Acton to test three‑station fire/EMS deployment after two‑station pilot; public hearing planned in June

Town officials reported progress on a multistage pilot program to evaluate fire and EMS staffing and response routing and said the town will move to a three‑station deployment on May 18, 2025.

Background and pilot results: the town temporarily moved from a four‑station staffing model (small crews at each station) to a two‑station model on Feb. 10, 2025, placing five personnel at North Station and five at a consolidated South station to improve on‑scene staffing and training opportunities. Staff said the two‑station model improved response times in several incidents and boosted on‑scene staffing but created space and operational challenges at the South Station, which is not sized to comfortably house five personnel.

Next phase: starting May 18, staff said the town will test a three‑station deployment that keeps a fully staffed station north of Route 2 and splits remaining staff between South and West (West Acton) stations, with ambulance coverage maintained on both sides of Route 2. The Collins Center at UMass Boston — the consultant conducting the operational study — will compile internal and external survey data and response metrics and present findings at a public hearing in June; the town manager will announce the hearing date.

Why it matters: the pilot aims to balance faster, better‑staffed responses with reasonable facility usage and to inform long‑term staffing and capital decisions for station space. Town officials said recruitment, recently negotiated collective bargaining changes, and an added budgeted position all aim to improve staffing levels during the trial.