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Chelsea fire chief says fourth engine and hires have improved response as city confronts dense housing risks
Summary
In an interview on 'Chelsea Chats,' Chief Quartieri described the department's recent expansion—a fourth engine in service and a staffing target of 108 firefighters supported by a grant—and warned that closely spaced wooden housing and overloaded electrical circuits raise fast-spreading fire risks for Chelsea residents.
Marnie McAlpine, host of the podcast Chelsea Chats, interviewed Chief Quartieri of the Chelsea Fire Department about staffing, operational challenges and steps residents can take to reduce fire risk.
Chief Quartieri said the department has added a fourth engine to its roster and is pursuing a permanent station site to house it. "We have that fourth engine in service right now, which has made a huge impact on, not only our operations, but the way... our ability to respond to the needs of the community," he said. The department's goal is to reach 108 firefighters; Quartieri said they are effectively at that level because a grant has covered two additional positions.
The nut graf: Chelsea's small, densely built footprint means fires can spread faster than in more suburban communities, so the combination of equipment, staffing and resident prevention matters for public safety. "Most of the members of our department feel the same way," Quartieri said of the commitment to protecting the city.
Quartieri described call types and why engines often start medical care. "The highest call reason that we respond to right now is medical," he said, adding that the city relies on a single contracted ambulance that may be temporarily unavailable, so fire units often initiate care. He also listed other frequent responses — car accidents, alarm investigations, water leaks and storm-related downed wires — and said crews train continually to be ready.
On preventable causes, Quartieri said aging wiring and circuit overloading are leading contributors to residential fires in Chelsea. "A high percentage of fires that we respond to are electrical in nature," he said, and cautioned that lithium-ion batteries for scooters and bikes can cause fires when aftermarket chargers or cords are used.
The chief explained the region's mutual-aid system and described a high-profile incident at the Forbes property, where in his account hydrants did not work and crews had to bring water from another location. "The biggest problem we had there was, there was no water," Quartieri said, recounting that the response escalated to multiple alarms and dozens of engines from neighboring communities.
Quartieri outlined how residents and city planning choices affect response: narrow streets and parked cars can impede apparatus access, and measures such as curb bump-outs and speed bumps—while intended to improve pedestrian safety—can damage trucks and complicate turn maneuvers. He urged residents to keep hydrant areas and exits clear and said the department sometimes enforces removals of hazards between buildings for safety reasons.
On recruitment, Quartieri said the state now holds entry-level testing annually, usually in April; candidates remain on the eligibility list for two years and lists are blended every year. He noted the department hired 17 firefighters in the past two years to staff the fourth engine.
Quartieri closed by asking residents to mitigate hazards where they can. "When people take it upon themselves to try to make their property safer... it goes a long way for us," he said.
The interview aired as an episode of Chelsea Chats; McAlpine thanked Quartieri and invited listeners to acknowledge local firefighters for their service. The department continues to seek a permanent site for the fourth station and maintains ongoing recruitment through the state testing process.
