In a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding staffing levels in the fire department, highlighting a significant gap between current resources and national safety standards. The discussion centered around the inadequacy of having only one firefighter responding to emergencies in a fire truck, which is below the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

The department has been undergoing an ISO audit since January, with the assistance of a consultant who has benchmarked local staffing against national averages. The findings indicate that the department is short by five to six personnel daily to meet optimal safety standards. In light of this, the department head requested an immediate increase of one firefighter per day to begin addressing the staffing shortfall.

While there is potential for future funding through a federal SAFER grant, the department head cautioned that the likelihood of receiving such grants is low, with less than 20% of applicants typically awarded funding. The urgency of the request underscores the critical need for enhanced staffing to ensure public safety and compliance with established fire service standards.