Margate-Coconut Creek Fire Rescue {Aiden Palmer}
The Margate Commission is in the process of placing three firefighters on each fire truck.
During the April 10 workshop, the commission members agreed that each fire truck should have three firefighters. The city’s rescue vehicles currently have three people, but the fire trucks have only two.
During the meeting, Fire Chief Roberto Lorenzo presented why Margate fire trucks should have three firefighters.
As Fire Chief Roberto Lorenzo emphasized, placing three firefighters on each fire truck is not just about numbers but safety. With more personnel at a fire or emergency scene, especially during large fires, the response time can be significantly reduced. This means that if someone is trapped in a burning building, a three-person team can locate them faster, potentially saving lives.
During the upcoming April 17 meeting, the commission will vote on a resolution to approve the implementation of a staffing level goal of three fire department personnel on a fire engine and three personnel on a fire rescue vehicle. This resolution, which will provide for a budget amendment, is not just about adding more personnel but about enhancing the fire department’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Commissioner Anthony Caggiano said Margate would hire 12 new firefighters over about two years. The total compensation package for each new firefighter would be approximately $100,000, and the city would incur an additional cost of between $1.2 million and $1.4 million. This would also mean the city must reopen the contract with the firefighters.
Commissioner Antonio Arserio said the firefighters would require a budget amendment. He said six firefighters would be added as soon as possible, and an additional six would be added for the next budget year. Arserio added that the first new firefighters would be staffed on the busiest trucks.
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