The city council will soon consider lowering the age to work for Columbus Fire and Rescue from 21 to 18.
But first, Ward 4 Councilwoman Lavonne Harris wants to see some data.
“It could be a good idea, but I want data from cities that already hire 18-year-olds,” Harris told The Dispatch after Wednesday’s council work session at City Hall. “What’s the stability rate? How long do they stay there? I understand we do need firefighters … but you also have to look at 18 to 21, they are still not as mature as you would like them. So I would like some data (from other fire departments) on how they handle emergencies and peer pressure with the fire department.”
Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough presented the plan during the work session as a way to “fill a gap” in employee recruitment and retention by widening the pool of applicants. Hiring recent high school graduates also makes those firefighters “easier to train and shape” to department standards, he said.
“By the time (a potential candidate) gets 21, they may change their mind about being a firefighter or some of them get in trouble and they mess their (driving record) up,” Yarbrough said. “They want to be firefighters and they can’t.”
State law allows fire departments to employ firefighters as young as 18, and several cities, such as Starkville where Yarbrough served as chief for a decade, already do. In his time at Starkville Fire Department, he said he hired four firefighters who were under 21. Two are still with the department.
CFR is five firefighters short currently, Yarbrough said, but several upcoming retirements could swell that number this summer.
Yarbrough, speaking to The Dispatch after the meeting, acknowledged Harris’ maturity concern, especially considering more than 80% of CFR’s responses are to medical calls.
“That might be an issue, but to be honest with you, we have an issue with maturity with 24-year-olds. I think it’s based on the individual,” Yarbrough said. “… I’m always cautious about them seeing some of the things we see. … If you’re dealing with 25-year-olds, you can have the same issue if you’ve never seen anyone pass away or deceased.”
He also agreed to provide the council whatever data he could from other cities.
During the work session, Mayor Stephen Jones voiced his support for lowering the hiring age at CFR.
“Eighteen is the age to join the military, right?” he said. “… If you can fight for your country, you can fight fires.”
Coupled with hiring younger applicants, Yarbrough wants to start Junior Fire Academies in local schools to “create a pipeline” to future employment. Targeted at ages 14-18, the academies will focus on leadership, civic responsibility and teaching participants what life is like as a firefighter, including weekly visits to CFR stations, he said.
Yarbrough plans to approach local school boards soon with hopes of starting the academies in the fall. CFR is also partnering with the police department to host a Public Safety Academy this summer.
“If we get them early and give them an opportunity, we can save some of them from prison, from being in some trouble, whatever the case may be, or just give them an opportunity to do something they never thought they wanted to do,” Yarbrough said. “… We may have the next fire chief in there. You never know.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
