The Town of Jupiter’s fire chief reported to the council on Sept. 18 that Jupiter Fire Rescue remains on schedule and on budget as the town prepares to transition from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue to its own municipal fire and EMS services.

In a presentation to the council the chief outlined a construction and apparatus timeline and recruitment plan, and described staffing and equipment targets for the first year of municipal operations. “In just a little over 12 months from tonight, Jupiter Fire Rescue will begin providing fire and emergency medical services to the community,” the chief said.

Timeline and equipment
Staff described the near-term milestones: two new stations are scheduled to be topped off in October 2025; four ambulances are expected to be received in January 2026; three fire engines in April 2026; a ladder truck in May 2026; and phased training and hiring through summer 2026 with the department projected to be fully operational by September 2026.

The town authorized the purchase of three fire engines and a 105-foot ladder truck in October 2023, staff said, and the build cycle for the apparatus is roughly three years. Town representatives attended pre‑build reviews at Pierce Manufacturing in Wisconsin and reported final specification checks with the manufacturer.

Stations and construction
Construction of the Pyatt Place Fire Station and the Synques Fire Station (names as used in the presentation) is on schedule, the chief said, with outer bay walls and first-floor walls near completion and top-out scheduled for October 2025. The chief showed photographs taken days apart to demonstrate rapid progress at each site.

Recruiting and staffing
The chief said formal recruiting for firefighters and paramedics had not yet begun but that an interest list contains more than 1,000 names. He estimated that roughly 40% of initial operational line personnel will need to be experienced firefighters (drivers and supervisors), with the balance composed of entry-level hires who will complete training.

Service capabilities and waterways coverage
The chief compared planned Jupiter Fire Rescue resources to current Palm Beach County presence within the town: Palm Beach County operates three stations inside Jupiter; the town will operate three stations, three engines and three ambulances plus a dedicated ladder truck. The town will also staff a paramedic to co-ride on the police marine unit when boat operations are active.

Town action on MSTU/non-consent to county fire services
On the consent agenda the council approved Ordinance 16-25, a town ordinance stating that the Town Council does not consent to continuing participation of town properties in the Palm Beach County Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) that provides Palm Beach County fire-rescue services for the tax year beginning Oct. 1, 2026, and thereafter. That ordinance passed as part of the consent agenda; the consent agenda vote was recorded as unanimous.

Why it matters
The timeline, hiring estimates and apparatus delivery schedule set expectations for when municipal fire and EMS services will replace county service inside the town and clarifies near-term capital and operational demands on the town’s budget.

What’s next
Staff indicated recruiting will begin around January 2026, apparatus deliveries will continue through spring 2026, and phased training will take place in summer 2026 ahead of full operations in September 2026. Council members praised construction progress and staff coordination; the town manager and chief said they will continue to brief the council as milestones are met.

Ending
Council members thanked the chief and project teams for work on stations, apparatus and recruiting preparations. The town manager noted staff will continue monitoring health‑insurance and other funds as staffing increases with the new department.