Fall River Firefighter Union announces agreement with Mayor Coogan to increase manpower per shift

FALL RIVER, MA – According to a release by the Fall River Firefighter Union, an agreement has been struck with the City to increase manpower per shift after the deadly Gabriel House fire claimed 9 lives.

The Fall River Firefighters Union Local 1314 has announced an increase in staffing effective 5:30 p.m. this evening. Daily shift strength will rise from 35 to 38 firefighters. 

The statement is as follows:

“This change ensures that all six engine companies will now be staffed in full compliance with NFPA 1710, the national standard that outlines best practices for fire service deployment and crew sizes. Previously, only two of our engines met this critical standard. Our Heavy Rescue and three Ladder Companies will continue to operate with three firefighters each. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) for their unwavering support during this time. We are especially grateful to IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly, PFFM President Richard MacKinnon Jr., IAFF 3rd District Vice President Jay Colbert, Billy Cabral PFFM Secretary-Treasurer, and PFFM 8th District Vice President Jason Burns for standing with us and providing crucial peer support resources to our members. Their leadership, compassion, and presence here in Fall River meant more than words can express. 

“We are also deeply grateful for the phenomenal working relationship we have with Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon. His commitment to the safety of both our firefighters and the residents of Fall River has been instrumental in achieving this staffing improvement. We are excited to build on this momentum and see what more we can do together to further protect the people of Fall River moving forward. 

“While this marks a vital step forward, we recognize that more work lies ahead. We remain committed to working collaboratively with Mayor Paul Coogan and city leadership to develop a comprehensive plan that restores proper staffing across the additional four fire companies that still fall short. 

“Fall River Firefighters are steadfast in our mission. We will always answer the call, and we will continue to advocate for the staffing, resources, and readiness required to protect every corner of this city.”

According to a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Mayor Paul Coogan stated that with the help of the state, Fall River will be able to fund the increase of roughly $1,500,000. In the immediate term, the gaps will be filled in with overtime as the process takes 9-12 months for a firefighter to go through all of the needed training.