Bolivar City Fire Department (BCFD) was awarded the SAFER Grant in April of 2014. This grant was a two year grant that fully funded the salary and benefits for nine firefighter positions. With closure date of the SAFER Grant approaching in 2016, the City of Bolivar had to choose whether to continue to support these positions with city funds, or reduce these positions and return to a primary volunteer fire department.
After two years of notable change and continued professionalism within the fire department, not only did the City of Bolivar Board of Alderman and City Administration affirm the retention of all BCFD firefighter positions after the expiration of the SAFER Grant, but also adjusted the starting wage rates to be comparable to like departments in the region at $30,000 annually. This brings the total full-time roster to 15 staff positions, with approximately 15 reserve staff positions, and three residency staff positions. BCFD will continue to professionalize as a full combination fire department utilizing both full-time, reserve, and residency staff to best serve the City of Bolivar.
BCFD will continually work to meet its mission statement of “Our Family Helping to Serve and Protect the Lives and Property of Your Family.” Some of the changes that will assist BCFD in 2016 to meet their mission statement include changing to a 48 / 96 hour work schedule, utilization of the new Ferrara Engine and ladder trucks that arrived in 2015, a dedicated focus to lower Bolivar’s ISO, and a dedicated focus of growth and development of the staff throughout the year.
FFAM
