Professional Firefighters of Walton County Local 4413

06/11/2026

06/08/2026

We made it to Jacksonville! Looking forward to a week with our brothers and sisters in the IAFF.

05/19/2026

🚒 BIG NEWS FOR HOLMES COUNTY FIRE RESCUE 🚒

Sheriff John Tate is excited to announce that during this morning’s county commission meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously, 5-0, to transfer the county volunteer fire departments to the Holmes County Sheriff's Office effective June 1, 2026.

Prior to the meeting, Sheriff Tate met with the fire chiefs from each department to discuss what this transition means for their departments and personnel. All of the chiefs were supportive of the move and expressed excitement about the future of fire services in Holmes County.

Sheriff Tate also met with Jeff McVay, who recently retired from Walton County Fire Rescue after 30 years of service and experience in the fire service industry. Sheriff Tate has officially hired McVay as the Holmes County Fire Chief. Many of the local fire departments already know and respect Chief McVay, and we are excited to have his leadership and experience guiding Holmes County Fire Rescue moving forward.

In the coming weeks, Sheriff Tate and Chief McVay will also be meeting with the city councils of each municipality that currently operates a fire department to discuss his vision for Holmes County Fire Rescue and determine if they are willing to come onboard and partner in this new direction for fire services.

We are excited about this new addition to HCSO and eager to get started making positive changes for the citizens of Holmes County through Holmes County Fire Rescue.

Stay tuned as we continue making major announcements regarding Fire Rescue in the near future.

05/10/2026

Today we recognize the mothers, wives, grandmothers, daughters, and mother figures who hold everything together behind the scenes while we answer the call. The long shifts and missed holidays are made easier because of the support, strength, and sacrifice of the women standing beside us every day.

To the moms working the trucks, raising families, and keeping your homes grounded while this job demands so much of you, thank you. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. We hope every mother out there has a safe and blessed Mother’s Day.

05/07/2026

!!!

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners has formally presented a historic contract proposal to IAFF Local 3169, the Professional Firefighters of Marion County, representing one of the most significant investments in personnel in the history of Marion County Fire Rescue

The proposal includes an unprecedented across-the-board salary increase of approximately $20,000 for Firefighters, Paramedics, and EMTs. The proposal is designed to strengthen recruitment and retention efforts, improve workforce wellness, and position MCFR as a leading fire and EMS agency within the State of Florida.

Under the proposed agreement, here are the updated annual salaries:

Firefighter/EMT: Starting at $65,067 annually
Firefighter/Paramedic : Starting at $75,022 annually
EMT: Starting at $61,815 annually
Paramedic: Starting at $72,239 annually

In addition to wage increases, the proposal includes:

80 hours of paid holidays annually
$0.75 per hour EMT Transport Stipend
$2.00 per hour Paramedic Transport Stipend

The contract proposal also establishes a transition to a 24/72 work schedule by October 2029. This supports the long-term goal of achieving a 42-hour average work week recommendation, while improving the mental, physical, spiritual, and financial wellness of MCFR personnel.

This proposal underscores a commitment to public safety and the future trajectory of Marion County Fire Rescue.

04/18/2026

This morning the Sasnett family tragically lost their rock. Jared was a loving and caring husband, father and firefighter. He supported his family of 4 girls...

04/15/2026

To our brothers and sisters,

We want to take a moment to recognize what you do day in and day out. You show up every shift ready to go to work, no matter the call volume, the stress, or what false accusations are being said in the name of profit. At the end of the day, it always comes back to one thing…..Taking care of our patients.

This job isn’t easy. You’re making quick, often tough decisions in real time with limited information and in less than ideal environments that would scare away the average health field worker. You rely on your training, your experience, and your clinical judgment to do what’s right for the patient in front of you.

Being a patient advocate means doing what is in the patient’s best interest, even when it’s not the easiest option. It means recognizing when a patient needs a certain level of care, when time matters, and making that call when it counts.

Most of us live here. We grew up here. These aren’t strangers, we’re taking care of our own people. That matters, and it shows in the way you handle yourselves on every call.

We trust your judgment. We stand behind the decisions you make in the field, and we know the level of professionalism you bring to this job every single day.

Keep doing what you’re doing. Take care of your patients and take care of each other. We’ve got your back.

03/03/2026

Brothers and sisters,

As you know, our current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is entering negotiations. The Executive Board and Negotiations Team will begin the negotiation process on March 30.

Between now and then, I’m asking every member to carefully review the current CBA. If there are any items you would like to see added, removed, or modified, please email your suggestions to my personal email no later than March 15. Please refer to the discord or reach out to me via phone.

We are setting a firm deadline so the Negotiations Committee and Executive Board have adequate time to compile, review, and organize all submitted concerns before negotiations begin.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me. If I do not have the answer right away, I will make sure to get it for you.

Thank you for your involvement and commitment to Local 4413.

Respectfully,
John Hood

01/15/2026

Taking charge and fighting for better conditions to better the community. That’s what’s it’s about 💯

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Registered nurses at HCA Florida fort walton-destin hospital-- taking a public stand this morning-- rallying as they begin negotiations for

12/18/2025

Heart. Compassion. Care.

We want to take a moment to recognize Firefighter Paramedic Joshua Brock for the compassion and heart he brings to Walton County Fire Rescue every shift.

Joshua recently received a kind note from leadership at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast after bringing them on a ride-along.

They shared how impressed they were with how he treats every patient with respect, dignity, and genuine compassion. One specific call for service involved a patient who was experiencing a mental health episode.

It’s the kind of feedback that reminds us how much our first responders truly impact the people they serve.

Joshua’s professionalism, positive attitude, and dedication to patient care don’t go unnoticed by our partners or by our community.

We’re proud to have him representing WCFR.

Thanks for all you do, Joshua. Walton County is lucky to have you!