Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik says the work experience the current members of the Fire Department have, is nothing like it was when he took over the department fourteen years ago. It was a point he made with Newton City Council members, during his annual report.

“Total years of service 177.2, average years of service 6.5. When I came here our total years of service were about 300, our average years of service was 12.”

The Newton Fire Chief says retirements are responsible for some of that change. In addition, he notes many of the younger employees that have been hired have moved on in a matter of a few years. 

“They do get a lot of experience here, that’s one of the things that we say. You go to a lot of these other communities that run at the most 2,000 calls out of a station, we ran 3.500 calls out of our station last year. They are getting training and experience. We say a couple years here is like five years in a less busy department.”   

Newton Fire Chief Wellik says he knows of at least two more retirements coming up in the department, and one is a 30 year employee.