College Students May Live in Station
Here is an innovative way to ensure enough firefighters are around to cover calls without having to hire full-time firefighters (from the Concord Monitor via FireFightingNews.com).
College students would live at the Newmarket fire station rent-free in exchange for covering emergency calls under a plan designed to save money and maintain the town's all-volunteer force.Chief Rick Malasky hasn't worked out all the details yet, but he said the second floor of the new fire station could be renovated to accommodate up to eight men and four women who would be responsible for a certain number of on-call hours each week, particularly during weekdays when the personnel shortage is at its worst.
Town councilors like the idea, especially since it would cost about $1 million less over five years than hiring four full-time firefighters.
It's a great idea if there is a college in your town.
