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Jupiter Fire Rescue gives timeline for hiring, stations and Oct. 1, 2026 go‑live
Summary
Deputy Chief Steve Shaw told the council JFRD remains on schedule and on budget: station topping‑offs this week, apparatus arriving Jan–May 2026, phased hiring of about 98 personnel and a target service start date of Oct. 1, 2026.
Deputy Chief Steve Shaw of the new Jupiter Fire Rescue Department told the Town Council on Nov. 18 that the department remains "on schedule and on budget" as it prepares to take over local fire and emergency medical services.
Shaw, the town’s deputy chief of operations, said topping‑off ceremonies for two new stations occurred this week and that fire rescue ambulances are expected to arrive in January 2026, engines and a squad in April, and a ladder truck in May. Staffing will be phased: leadership and administrative roles are being filled now, training captains and battalion chiefs have anticipated start dates in January–February, and operational hires will begin in May and June 2026. The department is planning to hire roughly 98 new employees across two phases, including 54 firefighter EMTs or firefighter‑paramedics with an anticipated start around June 1, 2026, and a full complement of staff onboard by June–July 2026.
The training program will follow a "crawl, walk, run" approach, Shaw said: Phase I emphasizes leadership and equipment training and hands‑on familiarization, while Phase II transitions to scenario‑based operational work with partner agencies. Shaw said some training will occur in town facilities, with practical components at the regional fire academy and field sites. He described the hiring applicant pool as large and competitive and said the department has offers out for several key leadership positions with planned start dates in December 2025 and January and February 2026.
Council members praised the presentation and asked for details about where the new hires will be stationed and how the training will be managed. Shaw and town staff said early onboarding will be held in larger town facilities before dividing trainees into smaller, role‑specific groups. The council also noted community milestones tied to station construction; Town Manager Kitsoro and staff confirmed ongoing construction and upcoming topping‑off ceremonies.
Council members expressed broad support for the timeline and staffing approach. The Town Manager reaffirmed that the town expects the Jupiter Fire Rescue Department to begin providing full services to the community on Oct. 1, 2026, pending the completion of stations, apparatus delivery and the training program.
