05/30/2026
A recent structure fire in our community highlighted exactly why adequate staffing matters.
During the incident, firefighters encountered rapidly deteriorating conditions that resulted in a smoke explosion while crews were operating inside the structure. Thankfully, everyone went home safely, and all crews involved performed exceptionally under dangerous conditions. However, the reality is that we could have lost firefighters the other night. Incidents like this are a reminder of how quickly conditions can change and how critical adequate manpower is on the fireground.
At the time of the fire, the department was operating with only eight firefighters on duty for the entire town.
When a working fire occurs, multiple critical tasks must happen immediately and at the same time. Firefighters are responsible for fire attack, searching for victims, ventilation, securing a water supply, establishing command, firefighter rescue operations, accountability, EMS support, and protecting surrounding areas. These tasks cannot safely or effectively be handled by only a handful of personnel.
No firefighter should ever have to choose between advancing a hose line and searching for a possible victim because there simply are not enough people on scene to do both safely.
National standards established by the NFPA recognize this reality. NFPA 1710 recommends an effective response force of approximately 16–17 firefighters for a typical single-family dwelling fire in order to safely complete the critical operations required at these incidents. Fires involving attached garages, rapidly changing fire conditions, or smoke explosions can require even more manpower due to the increased hazards involved.
Mutual aid from neighboring departments is an essential and appreciated part of the fire service, but it is intended to support operations — not function as the primary staffing model for initial fireground operations. The first several minutes of a fire are the most critical, and delays in staffing directly impact firefighter safety, civilian survivability, and overall outcomes.
This is not about politics, and it is not about criticism. It is about educating the community on the realities firefighters face every day. Adequate staffing protects not only firefighters, but also the residents we are sworn to protect.
Modern apparatus and equipment are important, but equipment alone does not save lives. Properly staffed fire companies do.
The members of the East Greenwich Firefighters Local remain committed to serving this community with professionalism, dedication, and pride. We are proud of the work our firefighters perform every day under increasingly difficult conditions, and we believe our community deserves to understand why staffing levels matter.
