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Montgomery Township leaders debate plan to add 19 full-time firefighters after data shows weekend response gaps
Summary
Township fire chief proposed hiring 19 full-time positions to operate a 24/7 combination fire department after volunteer engine on-scene arrival averaged 9:49 in 2025 (worse on weekends). Board members and residents debated full immediate implementation versus phased approaches and asked for public outreach and a feasibility study.
Fire Chief Bill (Wegman) and department leaders presented statistics showing volunteer engine on-scene arrival times have increased to an average of 9 minutes, 49 seconds in 2025, with weekend averages of 10:46 on Saturdays and 10:05 on Sundays. The chief and staff argued those response times exceed national standards for municipalities of Montgomery’s size and carry public-safety risk given local building construction and flashover timelines.
To address what staff called a widening service gap, the chief proposed converting to a full 24/7 career-capable combination department with 19 additional full-time hires organized on a 24-on/72-off schedule (four platoons). The proposal includes command staff positions, shift staffing to ensure four personnel on an engine and an incident commander, and a multi-year implementation and facilities feasibility study to support the staffing change. Finance staff presented preliminary cost estimates and the board acknowledged the proposal would require a dedicated revenue source, likely reflected in the 2026 budget process.
Board members and volunteers emphasized two priorities that shaped the discussion: resident safety and fiscal impact. Several board members and public commenters urged robust public outreach and said residents on fixed incomes need clear information and options. Volunteers and career staff testified to fatigue, frequent “holes” in stipend shifts, and the operational risk of relying on increasingly intermittent volunteer availability. Some supervisors preferred an immediate full implementation to establish crew integrity and reliable coverage; others asked the chief to model phased approaches and provide comparative cost estimates (including projected overtime in phased scenarios) and the impact on recruitment. The board directed staff to proceed with public engagement, include staffing scenarios in budget planning, and consider a feasibility study for station/facility needs and HR capacity.
