County job and salary web page for the Fire Department. Keep in mind this does not include overtime.

http://www.co.kern.ca.us/jobs/job-desc-results.asp

Jul 2, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Oh, I'm awake...

Oh, I'm awake now!

From Bloomberg.com: Cities in California on average spend about 60 percent of their budgets on firefighter and police salaries, according to the League of California Cities.

Let's just put an end to the speculation, shall we? Here's a link to the current MOU (July 1, 2006-June 30, 2009) for the County of Kern and Kern County Firefighters Union - Article X has all the salary info you're looking for, Overtaxed. www.co.kern.ca.us/cao/labor/ff_mou.pdf

But I do have to ask why choose this particular county expenditure/service to focus on? Any as countygirl said, why now, while most of the state is under seige so very early in the fire season? Do you perhaps, own a fiddle?

Here are some other links that puts Kern County right where Shane said the KCFD compares nationally - In the bottom 10%.

http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=Firefighter&l1=California

http://www.emsfirerescuejobs.com/california.htm

Jul 2, 2008 at 01:07 PM : $44,000 to $60,000...

$44,000 to $60,000 thousand a year, I don't see this a being a good wage for risking your life, do you?

Jul 2, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Here's a...

Here's a couple more links... both to KCFD but to different pieces of information so anyone who questions the earnings can do a little math in their heads and read a bit about what's involved (with labor, financially, logistics, etc.) with firefighting. I encourage folks to browse around the website. Under the "News & Incidents" tab, one will also find the Tehachapi RR Depot fire, among other significant incidents.

KCFD Profile (basics, FY 2007-2008 budget, operations, personnel):

http://www.kerncountyfire.org/about.php

KCFD Piute Fire Update #16 (as of 2 July, noon PDT), under "News & Incidents" tab of KCFD webpage:

http://www.kerncountyfire.org/incidents.php?id=124

Although I have provided a link (which provides FAR more detail than what is below), I cannot resist copying and pasting the information below (only current as of noon PDT, 2 July). Note the number of structures currently threatened, and consider whether you would begrudge the earnings of a firefighter if your home and property were one of them. My aunt and uncle's home -- which they saved their whole lives to build with their own hands -- is one of the threatened structures. They built the home of their lifelong dreams when my uncle was nearing retirment as a firefighter at Edwards Air Force Base.

Percent Containment: 5 Percent
Total Acres Burned: 13,504
Cost to Date: $2,500,000
Structures Threatened: 1231
Total Personnel: 998

Jul 2, 2008 at 02:07 PM : No Sparks, I...

No Sparks, I don't. But you couldn't pay me enough to do what they do - or for the risk the spouses have to live with every day they kiss their loved ones and say, "Goodbye honey, have a nice day!"

Stay safe first responders! Thanks for all you do!

Jul 2, 2008 at 02:07 PM : Y'know, used to...

Y'know, used to be that folks had to subscribe to a firefighting company & pay fees to have their home protected. They would display a seal in the front of their home so that the firefighters would know they were paid up for service. If your home caught fire & you didn't subscribe to a service, you were SOOL.

Maybe those folks who complain about the tax costs involved with protecting their property should consider that.

Privatization isn't always the answer.

Jul 2, 2008 at 02:07 PM : Overtaxed- Do you...

Overtaxed- Do you think you're the only one paying taxes? Firefighters pay taxes too.......actually 40% of that overtime you have a problem with is wiped out by taxes. Just something to keep in mind.

Please tell everyone you know this 4th of July to be extra careful and PLEASE call in any use of illegal fireworks. I know this has already been posted, but these firefighters are already being spread sooooo thin right now............another big fire would be horrible right now. I honestly don't even want to think about it....when these guys are having to jump from fire to fire with very little time to recover........that is when people get hurt. I know NO ONE wants that to happen.................so yes, I hope everyone stays safe, and I mean everyone!

Jul 2, 2008 at 02:07 PM : Countygirl &a...

Countygirl I am with you on this one, seems we all are. I don't know who posted this blog or what his/her intent was, But, we all agree that firefighters don't get paid enough.

As for reporting fireworks... is that just in the city of Tehachapi that fire works are illegal or is it illegal out in Sand Canyon as well....although I have yet to see anyone light fire works out here. It would be good to know.

Jul 2, 2008 at 02:07 PM : HIGH-FIVE,...

HIGH-FIVE, COUNTYGIRL!! Well said, girl!

Jul 2, 2008 at 02:07 PM : I think...

I think this answers your question, Sparks. This is also from the KCFD webpage:

"Illegal fireworks recently destroyed Tehachapi’s historic train depot. All fireworks are illegal in Tehachapi, as well as in all other local mountainous communities."

http://www.kerncountyfire.org/news.php?id=32

Jul 2, 2008 at 03:07 PM : First, I...

First, I would like to thank all of those people on here that support our firefighters. I have spent 30 years fighting fires in the Tehachapi area. I just got back from spending 14 days of sleeping in the dirt, breathing the smokiest air I ever have for that long of a time, and now I'm covered with poison oak. Sure I'll get a lot of overtime pay and yes it's what I signed up for, but sometimes I wonder if it is really worth it. I spend most of the summer away from my family, it does hurt when you finally get to talk to your family and you can hear the pain in their voice when you tell them that it'll be another day, week or longer before you get home. It really irks me when I have to risk my life to protect someones house when they won't take a few hours to remove the brush and or grass around their house to make their propery safe and then they complain about how much money we make or about our retirement benefits. I had a close friend who lived in Tehachapi who retired from our department several years only to pass away a month after retiring. He worked his entire adult life to retire and to die a month later, that's not the benefits that I want. Well I'm through ranting and riceme, I know your dad very well and he has always been an inspiration to me. Please refrain from using any fireworks anywhere in the greater Tehachapi area. It is not only unsafe, it is illegal.

Jul 2, 2008 at 03:07 PM : tehachapicap... my dad...

tehachapicap... my dad has always been a tremendous inspiration to me as well. He's the bedrock of my heart and soul and a tremendous human being.

Thank you for all of your hard work, for protecting our homes and property (public and private), and I hope that you enjoy a wonderful retirement when you finally get there! As my dad would say, "Watch your top knot!"