DRUMRIGHT — The City of Drumright Board of Commissioners recently approved a new financial incentive for full-time firefighters. The incentive is designed to support and encourage full-time firefighters to obtain EMT certification.
Commissioners’ unanimously approved the Aug. 10 agenda item.
“This would be an incentive to our fulltime firemen to earn the EMT certification,” said City Manager Shawn Gibson.
Gibson emphasized only full-time firefighters would be eligible for the $50-permonth incentive.
Having firefighters with EMT credentials can expand the department’s capabilities when responding to medical emergencies, according to Gibson, particularly when firefighters arrive before an ambulance or other medical personnel.
Fire Chief Brett Lunsford said the incentive is available to full-time firefighters who already hold the certification as well as those who obtain it in the future. He added that currently the department has five full-time firefighters with two already holding EMT certifications.
Lunsford said the EMT incentive is part of a broader approach to educational incentive pay within the department. He said the department uses educational incentives in part to remain competitive with other fire departments and encourage firefighters to stay with the city.
“We do incentive pays and they’re all educational based — this isn’t our only one,” Lunsford said. “The main reason we do incentive pays is to kind of keep up with the trend, truthfully,” Lunsford said.
The approved incentive represents an investment in the training of Drumright’s full-time firefighters and could strengthen the department’s ability to provide emergency medical assistance within the community.
EMT certification must be renewed every two years, according to Lunsford, making the incentive an ongoing benefit while also encouraging firefighters to maintain their credentials.
The department also works with Central Technology Center to help firefighters obtain the certification. Depending on available assistance, the department may use scholarships or help to cover the cost of the training, according to Lunsford.