Bonifay Fire Department welcomes paid position opportunity for firefighters  

Fire Chief Travis Cook presented an opportunity to the Mayor and City Council that promises to significantly enhance the Bonifay Fire Department (BFD). The proposal included having a paid firefighter that is level 2 certified at the station on Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm.  The council approved the proposal on August 5 and the start date for the position will be on October 1, making it the first paid firefighter in city history.  

Currently operating as a volunteer department, the BFD response process involves personnel leaving their homes or workplaces, traveling to the station, retrieving necessary equipment, and then responding to calls. While response times are generally satisfactory, there is always room for improvement. The newly established staffed position will ensure that during peak hours, a Firefighter II certified individual will be on-site and ready to respond immediately upon dispatch. This advancement is expected to reduce response times by 2 to 5 minutes, “this is a crucial improvement that could make the difference between saving lives and structures during emergencies,” said Chief Cook. 

Over the past five years, the Department has experienced a 67% increase in call volume, with projections exceeding 600 calls for the current year. Notably, 63% of these calls occurred during the peak hours covered by the new position. During this period, one staff member managed 497 calls within these hours. 

The Department currently has 10 of its 22 personnel available to fill this role. The implementation of this position will contribute to improving better apparatus maintenance, enhanced response times, increased public education, improved fire hydrant maintenance, and decrease unnecessary responses. These improvements will also reduce fuel consumption, minimize volunteers’ time away from their primary jobs and families, and support the overall well-being of the community.

“This has been a long time coming and I’m very proud for the city and the department for this addition,” said Mayor Cook.