Bolton officials urge pursuit of grants to fund full‑time firehouse staff as volunteers decline

Selectman Mike Emerita told the Bolton Fire Commission on Jan. 23 that the town should pursue grants to fund one or two full‑time positions at the firehouse as volunteer ranks shrink. “There will come a time where the Town of Bolton will need a paid Fire Department,” Emerita said, and urged applying for grant programs, including the federal SAFER grant.

The push for paid positions followed a department discussion about recruitment and retention. Fire Chief Bruce Dixon said the department has about 42 members but only about 15 active firefighters, and “all but 3 work during the days,” leaving daytime coverage thin. Commissioners and staff described the training burden: EMT and firefighter certification pathways can total roughly 500–1,000 hours, and volunteers often move on to paid, unionized departments after qualifying.

Emerita said neighboring towns pay hourly rates he estimated between $25 and $40 and that several grant applications are due in February; he recommended the town prepare job descriptions when grant applications are submitted. Robert Langton warned that the shortage is a continuing risk: he said the commission has been discussing the issue for years and urged immediate action “so something bad doesn’t happen.”

Commissioners agreed to begin the process: Jim Rupert said he would start conversations with the Board of Selectmen and propose the SAFER grant application. No formal hiring decision was made at the meeting; commissioners described this as the start of grant‑seeking and job‑description work that would continue in the coming months.

The commission scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 27, 2023 to continue budget and staffing discussions.