The Lincoln Township Board of Trustees has taken the first step toward expanding the township fire department to full-time operations.
At a meeting this week, trustees approved the hiring of two full-time firefighters, kicking off Phase 1 of Chief Brandon Chiarello’s plan to have staff at the station and ready to respond to emergencies on a 24/7 basis.
In December, Chiarello told trustees with so much development taking place in Lincoln Township over the past ten years, call volume has risen 69% since 2015. He proposed expanding to full-time service by hiring the two full-time firefighters for a day shift, Mondays through Fridays.
Township Clerk Michael Brown told fellow trustees Tuesday that the current Fire Fund can support the initial expansion, but once the department moves on to Phase 2 — the actual implementation of 24-7, 365 coverage — a millage request may be put to voters.
The Lincoln Township Fire Department currently has the full-time chief and about a dozen on-call firefighters. The on-call firefighters would remain under the full-time model, but with the added support of full-time staff.
The two hires are expected by April 1.
