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New Fire Chief outlines staffing, volunteer standards and South End station timeline
Summary
Fire Chief Drew Savage told the Health and Safety Committee that Winchester Fire Rescue is increasing career staffing, formalizing ranks, working with volunteer companies on standards and safety, and expects the new South End fire station and city engine deliveries in 2026.
Drew Savage, Winchester's newly appointed fire chief, told the Health and Safety Committee that he has spent his first three months reviewing department operations and beginning several initiatives including increases to career staffing, a promotional reclassification to add captains, volunteer-company standards, and long-range apparatus replacement planning.
Savage said the department's daily minimum career staffing is 15 personnel, all cross-trained in fire and EMS, and that an in-house fire academy is due to graduate a class in mid-September; additional hiring funded in last year's budget will support further staffing increases with a target class start in mid-October. "Those members will get introduced operationally and that will begin the first phase to start enhancing that daily minimum staffing," he said.
Savage described newly funded captains: the department is interviewing candidates (he reported nine active candidates) and expects selections by early October. He said these rank changes will help modernize operations as the planned South End Station comes online and the department changes deployment models.
Volunteer companies: Savage emphasized the historical contributions of the volunteer companies but said recruitment and retention challenges persist. He described an existing, fully executed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Winchester Fire Rescue and volunteer companies and said the MOU defines three primary volunteer contributions: safe and habitable fire stations, fire apparatus aligned with community needs, and certified volunteer personnel. Savage said two volunteer companies have recently acquired apparatus that were not procured in consultation with the department and do not align with the department's apparatus replacement plan; he said the department will revisit the replacement plan and clarify acquisition practices.
Health and safety for volunteers: Savage said two recent medical events involving volunteers prompted the department to work with volunteer leadership to provide physical examinations and fitness evaluations comparable to the career force for volunteers who perform operational roles.
Programs and public engagement: Savage reported neighborhood canvassing from April through September with 317 doors contacted; fire public-education activities have reached about 1,800 participants, resulted in 27 smoke alarms installed and 16 child safety seats distributed. He also said the mobile integrated health/community paramedic program is being expanded to add a second position and that the city engine currently in production is scheduled for delivery in September 2026. The South End Station construction is progressing with a targeted move-in date of September 2026.
Committee members praised the progress and urged continued collaboration with volunteers and attention to apparatus planning, fitness standards and recognition of volunteer contributions. No formal committee action occurred during the update.
