After failing to win SAFER grant, Fall River plans a larger future request and outlines staffing targets
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Summary
Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said the city's SAFER grant application for five positions failed to advance in computer scoring because it did not materially change NFPA 1710 compliance; the department plans a larger submission next cycle and outlined staffing targets (roughly 192–195 budgeted firefighters, 200 without overtime) to reduce overtime reliance.
Chief Jeffrey Bacon told the Committee on Finance that Fall River did not advance in the SAFER grant process this year because the federal scoring system weighs the ability to affect NFPA 1710 staffing compliance; the department requested five positions and the computer score did not show sufficient improvement to move the application forward.
Bacon said the department typically applies for 15–20 positions when it wishes to change the compliance profile and that he was not surprised by the result. Bacon said the department currently plans to budget for 192–194 firefighters to maintain daily minimums with some overtime; he said the full target without overtime would be roughly 200–209 firefighters depending on apparatus and staffing models. He reviewed short‑term measures — an academy shared with neighboring cities, bringing in recruits in stages — and said the expected hires will reduce overtime costs once they become available.
Bacon also explained training mandates (including more frequent range and Taser training) are increasing costs and that the department is negotiating training approaches with the state to limit unnecessary expense. He said the SAFER program covers straight salaries (not overtime) and that the city intends to submit a larger request in the future to increase chances of award.