NEW ORLEANS FD: $19K a year?

[AZFF25]

Firehouse.com

New Orleans Fire Department Looks to Boost Manpower

Story by wdsu.com

With 114 fewer members since Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Fire Department kicked off a campaign Monday to recruit firefighters to the department.

The chief of the NOFD said the department needs at least 114 new recruits to help replenish its staff.

"We're looking for men, women, Hispanics, Vietnamese -- anyone who wants to come in," Chief Norman Woodridge said.

NOFD numbers dwindled after Hurricane Katrina and during the rebuilding process. Because of the shortage, four-man rigs now have just three people.

"Being that one person down means a lot," Woodridge said. "We're sending extra companies out to respond to large incidents, so we're up in manpower with that, but we do need to increase supply on these rigs."

Starting pay for firefighters is just more than $19,000, which is below the national average.

The fire department will be conducting test for recruits Wednesday, April 4 and April 11.

Applications are available at City Hall in Room 7W03.
______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________


I know that none of us become firefighter's to become WEALTHY, but how does one live off of $19K a year? That is not enough money for one person to survive on let alone if you have a family to support. My hat is off to those NOLA FF's for being able to do the job on so little money being paid to them.

NOLA FF's, I'd like to hear from you on this topic.

AZFF

[WFDjr1]

Geez, and I thought we had it bad at ~$25,000...

[pkfd7505]

Wow a whole 19k a year, now the brothers can live large. :rolleyes:



Anyone wanna bet they blame Bush for the low wages?

[DrParasite]

I know that none of us become firefighter's to become WEALTHY, but how does one live off of $19K a year? That is not enough money for one person to survive on let alone if you have a family to support. My hat is off to those NOLA FF's for being able to do the job on so little money being paid to them.

NOLA FF's, I'd like to hear from you on this topic.

AZFFwhile I don't know the specifics, cost of living has to be taken into effect when considering the wage.

Further, the 19K a year might be the recruit salary, while those that complete the initial training and probationary period get a large step up when they were making before.

[CaptOldTimer]

From their web page.

With that low entrance salary they are sure to get a lot of slugs and folks that will not enhance that department!! Thanks to da mayor there they will never hire any one good or keep them with low pay! :eek:

Come up into Virginia where the starting pay is about $35,000 a year!!! better work conditions and hours.


CHANGE CAREERS, CHANGE YOUR LIFE,
CHANGE NEW ORLEANS
BECOME A NEW ORLEANS FIREFIGHTER TODAY.

WHERE TO APPLY:
Civil Service application desk
1300 Perdido Street
Room 7W03
504-658-3510
Monday - Friday 9am. - 5pm

WHEN YOU APPLY YOU WILL NEED:


Certified Copy of Birth Certificate
Current Driver's License
High School Diploma or GED
For military preference - DD214, if you have a combat medal from military service
TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER YOU MUST...
Be at least 18 years old; pass a written exam, a medical exam, a background check, a psychological exam, a drug screening and physical agility test.

TEST DATES
Fire Recruit Test Dates Only on Wednesday
March 21, 2007 8:30 AM April 4, 2007 8:30 AM
March 21, 2007 1:00 PM April 4, 2007 1:00 PM
March 28, 2007 8:30 AM April 11, 2007 8:30 AM
March 28, 2007 1:00 PM April 11, 2007 1:00 PM


TRAINING ACADEMY
Training is conducted @ the Municipal Training Academy 13400 Old Gentilly Rd. Fire Recruits attend a 16 week paid training program conducted by the New Orleans Fire Department. Daily physical exercises are scheduled and practical applications of fire ground activities are coordinated. Theoretical, and practical, applications of Fire Safety, Fire Behavior, Fire Apparatus Hydraulics, HAZ MAT, and First Responder are also a part of the curriculum. Upon successful completion of the training academy, recruits serve a (1) one year probationary period of field training with different fire companies.

WORK SCHEDULE
Fire fighters work a rotating schedule of 24 / 48. The assigned day starts @ 0700 Hrs. and ends the following day @ 0700 Hrs. The following (2) days they are off duty, and are scheduled to return on the 3rd day.

FIRE FIGHTERS ENTRANCE SALARY: 19,896.00

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING RECRUITMENT CALL:
NOFD Office of Public Affairs, Firefighter Gregory Davis or Firefighter Michael Williams
317 Decatur Street
504-658-4713
Monday - Friday 8am. - 5pm.

