11/04/2026
YTFD currently has more emergency response apparatus than available personnel to safely staff and operate them. While having adequate equipment is important, apparatus alone does not provide emergency response. A low minimum staffing requirement often results in multiple vehicles being placed out of service reducing YTFD's emergency response capabilities. Local 1830 would like to see the daily minimum of 6 be raised to make full use of the department's equipment a daily norm. With the current staffing requirement we were only able to do this 2 days in the month of October.
Additionally, adding Battalion Chief positions to each shift would strengthen incident command, improve operational oversight, provide better coordination of emergency resources, enhance firefighter accountability and safety, and ensure effective leadership during complex or large-scale incidents.
Battalion Chiefs have recently been added to departments in Pittsfield Township and are being tested in Ypsilanti City. Local 1830 supports Chief Densmore in bringing this valuable piece to YTFD.
Firefighter and public safety remains Local 1830's top priority. Our community deserves more than fire apparatus sitting in stations; it deserves adequately staffed, properly supervised, and emergency ready responders capable of providing the level of service our residents need.
