Changes Looming for Lutz Volunteer Fire Department

As Hillsborough County's task force continues its investigation of volunteer fire departments, changes loom for the Lutz Volunteer Fire Department.

Three stations have already been transformed into career-only operations: the Cork-Knights in Plant City, the Dover-Turkey Creek and North Brandon.

Answering more than 100 calls a month, the Lutz station represents one of the oldest and busiest volunteer stations in the county.

"Totally cutting out volunteers is not on the plate as I understand it," Lutz Volunteer Fire Department Association president Jay Muffly said. "Although, you never know."

While the station does not face the likelihood of closing, a significant shake up in how it runs operations does seem apparent.

"Things are going to change," Muffly said.

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Likely scenarios include shuffling more full-time firefighters into the mix at the Lutz station or potentially removing the volunteer status of the station. How the stations are used might change drastically.

One idea is to sprinkle volunteer firefighters around to different full-time stations to get them experience and assist with call volume while they undergo more training and certification.

It's not a new idea.

"They (Hillsborough County) tried that years ago," former Lutz fire chief and board of directors President Jerry Goins said. "What happened was the volunteers were being used as janitors, cleaning trucks and not going out on calls."

Goins does not think that system will work.

"If you were volunteering your time like that, how long would you put up with that," Goins asked. "They (BOCC) are going to find out there aren't going to be any volunteers around (if that is what happens)."

Another scenario would have more full-time firefighters working at the Lutz station. If the idea of the task force and the Hillsborough County Commission is to reduce costs, it's hard to imagine how having more full-time staff at a volunteer station will accomplish that, some say.

As it is, the Lutz station is one of the more qualified volunteer stations in the county and perhaps the state.

"Everyone at the station has Firefighting 1 certification," Goins said. "We have three paramedics, and four more in training."

Paramedics have become more important in recent years as homes and businesses are built with different materials. It has changed the makeup of the type of calls fire stations get. According to Muffly, "roughly 70 percent" of calls nowadays are for medical emergencies.

Another problem the volunteer force faces is the very nature of their volunteer status. Because they are not full-time employees of the county, finding training and resources can be a bit of a challenge.

"There's no accommodation for volunteers," Goins said.

Goins explains that volunteers have to scramble to get training. Their non-full-time status limits their availability and, according to Goins, "they won't come over here to train the guys."

Another factor is the come-and-go that happens with volunteer firefighters. Sometimes, firefighters can't afford to give the time anymore. Often, the volunteers get called up to full-time positions and leave the Lutz station.

"One time, we lost our whole day crew," Goins said.

In the spring of this year, the Lutz station lost all three daytime, Monday-to-Friday firefighters to full-time positions in different counties.

Yet, the Lutz department figured it out and moved on, much like it has done for the past 50 years.

For now, the station is safe, but the task force is supposed to release its report to the BOCC on Nov. 15.

"We'll know a lot more after that meeting," Muffly said.

Do you think the county should keep the Lutz Volunteer Fire Department active? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.