04/23/2026
We want to be clear with the residents we serve: the numbers on this flyer are the straight facts of what we are facing on the street every single day.
We are running nearly double the emergency calls with the exact same daily staffing we had over two decades ago. But here is what that actually means for our community:
We never want you or your family to be that 2nd or 3rd call.
When multiple emergencies happen at once, which is now happening 46% of the time, our station is completely empty. If your loved one is experiencing a medical emergency or a fire, we don't want you waiting extended periods of time for an off-duty recall or for a truck from a neighboring town to finally arrive. In our line of work, those delayed minutes can be the difference between life and death.
Adding just 1 firefighter per shift is the absolute bare minimum needed to bridge this dangerous gap and ensure someone is here in town ready to respond when you need us most.
Please stand with us so we can continue to be there for you. We urge all residents to attend the Town Meeting on May 4th and to vote on May 16th in support of the Public Safety Override.
In Solidarity,
Hanson Firefighters Local 2713
🚨 Hanson Residents: Important Information Regarding the Proposed Public Safety Override 🚨
We want to share some critical information regarding the Fire Department’s portion of the proposed Public Safety Override on the upcoming Town Meeting and Election warrants.
First and foremost: We completely understand that any increase in taxes represents a real financial burden to our residents. Please know this request was not made lightly. We have worked tirelessly to offset costs using non-tax dollars, securing federal ARPA funds and utilizing our self-sustaining Ambulance Fund to purchase vehicles and fund existing positions.
However, we have reached a critical tipping point. This proposed override represents the absolute bare minimum required to safely protect our growing community.
Here is the reality of our current situation:
• 📈 Call Volume Has Nearly Doubled: In 2002, our volume was 1,199 calls. In 2025, it reached 2,297 calls. Despite this massive increase, our staffing has remained completely frozen at 4 firefighters per shift since 2002.
• ⚠️ 46% of Emergency Calls Overlap: We are consistently handling multiple emergencies at the exact same time (1,050 simultaneous incidents in 2025 alone).
• 🚒 ZERO Firefighters Remaining: Because of our fixed staffing, the first call takes 4 firefighters. If a second call comes in, that leaves only 2 firefighters available to do the same work as 4 firefighters, and any additional calls leaves ZERO on-duty firefighters available. Last year, there were 367 instances where 3 or more calls were dispatched, requiring us to rely on mutual aid or off-duty recall, which causes critical delays when seconds matter most.
What the Override Does:
The fire department's portion of the override would allow us to add 1 additional firefighter per shift (increasing daily staffing to 5). This ensures that if a second overlapping call occurs, we still have personnel remaining in town to provide an immediate response to additional emergencies.
Please review the attached infographic for a full breakdown of the data, our grant funding successes, and the estimated annual tax impact.
Your voice and your vote matter. We encourage all residents to review the facts and participate in our local government!
🗓️ ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: May 4th at 6:30 PM
🗳️ ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION: May 16, 2026, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
📍 LOCATION: Hanson Middle School (111 Liberty St)
Questions? Please reach out to the Hanson Fire Department at 781-293-9571.
