HATFIELD — Significant changes to the Hatfield Fire Department, such as having contracted, regular out-of-town ambulance service to handle most medical calls and regionalizing with other communities for fire responses, may be necessary due to Fire Chief Robert Flaherty’s looming departure.
In a May 7 letter informing the Select Board that he would be leaving the position he has held for just over six years, Flaherty advises that drastic steps may need to be taken to ensure residents get appropriate fire and ambulance service.
“I have concerns about the future viability of the fire/ ambulance service in town, and the direction the town may be forced to take,” Flaherty wrote in the communication, explaining that he will begin working full time for the Hadley Fire Department on June 7.
In his letter, Flaherty said he worries about shifting salary from the fire to the ambulance budget, no longer being able to rely on call force members and volunteers to cover calls and whether the town-run Emergency Medical Services can continue to meet the townspeoples’ needs. All of these concerns might pose risks to keeping his position as the full-time fire chief, he wrote.
The Select Board last week began a discussion with Flaherty on the approach that should be taken. “Moving forward, we’re going to need a long-term plan,” said Chairman Luke Longstreeth.
Town Administrator Andrew Levine said the first priority is on maintaining an Advanced Life Support ambulance, and seeing if primary mutual aid agreements can be signed with both South County EMS and Northampton Fire and Rescue.
While Flaherty said he will stay on 10 hours per week in an administrative role, there are questions centered on the licensing requirements for the town’s Advanced Life Support ambulance. Flaherty holds that license, and it’s unclear how easy that will be to transfer to another person in the department.
Levine said he will look into the possibility of having an interim fire chief with necessary certifications to maintain that license, which would be necessary if South County EMS or Northampton Fire and Rescue refuse to sign a primary mutual aid agreement.
There are also unknowns for the costs of such an arrangement. Flaherty said Hatfield could be looking at $350,000 to $450,000 in annual payments for ambulance service, with response times at least three times as long, noting that Northampton’s ambulances tend to take 11 minutes on average, and South County EMS ambulances average 14 minutes.
On top of how medical calls might be handled, Flaherty said the lack of fire coverage is also something that will happen. “We’re going to be struggling on the fire side, as well,” Flaherty said.
Currently, Flaherty and one other full-time firefighter respond to fire alarms during the day and do various inspections, and don’t have enough other personnel, with call staff working out of town and generally only available if there’s a major incident.
In conversations with Whately Fire Chief JP Kennedy, a fee-per-call could be assessed if the neighboring Franklin County town begins coming into Hatfield for fire emergencies. Flaherty said he also expects to have conversations with Northampton Fire Chief Andy Pelis about what the city could offer Hatfield for fire service.
Flaherty said having complete regionalization of fire and medical service may be necessary in the area. That is happening across the country.
“This is unfortunately, where things are moving,” Flaherty said.
The examination of the town’s fire department comes a year after voters rejected an around-the-clock model based on a study by Municipal Resources Inc. from 2023 that outlined staffing needs.
That was dependent on a $480,200 Proposition 2½ tax-cap override that would have allowed the department to make its pay for firefighter/ paramedics competitive with area communities, while hiring two additional full-time firefighters at the basic EMT level and one full-time firefighter paramedic. This would have allow the department’s Emergency Medical Services to have at least two personnel on at all times.
Levine said he will be talking to every surrounding town to look at collaborations and model for combining EMS and fire and what the timelines and costs would look like.
Police chief to retire
Flaherty’s pending departure comes as Police Chief Michael Dekoschak wrote a letter to the Select Board informing members of his anticipated retirement, after 38 years in law enforcement, at the end of 2026.
“I’ve always felt welcomed and appreciated, which I believe is a testament to the kind, warm-hearted residents of Hatfield,” Dekoschak wrote.
He has been member of the town’s police department since 2011 and its chief since 2017.
Select Board member Ed Jaworski said the town, too, has become fond of Dekoschak. He said the board would accept his retirement with regret and that a committee will soon be formed to start the search process for a successor.
“(We) thank him for all his years of service to the town, and enjoy retirement,” Longstreeth said.
