Charlton fire chief proposes hires, higher minimum staffing as second station readies to open

The fire chief told the Town of Charlton Finance Committee on Feb. 25 that the department is preparing to open a second fire station in fiscal 2027 and that the town will need to hire additional personnel and change minimum staffing to run two stations simultaneously. The town expects a soft opening in July–August and full dual-station operations by October–November.

The chief said the department plans to hire four firefighters to increase the roster and raise minimum staffed firefighters from four to six. That would allow a typical daily configuration of four firefighters at the Oxford Road station and two at the Power Station Road station, rather than splitting crews evenly, which the chief said would leave both stations under-resourced on successive calls. He also proposed upgrading a currently spare third ambulance to a staffed ALS ambulance and running it as an ALS unit to recover revenue and reduce mutual-aid requests.

The proposal includes a daytime per-diem staffing model: firefighter–paramedics or firefighter–EMTs who would work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, without full benefits. The chief told the committee those per-diem shifts would add an extra certified body at lower cost than a full-time hire, allow the department to put three ambulances on the road during peak hours and provide a recruitment pipeline for future full-time positions.

Committee members questioned assumptions about call volume and retention. The chief said call volume climbed about 10% last year (nearly 3,000 runs) and is roughly 13% higher year to date. He attributed the rise to broader increases in demand rather than a single new facility, but noted potential large developments could further raise demand. The chief also raised recruitment pressures in the region, calling out “contract shopping” where firefighters move between communities for better pay.

On equipment and standards, the chief said the department will meet NFPA hose-testing schedules annually (it had tested every other year in recent years), continue replacing turnout gear with PFAS-free options, and move more vehicle maintenance in-house using a certified mechanic. He said that change will reduce outsourced labor charges and downtime for vehicles.

The finance committee asked to reschedule the remainder of the chief’s presentation to allow members time to review the budget pages in full. The committee did not vote on staffing requests at the meeting; members thanked the chief and asked for follow-up data and a return presentation.

The chief’s presentation began at the committee’s Feb. 25 meeting; the committee paused the discussion pending review of the submitted materials and scheduled a follow-up.