That only really works if there are funds to pay for it. These firefighters are making $15 (per the article) for doing hot, labor-intensive work in dangerous environment and conditions. It’s hard to get recruitment numbers up for work like that without good pay. Bonuses can help, but it doesn’t sound like they are paying enough to attract the labor they need.
The article also says retention is hard and one of their biggest problems is the lack of ‘experienced’ firefighters. It’s definitely going to be tough to keep people coming back at pay rates that are less than what minimum wage would be if it had kept up with inflation.
HBK