Firefighters seeking changes to call force

HUDSON – The Fire Department made several suggestions Tuesday about the training, recruitment and organization of the call force.

Proposals included consolidating the Burns Hill and Central Station call company and changing training requirements.

Fire Chief Shawn Murray told the Board of Selectmen in a workshop that he wants to recruit three new call firefighters for the Robinson Road station, bringing the total number of call firefighters stationed there up to seven.

Recently three full-time firefighters who live near the Robinson Road station have begun going there when they’re off-duty and there’s a call for coverage.

“It allows full-time and call firefighters to work side by side,” Murray said.

Murray also recommended combining the Burns Hill and Central Station call companies, with the new company reporting to Central Station. Call Lt. Fred Brough requested the move, Murray said.

Since the Burns Hill station became staffed full time, the role of the call firefighters stationed there has changed and somewhat diminished, Murray said.

Combining the two groups would increase the number of call firefighters at Central Station to 10, provide more manpower to engines and other equipment that respond to fires and other emergencies, Murray told the selectmen.

Right now, the only apparatus available to call firefighters at Burns Hill is a tanker that seats two people, he said.

The change would also give call firefighters more opportunities to respond to emergencies and learn about more apparatus and equipment.

Currently, call firefighters must attend 70 percent of the training sessions offered every year. Murray recommended allowing call firefighters to go on a The change would also give call firefighters more opportunities to respond to emergencies and learn about more apparatus and equipment.

Currently, call firefighters must attend 70 percent of the training sessions offered every year. Murray recommended allowing call firefighters to go on a seven-hour ride-along once a month and to have that considered part of training participation. Firefighters will still have to attend mandatory training sessions.

If all 14 call firefighters went on a seven-hour ride-along every month, it would cost about $13,241.

The hours of the ride-along, however, may be less than seven.

Some selectmen questioned whether seven hours was too much of a time commitment.

It would work out to about 80 hours or two weeks a year, Selectman Shawn Jasper said.

“It’s a big commitment,” he said.

It’s the equivalent of one weekend day a month, Jasper said, noting that a five-hour shift may be more manageable.

Those going in at 6 p.m., wouldn’t get home until 1 a.m., he said. “It’s pretty hard to work the next day,” Jasper said.

Many call firefighters doing ride-alongs now come in at 6 p.m. and leave at 11 p.m., Brough said.

“You need to be there at least four hours,” he said. “You’re not going to get anything with less than four hours.”

Murray also outlined several goals including:

– A vehicle replacement program;

– Conducting a community survey to solicit feedback about the department and programs residents would like to see;

– Exploring staffing the Robinson Road station;

– Researching future needs of existing fire stations, some of which are beginning to show signs of aging.

Anne Lundregan can be reached at 594-6449 or lundregana@telegraph-nh.com.