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Zionsville safety board hears staffing shortfalls; council approved three new firefighters for 2026
Summary
Town officials told the safety board the fire department faces recurring daily staffing shortages and multiple injuries; the council approved three hires for calendar year 2026 but chiefs said full relief likely won’t arrive until recruits finish training next summer.
At a Town of Zionsville Safety Board meeting, Chief Van Gorder told board members the town council had "approved to hire 3 new firefighters for calendar year '26," and that the department was also managing recent vacancies from a retirement and a job-separation for disability.
Deputy Chief of Operations Aaron Gibbons gave a detailed operational update, describing a rolling 21‑day staffing sheet and a pattern of yellow (daily shortfalls) and red (mandatory shift coverage) days. Gibbons said three firefighters are currently injured — two of those requiring surgeries with expected recoveries of about four to six months — and that the department…
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