Peekskill fire chief reports jump in responses after dispatch change, outlines equipment and staffing needs

Chief Seymour briefed the council on department operations, staffing and equipment. He said the department is roughly split between 33 career and 33 volunteer members and reported 3,041 responses in the last year, up more than 300 from 2023. Seymour described the department's mission and routine public-education and prevention work, and outlined equipment deliveries expected this year, including a ladder truck likely arriving in March and a fire-rescue vessel funded through a Port Security/DASNY grant.

On a question about rising call volume, Seymour explained a procedural change with county dispatch: "When that ambulance corps gets dispatched immediately, that 1st dispatch, the fire department gets dispatched as well." He said the change likely explains the uptick in calls but ensures a first responder reaches callers more consistently. Seymour listed needs for replacement SCBA air packs (estimated $250,000-$300,000), two additional command officers to staff two officers on each shift, and continued pursuit of grants (SAFER, port-security, Leary Firefighters Foundation) to fund hires and equipment. Council members thanked the department and asked about staffing and the preplan software the chief described.