Dozens of firefighters leave HFD

[@yeabuddy6070]

28k to be firefighter. Might as well go work at Target. What a joke😕

[@MrSpccdavid]

Damn that’s crazy I started as a new firefighter in a very small Texas town at 52k

[@THXx1138]

@@thatsreality5184 It pays to be a criminal.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Orlando FL has only 900+ FD 🚒 but they pay around $44000 starting. The highest pay in the area. The FD is a mess. Scandals, me too drama, politics. The last chief had EEO problems, lawsuits. The city(mayor) wants trans gender bathrooms in all Orlando 🚒 fire stations. 4% of the FD is female.

[@Powerbandm]

I am going to school to be an EMT firefighter in Oregon. Every department for the most part starts at 5500 a month base salary plus overtime incentives. 28k is an an absolute joke to pay these guys. It should honestly be illegal.

[@victorybulldog4085]

@@thatsreality5184 where? I would love to apply. I've been a LEO in one of the largest cities in the US for almost 15 years and don't make close to $100K.

[@YOUNGGRADER509]

How about we cut anyone in politics salary by 50%

[@syahmi518]

Genius.. I agree

[@goalie2998]

By 90 % they are the worst leeches in society

[@nonyabidness3504]

Fact

[@YOUNGGRADER509]

@огромная эрекция said politics not law enforcement

[@goalie2998]

@огромная эрекция that's why Americans should always fight for 2a rights. In case a rapist wakes us up...

[@I.Odnamra]

Mayor Turner has no problem creating a job that never existed to pay that person 100k a year. But he doesn't want to pay these men that put their health and lives at risk.

[@RussiaNukesAmerica3]

Anyone who'd risk being burned to a crisp gets my vote for a pay raise. 🔥

[@laureenstephens9958]

Armando Garza Turner is a sorry excuse for a mayor.

[@nightlightabcd]

Sounds like a criminal Trump associate!

[@Backyardmech1]

Sly Turner is a present day Ray Nagan. Probably the most corrupt mayor in Houston’s existence. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets caught with tons of money in his freezer as well.

[@DIphone129]

Berserker von Sudetenland Democrats that fought for the 9/11 Victim&First Responder compensation bill that the GOP openly opposed?😂

[@TruthMongerMomma]

$28,000? Pitiful, they should be embarrassed! The whole town should come together to shame the mayor and whoever else is responsible!

[@ivanrodriguez8966]

Firefighters usually have planed overtime in their shifts. They make more than 28 a year.

[@rolloverriderpgr]

I'm on SSI. I MAKE 22,788 a year (oops typo earlier) as a 65 YO Retired trucker! This is proof democratically run cities are turned into pitholes! Time to make the politicians take the training and fight fires or stop voting like idiots!

[@TruthMongerMomma]

@@rolloverriderpgr a month or a year? Agreed about demo run cities and states!

[@rolloverriderpgr]

kids sorry a year! Brain fart! But after 40 years my ssi is $1899.00 a month minus Medicare of $135.00 until they raise it! Glad I worked since I was 16 or I would actually get below poverty wages but still after making that much a week as a truck driver it sure does seem like poverty wages!

[@DonniePalmer57]

Check it the property tax caps put on Houston by our heartless governor.

[@johnathangodwin3824]

Put your life on the line for petty money while athletes get milluons wtf

[@NicholasX.]

Screw those over paid athletes and celebrities.

[@svenjohnson2389]

MAGA COUNTRY there have been times when I needed a doctor, lawyer, firefighter, teacher and plumber, but never have I needed an pro-athlete.

[@svenjohnson2389]

Donald Thorpe water is a necessity for all life on our planet, gold and pro-athletes are not.

[@johnsradios484]

Donald Thorpe Corporate Welfare is much worse but never is talked about.

