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Fire chief warns of strained shifts, grant-funded hires and ailing station; tanker sold after frame damage
Summary
Belmont’s fire leadership told the committee calls rose this year, explained two grant-funded firefighter positions that run through 2026, and warned that the station needs substantial repairs (roughly $200,000 estimated) while an old tanker was removed from service and sold.
The Belmont budget committee heard from fire department leadership that call volume and staffing pressures have increased this year and that the department is relying on a mix of grant-funded positions, overtime and mutual aid to maintain coverage.
An assistant fire chief told the committee the department is up “about 68 calls” this year and is operating with a mix of four-person and three-person shifts. He described two grant-funded firefighter positions (original grant request was for six) that pay salaries and benefits through 2026; the department expects that those positions would become the town’s financial responsibility if not renewed.
The assistant chief and other speakers urged the committee to consider staffing as a safety issue: four-person shifts reduce overtime and improve response capability for building fires, medical calls and simultaneous incidents.
Separately, members discussed the fire station structure. After walking the attic and truss work, a presenter described missing bracing and fire-blocking, sagging at a gable end and inadequate insulation. One speaker estimated repairs to brace and stabilize the roof and walls at roughly $200,000, while noting that a prior architect’s replacement estimate had reached $1.2 million for a full rebuild. Committee members asked staff to obtain an engineering assessment to scope immediate repairs versus long-term replacement.
The committee also discussed a tanker that was taken out of service after a cracked frame; a frame-only repair estimate was cited at about $50,000, excluding tank cradle and lighting work. The truck was later sold and reportedly returned to service with another department. Members reviewed ambulance-special fund uses and agreed to offset certain ambulance costs from that fund rather than taxation.
The committee approved the fire and emergency-service line items as presented by voice vote and authorized a $5,000 allocation to emergency management for EOC equipment and small capital needs.