[DeputyMarshal]

$19K and a 56 hour work week?!?

The cost of living in NO can't possibly be low enough to make that worthwhile... :eek:

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

I'll bet you that they get at least 100 applications for every job. They will be turning people away.

It's the law of supply and demand. If the city fathers ever figured out that they could get thousands of applications for city fire departments, even if they offered those jobs at minimum wage, it would radically change the way these FD's hire. I guess that's a place where collective bargaining is a good thing.

[hydrotech]

i do it for free...just cause i love it.

[DeputyMarshal]

i do it for free...just cause i love it.

Sucker. :p

[CaptOldTimer]

i do it for free...just cause i love it.

Well take yourself down to New Orleans then, I bet mayor ragin will be glad to see you. Tell them you are a watertech that will impress them more.

Another whacker on the loose. :eek: :rolleyes:

[hydrotech]

so you have a problem with the fact that i do it cause i love to do it and not for the money. if that makes me a whacker then that makes every volunteer a whacker:mad:

[mcaldwell]

I'll bet you that they get at least 100 applications for every job. They will be turning people away.

It's the law of supply and demand. If the city fathers ever figured out that they could get thousands of applications for city fire departments, even if they offered those jobs at minimum wage, it would radically change the way these FD's hire. I guess that's a place where collective bargaining is a good thing.

But you only have to look at the aftermath of Katrina to see the downside to under-valuing your personnel.

Many good men and women did stick around, but a lot of folks from all branches of the emergency services bailed out, some very ungracefully. And we don't even need to talk about the various "videos" that came out.

[ElectricHoser]

George summed it up perfectly.

Capt, I guess I take exception to that comment as well. Perhaps that is not the way you meant to say it.

I am a volunteer or paid-on-call depending on the day, but it so happens that for my "real" job with the power company, I get compensated with a salary comparable to most battalion chiefs. However, I like my job so much that I would also do it for free, just like I am willing to fight fire for free (though I now get paid for that, too).

If I *could* do it for free - afford to, that is - I would. But, I can't. I have a family to support. So I don't get too broken up that both jobs give me a check. I am one of the luckiest guys in the world to get to do two jobs I really enjoy and make a good living at the same time.

Being willing to do it for free does not make one a whacker.

[CaptainGonzo]

so you have a problem with the fact that i do it cause i love to do it and not for the money. if that makes me a whacker then that makes every volunteer a whacker:mad:

No... it does not make every volunteer a "whacker"... but by the very fact you posted on a thread about the NOFD seeking recruits and touting "you do it for free and love it" does make you an "excremental mixology specialist".

Back to the topic... please!

[ElectricHoser]

Back to the topic... please!

Point taken. Thank you Gonz.

[hydrotech]

well on that note then maybe the tax payers don't have a whole lot of money after rebuilding costs has this been their rate fot a while now or just after katrina? maybe the residants don't have fatih in their personnel after they had witnessed alot of them "bail" and are not willing. just my thoughts

[hwoods]

Taking eveything that I can think of, looking for more info, and comparing different departments, N.O. FFs are woefully underpaid. Now, my starting salary at my first Career FF job, in 1962, was $5,600/Yr. for 24 on, 24 off, 72hr week. Gas was $0.32/gal. and you could by a loaf of bread AND a quart of Milk, and get change back from your Dollar Bill. In 1965 I changed jobs, went to $7,800/yr, and a 50 hour work week. I worked until my 20 year retirement kicked in in 1985. My current retirement is twice N.O. starting pay......... How can anyone work down there, under those conditions? :mad:

[DeputyMarshal]

Just to put it in perspective, NOFD is offering $6.52 per hour for entry level firefighters.

You can work at Popeye's in NO for about the same wage or better...

Minimum wage is just slightly less at $5.15 per hour and there is legislation underway to boost it to $7.25.

[randsc]

On the other hand, hiring these 100+ recruits will bring them up to pre-Katrina staffing levels in a city that has lost 40% of its population. Maybe they should adjust their staffing levels, which would enable them to move the salary upward.

[jonnyirons2]

On the other hand, hiring these 100+ recruits will bring them up to pre-Katrina staffing levels in a city that has lost 40% of its population. Maybe they should adjust their staffing levels, which would enable them to move the salary upward.

You should try and work in 95 degree heat for practically nothing before you open your mouth. I was there and they need all the members they can get!

