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Fire chief announces hazmat shared service, staffing shifts and PPE, AED funding needs
Summary
Chief Tim Lynch told the council the department implemented a new schedule and hired EMT-only staff in 2024, joined a county hazardous-materials shared-service arrangement, and faces equipment and training costs: turnout gear replacement, volunteer physicals, AED expansion and radio upgrades were highlighted.
Chief Tim Lynch reported several operational changes and capital needs for Fire & Emergency Services during the March 11 budget work session. He said a new staffing schedule went into effect after a firefighters' union contract and the department hired EMT-only personnel for the first time to diversify staffing roles.
Lynch described a new county shared-service arrangement for hazardous materials (hazmat) response that relies on overtime callback staffing locally and a countywide backup (Trenton) when the six-person hazmat minimum cannot be met. He said Mercer County handles roughly 50 hazmat calls a year; West Windsor responded to 13 in 2024. Lynch said the county has agreed to fund some hazmat physical-compliance costs as part of the shared program.
On recruitment, Lynch praised a regional testing effort that drew about 200 applicants when West Windsor partnered with other departments, producing a large candidate pool for entry-level hiring.
Equipment and training needs were a focus. Lynch requested a continuing capital allocation of $75,000 per year for replacement of fire equipment, noting prices and lifespan rules are changing (for example, turnout gear commonly has a 10-year recommended service life). He said a full set of turnout gear (coat, pants, helmet, gloves, boots) costs roughly $5,000'$5,200 per person and that the department had to rent sets to support training in 2024. Lynch also described an initiative to provide physicals for volunteer firefighters using a mobile medical unit; quotes ranged from about $600 per person (on-site mobile unit) to roughly $1,000 per person if sent to outside vendor clinics.
Lynch described the department's AED program and requested a $25,000 annual capital line to replace and expand AEDs in township vehicles and buildings. He said newer AEDs are networked for remote monitoring and have longer pad lifespans (4 to 5 years versus 18'24 months on older models), so the $25,000/year would allow steady rotation and replacement.
The chief described radio and communications planning tied to a county radio-system transition that will require some new radio components and vehicle automatic-vehicle-locator equipment. He said the county's approach of dispatching the closest available unit is expected to improve response times but will require in-vehicle hardware.
Lynch asked for quarterly reports on hazmat calls and costs; council members agreed such reporting would be useful as the shared-service arrangements and equipment needs mature.