[@aixaburlison4]

Military pay is the same way...put your life on the line for minimal pay. Cops are earning up to 200k a year, and they are not in a war zone

[@medic4076]

You can drive 5 minutes outside Houston and get a $20,000 pay raise over that $36K. Average starting pay outside of Houston is $56K.

[@groyper1988]

Almost as if increasing a labor pool, employers drive down wages

[@groyper1988]

@@lauralarrabee7870 now adjust for cost of living and write as a percentage comparison.

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

My mom is married to a plano fire captain, he literally makes over $100k a year as his base salary. It's something like $117k not including benefits. He's not even close to the best paid firefighter he knows either, most work 2 jobs because they work 1 24 hour shift followed by 48 off with significant overtime pay if they take overtime. He knows people that easily make $250k annually.

[@groyper1988]

@@Silver54342 source? Is this a product of covid restrictions and bankruptcy or is it some other reason for decline?

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

@@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat In Houston?

[@arthurvillarreal2650]

But the Mayor can pay a boy friend over 90 grand a year.

[@bigdan638]

They reelected that Democrat mayor AGAIN AND he will pay his "boyfriend" an intern 100k a year....Houston will become the next Chicago

[@havilavi472]

@n/a I know

[@JakeHammerHTX]

I’m from Houston but haven’t lived in the city for about 4 years now so I’m out of the local news loop, when did this whole thing break about turner paying his intern 100k

[@littlerhino2006]

It already is, there's a pretty substantial homeless camp downtown. It's trashed.

[@AndySnapsaLot]

SJW libtard wrecker oh no! The child has gotten on a computer again. This little boys parents really should be more careful.

[@Nino_J]

The thing About Chicago is our firefighters start out at close to 60k

[@amandahirschfeld7382]

Wow 28grand is a slap in the face,they deserve alot more then a 8grand raise. BLESS THEM ALL FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

[@PyroLooney01]

Dave Chappelle every fire fighter is being mandated in order to keep the department running. There may not be a big blaze every day, but you can count on their being car wrecks, domestic violence injuries, everyday accidents around the home/business, all things that are straining for any first responder. These men and women work very hard for the community and deserve the upmost respect.

[@sgtusmc1sgtusmc266]

This is a classic tactic. Force the senior members to quit so you can bring in new people with no experience for cheap. Good luck with a whole city of junior firefighters.

[@br6480]

Welcome to the nursing field. My night shift is primarily new grads with no experience and didn’t have clinical d/t covid. This is not going well🙄

[@brianschumaker5912]

It's no mystery. The taxpayers are paying more for firefighters, the mayor and the council are putting it in their pockets (or in pet programs.... same thing).

[@Runner8617]

Happens everywhere else, not only in the fire department. All my jobs, I've seen and experienced the same. It took me several years to learn, but I learned to stand up for myself.

[@74thartillery__]

Capitalisme

[@lookingglass9175]

@@br6480 firefighter wages vs nurses wages, no comparison. Night shifts in nursing are often filled with newer hires as the more senior staff move to days.

[@numberoneduno7265]

Don’t play with matches kids. At least until we get these positions filled.

[@robmoney4life]

Lol

[@blksheepdogtonyg.6453]

Good for them 👏 stand up to the city ✊

[@Beezlie727]

The residents pay in poor F.D. coverage & crews that are mostly rookies!

[@burtvhulberthyhbn7583]

Good for those firemen. Vote with your feet!

[@anthonywolfe3857]

I run a lamintaion machine and am clearing almost double what these guys are making and i havent the first clue as to save a life... Wow.

[@robertvertacnik9989]

What? A lamentation machine?

[@MrGearing61]

no honorable first responder should have a salary so low that it would qualify them for public assistance. that is just wrong, this is not a black, white or hispanic thing. Houston, do the right thing and compensate your most needed employees to a level that they deserve.

[@harrymills2770]

$28,000 / yr is darn near $15/hr.

