Reorganization of Orange Fire Department will save money and help enable future full staffing

Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. today announced a reorganization of the Orange Fire Department that would reduce the department’s administrative staff by eliminating two of the three Deputy Chiefs and replace one Clerk Typist with an Administrative Aide. The reorganization would reduce the line personnel by eliminating one of the four line Captains.

The purpose of the reorganization is to save money for taxpayers during the course of the recently announced SAFER grant. Then, when the SAFER grant expires, the savings could be applied to help pay for the 12 new firefighters that will be funded for two years under the federal grant.

Here is a before and after comparison of the changes to the Table of Organization that will take place under the reorganization:

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:

Before
1) One (1) Chief
2) Three (3) Deputy Chiefs
3) Two (2) Captains
4) One (1) Firefighter
5) One (1) Clerk Typist

After
1) One (1) Chief
2) One (1) Deputy Chief
3) Two (2) Captains
4) One (1) Firefighter
5) One (1) Administrative Aid

The reduction of two (2) Deputy Chiefs reduces salaries by approximately Two Hundred Thousand Dollars. ($200,000.00).


LINE PERSONEL
Before
1) One (1) Deputy Chief
2) Four (4) Captains
3) Thirteen (13) Firefighters

After
1) One (1) Deputy Chief
2) Three (3) Captains
3) Ten (10) Firefighters