MAUMEE, Ohio —
The Maumee Fire Department is now staffed 24/7 and 365 days a year with full-time firefighters and paramedics.
The department recently hired six full-time firefighters and paramedics, which Chief Brandon Loboschefski said was possible because of a levy that passed in November of 2023.
"Before our EMS was full-time, 24/7, the fire trucks themselves were not staffed, so any type of fire accidents, things like that, we had to wait on people to come from their homes or work to staff the station or the fire trucks and then respond to the scene," Loboschefski said.
Three six-person crews work 24 hours on and 48 hours off at the department.
Lobschefski added that calls have increased by 40% in the last year, which crews are able to respond more efficiently to with the full-time staff.
"It will give us the ability to jump off the engine, be able to take a second EMS run and have that fully staffed to the ability that we can handle it," said Lt. Dan Williams.
Williams said the department is still looking to hire six more full-time firefighters and paramedics, too, with the hopes of having eight people on each shift in addition to the part-time personnel.
Loboschefski said the levy that passed in November of last year allowed the department to hire 12 new personnel.
The changes in Maumee come at a time when there are five fire levies on the ballot for Lucas County in November. Springfield Township is one, asking for a 2.5-mill renewal with a 3.5-mill increase.
"We want to maintain what we currently have, which is excellent response times below the national average," said Springfield Township Fire Chief Jonathon Ziehr. "We are not looking to add additional stations, additional personnel. We just want to maintain and then upgrade some of our stations."
Sylvania Township is asking for a 2.5-mill levy. Chief Chris Nye said if passed, it will be used for maintenance of current expenses and equipment and to add staff.
Swanton Township, Richfield Township and Harding Township also have fire levies on the ballot.