The Mattapoisett Fire Department may soon add a full-time position in an attempt to have more firefighters available for emergencies.

Fire Chief Andy Murray spoke with Selectmen on Wednesday. He said the National Fire Prevention Association’s standards state there should always be four firefighters available and that a truck should be mobilized within 90 seconds of receiving a call and arrive on the scene in four minutes.

“That’s not how we run at all,” said Murray. “Ninety percent of the calls, we can’t make the four people that are supposed to be standard.”

The department has only two full-time employees, Murray and Lt. Justin Dubois. Most of the on-call firefighters work out of town during the day, so coverage is slim. There are a few town employees on call, but they still have to get to the fire station and suit up before they respond to an emergency.

Plus, retaining those who want to become full-time firefighters is getting increasingly difficult. They get trained while in Mattapoisett and are right back out the door, said Murray.

Additionally, the fire chief said participation has dropped since the mid-90’s when regulations prohibited smoking and beards and added training.

“Old school, blue-collar workers aren’t the sit down and study type guys,” Murray said.

The problem isn’t unique to the area. Small fire departments have trouble recruiting on-call firefighters who work locally and an equally difficult time holding on to part-time firefighters, though according to Murray Marion has four people available in house.

Rochester also has the added advantage that its Highway Department employees are also firefighters, so they can respond quickly to calls during work hours.

To improve Mattapoisett's response times, Murray is asking the Selectmen and Finance Committee to support an additional full-time position at the Fire Department, ensuring at least three people could respond to calls during the days.

Selectman Paul Silva asked if Rochester and Marion departments could share firefighters with Mattapoisett, but Town Administrator Mike Gagne noted that there is already a mutual aid agreement between the three towns.

Plus, he said, “The problem is the distance you’ve got to cover to get to their locales. It does not make it practical.”

Murray said he’s “exhausted every option,” and sees a new position as the best choice.

The long-time deputy chief will retire in January, further reducing coverage, but will also free up some funds. Murray said he can also cutback on part-time hours to make the hire feasible, but he still needs $10,000 this year to fund the position.

Although Selectmen said they do not like to add positions not in the approved annual budget, Gagne said this situation is different than adding a new administrative position.

“I think it’s prudent from a safety standpoint,” he said.

The matter next goes to the Finance Committee today and is likely to be placed on the Special Town Meeting agenda, to be formalized on Friday.

In related news

Murray is also reorganizing the department’s structure. After Deputy Chief Walter Morgado retires in January, his position will be replaced with two senior officers.

“It'll adjust the rank that we have now, bring in some new blood, new more energetic people to get things started,” Murray said.

He would also like to add positions to help with regular maintenance of engines and other needs in the department. The benefit is twofold: Engines would be better maintained and returned to service faster, and firefighters would have added responsibility and ownership in the department.

Those assigned to do the extra work would see increased wages, approximately $2,000 per responsibility for 10 firefighters. This proposal will likely be added to the Fire Department’s budget to be presented at Annual Town Meeting in May.