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Fire Station Deployment Pilot Program
Town Manager John Mangiaratti and Fire Chief Anita Arnum announced the launch of the Acton Fire Department fire station deployment pilot program in February of 2025 and it has been underway since that time..
The Town of Acton used state grant funds to hire Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management (Collins Center) to support the ongoing effort to examine the current service delivery model for fire and EMS to explore innovative approaches to increase operational efficiency across Acton and ensure that services, apparatus, and personnel are being deployed into the community most effectively.
As part of this pilot program, Acton Fire initially consolidated personnel and apparatus into two stations: North, Station 4 (68 Harris St.) and South, Station 2 (54 School St.)
Acton Fire developed this plan in collaboration with Acton Firefighters Local 1904.
A second phase of the project included running operations out of three stations by bringing West Acton Station back online during the late spring. In December of 2025, the pilot program will be shifting and the Center Station will reopen while the West Station is undergoing some minor repairs. The stations will stay in this format until the Collins Center report is completed and results of the pilot programs are evaluated.
Please use the tabs below to learn more about the program.
Questions? Please contact Fire Chief Anita Arnum at (978) 929-7414 or fire@actonfirema.gov.
When Station 4 became operational in the spring of 2022, no additional staffing was added to the department. Instead, existing personnel were redistributed across all stations, resulting in two members per station and the Shift Commander/Captain assigned to one of them. This staffing model created challenges in oversight, training, camaraderie, and mutual aid response.
Previous Staffing Configuration
Station 1:
- Captain in command vehicle (C30)
- Two paramedics in the primary ambulance
Station 2:
Two Firefighter/EMTs cross-staffing the ladder truck, an engine, and the brush truck
Station 3:
Two Firefighters (EMT or Paramedic, depending on availability) cross-staffing an engine and the secondary ambulance (operating at either basic or advanced life support levels, depending on staffing)
Station 4:
One Lieutenant and one Firefighter/EMT
While the addition of Station 4 was necessary to serve the North Acton district—our largest and busiest district, with numerous high-occupancy residential buildings—this staffing configuration proved inefficient.
A key issue was the deployment of the primary ambulance with two paramedics to every initial call, regardless of whether advanced life support (ALS) was required. This often left the department unable to respond effectively to subsequent medical calls, particularly when an ALS-level response was needed. Additionally, the busiest and highest-hazard district (North Acton) was left with a single engine and only two members, with backup engines responding from South or West Acton if available.
To assess these concerns, Criterion Associates conducted a study analyzing five years of historical response data. Their findings suggested that the town would be best served by two fire stations: one in North Acton and another in the South district, ideally along Main Street.
With this data in mind, the Union and Administration collaborated to explore new operational models. The result was a Pilot Program consolidating personnel and operating from two primary stations: North Acton (Station 4) and South Acton (Station 2). During this pilot period, the Center and West Acton stations will be temporarily taken offline.
The town was divided into two districts—North and South—with Route 2 serving as the natural boundary.
Each district is served by its designated fire station, which is staffed with both an ALS ambulance and an engine or ladder for initial response.
Mutual aid can be provided more efficiently, with a full complement of personnel available.
New Staffing Model
Station 2 (South Acton):
- Captain/Shift Commander
- Two Firefighter/EMTs staffing the ladder truck
- Two Firefighter/EMTs (at least one Paramedic) cross-staffing an engine and an ALS ambulance
Station 4 (North Acton):
- One Lieutenant and two Firefighter/EMTs staffing the engine (available to cross-staff the brush truck if needed)
- Two Firefighter/EMTs (at least one Paramedic) staffing an ALS ambulance
The Acton Fire Department is notifying residents that the West Acton Fire Station located at 256 Central Street will be closing December 15, 2025 while a tight tank is installed and related building repair is completed.
During this period, personnel and apparatus that had been assigned to the West Station will operate out of the Center Fire Station. This relocation ensures that staffing, coverage, and operational readiness remain uninterrupted.
Signage regarding the closure will be posted at the West Acton Fire Station. The front doorbell will ring directly to dispatch should someone need assistance.
Residents should expect little to no impact on emergency response. Units will continue to respond promptly to all calls for service, and coverage throughout the district will be maintained at normal levels.
As you may be aware, the Fire Department has been participating in a Pilot study to evaluate various operational models. The final report from the Collins Center is expected in early 2026 and will help guide us in ensuring we are utilizing our resources in the most effective way to serve the community.
- Enhance safety, efficiency, and camaraderie
- Improve oversight and training opportunities
- Evaluate various operational models
- Optimize service delivery with available resources
Initial feedback from the program has been encouraging, with improvements noted in several key areas:
- Response times remain within acceptable parameters.
- The North Acton engine is now staffed with a three-member crew, significantly improving efficiency.
- Safety and operational effectiveness have increased, with more personnel arriving on-scene together.
- ALS coverage is now more effectively distributed between the North and South districts.
- Improved oversight, with a Captain stationed in the South and a Lieutenant in the North.
- Camaraderie among personnel has improved.
- Training opportunities have expanded, with sufficient staffing at each station to conduct in-house sessions.
Map of Acton Fire Department Deployment Pilot Program Districts - Reference Only