"We want to make sure the citizens of Hampden are aware of the critical shortfall in public safety that currently exists," said Hampden Fire Chief Michael Gorski, who supports having at least three full-time firefighters staff the fire station on weekdays, when the volunteer Fire Department receives the bulk of its calls.
HAMPDEN -- Fire Chief Michael Gorski continues to push the town to hire a handful of full-time firefighters to man the understaffed Hampden Volunteer Fire Department, particularly during weekdays when most of the two dozen or so volunteer firefighters are working their real jobs.
Hiring at least three full-timers available to staff the North Road fire station during regular weekday hours would put the town in a better position in terms of its response time fires and reduce the chances of catastrophic events, according to Gorski, who has shared his concerns with the Hampden Board of Selectmen.
"The sooner we can get three or more firefighters to a fire call, the greater the chances of extinguishing the fire and minimizing the damage and the safer it is for those responding firefighters," Gorski said in an open letter to the community that he posted on the Hampden Fire Department's Facebook page on Feb. 22.
The letter, titled "Why Three Firefighters," is partly educational, sharing the chief's public safety concerns with town taxpayers, and partly a lobbying effort to add even a handful of paid full-time firefighters to the department's ranks. Adding three full-timers would cost the town roughly $250,000 annually, according to Gorski's calculations.
"The fire department has made recommendations to the Board of Selectmen to hire three full-time firefighters to provide fire and emergency services Monday through Friday during the day," Gorski said. "We want to make sure the citizens of Hampden are aware of the critical shortfall in public safety that currently exists."
Gorski, in his capacity as chief, can only make recommendations about the town's public safety needs. "It is up to the elected leaders and the taxpayers as to what the community wants and can afford," he said.
Most of the department's current volunteers are unable to respond to calls during regular workday hours because almost all of them have jobs outside of Hampden, according to Gorski. Making matters worse, more than half of Hampden's fire calls occur during the work week, "when we are unable to guarantee that any volunteer firefighters may be able to respond," the chief said.
"When the Fire Department arrives at an emergency scene, our first priority is to prevent loss of life or serious injury to victims and to firefighters," Gorski said. "We will always act where our actions may prevent loss of life or serious injury, but the life-safety risk to firefighters substantially increases with decreasing staffing."
When it comes to fighting a fire, at least three people are needed to operate the hose -- one firefighter to stay with the truck to monitor and regulate water pressure, and two to enter the burning structure to begin fire suppression efforts, according to Gorski.
But Hampden often finds itself short-staffed and relying heavily on mutual aid from surrounding departments, some of which beat Hampden firefighters to Hampden fire scenes.
"It takes a large force of firefighters to safely operate at a working fire," Gorski said. "We may rely on mutual aid to supplement our initial attack, but it is just a matter of time in the Town of Hampden that there may be no initial attack by the Hampden Fire Department because there are no responders in town."
Another disadvantage is the lack of hydrants in town, requiring water to be trucked in to every fire scene. The first arriving engine typically carries around 2,000 gallons, with additional water trucked to the scene depending on how big a fire is and how much water is needed. Hampden uses portable drop tanks at many scenes, folding tanks that resemble big kiddie pools that are repeatedly refilled with water.
For these and other reasons, according to fire officials, it's time for Hampden to consider changing its current approach to firefighting in this town of 5,100. Hampden is home to two public schools, several churches, a shopping center, grocery store, gas station, industrial park, computer software company, and GreatHorse, a new upscale golf club, among many other businesses and residential properties.
"Firefighting is an inherently hazardous activity," Gorski said. "Our mission at the Hampden Fire Department is to save lives and property, but we may not be able to do that using the current model with no guarantee of minimal staffing."
Recent big fires, including one that wiped out a historic mansion know as "The Castle" in December 2016, have underscored the need for change, according to supporters of adding full-timers to the department.
So far, all of Gorski's Facebook posts have been well-received by residents, many of whom have pledged their support. "I support this wholeheartedly," said local photographer and Hampden resident Craig Rivest. "If there is anything that I can do to help bring more light to this topic, please let me know."
Meanwhile, Gorski has expressed his willingness to talk to or meet with local citizens, businesses or civic groups to further explain just how dire the situation is. Any questions may be directed to the Fire Department at 413-566-3314.
