In light of the recent tragedy in Fall River — where limited staffing hindered rescue efforts at an assisted living facility — it’s time to look critically at our own fire protection in Watertown.
Watertown is dangerously understaffed, falling below national safety standards. According to NFPA 1710, fire apparatus should be staffed with a minimum of 4 firefighters.
In April of this year, at a budget and fiscal oversight committee meeting, Councilor Piccirilli stated, “I’ve been a member of the NFPA for over 30 years and I really believe in this stuff and it’s a good way to run an organization” He also stated that “we should be meeting, at a minimum, the published national standards”
In Watertown:
• Engines operate with only 3, 1 officer, and 2 firefighters
• Ladder trucks often run with just 2
• Ladder 2, which covers the Eastside, a dense and growing part of town, regularly runs with 2 firefighters and no officer
Prior to the addition of a second ambulance, approved for fiscal year 2026, staffing has not increased since 2008:
• 2007: Minimum staffing dropped to 18
• 2008: Cut again to just 17 firefighters per shift, where it remains today
• From fiscal years 2023–2026, multiple staffing requests were submitted — all denied
Meanwhile, the city is growing rapidly, with more complex emergencies, more residents to protect, and an increasing call volume.
High-Risk & High-Density Structures:
• Charles River Towers: 192 residential units in a high-rise
• Arsenal Yards: 400,000+ sq. ft. of lab space plus commercial and residential units
• As of March 2025, city officials report over 4 million sq. ft. of life science lab space across Watertown
• At least 6 high-risk residential facilities in town, similar in vulnerability to the assisted living facility involved in the Fall River tragedy, where safe evacuation would require sufficient fire staffing and leadership
Despite this, Watertown has added over 30 new municipal positions between fiscal years 2023–2026 — none in fire suppression — and purchased the Parker School to accommodate the growth in city government.
Not one of those new roles was allocated to increase fire staffing, even as population and infrastructure demands rise.
This imbalance is not sustainable. It places our firefighters, residents, and property in jeopardy. Fires are more dangerous than ever — according to the NFPA, civilian fire deaths are up 16 percent since 2014. Forty years ago, people had about 17 minutes to escape a typical house fire. Today, due to synthetic materials and other modern factors, that window has shrunk to as little as 3 minutes.
Watertown can — and must — do better:
– Restore adequate fire staffing levels
– Follow NFPA 1710 national standards
– Match public safety investment to municipal and infrastructure growth
Thank you,
Watertown Fire Fighters
Local 1347
Thank you to Local 1347 for bringing this worrisome report to residents’ attention. Let’s hope our elected leaders and municipal officials take notice and respond.
That would be great Carolyn, but unfortunately this will fall on deaf ears. When a tragedy happens in Watertown, we will know where to point our finger.
Agreed!! Thanks for adding all the relevant stats and details for discussion.
Watertown Fire Fighters:
What a powerful indictment. I’m sorry I’m hearing about this only now. You risk your safety every day to protect ours, and for years we’ve only frozen or cut your staff and budget. Never mind who’s to blame—the list is too long. Any new positions in the city government hiring pipeline have to go to the end of the line until these shortfalls are covered. There’s no choice, the decision makes itself. And fast, before someone gets hurt.
Unfortunately, much of this is out of our control. With the impending cuts brought forth by the Federal Administration, all departments at the municipal level will be impacted. And the impacts will not only be financial. Education, vocational programs, safety regulation and unions and other programs that Fire Departments rely upon, will be negatively impacted. The budget reconciliation will put many in harm’s way and leave many others behind. The only avenue open to municipalities is generate more tax revenue. Maybe consolidation might be a choice but not necessarily a great one. Elections have consequences.
Well, the main complaint concerns understaffing since 2 0 0 8 !! Let’s not be so quick to point at the Feds here, particularly when the intent may be to pin it on the current administration.
“Elections have consequences”, former President Obama used to say… But it was OK then.
Hint: dismiss any City worker who has DEI in his or her or their title or job description and replace all of them with firefighters.