[ullrichk]

This looks like one of those cases where they're likely to get what they paid for. What a disservice to the NOFD and all those who served selflessly in that city's darkest hours! :mad:

[randsc]

You should try and work in 95 degree heat for practically nothing before you open your mouth. I was there and they need all the members they can get!

Which part of my statement do you deny the truth of?

If it is a choice between pre-Katrina staffing levels but with low-quality recruits, or adjusted staffing levels that reflect the new size of the city but with higher quality recruits, then it is not obvious to me that quantity is to be preferred to quality.

[dday05]

Just to put it in perspective, NOFD is offering $6.52 per hour for entry level firefighters.

You can work at Popeye's in NO for about the same wage or better...

Minimum wage is just slightly less at $5.15 per hour and there is legislation underway to boost it to $7.25.

Atleast if you worked at Popeye's you'd know you'd be coming home at the end of the day..This is BS. Didn't the mayor try to back door them and not renew their contract or something? I remember reading something about it but I don't remember 100%.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

You should try and work in 95 degree heat for practically nothing before you open your mouth. I was there and they need all the members they can get!


That was uncalled for. He didn't post a single word that would have prompted your rudeness. In fact, he has a great point. You owe him an apology.

If you went from a city of X00,000 to a city of X0,000, adjusting your deployment and staffing to meet that dramatic change would quite possibly allow you to get some of your engines up to 4 members again. There is also a real possibility that by changing the deployment and staffing, you could compensate the people who are there and were loyal to the NOFD.

Of course, we haven't seen one person in NO who was the slightest bit of a leader, so I wouldn't expect too much.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Atleast if you worked at Popeye's you'd know you'd be coming home at the end of the day..This is BS. Didn't the mayor try to back door them and not renew their contract or something? I remember reading something about it but I don't remember 100%.

This is not BS. This is the city getting exactly the level of fire protection that they are willing to pay for.

Low pay in NO has been going on for years and years. There was an FOP boycott of NO for a long time to protest the low pay and shabby treatment the NOPD was getting.

The only way to change this in the short term is for no one to go down there and take the jobs. But we all know that will never happen. Right now, there are hundreds of whackers talking about going down there to take the test. They would take the job for $10,000 a year with no benefits and we all know that. That is not an insult, that is a fact of life.

[hwoods]

For some strange reason, I find myself agreeing with George a lot lately.:eek:

That was uncalled for. He didn't post a single word that would have prompted your rudeness. In fact, he has a great point. You owe him an apology.

Yup!

Of course, we haven't seen one person in NO who was the slightest bit of a leader, so I wouldn't expect too much.

THAT can be used as the "Quote of the Week", as it applies to those across the political spectrum. I do expressly note exception to the Members of N.O. F.D. and P.D.

[dday05]

This is not BS. This is the city getting exactly the level of fire protection that they are willing to pay for.

Low pay in NO has been going on for years and years. There was an FOP boycott of NO for a long time to protest the low pay and shabby treatment the NOPD was getting.

The only way to change this in the short term is for no one to go down there and take the jobs. But we all know that will never happen. Right now, there are hundreds of whackers talking about going down there to take the test. They would take the job for $10,000 a year with no benefits and we all know that. That is not an insult, that is a fact of life.

If it was me I'd take my chances working at Popeye's then. And as far as the city getting what they pay for you're right. And yes you could probably even pay $10,000 and people would probably still flock down there just to say they're "on the job" I still think it's BS as thats my opinion.

How many people are left in the city?

[doughesson]

It all depends on where you live and how well you manage your income.I've lived on $19K fairly well here in Memphis when it was just me and "a dog named Jake and a cat named Kalamazoo".I worked 60 hours a week on the river and another 20 hours as a rentacop. to get it.I had a truck note,apartment rent,phone,groceries and a light bill.(the apartment complex paid the water bill)
Granted there wasn't always lots left over but I ate and had a roof over my head.Note that I didn't have a cable subscription,and the internet was still Algore's wet dream but I got out once in a while and had fun.
Like I said,don't blow your money on extras all the time and while you might be boring as your parents were after you became a teenager,you will have the essentials that you need- roof,food and clothing.
What more do you need?

