IAFF Local 727 · West Palm Beach
Your firefighters and paramedics have been serving the residents of West Palm Beach with pride and excellence since 1894.
All-Hazards Response
West Palm Beach firefighter/paramedics do more than fight fires. As an all-hazards department, your firefighters are prepared to address any emergency you might be experiencing.
With more than 90% of firefighters in West Palm Beach being state-certified paramedics, we provide advanced life-saving medical service within minutes of your call for help. Whether it’s a broken bone, heart attack, or another medical emergency — we are there for you.
Your firefighter/paramedics have advanced training to mitigate chemical spills, gas leaks, radiological incidents, vehicle accidents, building collapses, and more. We also support neighboring cities as state-deployable Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue teams.
Using modern prevention and inspection practices, firefighter/paramedics assigned to the Prevention Bureau help keep West Palm Beach buildings safer for patrons and residents. They also deliver fire safety education to schools and community centers.
Community Impact
Your firefighter/paramedics have worked hard to provide $32.8 million in savings and revenue.
Through the efforts of your firefighter/paramedics, the city was awarded a $14,000,000 federal grant covering salaries, benefits, and hiring costs for new firefighters for the first three years of employment.
West Palm Beach firefighter/paramedics generate over $6,000,000 in revenue through billable services. This revenue is recurring and growing annually.
An annual Fire Assessment Fee is collected with the goal of improving fire services. City Administration has publicly admitted to shifting general fund items to this fee in FY21, rather than improving fire service to the residents.
As a good-faith show of effort, Local 727 voluntarily changed overtime hiring procedures and adjusted retirement calculations to save the city $5.25 million in a combination of one-time and recurring savings.
Labor Relations
Collaborative efforts continue to ensure West Palm Beach firefighters receive fair, competitive compensation, benefits, and working conditions — with a strong focus on the health and wellbeing of firefighters.
The City of West Palm Beach and your firefighters have maintained a productive and respectful relationship, grounded in a mutual commitment to public safety and employee well-being. Through open dialogue and collaborative negotiations, both parties have worked together to uphold fair and competitive wages, comprehensive benefits, and safe working conditions for the dedicated men and women of the fire department.
This partnership reflects a shared understanding that supporting firefighters is vital to protecting our community. As we look ahead, we remain committed to maintaining this positive momentum so your West Palm Beach firefighters continue to thrive on and off the job.
Stand With UsTake Action
Urge the City Commissioners to vote against any budget that does not allocate the Fire Assessment Fund toward increasing available units and resources needed for responding to your emergencies.
