Dear Merrimac Residents,
I am writing to inform you that I will be available to address inquiries regarding the Fire Department’s request for four full-time firefighters.
I will present information and provide opportunities for community members to ask questions on three consecutive Fridays, April 11, April 18, and April 25 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Merrimac Fire Station. There will also be two evening sessions at the Town Hall on Tuesday, April 15, and Wednesday, April 23 from 6-7 p.m.
If these times are not convenient for you, please contact me and I will try to arrange an appointment to meet with you personally.
This request is driven by a genuine need related to our capacity to respond effectively to calls. Please consider:
- We currently lack sufficient personnel to cover shifts from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Without the addition of four firefighters, we cannot ensure prompt response during this period.
- Our primary focus is on responding to calls within our community rather than providing aid to other communities.
- Last year, there were 210 instances where we had two or more calls simultaneously. With only two personnel on duty during the day, along with the Chief, we often rely on mutual aid. This can result in waiting times of at least 10 to 12 minutes, or longer if the nearest fire department is unavailable.
I encourage those who have benefited from our assistance to share their experiences with neighbors and friends. Due to privacy laws, we are unable to disclose personal stories or display accident scene images without permission. While these laws are understood and respected, they limit our capacity to educate the public about our services. We assure you that we would never disclose personal information or situations without consent.
Your support in sharing information about the necessity and value of this service is crucial. I hope to see many of you at one or more of these forums.
Respectfully,
Larry S. Fisher
Fire Chief