An earthling gathering and sharing information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) as of October 2019 *
via Franklin Firefighters Local 2637
"Nearly all of the fire departments in Massachusetts do not meet national staffing standards, according to a survey conducted by the state fire union in the wake of the deadly fire at a Fall River assisted living facility.
....
Per standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, fire engines or ladder trucks should each be staffed with a minimum four on-duty members. In Massachusetts, the average number of firefighters on an engine is less than 2.5 firefighters and the average responding on a ladder is less than two, according to the survey.”
In Franklin, we want to be transparent about our current staffing levels and how they compare to national guidelines set by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association).
Our minimum on-duty staffing is 11 personnel per shift, broken down as follows:
• Engine 1: 1 Lieutenant, 2 Firefighters
• Engine 2: 1 Captain, 2 Firefighters
• Ambulance 1: 2 Firefighter/Paramedics
• Ambulance 2: 2 Firefighter/Paramedics
• Battalion 1: 1 Battalion Chief
Tower 1 is cross-staffed with Ambulance 1, meaning the same 2 Firefighter/Paramedics will respond in Tower 1 only if they are available and in the station. As call volume continues to rise year after year, Tower 1 is increasingly out of service when needed most.
According to NFPA 1710, fire departments in low call-volume areas should staff a minimum of 4 firefighters per apparatus, with that number increasing to 5 or 6 in high-volume or densely populated communities.
Despite these challenges, we remain committed to providing excellent care and emergency service to the Franklin community. We are proud of the work we do, and proud to serve.
#PFFM #IAFF
Read the Boston.com article on the MA survey of fire dept staffing levels vs the recommendation ->
