VIDEO: The Village of Somers says demand for public safety is growing faster than staffing can keep up, and leaders are asking residents to weigh in on how to move forward. A new Options Assessment report shows a nearly 320% increase in calls for service since 2017. Last year alone, Somers Fire & Rescue handled a record 1,662 calls, two-thirds of them medical.
“With our current, relatively low full-time staffing levels, we are only able to send out two ambulances at once,” said Fire Chief Ben Andersen. “As the need for emergency medical services continues to rise, Somers Fire & Rescue needs to be able to send all three of our ambulances out at once.” The report highlights that the fire department relies heavily on part-time staff who must travel from their homes or other jobs before responding to emergencies, leading to longer response times. Andersen said growth in the community has also added pressure.
