Fire chief touts $4.5M radio replacement, station upgrades and warns on battery‑storage risks

Fire Chief Dion told the council’s budget committees the department has completed a major communications upgrade and is investing in station sustainability while maintaining a focus on staffing and training.

Dion said the city accepted a $4.5 million radio‑replacement program — new microwave antennas, repeaters and radio rooms — that eliminated many legacy copper lines and will improve reliability for dispatch and responders. “We did the final acceptance last week… $4.5 million worth of renovations to our radio systems,” he said.

Capital work and in‑house savings: Dion described multiple station projects — new overhead doors at Station 2, ventilated lockers to address contaminant off‑gassing, LED and heat‑pump conversions — and highlighted that firefighters performed much of the installation work in‑house, saving contractor costs.

Safety concern: battery storage. Dion flagged large battery installations as a critical risk area, citing thermal‑runaway hazards and the need for training and equipment should such storage be sited nearby. “Battery storage is one of my biggest concerns… a battery this big that can blow up like a bomb,” he said, urging strict standards, training and negotiated commitments from developers for equipment and training.

The committee recommended approval of the fire personnel budget ($11,442,438) and expenditures budget ($477,626); motions passed by recorded assent. Dion said the department continues to monitor call volumes (medical and fire) and to prioritize staffing stability and capital readiness for apparatus replacements.