January 29, 2026— The Berkley Fire/Rescue Department released a staffing update outlining current personnel levels and the measures in place to maintain continuous fire and emergency medical coverage for the community.

Berkley Fire/Rescue currently staffs two personnel per shift, consisting of one Firefighter/Paramedic and one Firefighter/EMT. The department is made up of seven full-time members, with additional support provided by call Firefighter/Paramedics and Firefighter/EMTs, who are utilized approximately 96 hours per week to supplement in-station staffing and ensure minimum coverage levels are met.

Under normal conditions, the Deputy Chief is assigned to weekday daytime hours, overseeing fire prevention activities, inspections, and administrative responsibilities, while also supplementing daytime staffing when call personnel are unavailable due to their primary employment. As a temporary cost-savings measure, and while one full-time firefighter is away on active military duty, the Deputy Chief—who is also a Paramedic—is covering a full-time rotation position for the next year. While this approach allows the department to maintain required shift staffing, it limits the ability to dedicate weekday daytime resources to fire prevention and administrative functions.

Department officials noted that to fully staff all rotation positions without reliance on call personnel, Berkley Fire/Rescue would require the addition of two full-time firefighters. The department emphasized its commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and providing dependable, professional emergency services to residents while balancing operational demands.