JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department graduated its latest class of recruits Thursday night at the Florida State College at Jacksonville South Campus on Beach Boulevard.
But with the City Council recently passing a tentative budget that threatens to close three fire stations and take away 33 firefighters, News4Jax wanted to know how these new recruits might be affected by those budget cuts.
JFRD Chief Martin Senterfitt said Thursday that the budget cuts could impact future classes, but not this one. He said these 39 recruits already have jobs with the department.
"Jacksonville is such a large department, there is always turnover," Senterfitt explained. "Right now, when they hit the streets Saturday, we'll still be 69 firefighters short. We're always playing catchup, and their jobs are secure."
On Tuesday, the City Council voted 14-4 to tentatively approve a budget with 2 percent cuts for every department across the board. But Senterfitt said although stations might close and 33 positions might be cut, firefighters would be reassigned and none would lose their jobs. JFRD will just absorb the openings that are expected in October.
"Every quarter we lose a couple dozen people, so it's not a problem with us," Senterfitt said. "If we were told to shrink the fire department, we would be able to do that without a problem."
Many family members had tears in their eyes after the ceremony, proud that their recruit had made it through.
Julie Ostensen is the mother of one of the newest recruits. She said she and her son knew about the budget cuts, and they weren't concerned.
"Whether there is a guarantee there or not, he still would have gone for this," Ostensen said. "I don't have as much concern about budget constraints as I do that -- knowing about the average of danger associated with the job. The budget cuts, I feel like Jacksonville has always been real good to the firefighters, and it will sustain itself."