Fire chief asks for one firefighter, gear and two compact engines to improve response

The Fire Chief told the Nantucket Finance Committee on Feb. 2 that the department is seeking an expense increase to hire one additional firefighter and requests related training and equipment to reduce overtime and improve response capability. "It's for 1 additional firefighter," the chief said, explaining the hire would move shift strength toward a consistent staffing baseline and reduce the need to call personnel in from home.

The chief explained a new recruit requires a roughly 10-week, off‑island fire academy and gear that costs about $5,000: "gear is roughly $5,000." He said the department has used a pipeline of 'call' recruits to shorten onboarding and that it houses recruits during academy training to reduce costs.

On capital needs, the chief described a request to replace older Engine 2 and Engine 3 with two compact all‑terrain fire engines that retain pump‑and‑roll capability and can access the beach, brush and narrow downtown streets. He said some existing vehicles, including a 1990s military brush breaker, are difficult to maintain because parts are scarce; manufacturers have consolidated and lead times can be two to three years on new builds. Peter Schaeffer asked whether trade‑in value could be recovered; the chief said the department usually trades older engines in and that a brush breaker obtained from the state would need to be returned to the Department of Conservation and Recreation if not retained.

Committee members asked about recruitment pipelines and academy costs; the chief said the primary expense is lodging for recruits during the academy and that consolidating classes and using group housing (Airbnb) has proven more cost‑effective than hotels. No final funding decision was made at the meeting; the requests will be included in the committee’s capital recommendations ahead of town meeting.