At a Fire District Board meeting this week, fire department union representatives spoke at public comment to protest the possibility of two job consolidations Fire Chief Scott Wirth is proposing during contract negotiations.
In response to those public comments and an online campaign against the move, Chief Wirth has issued the following statement explaining the specifics of what he’s proposing and why:
“The Fort Myers Beach Fire District takes seriously its duty to constantly evaluate its
service to the community while also remaining fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.
Occasionally, this type of self-evaluation can lead to the difficult realization that
restructuring is necessary. We currently find ourselves in that position.
“The Company Officer is the first-level supervisor in charge of managing a fire station,
in addition to the trucks and personnel assigned. The company officer holds the title of
Lieutenant or Captain. The Battalion Chief is traditionally the second-level supervisor
who typically oversees multiple company officers in larger organizations. After a
review of our district’s operations, including a comparison to multiple similar fire
districts in the county, it became clear that the role of Battalion Chief in our
organization stood out as being critically underutilized.
“For approximately three years, the Battalion Chief role has been a discretionary
position for the district, meaning that it would remain vacant if the Battalion Chief was
on leave and there was no qualified member on duty to backfill the role. The Battalion
Chief position has been vacant approximately 33% of the time over this three-year
period. During these periods of vacancy, the district’s operations have not been
impacted.
“Today, the Union and the District met on this issue. The Union and the two Battalion
Chiefs were provided with the details of why the district is choosing to eliminate the
Battalion Chief position effective 7/31/25, at the expiration of our existing contract.
Following that explanation, the employees were provided with two options:
• Continue employment with the district and be reassigned to a Captain position
effective 7/31/25 with no negative impact to pay & benefits, or;
• Retire with a lump sum payout of their pay and benefits
At the end of the meeting, I made it clear that the District and I welcome their
experience in the Captain position. I also reminded the Union and our Battalion Chiefs
that I had stepped down from Operations Chief to Assistant Chief of Support Services
to manage upcoming facility construction projects because that’s what the organization
needed at the time.
It is unfortunate that the Union persists in claiming these employees are being threatened with termination. We have provided the best options available to ensure our team members have successful transitions to whatever path they may choose.”
Scott Wirth
Fire Chief
The ones that will suffer from his terrible choices, and most recent choice to eliminate the battalion chief positions are the firefighters and taxpayers plain and simple.
Unfortunately he never paints the full picture of what he is doing to the public or his firefighters. This Chief has a long history of this behavior. Just ask the City of Fort Myers firefighters. I’m confident it will all catch up to him, and he will be a big let down to all once again.
The public should ask themselves, what were these other district that were compared? What is the 1,3, 5, 10 and 25 year projections for the growth and change of the fort Myers beach fire control district? Also, you have and individual making a decision whom never been a battalion chief or shift supervisor and spent minimum time as a company officer. Also, whom taken three administrative demotions in his tenure. After hurricane Ian, when the district and the public needed support from their administration. He took 60 days of leave to work on his own residence from December to March. That true leadership. And after his return the Chief resigned 🤷🏻♂️. What changes has this administration identified and changed since hurricane Ian? Last board meeting he presented a high water vehicle that wouldn’t be ready this season. Like he doesn’t care about the public he serves! It’s been almost 2 and half years since Ian and he hasn’t done anything. His action are reckless and endangers not only civilians but all first responders whom server and respond to Fort Myers beach. Enough is enough, it’s time for change and thoughtful leadership.
The FMB fire is the 2nd largest component of my property tax! Cut costs!
His plan is to fill the position with admin chief officers and a civilian. This will not cut cost. It is a shell game that will put lives and properties at risk. He will also be relying on the other districts to send their bc to calls in fmb district. If the bc is not needed, why fill the roll with others? Everyone should be asking questions and getting all of the information.
As a retired Assistant Chief from the Ft Myers Beach Fire Department I don’t understand why the positions need to be eliminated now. I was in the administration when these positions were created. One major reason was to have a department official representing the district at all times. Since I was the only administrator who lived on the island. The next biggest reason was to address changing NFPA Standards requiring command structure at incidents. I have been retired for 19 years and the changes in technology building materials and fire suppression have been exponential. Now let’s add all new equipment for search and rescue and hi-rise operations. Let’s not forget to add hurricane ,flooding and other disasters to the mix. It would appear that the job has gotten harder not easier. It seems to me that the Department is taking an enormous step backward. Congratulations to the new Chief of Training. That position must be outside the Union protection.
Disappointed in the Chief. The department is on the cusp of a new era and the powers that be want to go backwards. SMH
You can always save money by not filling a position….until there is a critical incident where strong overall command presence is needed and then it’s penny wise and dollar foolish. If the role is being left vacant because there isn’t an employee available who is qualified then TRAIN THEM!
You stepped down from operations to Assistant Chief yet you were still a Chief so where was the problem?
Your actions point to you trying to consolidate your authority and power at the expense of your employees.