Elections have consequences is an expression that preceded Obama. Unless folks have lived under a rock for 40 years, this has been expressed numerous times before 2008. I first heard this expressed in 1992, when Bush I lost by GOP supporters – “now they will see the consequences of their voting.” “They will see.” I bet it was expressed during the Vietnam War but I wasn’t alive to confirm.
Not only does the budget reconciliation impact municipalities in mostly a negative way, it is at the heart of this discussion. When federal spending is cut, it impacts budget line items in the state and at the municipal level. Change insurance rules, regulations, school funding, and you will see impact to the FDs everywhere. There is also language in there that can potentially impact freedom of speech, which would impact union speech. FDs are made up of union members as are the Patriot players. It is not just teachers and truckdrivers.
The response includes the regular swipe at DEI, which is just another name for equal opportunity – don’t know why it was changed. As always it is an emotional reaction because there is no logic for the swipe. The Human Services position, which has often been labeled DEI, is not just about helping those who are less fortunate. It supports the FD and other 1st responders. If squatters are tracked or helped that could save a fire fighter’s life because they don’t need to enter to explore. If opioid users or person with guns deemed red flags are tracked and given psychological care, then that prevents suicide by cop incidents and cops from being blown up by an arsenal when they enter a house legally. The Human Service person can also assist in getting people preventative care so that they ambulance is not needed as often.
When fear stops the frontal cortex from functioning it not only hurts those who could be helped by it has unintended consequences for others.
Nope. Nice try, but insufficient.
The EXACT quote was Obama’s alone: “ Elections have consequences,’ President Obama said, setting his new policy agenda just three days after taking office in 2009.”
DEI is not “ just another name for equal opportunity”. Equity is not equality.
No one is afraid here. Our thoughts are flowing quite normally, sans ensalada syntax.
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The letter expressly states that cuts and shortfalls go back to 2007.
Oh, you will always find one in the crowd who can’t help but try and make a long-standing issue the fault of the current administration. Granted any current administration may be able to help ease the problem but this particular issue has been going on for a very long time, and even if the Fed had dispensed additional funds, I highly doubt we would see anything change with the Watertown FD; municipalities seldom invest adequately in public safety, even when an increase in spending is given from the Fed.
Riddle me this how will you hire more firefighters when they are fewer training programs? Before they get to the training program will they be able to get a public school education that teaches them to read or understand that oxygen kills fire? Where will the additional monies to get a new truck, equipment or ambulance come from? The raising of property taxes would be a hard no for me. I doubt many will say go ahead raise a regressive tax that inefficiently funds because population size is too small to offset. Define invest adequately? 10% of the budget, 1% more for every increase in the population by 100? A flat 5 million always? Is it defined by the 30% who want more or the 30% who want less or the 30% happy with the mix?
I and many others sat through the budget hearings that occurred earlier this year. Some of us sat through all four. At the center of the discussion was the federal budget cuts. It was also at the center the previous year. The discussion then was about being able to do Y and Z. This time the discussion was we can’t do Y and Z and may need to forget about W and X. Administrations make a financial impact. So will you be the one in the crowd who always says it’s never enough?
“understand that oxygen kills fire? Uh? That would be a very dangerous and wrong understanding. It’s the other way around:
Oxygen as an Oxidizer: During combustion, oxygen combines with a fuel source (like wood, gasoline or fabric) to produce heat and light. The more oxygen available, the more intense the combustion process.
Increased Flammability: In environments with elevated oxygen levels, materials that might not burn under normal conditions can become highly flammable. Even a small spark can cause a significant fire if oxygen is abundant.
Accelerated Fire Spread: High oxygen concentrations can lead to faster and more intense fires, as the oxygen facilitates a rapid and sustained reaction with the fuel.
Also agreed and thank you!
Please remind me why we bought a pond ??
Great question Wendy. There’s been a lot of spending in the last few years, as well as a lot of money going into the Watertown Square fund.
Better to overstaff than understaff when dealing with firefighters.
Come on Watertown! Do better.