Monroe County Fire Chief Steven Hudson confirmed to Keys Weekly that his department has lost between 10 and 12 staff members within the last two to three months, all to the same fire department in Broward County. The top reason for the mass exodus was the generous compensation package that was offered.
“We continue to try not to give up,” said Hudson about the recent high turnover. “That is not in my nature.”
He acknowledged that many fire rescue staff have difficulty dealing with Monroe County’s high cost of living and housing, particularly if they have a family.
Hudson said, “We keep a keen eye on our turnover. We put our blood, sweat and tears in our employees. Our primary goal is our employees, our most important resource.”
As the county’s new fire chief, sworn in on May 19, Hudson has taken action to address the problem. He pointed out that on Sept. 15, county commissioners voted to approve a new compensation package, which had been negotiated with the union representing fire rescue staff, giving them a 7.86 percent raise.
“This compensation package makes us more competitive than the previous five years,” he explained. “Our commissioners have stepped up to the plate to reward and retain our employees.”
More good news: the FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grant will be adding 24 firefighters to the department starting Feb. 28, 2022, with four staffers going to each fire house in the county.
And Hudson is hoping the county’s homegrown training program, now starting its fourth class, will continue to have a positive impact.
“We developed the Hot Shots program to cultivate young men and women who are already here with housing, perhaps second-generation. And it has helped.”
The program graduates about 20 to 25 students per class, though the students have to continue to get paramedic certification before they can be hired.
“We’re hoping that has a positive impact as life goes forward,” he said.
Indeed, on Oct. 20, Monroe County Fire Rescue swore in six new firefighter/EMT members who are all Hot Shot program graduates.
The Broward County salary was challenging to compete with, said Hudson. Broward was opening a new fire house called Coconut Creek, staffing it from the ground up with 60 to 80 personnel. The Monroe County fire rescue staff, most of whom were stationed below the Seven Mile Bridge, were offered compensation equal to a six-year-level employee, even to staffers who were in their first year.
Hudson said he understood why his staff were attracted to the high salary. “God bless them. They have children and life has to have a balance.”
However, he is keeping a positive attitude and hoping that the combination of the almost 8 percent salary bump, the Hot Shots program and the FEMA staff members “is a winning recipe. I’m really optimistic this will retain all our employees.”
