Columbia Fire Department aims to expand crew size with extra staffing

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department system is currently staffed with a minimum of three people per truck, but the fire chief would like to see four per truck.

That could happen soon with extra money to pay employees and new recruits coming on staff.

A new public safety sales tax is expected to add 42 new firefighters and result in an estimated $31 million budget increase.

Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said CFD will have a new class of trainees in October and continue to have more classes.

"It's going to take us a lot of intense work to get people recruited, trained and what we call 'on the floor,'" said Schaeffer.

Shaeffer said the increased hiring won't lead to lower standards. He said that when the next class graduates, operations will decide which trucks to expand to four people.

As of Friday, according to a Facebook post made by CFD, eight new firefighters have completed their probationary period.

There are currently around 20 firefighters in the 18-month probationary period. They can be identified by their gray shirts.

Schaeffer said that the new sales tax will have a profound impact on recruiting at CFD.

Schaeffer said that in general, staffing is healthy.

The fire department has an estimated 185 operational, in-uniform positions.