The Winooski Fire Department is celebrating the arrival of a brand-new ladder truck while also launching a unique effort to help address staffing challenges within the department.After nearly four years of waiting, the department officially received its new 100-foot ladder truck, replacing a tower truck that had been in service for more than 25 years.Department leaders say the new truck represents a major upgrade in both reliability and safety. The apparatus includes new technologies such as remote operations, motion safety sensors, and updated equipment designed to meet the city’s growing needs better.Crews are now undergoing weeks of training before the truck officially enters service. Training includes everything from driving and positioning the truck to operating the aerial ladder safely during emergencies.Battalion Chief John Spittle said replacing the department’s older truck was becoming increasingly important.“Number one, reliability. It’s huge,” Spittle said. “The truck that we’re replacing is our tower, which was a 2001. So we’re talking 25 plus years of service.”But while the new truck is drawing attention, the department says staffing remains one of its biggest challenges.To help address that issue, the department recently purchased a house behind the fire station. Officials plan to convert the property into housing for overnight volunteers and on-call staff.The department says its current staffing model relies heavily on firefighters living within five minutes of the station to maintain quick response times. However, finding employees who live close enough to respond has become increasingly difficult.The home has not yet been renovated, but leaders say the project could help the department transition toward full 24-hour staffing in the future without spending millions of dollars renovating the current fire station.“We are always looking for people who want to step up, whether it’s for a career or a part-time position,” Spittle said. “As we look toward the future, we know we may need a different staffing model. Hopefully people see this and say, ‘Yeah, I’d like to be part of that.’”
The Winooski Fire Department is celebrating the arrival of a brand-new ladder truck while also launching a unique effort to help address staffing challenges within the department.
After nearly four years of waiting, the department officially received its new 100-foot ladder truck, replacing a tower truck that had been in service for more than 25 years.
Advertisement
Department leaders say the new truck represents a major upgrade in both reliability and safety.
The apparatus includes new technologies such as remote operations, motion safety sensors, and updated equipment designed to meet the city’s growing needs better.
Crews are now undergoing weeks of training before the truck officially enters service. Training includes everything from driving and positioning the truck to operating the aerial ladder safely during emergencies.
Battalion Chief John Spittle said replacing the department’s older truck was becoming increasingly important.
“Number one, reliability. It’s huge,” Spittle said. “The truck that we’re replacing is our tower, which was a 2001. So we’re talking 25 plus years of service.”
But while the new truck is drawing attention, the department says staffing remains one of its biggest challenges.
To help address that issue, the department recently purchased a house behind the fire station. Officials plan to convert the property into housing for overnight volunteers and on-call staff.
The department says its current staffing model relies heavily on firefighters living within five minutes of the station to maintain quick response times.
However, finding employees who live close enough to respond has become increasingly difficult.
The home has not yet been renovated, but leaders say the project could help the department transition toward full 24-hour staffing in the future without spending millions of dollars renovating the current fire station.
“We are always looking for people who want to step up, whether it’s for a career or a part-time position,” Spittle said. “As we look toward the future, we know we may need a different staffing model. Hopefully people see this and say, ‘Yeah, I’d like to be part of that.’”
