The Stratford Fire Department says it's understaffed and in need of new firefighters to keep up with growing demands.

Officials say just 22 staff members currently work around the clock, 365 days a year, to protect the town.

They say with more staffing, calls like single-family home fires could be handled within eight minutes, and more serious apartment building fires could be knocked down just as quickly.

The department says it's fallen behind other regional departments and warns the town could suffer from the staffing shortage.