Zionsville safety board warns of growing firefighter shortfall as new stations, transfers and costs advance

The Science Hill Safety Board heard Wednesday that Zionsville’s fire department is facing a persistent staffing shortfall even as the town advances plans for new stations and integrates assets from Perry Township.

Deputy Chief Aaron Gibbons told the board the department recorded two retirements and three personnel currently restricted by injury; seven recruits entered the academy in January but one resigned, leaving six in training. "We are now down to six in the academy," Gibbons said, adding that the recruits are expected to relieve some pressure when they finish training in late June and begin shifts in July.

Gibbons and other town officials warned the shortfall affects daily operations and response capacity. An agency official stated the department is currently about six firefighters short and said that, depending on station openings and reassignments, the gap could grow. "When we open a new station and move resources, the district that previously enjoyed those resources will be less resourced," the agency official said, noting response times in some areas may lengthen.

The board reviewed a staffing-outlook calendar that uses green, yellow and red indicators for fully staffed, minimum-staffed and short days, respectively. Gibbons said some future days show mandatory overtime and stretches when the department is short by two personnel on a shift.

Fiscal pressure is mounting. Town staff told the board the overtime budget is roughly $540,000 for the year and already about 35–40% of that amount had been spent in the first months of 2026. "We could be close to 40-ish percent of our overtime budget in the first three months," the agency official said, signaling the likelihood of future requests to council depending on recruiting outcomes and injuries.

Board members asked whether the town could hire lateral candidates to shorten training time. Officials replied laterals are available only intermittently and frequently require additional academy training; past hiring produced only limited lateral hires. The board also discussed workers’ compensation rules and why saved salary dollars while employees are on leave cannot be immediately reallocated to overtime without standard reappropriation processes.

The staffing discussion was presented alongside updates to station planning. Officials said the council approved second reading of an $8 million construction bond for a west-side station (Station 295) and that work on a build-own-transfer contract is underway. The town also recently accepted three parcels of land and three vehicles from Perry Township; staff said the parcels total roughly 5–7 acres and will be considered for sale to help fund equipment and station needs.

The board did not take formal action on staffing but agreed to continue monitoring recruitment, overtime spending and the budget, and to request comparative staffing snapshots (current vs. prior presentations) for future meetings. The next regular safety board meeting is scheduled for April 20.