Fletcher fire chief urges funding for staffing, station upgrades and new apparatus as costs surge

Fire Chief Griffin told the town’s budget workshop that the Fletcher Fire Department is facing sustained cost pressures that threaten its ability to meet emergency staffing and response standards.

“Fire engines…today to replace that we’re at a million dollars,” Griffin said, listing equipment price increases that have outpaced the department’s purchasing power. He said turnout gear, vehicle‑extrication tools and SCBAs have risen by large percentages, and that replacement apparatus and station repairs are significantly more expensive than in prior years.

Why it matters: the chief said lower staffing levels and more expensive equipment mean responses rely heavily on mutual aid and increase risk to residents and firefighters. He described current on‑duty staffing at 10 per shift, a reliability metric of about 68% because of concurrent calls, and said he believes the department is roughly three firefighters short per shift to meet operational goals.

Griffin outlined facility and apparatus options for council consideration. For Naples station replacement he cited a design‑build estimate of roughly $2.7 million; pursuing FEMA funding, he warned, could push the town’s net share higher and extend the timetable to 24 months. He said a ladder truck replacement would cost in the neighborhood of $2.1 million, and that an engine ordered today would likely cost about $1 million when delivered because of current supply‑chain and inflationary pressures.

The chief also linked funding decisions to insurance and response metrics. He noted Fletcher’s insurance classification and said adequate local funding can help control homeowner insurance premiums in the long run by improving fire protection ratings.

Council reaction and next steps: council members and staff asked clarifying questions about timelines, FEMA tradeoffs and phasing. Griffin said some capital requests could be phased or financed; he also said the department would pursue grant opportunities but cautioned that federal grants can be uncertain and sometimes arrive incomplete. No formal vote was taken at the meeting; the chief’s requests will be folded into the town manager’s recommended budget to be considered at the June public hearing.

Closing note: Griffin emphasized the tradeoffs facing the council — pay to sustain staffing and equipment now, or risk longer response times and heavier reliance on mutual aid.