08/09/2026
NFPA 1710 & Why 4 Firefighters Matter
NFPA 1710 is a nationally recognized standard that provides guidance for the organization, deployment, staffing, and response of career fire departments. One of its key principles is having enough firefighters arrive at an emergency to safely and effectively perform critical tasks.
With 3 firefighters on the truck:
Fewer firefighters available to perform critical tasks simultaneously.
Greater difficulty completing multiple tasks at the same time.
Less capacity to establish effective fire attack, search, ventilation, water supply and incident support.
Crews can be stretched thinner when a firefighter is injured, encounters a problem, or another emergency occurs.
Additional arriving resources may be needed before certain operations can safely proceed.
The Bottom Line
Three firefighters may get the truck there, but four firefighters get more work done when they arrive.
When seconds matter, having an additional firefighter on the first-arriving truck can mean more tasks completed sooner, greater operational capability, and a safer working environment for firefighters and the public.
Milton is growing. Emergency calls are increasing. Our staffing needs to keep pace with our community.
