Campbell weighs all-volunteer department

Campbell

A proposal to convert the city’s paid fire department to all volunteers is not going over well with everyone.

The proposal, in a state-mandated financial recovery plan city council approved at its meeting Wednesday, calls for the eventual crossover to volunteers as the city’s paid firefighters retire. The chief’s position would still be paid and full-time.

The move would help boost the city’s Insurance Office Services rating, city Finance Director Sherman Miles has said. The ISO rating is worsening, going up from six to 10 on a scale of one to 10 because the city cannot assure four firefighters at a fire scene. The higher ISO rating could cause homeowners’ insurance rates to rise.

There are five firefighters on staff now, plus the chief.

Chief Nick Hrelec said he is against the move.