More Firefighters On the Way in Bloomfield

Bloomfield officials agreed to hire four new firefighters this week. The new recruits will replace retiring members of the department.

Fire Chief Joseph McCarthy said hiring new cadets at his proposed schedule will keep the fire department staff at 78 members. McCarthy told the council that there is a fire academy class in late September and that it was critical to get new firefighters in that class as new vacancies are looming.

“It’s important because as you go into the beginning of next year there are four more retirements,” McCarthy said. “If we miss this class, we’re waiting until spring of ‘14. By the time we get them out of the academy we’ll be down eight people and that will have a serious impact on overtime.

McCarthy said at least two of the new hires should be coming from the ranks of current volunteers.

Staffing has been a longtime issue for the department. In 2010 and 2011, the fire department underwent a 15 percent reduction in staff, dropping from 90 to 78. At that staffing level, Bloomfield firefighters are not able to staff all of the township’s engines 24 hours a day and Engine One sometimes closes when they cannot staff it with the required 14 firefighters due to unexpected staff absences.

Last year, fire officials said Engine One was in danger of shutting down altogether due to a lack of captains.