Firehouse.com

New Orleans Fire Department Looks to Boost Manpower

Story by wdsu.com


I know that none of us become firefighter's to become WEALTHY, but how does one live off of $19K a year? That is not enough money for one person to survive on let alone if you have a family to support.
AZFF

[doughesson]

The federal government has pumped how many dollars into the NOLA economy and it isn't getting respent in that area?
What are they doing with our tax dollars down there?President Bush signed the funding,now it's up to Gov Blanco and Mayor Nagin to use it correctly.

well on that note then maybe the tax payers don't have a whole lot of money after rebuilding costs has this been their rate fot a while now or just after katrina? maybe the residants don't have fatih in their personnel after they had witnessed alot of them "bail" and are not willing. just my thoughts

[Catch22]

If you really want a good comparison, do a search for a "cost of living calculator." I got to playing around. For me to move from SW Missouri to NO, it would cost another 19.2% more in cost of living. Our starting pay for firefighters is $26K/year. However, we require FF I&II and EMT for that job, apparently NO requires much less.

Perhaps there are increases for EMT (I noticed they train to first responder in someones post) and such. I would hope so, at least. Seems to me they (the city in general) really need to address some issues with their local politicians. I'd really like to hear something from someone from NO to see what they have to say.

[randsc]

That was uncalled for. He didn't post a single word that would have prompted your rudeness. In fact, he has a great point. You owe him an apology.

If you went from a city of X00,000 to a city of X0,000, adjusting your deployment and staffing to meet that dramatic change would quite possibly allow you to get some of your engines up to 4 members again. There is also a real possibility that by changing the deployment and staffing, you could compensate the people who are there and were loyal to the NOFD.

Of course, we haven't seen one person in NO who was the slightest bit of a leader, so I wouldn't expect too much.

Wow, that's a new one. Thanks, George.

[Geinandputitout]

I feel bad for the folks on the department in NO. I make a good living doing my 24/48, and I wish the same for all my career brothers, but the place was screwed up before the hurricane, it got completely screwed up during the hurricane, and then the fine citizens of NO reelected the friggin Mayor.

Why on earth would anyone with any options other than "Flippin' Burgers" apply to work there? The city government is corrupt, they have no leadership, and things aren't going to improve in the near or long term.

The light at the end of the tunnel in NO is a train. Get out of the tunnel or get killed. Those are the options.

[BLSboy]

well on that note then maybe the tax payers don't have a whole lot of money after rebuilding costs has this been their rate fot a while now or just after katrina? maybe the residants don't have fatih in their personnel after they had witnessed alot of them "bail" and are not willing. just my thoughts

Next time you have a thought.....let it go......

[BKDRAFT]

i do it for free...just cause i love it.

What a ****ing homo. I was a volly for three years before I was hired on the career staff. I would have never said something like that.:rolleyes:

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

I spend a lot of time in the Crescent City. The Brothers are good, hard-working people. I see someone mentioned the cost of living. The cost of living is not much cheaper then anywhere else. Is gas a buck fifty a gallon in New Orleans ? Nope. The workload has increased dramatically in the city. The manning is down. The members of the N.O.F.D. STOOD TALL before, during and after Katrina. The residents are disgusted by the continuing horrible treatment that the firefighters receive from C. (for Clarence) Ray Nagin AKA "Willy Wonka". The damn city has been dragging their sad ass about paying a court-ordered pay raise for years now. As a Fireman and a human being I am truly disgusted by all of it. The wrecked firehouses havent been fixed. The idiots that re-elected Nagin are exactly that, idiots. they also where shipped by bus from wherever they ended up after the storm to vote. Nagin is a buffoon. There is money in that town. I hope no one fills out an application. Hell, freaking Mc Donalds is paying ten bucks an hour.

[LFD2203]

Them guys don't eat beans and rice because they want to.........It's what they can afford. It's sad a city that size doesn't have their priorities straight.

[hydrotech]

What a ****ing homo. I was a volly for three years before I was hired on the career staff. I would have never said something like that.:rolleyes:

grow up bkdraft.:mad: post some insight or nothing at all!

[JHR1985]

You know.... the sad thing is that no matter how bad the department may be or how badly it gets treated, you will ALWAYS find a whacker dying to get that job. Hell, most would kill for it? Is that a bad thing? I dont know.

Are they doing themselves or the city any good by taking that job? Not really. If anything, if a city pays crappy and still gets applicants and people who want the job.... more than likely they wont raise the pay.

