captstanm1
02-03-2003, 03:06 PM
TAMPA TRIBUNE
Record Number Sought For Fire Rescue Hires, Promotions
KARLAYNE R. PARKER kparker@tampatrib.com
DEPARTMENT TO FILL 16 JOBS FROM INTERVIEWS
PLANT CITY - The Fire Rescue department will fill 16 positions this month, the largest number of hirings and promotions in its history, officials said.
Some of the positions are being created, while others are being filled because of promotions or retirement, said Bill Bowers, chief of operations for the department.
``We are in the final phases of the interviews,'' Bowers said.
Of the vacancies, three are new captain positions that are being created. Another three are for new firefighters. The remaining positions - driver engineers and firefighters - are being created by three retirements and by the expectation of promotions to the higher-level positions.
The positions are being created because the volume of emergency calls to the department has increased since it added an ambulance service, said Chief George Shiley.
In 2002, the department handled about 3,752 calls for service, about 300 more than the year before.
Before the positions were created, Shiley and three captains shared the rotating responsibility of supervising each working shift while being on call.
``The department is growing in what it does and and in size,'' Shiley said. With Emergency Medical Service ``and the suppression side are just getting busier and busier.''
Starting in February, the three new captains will serve as full-time shift supervisors, Shiley said.
``It will take people in those positions to be in control of what is happening,'' he said.
Shiley added that changing the hierarchy within the department is not an original idea.
Other departments, such as Tampa and Hillsborough County, already utilize shift supervisors who are called district chiefs and battalion chiefs.
``This is the mobile supervisor,'' Shiley said.
To be promoted within the department, Bowers said each firefighter must undergo a series of tests and interviews before a panel of firefighters from other departments in the area.
Those likely to become captains tested for the promotion about a year ago.
Several drivers engineers are expected to move up to captains.
Last year, the department said goodbye to Fire Inspector Fred Franceschini and Capt. Jimmy Whigham after about 22 years of service. Capt. Lamar Kent officially retires Feb. 28.
Record Number Sought For Fire Rescue Hires, Promotions
KARLAYNE R. PARKER kparker@tampatrib.com
DEPARTMENT TO FILL 16 JOBS FROM INTERVIEWS
PLANT CITY - The Fire Rescue department will fill 16 positions this month, the largest number of hirings and promotions in its history, officials said.
Some of the positions are being created, while others are being filled because of promotions or retirement, said Bill Bowers, chief of operations for the department.
``We are in the final phases of the interviews,'' Bowers said.
Of the vacancies, three are new captain positions that are being created. Another three are for new firefighters. The remaining positions - driver engineers and firefighters - are being created by three retirements and by the expectation of promotions to the higher-level positions.
The positions are being created because the volume of emergency calls to the department has increased since it added an ambulance service, said Chief George Shiley.
In 2002, the department handled about 3,752 calls for service, about 300 more than the year before.
Before the positions were created, Shiley and three captains shared the rotating responsibility of supervising each working shift while being on call.
``The department is growing in what it does and and in size,'' Shiley said. With Emergency Medical Service ``and the suppression side are just getting busier and busier.''
Starting in February, the three new captains will serve as full-time shift supervisors, Shiley said.
``It will take people in those positions to be in control of what is happening,'' he said.
Shiley added that changing the hierarchy within the department is not an original idea.
Other departments, such as Tampa and Hillsborough County, already utilize shift supervisors who are called district chiefs and battalion chiefs.
``This is the mobile supervisor,'' Shiley said.
To be promoted within the department, Bowers said each firefighter must undergo a series of tests and interviews before a panel of firefighters from other departments in the area.
Those likely to become captains tested for the promotion about a year ago.
Several drivers engineers are expected to move up to captains.
Last year, the department said goodbye to Fire Inspector Fred Franceschini and Capt. Jimmy Whigham after about 22 years of service. Capt. Lamar Kent officially retires Feb. 28.