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Cleveland approves $13,500 SAM Boost for pumper as fire department warns of volunteer shortfall
Summary
The Cleveland City Council approved a $13,500 purchase of a SAM Boost water-flow control device for the pumper truck to improve operations when staffing is limited; Fire Chief Brady Hahn said the department responded to 124 ICRs in 2025 and is actively recruiting volunteers.
The Cleveland City Council on Feb. 2 authorized a $13,500 purchase from Capital Outlay funds for a SAM Boost device to manage water flow on the city pumper truck, a move the fire chief said will help crews operate more effectively when staffing is limited.
Fire Chief Brady Hahn told the council the department responded to 124 incident calls and four weather-related calls in 2025 and said several long-serving volunteers could retire in the near term, prompting active recruitment efforts. Hahn requested the SAM Boost—a single-manufacturer device that automates water-flow management—so pump operators can focus more on fireground operations during low-staff responses.
Councilmember Anne Hiller made the motion to approve the purchase, Nancy Gens seconded it, and the council voted unanimously to authorize the expenditure from Capital Outlay funds. The council did not attach additional conditions to the purchase.
The approval follows the department's staffing warning: Hahn framed the purchase as an operational improvement that would mitigate some risks tied to short crews but did not present a staffing plan. The council did not set follow-up reporting dates on recruitment progress during the meeting.
The council approved the purchase at the Feb. 2 meeting; Chief Hahn presented the department report at that time. The council adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
