CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Two independent studies found the Canandaigua Fire Department’s current staffing levels and response times fall below national safety standards.
News10NBC’s Garrett Chan obtained a report from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), detailing how current staffing levels don’t meet key requirements for emergency services, known as NFPA 1710. The City of Canandaigua’s December 2025 study by the Center for Public Safety Management echoed those same issues.
The city’s report says as a “single responding agency,” the department is unable to put together an “effective response force” for any structure fire, other than a “shed or other small outbuilding.”
“Not only does it put us at risk, we’re doing multiple different tasks that are, we’re not being as efficient as we possibly could. We’re also putting ourselves in danger doing multiple, multiple jobs,” Jake Bement, union president for Canandaigua Professional Firefighters, said.
The department currently has about five firefighters on duty per day across its two stations. The goal is to get daily staffing levels to 9-10 per shift.
Bement said since the department shifted away from having volunteer firefighters, it’s put a strain on its career firefighters.
“We’ve gone from 800 calls a year 20 years ago. Now, we’re on track for 2,600 calls this year. So we’re taking on more calls for duty with less, less manpower,” Bement said.
Another issue identified in the city’s public safety study is long turnout time. The study says overall turnout time was about two minutes, well above the national safety benchmark. Bement said firefighters have been able to get out of the door quicker than that.
“We’re out the door in under 60 seconds. Usually it’s closer to 45 seconds. We’re out the door, putting all of our gear on, getting the truck, turning the lights on and driving to that call,” Bement said.
Chan reached out to Chief Frank Magnera of the Canandaigua Fire Department. Chief Magnera said the department is working to apply for the FEMA SAFER Grant, but needs funding from the state as well to add more career firefighters.
The Canandaigua Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with several other fire stations. However, all of those departments are fully volunteer and are facing staffing issues of their own as well.
“They’re relying on us for mutual aid and we’re relying on them for mutual aid. Farmington is growing exponentially. And you see that growth trickling down from the north down into Canandaigua and surrounding the city,” Bement said.
Chan also reached out to John Goodwin, the Canandaigua City Manager, to speak on the matter. Goodwin responded with the following statement:
“The City of Canandaigua recently received the comprehensive Fire-EMS-911 Services Assessment prepared by the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM), an internationally recognized public safety consulting organization.
The report provides a detailed review of our fire, EMS, and Ontario County’s emergency communications systems, including community growth trends, operational performance, response demands, staffing considerations, infrastructure, training, mutual aid, and future planning needs. Importantly, the report concludes that the Canandaigua Fire Department, Canandaigua Emergency Squad, and Ontario County 911 Center overall provide quality and professional services to our community.
It is important for the public to understand that these recommendations are presented as planning objectives over a period that CPSM defines as mid-term (three to five years) and long-term (six to ten years), and they must be viewed within the broader context of municipal budgeting, taxpayer impact, recruitment realities, operational sustainability, regional mutual aid capabilities, and the evolving needs of our community.
The report also acknowledges that the Canandaigua Fire Department currently relies on strong mutual aid partnerships and regional coordination, which is consistent with national standards and common practice among similarly sized departments. The study further recognizes the significant growth occurring in both the City and Town of Canandaigua and the increasing complexity of emergency response associated with residential, commercial, and mixed-use development.
Prior to the commissioning of this study, the Canandaigua Professional Firefighters Union publicly advocated for a staffing model consisting of 20 full-time firefighters and a minimum of five firefighters on duty at all times — which reflects the City’s current on-duty staffing level today.
During my tenure as City Manager, I am proud to state that the City has more than doubled the staffing level of the Canandaigua Fire Department. This has represented a significant investment by the City Council and our taxpayers in public safety, operational readiness, firefighter safety, and emergency response capabilities. That progress did not happen overnight, nor did it occur without careful financial planning and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
The City has consistently demonstrated its commitment to strengthening the Fire Department through increased staffing, modern apparatus purchases, facility investments, expanded training, and support for long-term strategic planning. In fact, the CPSM report specifically notes that the department today is significantly different and stronger than it was during its last ISO evaluation and recognizes improvements in leadership, staffing, equipment, and infrastructure.
As we move forward, the City will carefully review all recommendations contained within the CPSM report in collaboration with Fire Department leadership, labor representatives, City Council, regional partners, and the community. We will continue to balance the need for high-quality emergency services with fiscal responsibility and the long-term sustainability of City operations.
You can find the City of Canandaigua’s 2025 Center of Public Safety Management study below:
CPSM _ Canandaigua NY Fire-EMS-911 Analysis_Updated 12.15.2025DownloadThe International Association of Firefighters study can be found at the link here.
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