Manteca Fire is hoping to hire three additional firefighters in the upcoming fiscal year starting July 1.

The hiring — if it takes place — is the first step in filling nine new firefighter positions to staff a second fire engine company 24/7 at the Union Road station.

The station not only is the busiest in Manteca based on call volume but it is located strategically to serve areas immediately south of the 120 Bypass where thousands of homes are moving forward to construction.

As such, the city will be able to add a sixth fire engine company to respond to fire and medical calls in the targeted five-minute response time without adding a sixth fire station. Based on the construction price of the last station built, that would save the city in excess of $4 million in upfront capital costs.

The three firefighters as well as an administrative captain position was part of the department needs Fire Chief Dave Marques presented during the City Council’s goal setting workshop last week that will be used to guide development of the spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The city may try to secure federal funding to initially pay for the positions with the caveat the firefighter positions created are funded with local money in future budgets.

Manteca geared up for staffing for the engine company at the Woodward/Atherton station in the same manner. By building 24/7 staffing for a new engine company in steps the city avoids being hit with an annual expense of $1.2 million plus hitting them all at once.

Other needs are the purchase of a new frontline engine, securing a design for a complete rebuild of station 3as well as a remodel of station 2, instituting a comprehensive firefighter wellness program, and securing additional office space for the fire prevention division.

The department responded to more than 10,000 calls in 2021, up from 9,059 in 2020.

They also took delivery of a new frontline fire engine, purchased the city’s first aerial tiller truck, purchased four new emergency response vehicles for battalion chiefs to replace the aging administrative fleet, and filled vacant positions for a firefighter and a fire chief.

Whether Marques will secure all or any of the needs in the upcoming municipal budget being prepared for the fiscal year starting July 1 depends on Manteca’s financial position. The council made mid-year budget adjustments last week that reflect a structured deficit of $3.1 million.

That means for the fiscal year ending June 30 the city is having to dip into general fund reserves to cover the fact they expect to spend $3.1 million than they will collect in revenue during the 12-month budget period.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com