Letter to the Editor: NOFD disappointed in referendum result

This is a letter from the firefighters at the North Okaloosa Fire District. We would like to take a couple of minutes to let you know how we feel and give you some facts on what has happened with the vote.

We have put our lives on the line for you and your families for years and we needed your support on this vote. This was necessary so we could move forward and keep you safe.

As has been shown by this vote, that is not what you want. As we see it you want us to go away. Well, you very well may get your wish. Just remember this: “No one needs the fire department until you need them.” Then we can’t get their fast enough. If the time ever comes when you or one of your loved ones are trapped in a car or a house fire, and you want us to come and help, there may not be enough volunteers or manpower to help. Many believe the county will do something in order to keep fire protection in this district. The county is not in the fire protection business. Fire departments are. The firefighters in this district have been serving you in good faith and forced to work in unsafe conditions with old, outdated equipment for years. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) suggests we should staff at least three fire fighters on a single engine company. Most of the time, we have been staffed two, sometimes one, firefighters since becoming a combination department. One money-saving option would be to close all stations except the new Bob Sikes Airport Station, staffing it with full crews on the apparatus. This would save the district money, and it would also be safer for the firefighters on shift. The unfortunate consequence for the citizens of our district is it would increase the distance to most in our district, increasing response times and possibly increasing ISO ratings. This increase in the ISO rating will cost more money in insurance rates. It is a proven underwriting fact. One constituent of our district was accidentally listed as being in a neighboring district, which was 100 percent volunteer. Once this mistake was found and corrected, his yearly premium dropped, $671.

Some of you may think that all we were trying to do was save our jobs and get a pay raise. This is not entirely wrong. Currently, NOFD is the lowest-paying district in Okaloosa County. Because of this, we lose many well-trained, qualified firefighters to other districts and counties. This high turnover of firefighters hampers our efforts to have well-seasoned, veteran firefighters on shift in order to mentor and train the new recruits that do get hired. Most of our firefighters not only work in this district, they also live in this district. They will also be affected by the tax increase but the insurance premium increase.

In closing we will leave you with some facts (see breakout), but before we go, we would like you to know how disappointed we are in the 62 percent of our citizens who voted NO and how thoughtless people can be sometimes. When you and or one of you loves gets hurt or becomes trapped and needs our help, just remember what you have voted for and blame yourself; not us. We tried to educate all of you with public meetings, which were attended by 32 citizens total…definitely not the 62 percent of our voters. We also walked door-to-door to explain what you were voting on, but you either didn’t listen or just didn’t care. For those voters who did vote YES, we appreciate your vote and your previous and continued support. We know not what changes may be in our future, but regardless if we are career or volunteer firefighters assisting you, we will continue to do our best at protecting you and your families.

Lonnie Thomas

NOFD STATISTICS
                1998        2008
NOFD District population    10,000    22,000
Property Parcels    6,000    12,000
Annual number of calls    800    2,011
Number of stations/manned    3/1    4/2
Apparatus average age    4-16 years    7-21 years
Firefighters    4 full-time    16 full-time and 4 part-time
Response Times    7-1/2 to 8 minutes    4-1/2 minutes