Mass. fires increase, staffing levels decrease

By Damien Fisher
Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG, Mass. — Firefighters responded to 161 more structure fires in 2006 than they did in 2002, but the number of firefighters has dropped from 97 in 2002 to 84 today.

"We have fewer companies to respond to fires and fewer firefighters on hand to handle these situations," said Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin Roy.

Roy said the department has lost three positions every year during the past three years.

Fitchburg responded to 64 structure fires in 2002, according to a Massachusetts Department of Fire Services report compiling all fires in Worcester county.

The number of structure fires took a dramatic leap to 225 last year, according to the state.

The department started losing firefighters and vehicles in 2002, Roy said.

"We've gone from 97 firefighters in the spring of 2003 to 84 now," he said.

The department also went from four fire engines and two ladder trucks in 2002 to three engines and one ladder truck today, Roy said.

The 2002 numbers compiled by the state show 64 building fires, with 56 in 2003 and 60 in 2004.

The total number of structure fires jumped to 129 in 2005. The 2006 numbers show another significant increase to 225 structure fires, according to the report.

Mayor-elect Lisa Wong knows the fire department has serious needs, but she won't make any promises about adding firefighters.

"I recognize their hard work and dedication to the city and I will work with everyone to find the resources they need," she said.

National standards for fire safety recommend 17 firefighters at a minimum respond to a single-family house fire.

"In our city we have a lot of three-story houses about five feet from each other," Roy said.

Fitchburg went down to 13 firefighters on duty per 24-hour shift for most of 2007, but started running its ambulance service in August, increasing the minimum number of firefighters available to 15.

The department also added the Rescue 3 truck to the department's fleet, he said.

In addition, Fitchburg can call on nearby towns, like Leominster, Lunenburg and Westminster for major fires under mutual-aid agreements, Roy said.

Police, fire and ambulance services in adjacent towns will send vehicles and personnel to respond to emergencies in neighboring towns under the mutual-aid agreements.

Fitchburg can get to a fire in between four and six minutes, while Leominster can take eight to 12 minutes to respond, Roy said.

All 15 available firefighters and the on-duty deputy chief responded to an August 2006 fire at a 24-unit condominium complex on Columbus Street, rescuing the occupants of the buildings.

The department sent four engines and a ladder truck to that fire.

Those firefighters battled heavy smoke and fire to rescue people from the third floor of the condominium complex. They received medals of valor for their heroics at this year's Firefighter of the Year ceremony in Boston.

If the department responded to the same fire today, it could only send 12 firefighters and the deputy chief, according to Roy.

Roy said the department is doing what it can to respond to all calls, but things are stretched thin.

"We're trying to do these things, but it's like putting a Band-Aid on the situation," he said.