On Thurs., Jan. 13, the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the use of $51,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as incentive pay to provide each active Santa Rosa County volunteer firefighter with a $1,000 relief stipend.
“Many of our rural residents are served by volunteer departments,” said Commissioner Colten Wright, District 5. “These volunteers continue to serve the residents of Santa Rosa County and they put their own health and well-being at risk every day. These men and women are one of our greatest assets and this is just a small way to say thank you.”
The 51 volunteer firefighters are members of all-volunteer departments which include Berrydale, Munson, Jay, Allentown and Harold. According to the Santa Rosa County Firefighters Association, eligible volunteer firefighters have had no disciplinary actions against them since Mar. 1, 2020, were categorized as active duty during the entire quarantine period and responded to over 20% of the calls dispatched.
