Bayou Cane to add 12 full-time firefighters

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Continued growth and expansion in Bayou Cane is prompting the fire department to nearly double its ranks of full-time firefighters next year, officials said.

Twelve new firefighters will bring the staff to 28 and generate points toward the department’s property insurance rating, which determines how much residents pay for homeowners’ insurance, Fire Chief Jerry Gautreaux said.

In addition, he said the move will help prepare the department for a shift to a civil-service system in the coming year.

While the department seeks to add new firefighters, officials are also considering raising salaries to keep those already on the payroll.

At a recent meeting of fire-protection district board members, officials discussed a range of ideas n including 5 percent overall raises, 10 percent overall or a full additional $1 per hour n to discourage employees from leaving Bayou Cane to work for the Houma Fire Department, where they can make more money.

During a recent round of hiring by Houma, six or seven Bayou Cane firefighters considered applying, but only one ended up transferring, Gautreaux said.

“We’re going to have a lot of problems as time goes on” if the salaries are not made competitive, he said. “We train them, and they take them.”

According to figures compiled by the department, a starting firefighter in Houma makes $24,922 a year, compared to $22,500 in Bayou Cane. With a 5 percent raise, the Bayou Cane firefighter would make $23,625; the 10 percent raise would bring the salary to $24,757; and adding a dollar per hour would bring it to $25,260.

Gautreaux recommended the board raise the salaries 5 percent this year because firefighters already with the department also will get a 2 percent “longevity” raise at year’s end. Further, the upcoming shift to civil service means that the ranks of many firefighters will be reassigned, resulting in a number of promotions and further raises, he said.

After that, Gautreaux said, more raises should be considered to make the department more competitive.

No decision was made on the raise issue, which will be addressed again at the board’s Dec. 18 meeting.