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New Rochelle fire chief outlines 2026 budget needs, new ambulance and lithium‑ion safety steps
Summary
Fire officials told the City Council they plan to add a downtown ambulance, keep Rescue 4 in full service and replace aging apparatus while continuing high-rise and hazardous‑materials training; they flagged lithium‑ion battery fires as a growing local risk and said county coordination on disposal is underway.
The Fire Department presented its proposed 2026 budget Tuesday, telling the City Council the department must balance rising contractual personnel costs with investments that cut response times and improve safety. Fire leadership said they are budgeting to keep Rescue 4 fully staffed, replace aging apparatus and add a downtown ambulance to reduce transport waits.
Fire leadership emphasized staffing constraints tied to a multi‑year staffing study and current rosters. The chief said the department currently has 38 sworn firefighters on staff and is…
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