Fire Department Staffing and Burnout
High call volumes and personnel losses have created extreme burnout, prompting requests for up to eight new firefighter/paramedic positions.
The Fire Department has linked rising call volumes since the 1990s to severe burnout, personnel losses, and safety risks, prompting a request for eight new firefighter/paramedic positions. After presentations in May and June 2026, the council voted 8-1 to fund critical and high-priority positions while conditioning full support on the eight-position plan.
High call volumes and resulting personnel losses first surfaced as a staffing concern during the city council's May 7, 2026 budget workshop when the Fire Chief described unsustainable unit-hour utilization that left crews unable to eat or decompress.
The Chief explained that this fatigue produced task saturation and raised the risk of medical and operational errors, leading to a request for eight additional paramedics rather than the four already under consideration.
By the June 18, 2026 budget workshop the Fire Department returned with expanded data showing call volume had doubled since the 1990s, 27 departures attributed to burnout, and two suicides, prompting Deputy Chief Pelletier to argue that eight new firefighter/paramedic positions would enable a fourth ambulance to operate 24/7 and reduce reliance on mutual aid.
Council discussion centered on whether to fund four or eight positions; one councilor stated they would not support the overall budget without all eight, after which the body voted 8 yes, 1 no to fund critical and high-priority positions.
The department was directed to return with a plan for improving internal and city-wide morale if the eight positions are ultimately approved.
The department is expected to provide a plan/ideas on improving internal and city-wide morale if the eight positions are approved.
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