Medfield Facing Firefighter, EMT Shortages

MEDFIELD, MA — Medfield is in need of new full-time and on-call firefighters and EMTs, Fire Chief William Carrico told the selectmen at their meeting last week.

Carrico told the board the fire department's staff currently consist of 13 full-time members and 11 on-call firefighters. This leaves the department down two full-time firefighters. For the full-time positions, Carrico said he's expected to interview two candidates Monday.

But the shortage of on-call firefighters has left the biggest hole in the Medfield Fire Department.

"We need to have at least 20 call firefighters to maintain levels and to maintain a proper response," Carrico told the board. "Right now, I have about five active guys out of the 11 that are our the roster, and that's not acceptable."

Carrico said the on-call staff was depleted by a few resignations, illnesses and administrative leave placements. The department is also short an ambulance after it needed to be placed into service, Carrico said.

When Lt. John Monohan retired in May 2020, Carrico said the department created job postings for on-call firefighters and EMTs. Out of the 22 applications received, 17 were from people who lived two far away. Another two didn't pass the background check, and two are waiting to complete the EMT program.

"I am concerned that there are not enough qualified candidates locally to meet the needs of the department," Carrico said in a memo sent to the board.

Carrico told the selectmen he's trying to overcome the challenges in a couple ways. Last fall, Carrico reached out to the on-call departments in Dover, Millis and Sherborn. He asked if any of their staff would consider dual membership. The request brought in one new firefigther, who was officially hired on Nov. 23.

Carrico also told the board he's talked to a couple of high school students that want to be firefighters — one is a senior and the other is a sophomore. The senior would need training and EMT school after graduating, while the 10th grader still has a couple years before they'd be eligible to join the department.

Still, the challenges will be difficult from a cost perspective. Carrico said it cost about $8,300 to train a person to become a firefighter. But Carrico said he wants to overcome some of the cost to the town by applying for federal grants.