Leaner concert schedule could point to fewer calls for Gilford firefighters, who recently added new training captain

GILFORD — The town will earn a new training captain position for the fire department, if a budget proposal submitted by Chief Steve Carrier is approved by the selectboard.

The department's proposed budget is $3.2 million, which represents an increase of $103,519, or 3.4%. The total base pay for the position is $104,832, included in the proposal for the fire department's portion of the 2026 Town Meeting budget. Benefits are included as well.

Carrier said Ryan Brown started as the training captain in September. In this year’s budget, the position was slated for a July 1 start, but the department decided to hire instead for a Sept. 1 start.

“Next year’s budget will be a full year of wages and benefits for the training captain position, as this year it was only budgeted for a half-year,” Carrier said. “We phased it in.”

Carrier said Brown has already made a major impact training the call department and full-time shift members. He will also be training the department’s newest firefighter, Kate Labrecque.

Brown’s position oversees training for personnel, both full-time and call firefighters. Responsibilities include developing curriculum, training the call department, overseeing probationary training periods, providing shift training, and overseeing the training facility and recycling center.

Carrier recently told the selectboard that his department handled 1,394 calls so far in 2025, as of Sept. 30. They had a record high of calls in the month of January, but after that, they have been slightly below average.

He said it could have something to do with short-term rentals being more vacant than before.

“That’s just a theory that we’ve had,” he said. “But overall, we are only 43 incidents less than 2024.”

He also noted Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion had fewer concerts on their schedule in 2025 than the previous two years. Over the 42 concerts this summer they saw 286 patients, including 21 who were transported for treatment.

“Both of those numbers are down by approximately 25% from 2024,” Carrier said.

While some departments around the state have had issues with staffing — both recruiting and retaining — Carrier reported Gilford Fire is fully staffed.

“We have been really lucky, even when there was quite a bit of talk over the past few years, where departments were struggling to get new employees on board,” Carrier said.

Carrier said the department is fortunate to have an excellent group of people on board. He noted they all seem to like working there, as there are a diverse array of calls, and excellent community support. It also helps that the department has adjusted their pay scale considerably over the past three years, and Carrier said they are “above average for like-sized communities.”

“Gilford is a good town to work for, and has always supported the emergency services,” Carrier said.

Carrier said there have been some changes in personnel, but between advertising well on social media and through word of mouth, the department has been in great shape.

“One of the best ways to find new employees is by recommendation.”