Swearing in at Fire Dept.: Chief Don Adams administers an oath of office to new Assistant Chief of Administration/EMs Diana A. Watson, who will oversee the EMT training of all the employees at the department. Photo by Mel Toadvine

More than 300 people have signed up for the 34 jobs to be filled at the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept. Chief Don Adams says tests began this past Monday with hiring planned within the next month.,

The effort is to replace 34 jobs that were lost last August when Adams laid off 36 firefighters because of the lack of income to the department. Since then, the department applied for a SAFER grant sponsored and administered by FEMA and Lehigh was one of the fire departments in the U.S. to get nearly a $9 million grant.

Adams told commissioners last week that the money to pay to employees or new rehires will come from the reserves and then every quarter, the department will be reimbursed by FEMA.

Emails were sent out last week to all the firefighters who were laid off informing them that they had first choice to their old jobs. Of the three dozen, Adams said he thought about 20 would be responding and that the others had left the area or had obtained jobs.

The SAFER grant requires that the employees be brought in back to their pay grade and not be laid off for at least two years. New hires will come from a list of applicants who pass the mandatory tests, Adams said.

News of the SAFER grant came two weeks ago just in time to retain another dozen employees that the fire chief had planned to lay off due to the lack of funding.

During last week’s meeting, Commissioner Ralph Hemingway, for the third time in the last three months, made a motion to ask the taxpayers to pay a $35 annual assessment fee. The charge would be made on each and every parcel in Lehigh, no matter the size. There are quarter and half-acre lots. The motion died for the third time because there was no second to the motion. Only four now sit on the fire board since the resignation several months ago of Joel Guzman.

Fire Marshal Kenneth Bennett told commissioners that the State of Florida has mandated placards to be placed on all commercial businesses in the state if the building contains wooden trusses.

“It’s for the safety of the firefighters,” Bennett said.

He explained that a few nights before last Thursday’s meeting there had been a severe thunderstorm in Lehigh that brought about 11 fires from lightning strikes. Of all the blazes, one of the oldest houses in Lehigh, which had been used as storage, burned to the ground. He said the stickers would have alerted firefighters about the construction of the dwelling so they could make life-saving decisions if they entered the building.

Fire Chief Don Adams said all the fire apparatus in Lehigh was busy and help was sought from nearby fire departments.

Fire Marshal Bennett also told commissioners that fees are going up for people who call in false alarms. That means calls or alarms that go off and summon firefighters but when they get there, no fire exists. Fees to residents who call in false alarms will also be fined more, he said.

The fire chief introduced one of the newest employees of the department. She is Diana A. Watson of Golden Gates Estates in Collier County, who started this week as the assistant chief of administration/EMS. It will be her job to oversee and train all EMS personnel.

She was sworn in before a small crowd of residents who attended the meeting at the Veterans Park Community Center.

The board set a tentative millage rate of 3 mills, which was required by law, according to fire board attorney Richard Pringle. It can be changed by going to the legislature in Tallahassee later if the ad valorem taxes are not sufficient to support the department.

The county appraiser reported two weeks ago that properties in Lehigh would further decline another 21.8 percent over the next year. This is bad news for the fire department and could mean a loss of $2 million in tax revenue.

Budget hearings for next year’s budget. For dates, contact the Fire District’s administrative offices at Milwaukee Blvd., which also now will be open full-time due to the SAFER grants.