For Immediate Release

March 12, 2025

Mayor Mantello, Chief Cellucci, UFA Present Comprehensive 

Staffing Study and Fire Response Services

(Troy, NY) – Today, Mayor Carmella Mantello and the City of Troy hosted a press conference to discuss the findings and action plan from the comprehensive Staffing and Fire Response Services Study. This initiative underscores the Mantello Administration’s commitment to modernizing the Troy Fire Department (TFD) and ensuring the highest level of emergency response for residents.

“For nearly three decades, the Troy Fire Department has operated under a staffing model that no longer meets the needs of our growing city,” said Mayor Mantello. “With emergency calls more than doubling since 1996, we must act now to ensure our firefighters and emergency personnel have the resources they need to protect our residents. This study is more than just a report—it’s a blueprint for real change.”

Chief of the Troy Fire Department, Rich Cellucci said, “the Comprehensive Productivity and Staffing study is a good representation of the current status of the City of Troy Fire Department. More importantly, I believe it gives a good perspective on how our current staffing model has developed over the last thirty years, given the past  financial condition of the City. We did not get here overnight and we are not going to solve everything in one or two years, but the City and Fire Department administration are committed to developing both short- and long-term goals, using the study as a valuable resource. I look forward to the start of the 90-day task force to begin the process.”

Jeff Ward, President of the Unified Firefighters Association of Troy expressed his enthusiasm saying, “This day marks a crucial step towards enhancing the safety and well-being of our community. A special shoutout to Mayor Carmella Mantello, who was instrumental in pushing for the release of the “RFP” for this study during her tenure as City Council President. Our goal is to ensure that the City of Troy Fire Department and Ambulance Service can effectively and efficiently provide services to our community. We welcome this initiative and look forward to immediate, short term, and long-term plans for change so we can provide for our community even better than before.”

The Mantello Administration recognizes the urgent need to address outdated staffing structures within the Troy Fire Department. Since 1996, annual emergency calls have surged from under 6,000 to over 13,000 yet staffing levels have remained unchanged at 24 personnel per shift. What was once an effective model in the 1990s is now inadequate, creating operational challenges that impact both firefighting and emergency medical services (EMS).

To address these challenges, the city is launching a 90-day task force that will work in collaboration with fire department leadership, union representatives, and stakeholders to identify immediate solutions. This task force will focus on implementing key recommendations from the study, while also developing long-term strategies to improve staffing, efficiency, and service delivery.

Troy’s firefighters, who also serve as EMS personnel, are experiencing increasing challenges due to hospital waiting times and ambulance backlogs. This results in longer ambulance turnaround times, stretching resources thin and reducing firefighting capacity. The current cross-staffing model, originally designed to balance services, is now struggling to meet the rising demand for EMS response, impacting fire suppression efforts and firefighter safety.

“We are committed to ensuring that Troy’s residents receive the best fire protection and emergency medical services possible,” said Mayor Mantello. “This study provides us with a clear roadmap, and we will take the necessary steps—both immediate and long-term—to strengthen our fire department for the future.”

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