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Somerville Fire Department reports 152 calls last year, new equipment and detector program nearing review
Summary
Somerville Fire Department briefed the Coffee County committee on operations: 152 calls last year (about 40 structure fires countywide), new gear purchased with a state grant, an average first-response time near 10–11 minutes and reliance on mutual aid; the committee was asked to consider continuing a smoke-detector incentive program.
Donnie Spears, chief of the Somerville Fire Department, told the Coffee County Health, Welfare and Recreation Committee on Jan. 21 that the department responded to 152 calls in the previous year and that 44 of those were structure fires counted countywide.
Spears said the department received a state grant of $76,350 to purchase turnout gear and that the department purchased 18 full sets of protective gear. He said that having two sets per member reduces time out of service for cleaning after structure fires. “We were awarded the state grant last year, which permitted us to get everybody 2 sets of turnout gear,” Spears said.
Spears gave the committee other operational details: the department maintains three stations and has 17 reliably active members, buys equipment as needed (he cited a recent $10,500 purchase to outfit two pumper-tankers), and uses mutual aid with neighboring departments and Manchester when calls exceed local capacity.
The department reported an average dispatch‑to‑first‑unit response time of about 10 to 11 minutes. Spears said response outcomes vary widely by building age and construction materials, noting modern homes burn faster than older ones and that early detection matters for survivability.
Spears also discussed the county smoke‑detector incentive program, which the committee has funded in prior years. He said the current incentive period is the program’s final year unless the committee renews funding. The department reported it has installed roughly 60–70 detectors over several years and expects to meet the current year’s quota.
Spears and Assistant Chief Mark Hopkins answered committee questions about equipment, cascade air systems, and whether the department can access a mobile air‑fill truck from neighboring districts for large incidents. Committee members thanked Somerville Fire Department leaders for the update.
