BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The Bay Minette Fire Department will welcome two new firefighters by the end of the month, at a cost of no more than $75,000 to the city.

Fire Chief Phil Bryars approached the Bay Minette City Council during its Dec. 1 work session to request the positions, which he said will bring the department up to the minimum staffing requirements set by the National Fire Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Bryars told the council the two organizations require a minimum of four firefighters on each shift.

“We currently run three on some shifts because that’s all we have,” Bryars told the council.

He said the city has not officially adopted the two organizations’ regulations, meaning the fire department is not required to follow them, but said in a lawsuit, the department would be held to them.

“The NFPA requires two in and two out,” Bryars explained. “That means two men inside fighting the fire, and two outside in case something happens to one or both men inside.

“If we went to court, the lawyers would use the NFPA regulations as a guideline.”

Bryars said the BMFD has been deined grants because it is below the minimum staffing requirement set by the NFPA.

“We need two more men,” he told the council. “That will bring us up to the minimum staffing requirement, and we can reapply for those grants at a later date.”

In addition to the safety and monetary concerns are issues relating to homeowner’s insurance. The Insurance Services Office rates fire department jurisdictions based on water supply, 911-emergency services and fire protection, which relates directly to the department’s ability to provide services to those jurisdictions.

“We currently have an ISO rating of four, which isn’t bad,” Bryars said. “But it could be better.”

He said the lower the number the better the rating, with one being the best.

“Very few cities in Alabama have a one,” Bryars said.

During the city council meeting that followed that work session and Bryars request, the city annexed three properties that collectively add more than 2,000 acres to the city limits.

Bryars said the annexation added another reason he needs more men now.

“Once the city annexes those properties, the police and fire jurisdiction will go three miles past the city limits,” Bryars said. “And, that will give us nine additional miles of Interstate. So, we may be back in October for more people.”

Until then, Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery agreed to fill the two new positions, and Bryars immediately posted the positions.

Bryars said he wants to get the two men hired as soon as possible. “The posting will close Dec. 16, we will conduct interviews Dec. 18 and will hold the physical agility test Dec. 19.”

Bryars said the start date will depend on who he is able to hire. He said if an officer is already certified, he or she can start immediately pending a physical and drug test, but others may have to go through the fire college.

“We will try to find some of the folks in the volunteer fire department because they are already trained,” he said.

The BMFD has approximately 19 volunteer firefighters, according to Bryars, but they cannot be counted towards the minimum staffing requirements because most of them have other jobs and are not always immediately available for a call.

He said if either of the officers hired come from the volunteer ranks, they will go through the BRIDGE program, which helps transition a firefighter from volunteer to career status.

During the discussion regarding the department and its need for more manpower, Tillery told the council the BMFD was the “oldest and smallest department in the county.” Bryars said the department answered 1,600 calls last year compared to 1,800 this year.