Hillsboro Fire and Rescue reduced to 13 staff members

Volunteer firefighters of Hillsboro Fire and Rescue began receiving mailed notices Thursday that their services will no longer be needed by the city of Hillsboro. 

Hillsboro Fire Chief Jerry Powell confirmed to the Highland County Press that all of the department's 12 volunteer firefighters and all 14 of the part-time firefighters have received a notice through the mail. 

"It was my understanding that the volunteers got it in the mail today, and the part-timers had received it earlier," Powell said. 

Hillsboro Fire and Rescue is now staffed by 12 full-time firefighters, plus the fire chief. One person, however, is recovering from surgery, Powell said, which leaves them with 11.

The cuts were made as a cost-cutting measure by the Hillsboro Administration after Paint and Hamer townships recently joined other county fire districts, instead of pursuing joining a proposed fire district with the city. 

In April, following Paint Township's announcement that they were joining the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District, which was a $126,000 loss in 2012 revenue for the city, Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Rick Giroux told The Highland County Press that a combination of "operation expenses and probably manpower expenses" will be looked at to cover the revenue loss.

With Hamer Township going with the Lynchburg Area Joint Fire and Ambulance District, the city would lose an estimated $7,254.58, according to the Hillsboro auditor's office. 

Scott Miller had worked as a volunteer firefighter for Hillsboro for 18 years. He said Thursday that receiving notice that he was no longer needed was tough to read. 

"I grew up with Hillsboro firefighters," Miller said. "My dad was a Hillsboro firefighter."

Miller, the former president of the Highland County Firefighter's Association and former spokesperson for the volunteers said, "It has been a privilege to serve the people of Hillsboro for the past 18 years. I would like to thank everyone for the community support." 

When asked if the sudden loss of 26 employees was going to put a strain on the station and remaining personnel, Powell said, "Obviously it will have an impact.

"The only backup we have now is mutual aid."

As previously reported in The Highland County Press, currently contract for Hillsboro firefighters requires a minimum of 12 union firefighter/paramedics on staff - even if there is a decline in responses - takes away management power, which in turn could prevent the city from acting fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. 

Referring the ongoing negotiations between the city of Hillsboro and Liberty, New Market, Jackson and Washington Townships, Miller - a New Market resident - said he hopes everything will be worked out and that emergency services will not be compromised.

"I hope that it gets worked out," he said. "Especially when I think about my family."