One of the largest fires in Amherst’s recent history revealed that staffing shortages in the city are jeopardizing both fire fighters and the public’s safety.
On Nov. 7, a major fire tore through a building under construction at 47 Olympia Drive before spreading to a nearby off-campus apartment complex, displacing more than 200 people –mostly University of Massachusetts Amherst students. Other crews were already committed to calls, leaving the crew of Engine 2 staffed with four career fire fighters to manage the fire with limited resources.
“The department had nine fire fighters on shift that night. Ambulance 1 was still at Baystate Medical Center with a critical patient and three fire fighters, and two fire fighters were committed to another call on the south end of town,” said Local 1764 President Sarah Forsaith.
Forsaith said the incident reflects a growing and concerning pattern in which Amherst fire fighters are routinely sent to serious emergencies with dangerously low staffing.
These incidents are going to continue happening, and relying on mutual aid or outside companies to provide responses to get us resources is just an unsustainable practice.
Local 1764 president sarah forsaith
“There are many times when only one fire fighter responds to a fire call because everyone else is out of town on ambulance transports,” she said. “These incidents are going to continue happening, and relying on mutual aid or outside companies to provide responses to get us resources is just an unsustainable practice.”
Research shows that when staffing is short, fires spread faster. That means more fire fighters getting injured on the scene, and greater losses of both life and property during emergencies.
“The only reason we didn’t see a tragedy is because those residents, mostly able-bodied college students, were able to self-evacuate,” Forsaith said.
In recent years, IAFF affiliates across North America have reported similar staffing challenges, making it clear that real, long-term staffing solutions can’t wait. The IAFF is launching a coordinated effort to assist affiliates in securing minimum staffing levels to ensure fire fighters can respond safely and effectively during emergencies.
Addressing the growing safety concerns, IAFF 3rd District Vice President Jay Colbert warned: “When a fire engine or ladder truck shows up on a fire scene with only one fire fighter on it, that is not the fire department coming to the rescue. That is one individual driving a piece of apparatus to a scene who, alone, is ill-equipped to safely perform the necessary functions of firefighting –such as simultaneously attacking the seat of the fire with water, conducting search and rescue, and completing ventilation – without endangering the fire fighter and the general public.”
“The residents of Amherst and the brave men and women of Local 1764 deserve much better,” he said.
NFPA 1710 recommends a minimum of four fire fighters per apparatus when responding to low-hazard structure fires. Local 1764 is now urging the town to add 18 career fire fighters to bring their department into compliance with international safety standards.
“That will be our continued ask going into the next budgetary season,” Forsaith said.