The whackers and goobers who will get a job at NOFD.... really arent benefiting the department... if anything, they are hurting it more. If no one showed up to get the job.... it MIGHT, not going to gurantee anything, but it might cause some issues to get cleared up. But, we all know that wont happen

[firemcd]

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! All this crap about the 19,000. No one is forcing them at gunpoint to hire on. Several of you have nailed it down well. For the measily wages offered, they will get the bottom of the barrel with a FEW exceptions. They will see huge turnover. But, with Pro Board certification and CPAT they are a lead-pipe cinch to take their credentials and hire on somewhere else. This would be a great opportunity for a (single-unmarried) volunteer to take advantage of an aggressive hiring program to catapult them somewhere else decent in just a few years. Ya gotta look at the big picture.....:cool:

[AZFF25]

firemcd,

You put a whole new twist on this.......
I've never heard of anyone using a large city department to use as a stepping stone.


AZFF

[KevinFFVFD]

well on that note then maybe the tax payers don't have a whole lot of money after rebuilding costs has this been their rate fot a while now or just after katrina? maybe the residants don't have fatih in their personnel after they had witnessed alot of them "bail" and are not willing. just my thoughts

jesus, the pay was like that BEFORE katrina. whats the incentive to go and work in new orleans??? for one it is a dangerous city, and i have been to a few firestations down there that have bullet holes in the windows, bay doors, and other places. why go work for new orleans when you can go to the surrending cities and make a lot more than $19K?

and before you "more holy than thou" start putting in your $.02 and start saying "it's about the brotherhood and not the pay". yeah, no doubt there is a strong brotherhood down there, but you should get the same brotherhood no matter where you go.

what about Gulfport, MS which was hit hard from katrina? they are looking for firefighters. they are still living in trailers and their trucks parked in halfway destroyed stations. same for Biloxi, Waveland, Pass Christan. down there where starting pay is around $28,000 for firefighter and $29,000 for a police officer. Waveland and Pass Christan basically lost their WHOLE fire department. and some of the volunteer departments still do not have anything to even park their trucks in, they just sit out in the open. but they are starting to rise back up, and when you talk to those firefighters down there they NEVER once blame their problems on a storm.
so dont come on here blaming the $19K a year on a storm. their is just no incentive whtsoever to even consider going to NOFD. yes, i would love to be on the department down there, only if they would come up off the money and raise the pay for their firefighters. because from what i have been told, even though the $19K is recruit pay, even after training it only goes up to like $21K or so, and its damn hard to get a promotion or raise, and im not going to start in on that right now.

[LaFireEducator]

Those cost of living numbers are pre-Katrina I would bet. If you can find decent housing, it has risen in price by about 40-50% since the storm as there is a tremendous shortage. That's why the burger joints are paying $10 or more an hour, and they still can't find help.

[KevinFFVFD]

Those cost of living numbers are pre-Katrina I would bet. If you can find decent housing, it has risen in price by about 40-50% since the storm as there is a tremendous shortage. That's why the burger joints are paying $10 or more an hour, and they still can't find help.

this is true. my dad had an apartment in ocean spring (right next to biloxi) before katrina and was paying $200 a month (but it was nice apartment),and after katrina it went up to $900 a month. rent on everything about doubled or even tripled after katrina

[KevinFFVFD]

just for the hell of it, i looked at new orleans police website. they are in need of people too, but lets look at what they offer....

21 College credits upon completion of Police Academy
32 weeks state certified law enforcement training
Group health, dental and vision insurance
Free / reduced college tuition programs (Tulane University, Delgado, UNO)
Excellent retirement plan:
25 years of service - fully vested - 83%
30 years of service - 100%
Job advancement and security
Paid vacation and sick leave

Position Annual Salary
Police Officer - Recruit $30,732
Police Officer - Field (After training program) $38,608*

* Benefits include uniform allowance, state supplemental pay, and millage pay.
After one year of service, annually $3,600 state supplemental pay is paid to all commissioned personnel.
Annual uniform allowance pays $500.
Annual millage varies depending on taxes collected: 2005 a total of $1397.50 was paid in millage for 26 shares.
P.O. I includes 2 1/2% longevity after one year.
P.O. IV includes an additional 2 1/2% longevity after five years.
Additional longevity paid for each five years of consecutive service

so they are going to pay their police officers $30K to start, but firefighter only $19K to start???
of course there are going to be people say that they get payed more because they have to deal with criminals and a higher workload yadda yadda yadda, but they seems like a big gap between the pay