VIERA, Fla. — Brevard County firefighters are still making a plea for better pay as part of an effort that has been ongoing for years.

Ahead of Tuesday's County Commission meeting, firefighters and their families rallied for better pay outside the Brevard County Government Center.

Lt. Joshua Madsen, who has served with Brevard County Fire Rescue for 23 years, said he has taken notice of the department’s low morale due to lack of pay.

“If you really want to be taken care of and look after your family, you look for a department that pays competitive wages right now," he said. "They value who you are and your contribution to the agency."

Madsen is closing in on retirement and would love to continue serving, saying that he joined the fire service because he saw it as his calling.

“I was in the service, military, talking with some guys who were in the reserves,” he said. “(I) decided that was what I wanted to do. Serve the public.”

Right now, a firefighter at Brevard County Fire Rescue has a starting wage of around $15 an hour, which Madsen said has been a factor in the department's low retention rates.

“The pay, work-life balance, you get mandatoried a lot, there’s a lot of overtime," he said. "They tell you, 'You can make a lot of money,' but that’s taking you away from your family."

Brevard County Firefighters Local 2969 President Michael Branson said the union is negotiating with the county for better pay.

He said retaining firefighters is key — as later in their careers, they will pass along their experience to young recruits.

“When you end up with an upsurgence of people on one end, and not enough people on the other end, there’s a lapse in communication, a lapse in experience,” Branson said.

Firefighters and their families said they also planned to speak during the public comment time of Tuesday night's Brevard County Commission meeting.