VIDEO: Leaders at the Myrtle Beach Fire Department are pushing for a new schedule that is designed to give firefighters and EMTs a better work-life balance. The new โone day on, three days offโ staffing model would decrease the average work week from 53 hours to 45 hours. Right now, crews work every third day, which means 24 hours on, followed by 48 hours off. While that may sound nice, itโs still a 53-hour work week. Horry County Fire Rescue also operates on the 24/48 model, which is the standard for most fire departments across the country. Myrtle Beach Fire Capt. Jon Evans said the 24/72 staffing model would improve firefightersโ quality of life. โIt gets us closer to that 40-hour work week, which gives our firefighters a little bit better mental health, personal health, lets them build that family life, and again just feel like a normal person at the end of the day,โ Evans said.
