Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Department Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middletown fire official says department will seek Urban Act grant and proposes ordinance to curb excessive false alarms
Summary
Middletown fire department reported heavy call volumes, equipment strain and staffing pressures, announced plans to pursue an Urban Act grant for firehouse renovations, and proposed a fire-code ordinance targeting repeat false alarms that officials say are stressing resources.
Jim, a Middletown fire department representative, told the public-safety meeting that the department handled 314 emergency calls last month and responded to multiple structure fires and a recent dive incident that required coordination with several agencies.
He said Engine 3 has been out of service for about a month with repairs estimated at about $10,000 and that keeping the vehicle operational could cost $15,000–$20,000 this year, prompting discussion of downgrading older engines to spare status to reduce maintenance costs. Jim also reported citywide EMS figures and limited mutual-aid ambulance usage.
On capital needs, Jim said the department plans to apply for an Urban Act grant to renovate aging firehouses and would first commission a feasibility study and create construction plans. He cited examples of neighboring towns receiving multi‑million‑dollar awards and said the department has discussed the idea with the mayor and a state senator; he warned councilors they will be asked for support as the application process proceeds.
Jim described a proposed fire-code ordinance aimed at reducing excessive false and malicious alarms. He provided specific examples: one property required roughly 25 responses over eight months, and a resident in a group home reportedly pulled alarms repeatedly (36 times in 2023, 15 times in 2022). "Every time that fire alarm goes off and I have five to six apparatus on the road, there's risk of an apparatus accident," he said, urging enforcement mechanisms that would require property owners to fix recurring problems.
On staffing, Jim said overtime has begun to ease with two new recruits but noted a remaining long-term FMLA absence. He also gave a telecoms update: the dispatch center recently had a retirement, leaving 16 dispatchers, and June incident counts were about 6,210 with roughly 2,235 911 calls.
Council took no formal action on the Urban Act pursuit or the draft ordinance during this meeting; the chair said legal will review the ordinance language and that the department needs to submit required paperwork (including a CNR/resolution) to place funding requests on the finance-and-government agenda. The meeting recorded a procedural vote to approve the prior meeting minutes and later adjourned at 6:46 p.m.
