Fall River fire chief outlines hiring plan to ease overtime, city approves capital funds for engines

Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon told the council on Feb. 10 that the department expects to relieve excessive overtime by bringing new firefighters onto the roster and running a joint recruit academy with neighboring communities.

Bacon said eight recruits are taking the civil-service physical-ability test and additional candidates from civil-service lists will be interviewed with the goal of placing new firefighters on the street this spring and into the summer. The city will run a joint academy split between New Bedford and Fall River beginning April 20, Bacon said.

"We'll know next week whether they passed... we're hoping to have them on the street sometime in March," Bacon said, adding that the hires should reduce overtime pressure that he estimated could otherwise cost up to about $750,000 if unresolved.

Councilors pressed Bacon about the SAFER grant process after the department failed to advance past the grant’s computer-scoring stage this cycle. Bacon said the department sought only five positions in the last application, which did not move the NFPA 1710 compliance metric used in the automated scoring. He said the department plans to apply again and will seek a larger request to improve scoring.

Separately, the council approved a capital transfer of $1,230,000 to fire and emergency services capital, including funds to buy a used 2014 pumper (the chief cited about 44,000 miles on that unit and expects it to serve as a ready reserve). Bacon warned that lead times for new engines remain long (roughly two years from order to delivery) and that the city is pursuing a fleet-replacement plan of roughly one apparatus per year.

Councilors and staff discussed using newer frontline units as reserves when replacements arrive and flagged manufacturer lead times and warranty/contract protections; the administration said prepaying and bonding strategies have reduced price risk on recent purchases.

The council asked for follow-up details on the pumper’s maintenance records and the longer-term capital schedule; Bacon and Finance Director Emily Arpke agreed to provide the requested backup.