North Haven Fire Department down to 17 active volunteers, annual report shows

North Haven’s fire department is leaning harder than ever on career firefighters as its volunteer ranks shrink, according to the department’s section of the town’s most recent annual report.

The department counted 17 active volunteers, 13 of them fully qualified, across its four stations. That shortage means three engines and one ladder truck are often out of service on weekdays, typically from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and sometimes later, the report says.

What the numbers show

The report, part of the Town of North Haven’s 2024-2025 Annual Report and 2025-2026 Civic Calendar, lays out a demanding year:

• 4,797 alarms and 6,719 total responses in 2024, an average of 18 calls a day.
• Simultaneous incidents 46% of the time.
• 2,071 rescue responses, including 183 advanced life support assists.
• More than 64 incidents in 2024 with no response or an inadequate response because calls overlapped.

The department also noted that volunteer response isn’t available during business hours, and that mutual aid from neighboring towns isn’t reliable for routine calls.

Stations and staffing

North Haven runs at least 10 career firefighters per shift. Staffing challenges have led to partial closures of the West Ridge and Northeast stations during weekday hours, according to the report.

Chief Paul Januszewski called 2024 “one of the most demanding and transformative years” for the department, citing near-record call volume, aging apparatus, limited staffing and challenges in volunteer retention.

The plan

The department’s stated goals include:

• Raising career staffing to 14 to 17 firefighters per shift.
• Reopening and fully staffing the Northeast Station for 24/7 coverage.
• Completing improvements at Northeast Station, where a major remodel of the kitchen, bunkrooms and alerting systems was underway thanks to a donation from Quinnipiac University.
• Growing the volunteer ranks through youth outreach, the Explorer program and retention incentives.
• An independent needs assessment covering staffing, apparatus and long-term planning.

What it would cost

Capital requests listed in the report include a replacement ambulance/rescue ($275,000), a brush UTV ($65,000), training center hydrants ($170,000), a needs assessment study ($75,000) and security fencing ($30,000), plus the department’s multi-year fire apparatus payment.

Those requests go through the town’s regular budget process, where the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and residents weigh them against other needs.

Want to volunteer?

The department is looking for volunteers. Residents interested in joining can contact the North Haven Fire Department at (203) 239-5321 or visit northhavenfire.org.

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Photo courtesy of the Town of North Haven