Laura Bond, Reporter
10-27-2009
The Lincoln Parish Fire Department is one step closer to getting double the manpower on its team.Fifteen firefighter candidates recently passed the department’s agility test and are scheduled for interviews in November and early December.
LPFD Chief Dennis Ford said the recent physical assessments measured strength, speed and endurance.
To pass the test, the recruits had to complete a variety of tasks — such as dragging a 175-pound mannequin and carrying a 100-foot hose pack up four flights of stairs — in a total of five minutes combined.
“It’s a course I set up where they do realistic firefighting training, like cut hydrants on, drag a hose and carry heavy equipment,” Ford said.
New firefighters will also receive emergency medical training before joining the team.
The parish fire department has not hired a new firefighter in two years, Ford said, and there are currently only eight full-time firefighters on staff.
Ford said he hopes to hire between six and nine new firefighters and have them working in early January.
“It’s taken a little time, but we’re on schedule,” Ford said. “The word is getting out. We have (recruits) from Lincoln Parish and some from Ouachita Parish, and I believe one is from Bossier and one is from Mississippi. Some of these recruits have previous firefighting experience.”
The new firefighters’ salaries — to start at $24,216 per year — will be paid through a quarter-cent sales tax passed by parish voters in November 2008.
The quarter-cent sales tax is levied in areas of the parish outside of Ruston, Choudrant and Grambling, which have their own fire protection.
Utilizing the same funding, Ford said he will also hire an administrative assistant who can double as a firefighter. This individual would be responsible for not only facilitating daily operations, community outreach and public information, but also for responding to fires during the day.
Other Top Stories
