‘A safety issue.’ Wilton firefighters push for more staff after 85% increase in call volume
The Wilton Fire Department has 24 firefighters who work six at a time on 24-hour shifts, according to Mandel, who said that’s been the model since 1999.
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The town of Wilton has grown a lot in recent years, but not when it comes to the size of the fire department.
“You can imagine how much has changed over time for 25 years, but nothing has changed in terms of our staffing level,” stated firefighter Gary Mandel, president of IAFF Local 2233.
The Wilton Fire Department has 24 firefighters who work six at a time on 24-hour shifts, according to Mandel, who said that’s been the model since 1999.
“Calls are, you know, approaching 2,500, well over 2,000 for the year, and that's an increase of close to 85%,” Mandel told News 12.
Along with fires, crews respond to rescues, hazmat situations, motor vehicle accidents, public assist calls and medical issues.
“Because we are so lean in our numbers, when a call comes in, we typically all go,” Mandel said. “So, it takes all our resources to one call. If another call comes in, that compounds the problem, and there’s a delay.”
Wilton's fire chief has made it a priority to increase staff, but it comes down to money. He's in budget talks with town officials and has support from First Selectman Toni Boucher.
“We absolutely have to address the staffing,” Boucher stated, adding that Wilton's recent growth isn't slowing down. “In the next couple of years, we could have 1,100 more apartment units, which could equate to 2,000 more residents.”
That's even more calls for a department at its breaking point.
“As the town grows, we're in situations where it's even difficult for six guys to do all that's required at that incident,” Mandel explained, adding that the department often has to call for mutual aid from other towns.
Boucher told News 12 that because it’s been so long since Wilton added firefighter positions, the need is substantial.
“I would estimate maybe up to eight new firefighters, but of course, we can't do that all in one year. There are so many competing priorities and needs that we have. So right now, we're asking for two. We would've loved to ask for three, but for now, we’re asking for two, and we're hoping that those get approved,” Boucher said.
She said the hope is to add more every year until the department is at the appropriate number of firefighters.
Meetings and hearings on the town’s budget will continue the next few months with the Board of Finance recommending a budget in the spring. It’ll be up to voters to approve it or reject it following the Annual Town Meeting in May.
“Hopefully the understanding is that we're well overdue, and it's really becoming a safety issue—both for the residents, clearly, as well as the firefighters,” Mandel said.
