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Chief Evans cites staffing shortfall, equipment backlogs; councilors press for funding options including dive and drone teams
Summary
Fire Chief Todd Evans described an understaffed department (about 105 firefighters), high overtime, delayed vehicle deliveries, and equipment and training needs. Councilors discussed SAFER/Safer grant opportunities, potential dive and drone teams, end-of-life radio replacement and the failed debt-exclusion vote for a new headquarters.
Fire Chief Todd Evans told the Committee of the Whole that the Fire Department is operating at low staffing—roughly 104–105 personnel at the time of the meeting—and that a recruit class of 12 is scheduled to go to academies (four at Bridgewater, eight at Stow) with staggered academy completion and phased integration into line staffing later in the year. Evans said the low staffing level has driven higher overtime and stressed certain engine companies (Engine 1 and Engine 4) that show the highest run volumes.
Evans outlined a mix of capital and operational concerns: the national backlog and rising costs of fire apparatus (pumpers and ladder…
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