More money is on the way to retain volunteer firefighters here at home.
The Butte County Board of Supervisors approved a stipend increase for volunteer firefighters. That stipend has not changed since 1999. The Butte County Fire Department said that since 1999, its volunteers have received $7.50 per call and $9 per drill. This decision will double the stipend to $15 per call, $20 per half day or dill, or $30 for a full day.
District 4 Supervisor and Chair, Tod Kimmelshue, said this is an investment in the volunteers that are vital in helping protect the community. “They get a small amount when they come out to fires, and we increased it a little bit, so it makes it a little more advantageous for those folks to be more involved with the volunteer fire department,” Kimmelshue said.