Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Department Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Agency official says staffing shortfall left 10 firefighters at recent blaze
Summary
An agency official said a recent fire response was reduced from the usual 13 personnel to 10 because both ambulances were at Sturdy Hospital; mutual aid from Attleboro, Plainville and Cumberland was requested and staffing remains a town budget issue.
An agency official said a recent fire response deployed two engine companies, a ladder company and a shift commander but had fewer firefighters than usual because both ambulances were at Sturdy Hospital.
"So initially, at this fire, we showed up with, 2 engine companies, a ladder company, and a shift commander," the agency official said, adding that "both of our ambulances, which have 4 firefighters were at the hospital" and later had a response back from Sturdy Hospital.
The official said the department called mutual aid immediately, naming neighboring communities that typically assist: Attleboro, Plainville and Cumberland. The speaker also referenced "Finley Staffing" when describing the staffing situation, noting that the term was what others were referring to in the conversation.
The official provided staffing counts: "So, normally, we're staffed at 13. Because the ambulances are at the hospital, we were pulling up with 10 firefighters at this fire." He characterized staffing as an ongoing budgetary consideration and said he regularly coordinates with the town on staffing levels.
The official did not specify dates, incident location beyond the references in the transcript, or any formal changes to staffing policy. There was no recorded motion or vote in the transcript excerpt. The official said mutual aid was requested for this incident and that department leaders continue to work with town officials on staffing and budget matters.
