Chief Gentile of the Newton Fire Department told the Public Safety and Transportation Committee on May 1 that call volume remains high and the department has had 27 structure fires in the previous year and five structure fires in the first four months of the current year, including two working fires and a second-alarm fire that occurred the same day.

Gentile listed department outcomes as emergency preparedness, training and member wellness. He said the city’s simulcast radio project, the so-called ‘‘purple team’’ radio upgrade shared by fire and police, is largely complete and has improved in-building radio coverage; he described the system as multi-site and able to be expanded to fill coverage gaps. The chief said replacement of consoles and portable radios and adding encryption remain follow-on work and that encryption would add cost.

Assistant Chief Bianchi reported three current vacancies and eight injured department members; he said three members were in retirement-board processing and two or three were returning to duty. Bianchi said engine 7 had been ordered and the department expected delivery ‘‘some point in June,’’ and that Ladder 3 final design is complete but delivery is likely about three years out. Station improvements include new windows at Station 1 and planned heating and air-conditioning replacement at Station 2.

On staffing and overtime, Gentile said the department has added temporary positions in prior years to allow earlier hiring and reduce overtime; he reported overtime down about 8.6% year to date compared with the previous year and 21% compared with two years ago for a comparable July–April comparison. The chief and finance staff said the city will likely propose a free-cash appropriation to cover expected overtime costs later in the budget cycle.

Committee members asked about grant funding for fire training and operations; Gentile said some previously stalled reimbursement grants were received recently and that the department continues to pursue federal and state grant opportunities. The committee took a straw poll on the fire operating budget total of $33,055,048; the chair reported six in favor and one abstention.