Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
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 using federal and grant sources — including a SAFER grant — to fund six recently hired positions. The presentation also listed planned apparatus purchases for 2026, including a new rescue truck to replace a 2007 vehicle and an EMS wildland support unit.
Council members pressed the department on where a new ambulance would be based; staff said they are evaluating Drake Avenue as a likely location to lower downtown transport times and realign ambulance coverage districts. The chief clarified that fire engines continue to provide on‑scene care but patient transport requires an ambulance unit supplied by a transport provider.
Officials identified lithium‑ion battery incidents as an increasing hazard. The chief recounted field visits to a large battery‑storage site in the Bronx and said Westchester County has issued guidance his department is integrating. He urged residents not to drop spent batteries at firehouses and pointed to a county recycling site in Valhalla for safe disposal. Council members raised equity concerns about access to that distant collection site for residents without cars; fire staff said county pickup programs and containment equipment are being explored.
On enforcement and prevention, the department said it has expanded code enforcement inspections with two additional hourly inspectors and named hires supporting increased follow‑up. The chief agreed to provide the council with data on violations issued and corrective action rates.
The council did not vote on any items tied directly to the presentation. The department’s budget requests will be considered as part of the overall 2026 budget adoption process in December.