[@ltmundy1164]

@@harrymills2770: Recompute your numbers. Professional FFs workload begins at 3120 hrs/yr. Straight time, before mandatory o/t is factored in. ~$9 not ~$13.50/hr.

[@zacharystotz2350]

Yeah replace all the vets with trainees, that always works! LOL

[@joeywilburn8672]

Remember when HFD overwhelmingly supported Turner in the last mayoral election??? They knew better LOL

[@jsock8091]

HFD supported turner before he began to destroy the department

[@valkyriesardo278]

I bet the politicians voted themselves a raise.

[@InDatParish]

Imagine working 20 years without getting one single raise. Considering inflation is 2.5% a year, that’s like working 20 years for a company that cuts your pay by 50 PERCENT 🤦‍♂️

[@carlosenriquez2092]

I cut grass for a living bring down more than double that it's a disgrace that the people who risk their lives to keep us safe and educate our children get paid so little.

[@donkeytime4263]

Teachers get paid too much. They get more vacation time then anyone else and have low iqs

[@dustinwegner853]

The city my dad worked for cut the department from like 9 guys per shift to 7 but they could run with 6. They thought they were going to save money and ended up paying a shitload of overtime.

[@pamelalewis2776]

28k??? O.M.G!! THEY SHOULD BE PAID 70K minimally!! 😢 Proud of them!!!

[@hokeypokeyalso1783]

When will cities learn. This has been going on in every state for YEARS. My department was the training department for the state of California. In my career I saw at least a 50 % turn over. Guys would get hired stay for a year and move on.

[@volunteerpatriot2143]

We need first responders; police, fire fighters, EMTs. What we don't need is politicians. Let's cut some of those and free up some money.

[@dirtpile]

Good for them. Sounds like voters need to replace the City's leadership.

[@btdt346]

That's the best idea so far in the comments .

[@charlesrudish9147]

Yes they should, but the problem is, the city's leadership will make sure the normal citizen knows very little of what's going on. What needs to happen is just what did happen. I don't know if the Dept is unionized, if not it should be. The IAFF needs to get involved and spread the word to the public. Maybe they did, and this is the result, members leaving in mass. I know what these guys are going through. I did the same thing.

[@crookeddonald3883]

Does not surprise me. I started as a firefighter at age 18. I was paid $5.75 an hour, which was minimum wage. Yes this was a professional dept in Southern California.

[@lookingglass9175]

Back in 1980?

[@crookeddonald3883]

@@lookingglass9175 lol no .... 1996.

[@jaketapper8910]

@@crookeddonald3883 Firefighters in California now make bank. Most make more than police officers.

[@bigdehart64]

I worked for a city that would tell us , "if we give your department a raise then we have to give everyone a raise". the other departments were not bleeding employees.

[@jaynehinds3339]

The fire service should be paid at least 60 grand a year at least as should the police service and nursing services,,plus DANGER MONEY

[@Citrusfruits50]

$28,000 a year??? Are u kidding me. That might have been fine back in 1978 but in 2020.. that is horrific. They are FFs - not employees of The Dollar Store! Hope they get their raises!!! 💪🏼👊🏼

[@richardbelman7155]

Diamonds R4ever YEAH

[@richardbelman7155]

Chris S not like they’re risking their life’s or anything more compared to pilots

[@douglasbradford9007]

As electrician is 85 k

[@luciojacobo3437]

Young firefighters coming in to get their feet wet, but they won’t stick around for more than 4 years

[@NGMonocrom]

A major city treating its fire-fighters like garbage. Yeah, that won't backfire with dozens of them leaving for better jobs. Yup! No chance of that happening.

[@waic1639]

These guys should be making at least 60K usd per year, their job is too dangerous and difficult for such low pay.

[@kwlambright]

That is exactly why I volunteered all these years and work another job that pays the bills

[@dubuyajay9964]

Good for them. It's obvious the political class and bureaucrats don't care about first responders any more.

