The Charleston Fire Department (CFD) is looking at the next steps to make sure they are retaining firefighters.
City of Charleston Fire Chief Dan Curia says he has been working tirelessly for the last few years to grow a strong department and fill every position, but making a livable salary is the biggest issue they are facing.
“The pay and retention issue is our number one issue to tackle,” says CFD Chief Curia.
John Baker with the Charleston Fire Association says retaining fire-fighters is difficult as the starting minimum wage is less than $13 an hour.
“Retaining those firefighters that we train up and have ready to go to protect our citizens and visitors of Charleston are coming and going quicker than we can make a motion to keep them here,” says Baker.
City of Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg says every city employee deserves higher pay, especially the fire department.