Westport Fire Local1802

There has been some questions regarding the recently negotiated item of "minimum staffing level of 21 firefighters". The Town has roughly 15,000 year round residents, and thousands more in the summer, along with 64 square miles to cover. We have only 21 full time firefighters, which breaks down to 4-5 per shift, which then breaks down to 2-3 in each station (we have two stations), which then breaks down to roughly 1 firefighter on duty per every 3,000 residents. We went through the archives (not every year was available to us here in the Station). As you can see the number of runs continues to rise while the staffing levels have remained virtually the same.

21 members is not a new concept. We've had these levels for years, and have been seeking to increase those numbers for years as well in order to provide a better and safer service. We will continue to work with the Town, and as always, keeping the safety of its residents and our firefighters a top priority. 21 minimum is a step in the right direction, however we still do not meet the NFPA's minimum manning requirements.

NFPA 1710 Calls For Minimum Staffing Levels

NFPA 1710 exists because studies into firefighting prove that there must be a certain number of people per rig arriving on scene within a specified time frame to offer citizens the minimum level of protection. Note the word "minimum" because some believe the standard offers the maximum.

NFPA 1710 Requirements:

Fire Fighters will respond with a minimum of 4 personnel on each apparatus and more depending on the hazards normally encountered (can be five or six).

Fire Fighters will arrive at the emergency scene within 4 minutes of the dispatch center receiving the call.

The correct number of fully staffed and strategically located fire stations must exist to accomplish the standard.

NFPA Code 1710-Standard for Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments- involves staffing of career fire departments. In this code, the NFPA has used scientific evidence, past history and first hand experience to establish the minimum number of personnel required to safely and effectively operate on a fire scene. NFPA 1710 guidelines say that a first arriving company must consist of 4 fire fighters and arrive within 4 minutes of the initial 911 call. For an initial full alarm assignment (any structure fire) minimum personnel on scene should consist of 15-17 fire fighters arriving on scene within 8 minutes of the initial 911 call.