[@lethagramlich417]

Give them the money you owe them!!🇺🇸

[@harrymills2770]

They can't afford to pay them, more. That would endanger the 6-figure salaries of the Diversity and Equity Team. Anyway, as a guy who grew up in a small town, for years I thought all towns had a volunteer fire department. It was a real community effort. Nobody got paid. They did it for the community and the community loved the fire department. Getting a new fire engine was a big deal. Potluck dinners, raffles and dances where every penny went to the cause. Lots of donations aside from the events. The firefighters were grocers, millers, farmers, factory workers... It's weird how big cities run things.

[@jnsmill]

That is less than $550. a week, who would expect a man/woman to put their lives at such a risk for peanuts like that?

[@godfather-dx1sn]

Most cities in the United states for most everyone in the public safety sector.

[@velocitymg]

I do it for free, we do structural fires prior to metro arriving, car accidents, wildfires, animal rescue, everything a metro unit does, with less training and inferior equipment. As a volunteer rural firefighter we are looked down on by metro and ignored by all until we are needed. I still think 36k is absolutely disgraceful when police and military earn much more doing their jobs full time.

[@farklefuster6876]

Can anyone live on $550 a week in Houston? Take home pay would run around $325. Welfare pays better than that.

[@ralphwright2508]

Local politician put that money in their pocket

[@rickg6726]

I’m currently switching from one sheriffs office to another only 45 mins north for a $15,000 jump in pay. Some departments are just stingy AF.

[@humlyhumly3474]

and yet city council pay themselves salary increases every year. So I guess all the money that was to go to the firefighters went into the councilor's pockets.

[@lauriesalse3225]

Sending protection angels to our firefighters and praying for a raise for every fight fighters. 🙏

[@angelp.5224]

This is why workers need to Unionize! Nurses across America are one of the largest work forces but in many states it will get you fired if talk of this is even heard!

[@justinharmon8082]

They anticipated having experienced firefighters leave and bringing in green recruits!? And they are okay with that!?!?!?

[@debbirbodner5358]

Good luck to all the firemen and women, you do deserve a pay raise.

[@patriot1303]

That’s $538 a week...before taxes - I can’t believe anybody ever agreed to do it for that in the first place

[@philiphorner31]

They shouldn't get raises they should quit. Taxpayers have been bled dry by Covid.

[@centralnewyorkresponses7887]

My dad started at more than what they’re paying them. He made 55,000 in 2019

[@andrewbalfour7130]

54k in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada but you have to spend money to get your training and then spend 9 weeks at our Academy. 20 years ago I started at $29030. Now I make $114k

[@HighOnLife1985]

At this rate, you'll get a block wide fire and everyone would be asking the same thing: "What is taking the fire department so long to get here?"

[@littlemouse9900]

28k a year to put their lives on the line for us??! That's completely ridiculous! Politicians need to take a pay cut.

[@chasl3645]

Well sounds like other cities will gain. Having a revolving door is seldom cost effective. I wonder how much it costs to train them.

[@danor6812]

28,000 a year to risk your life for others? I'd quit too. I couldn't live on that little pay.

[@bobsnyder3309]

Certainly not in a city. That's not even good pay in a low cost area.

[@jfreeman1549]

Sounds like y’all need a new mayor.

[@rammone5241]

If you increase their pay, "WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO PAY FOR SECOND CHANCE HOUSING!!!!!!"

[@georgegeorgepht]

What?! I didn’t know these guys make so little. If I need help from a fire fighter, I need too know these guys are motivated to help me and not worried about paying bills as they help me. Can u imagine a fire fighter saying “hurry up we need to put this fire out so I can go to my second job”. Yikes!

[@robmoney4life]

We meet again curious George

[@georgegeorgepht]

Robmoney 4life my man! Keep up the good work and stay out of prison. 😂

[@robmoney4life]

@@georgegeorgepht lol u do the same curious George

[@lothean2099]

I do feel bad for those firefighters that have to work in that crap hole of a city called Houston.

