2024-01-01 11:42:42
FARGO — Amid
concerns over staff compensation,
the Fargo Fire Department set its new strategic plan to guide the department until 2029.
Fire Chief Steve Dirksen told the Fargo City Commission on Dec. 26 that he’s comfortable with the department’s status.
Looking toward the future, the department worked with community partners, government departments and other first responder agencies as part of the planning process to help identify priorities and goals for the next six years, including the ability to:
- Use proactive prevention, preparedness and public education to protect the community.
- Ensure impact on life and property from fires, medical emergencies and other disasters is mitigated through developing responsive systems and processes.
- Hire team members and utilize a comprehensive training program.
- Retain personnel by providing education and career preparation opportunities.
- Maintain the physical resources of the Fargo Fire Department.
Public education on mitigating fires has seen a lot of success so far, Dirksen said.
City Commissioner Denise Kolpack called the plan “ambitious” and “forward-thinking.”
Commissioner John Strand highlighted the fact that over 40% of Fargo’s fire department staff have less than three years of experience. There are 125 total employees, according to the strategic plan.
The figure means the city is paying enough to hire staff but needs to do more to retain staff, Strand said.
“We have a good number of very senior folks that are in good leadership positions right now,” Dirksen said, noting those experienced folks serve as mentors to new staff.
Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen stands Wednesday, May 2, at downtown headquarters.
Forum file photo
The December presentation came two months after
31 firefighters wrote a letter to the editor published in The Forum
pointing to concern over the high turnover rate in the department due to pay rates that aren’t competitive with other fire departments in the region.
Kolpack said the city would
look into firefighter pay
as part of Fargo’s upcoming market study of all city employee salaries.
A
similar concern about inadequate pay leading to resignations was raised by over 50 first responders in 2018.
At that time, Mayor Tim Mahoney said there was no money in the budget for any pay increase, while acknowledging that the city should discuss increasing the pay over time.
Strand asked if the fire department is prepared for critical incidents involving gunfire, similar to the July 14 shooting.
Fargo fire fighters wearing protective suits and air tanks enter Ladd Hall Sunday afternoon, May 3, 2015, on the North Dakota State University campus to check on a chemical spill.
Dave Wallis / The Forum
Dirksen said his department has been equipped with personal protective equipment, including bulletproof vests and helmets, for the last eight years. That equipment allowed firefighters to respond to the July 14 shooting and get to those injured right away.
“We want to be able to go in,” Dirksen said. “We want to be able to stop that bleeding and save lives, because that’s what our job is; that’s what our calling is.”
In the letter, firefighters pointed to their “heroic” actions on that critical July day. First responders hoped it would have driven home their “value” to city officials, leading to a wage adjustment to help the department retain staff.
While
Fargo’s 2024 budget
was highlighted by tax and fee increases to fund public safety, no dollars went towards increases in firefighter salaries, WDAY’s Kevin Wallevand reported.
The city is seeing increased public safety costs,
Mahoney said in August,
noting the need to hire 15 full-time firefighters to staff the
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