Cortland Fire Department Grows

Nov 23, 2022 CORTLAND , Cortland’s fire department soon will have the ability to add one more full-time firefighter, and bring its full-time staff from 10 to 11.

City council this week gave its first approval to an ordinance amending the number of staff set in 1996 to include a seventh fire / EMS person, in addition to three fire captains and the chief.

The ordinance will need two more readings before it goes into effect.

Fire Chief David Rea said he hopes to add one more full-time firefighter to cover holes in scheduling so that at least four people will be on duty at any given time. “Once you get under that, that really impacts our ability to staff two ambulances, obviously, and it impacts our ability on a fire scene,” Rea said. “Each time you subtract a guy from that first arriving engine, the ability to do our job is drastically decreased.” He said the department currently has about 15 part-time staff members, but it’s getting harder and harder to hire part-time, and sometimes even full-time, personnel.

The last time the department tested for a new full-time firefighter, which was about three years ago, it got four applicants.

By the time of hiring, three already had been offered full-time jobs elsewhere, Rea said.

At the same time, the department’s call volume has increased significantly since the mid-1990s.

Rea said that around 1996, the department responded to about 1,200 to 1,300 calls.

Last year, it responded to 2,227.

City council members during their meeting Monday noted that the increase in authorized strength for the department will not mean that it is required to have 11 full-time personnel, but will allow it to get up to that number at any time.

In other business, council: • Tabled the 0,000 purchase of the former Cortland Bank building, 194 W.

Main St., from Canfield-based Farmers National Banc Corp; • Approved advertising for statements of qualifications for the design of the West Main Street water main replacement project; • Announced the city’s tree lighting will be 3 to 7 p.m.

Saturday on West Main Street, with the tree being lit at 6 p.m.

The event will include horse-drawn carriage rides, ornament making, an ugly sweater contest and appearances by Santa and Mrs.

Claus; • Reminded residents that city offices will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.

Trash will not be picked up Thursday and service will be on a one-day delay.

City offices also will be closed Dec. 23 and 26 for Christmas.

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