[@kevindietterich1448]

that's a damn disgrace.

[@Beandiptheredneck]

28k a year.. I make a lot more than that in construction. 1st class firefighters around here make 6 figures, as they should.

[@HASSON454]

Anyone can recruit that's not hard at all. It's retention that this and every poorly managed place will never mention. It cost thousands if not hundreds of thousands to train recruits just for them to wise up in a year or 2 and take their skills else where

[@strikingdistance2898]

28,000 a year is a insult 😒

[@dtom8830]

Fire the corrupt police department and give the money to the real heros, the fire fighters.

[@Nick-bb4nk]

Or you could, you know, cut the 200+k/year salary everyone in the mayor's office gets

[@dtom8830]

@@Nick-bb4nk Actually, both would work best.

[@Nick-bb4nk]

@@dtom8830 Right, because cutting the police officer's salary, which is probably measly better than the fire fighter's, is such a good idea.

[@dr.killdare1284]

36k+ for trainees that work?? Less than 1200hrs a yr? Plus Usually have lucrative 2nd jobs? +health care, +retirement?? Yea, this really SUCKS! 🙄

[@RobinPMac]

Huston rate payers will pay for this plus the potential loss of life will reflect on the city council!

[@ronhiel6898]

I support the firefighters in this fight. The city is doing them wrong.

[@butterflylofu]

Know a guy in HFD that after 20 years made captain and his salary was $58k - not kidding. That's when I understood why all the guys in his house worked sooooo much overtime.

[@wcsoblake85]

To bad you can't get paid for the potential risks you might face. If that were the case first responders would be able to make a decent living wage. There is no way a family can be supported on 28K a year

[@johnvasquez6771]

Fire the lousy major

[@sdhong86]

Somebody has to do the job, though.

[@johnvasquez6771]

I_am_Sand_ X that’s their dumb that’s what happens when you live by dumb people

[@billhamilton2366]

Canadian firefighters in large centres are earning in the neighbourhood of 100 grand per year for working an 8 day month

[@akui88]

28K a year? i make more money working part-time as a cashier at a small family-owned restaurant.

[@sergioomar9090]

I think that number is just for cadets.

[@akui88]

Earl Delsanto idk where you work, but everyone at my restaurant gets paid at least 15$ an hour. Its a small restaurant, but we are busy all the time, i get tipped on take out orders all the time...

[@akui88]

Earl Delsanto also, my brother works at a another fancy restaurant and he makes 200-400$ per shift in tips, we aren’t talking about fast food joints. We are serving 25$ burgers, 17$ salads and 8$ cocktails at our restaurants...

[@danielhunt1328]

I’m floored at the lack of respect and decency that comes from a major metropolitan area like Houston. I mean people managing a MCDonald’s make more than that! Stop the madness and pay these people their fair heroic wage. Nothing less!

[@mrt6599]

I’d bet the Chiefs getting his 120,000 a year

[@emmaleem9315]

Thank the lefts for AMERICA falling apart, fire fighters and Police God Bless you, continue to follow your path, you are very well worth every penny and lots more, keeping you in my prayers 🙏🏼🦋

[@shannonelam6766]

Who can blame them when they can go to other departments and make twice what HFD pays!

[@kevinmccliment7591]

If they are short staffed call out the city administrators to gear up and grab a 2"

[@clemnewton9995]

So make the fire chief work ever weekend until issues are solved

[@jeffcox1515]

Clem Newton I agree 💯% I’ll bet you it wouldn’t take but just a few days to fill all positions 👍🏻

[@thatsalteavet]

Might be able to fill them for awhile. But they are leaving due to pay. And thats at a mayor/city council level/county level

[@ninaappelt9001]

Sylvester Turner has always treated the HFD like crap.

[@joeschlotthauer840]

Where'd the tax dollars go for the 2018 approved raise...

