A resident sharply criticized the city's use of a heavy rescue apparatus purchased in 2019 and urged the council to prioritize staffing that vehicle so it can respond to confined‑space and complex rescues.

"A heavy rescue is not just another fire truck," Ashley Glass said. She said the city paid $1.18 million for a heavy rescue in 2019 and cited a 2022 Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) gap analysis that recommended the apparatus be operational for a city Roswell’s size. Glass said the vehicle remains idle at times and linked staffing choices to public‑safety risk.

Fire leaders and the mayor responded by outlining a multi‑year staffing and equipment plan. Roswell Fire Chief Joe (surname not specified in transcript) summarized progress under the council‑approved five‑year strategic plan: the department had 64 full‑time operations members at the meeting, planned to add 15 members with a swearing‑in ceremony scheduled Oct. 27 (raising staffing to approximately 79), had taken delivery of two engines and a new ladder truck, and is working to staff additional paramedics and implement technology to improve safety and response.

"The heavy rescue is a priority," the chief said, while acknowledging that the vehicle "is not optimally staffed" on every shift during the staffing transition. City leaders also highlighted investments and operational changes, including traffic preemption, new apparatus deliveries and programs intended to improve firefighter safety and response times. Officials said the city’s average response time had improved compared with the prior year.

Residents at the forum pressed for faster action, citing prior consultant recommendations and examples where neighboring jurisdictions would have provided heavy‑rescue response after a delay. City leaders emphasized that the plan to convert the department from a predominantly part‑time model to a full‑time staffing model is underway and that the department now has dedicated battalion chiefs on duty during structure incidents.

Officials encouraged residents to follow ongoing public safety updates and noted the department recently received national recognition for firefighter health and safety work.