[@tracym1208]

JOE S. = I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU ASK = WAY TO MANY QUESTIONS = NEXT

[@jimwilloughby]

I retired from as a firefighter in 2001. That's nineteen years ago. I was making more than what the Houston guys get now, back then. My pension right now is more than what they get. This is an outrage.

[@SB-qm5wg]

Like Dallas cops. Texas is dying.

[@SB-qm5wg]

@Veton Ahmeti it got a 20k raise just last year..Used to be 40s

[@ww-town7973]

The raise is still not enough!

[@bulldawg71179]

What is the value of saving a life,a home,or someone's personal valuables. Price tags have no business on a human life

[@Comicsluvr]

And you hear rich folks in Cali saying that they're moving to Texas because of lower taxes. So apparently one of the reasons for lower taxes is that they pay their firefighters dirt.

[@michaelrapelje2721]

Democrat mayor completely ignorant of the citizens vote should be arrested.

[@monaperry2635]

Mayor Turner needs a pay cut

[@agus2001]

Just move to Seattle and work at McDonald's. Will probably make more. SMH

[@davestark5560]

What a disgrace to the men and women who put their lives on the line each and every day. The city of Houston should be ashamed.

[@sethambre3001]

That's crazy low. LAFD is paying around 70k now starting out

[@luciusvorenus9445]

Bet their cost of living is pretty steep in LA.

[@jjsmith9023]

@@luciusvorenus9445 that’s just starting. La has unlimited overtime also I have buddies making 200,000 a year. And yes the inner city is expensive but firefighters just buy houses outside the city

[@luciusvorenus9445]

@@jjsmith9023 No residency requirements?

[@ltmundy1164]

@@luciusvorenus9445: Multiple court rulings against residency restrictions.

[@susandelaney8052]

these 👨🏼‍🚒🧑‍🚒 firefighter work to protect & save lives. PAY THEM WHAT THEIR WORTH!!!

[@TheDlowe0964]

And these rookies are supposed to have the experience that has left the department? Playing with people's lives are what they are doing.

[@monikaw1369]

The fire chief did not answer the attrition concern. The numbers are for last year. What Lancton stated was for 2021, not 2020. The Chief did not respond to the leaving of firefighters this year.

[@Vladviking]

I could see some cheap pay as a trainee but once you graduate the schooling you should get a good chunk of a raise.

[@290wayne]

Don't blame them for leaving. $ 36,000. Is crazy..,. I retired in 2003 from a different fire dept on the east coast. My retirement is more than that. With full benefits....

[@billp3914]

Houston is liberal I predict Austin will be next

[@karifredrikson8492]

Good for them! They have Proved their Value,PAID WITH THEIR LIVES! It’s about time people who are Worth their Value, get paid with money. Too many deadbeats these days!

[@christopherbonanno1120]

Government giving out free money to people who don’t want to work And watch tv all day. And a person that wants to work. And has a dangerous job. Does not get good pay what is wrong with the government. Jesus Christ. This county is going to hell in a hand basket

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

28k? Risk my life and limb? Yea, sign me up! ;-\ Anyone that didn’t leave is a fool.

[@RussiaNukesAmerica3]

Would this be a good time to start a career as an arsonist ?

[@ffjsb]

Well considering it doesn't pay anything...no.

[@strangeroamer3219]

@@ffjsb It does if you get insurance for the property first.

[@ffjsb]

@@strangeroamer3219 Evidently you don't know that insurance companies have arson investigators... I know one guy that's looking at jail, and doesn't have a house now...

[@MrJr1976]

Make politicians be a volunteer job and pay the damn police and firefighters more. Also, FINISH I-45 ALREADY!!! I’m sick of avoiding it for the past 2 years!!!

[@jermainedwards5804]

Hpd do the same thing

[@stanjelinek62]

MR. MAYOR, YOU'RE FIRED!!! (take your boy toy with you)