Manhattan Fire District Plans Major Staff Expansion, Promotions in Early 2026

Article Summary:

The Manhattan Fire Protection District is planning a significant expansion of its force, with plans to hire three new full-time firefighters and promote nine current members early next year. The move aims to bolster the district’s operational readiness and leadership ranks.

MFPD Staffing Plan Key Points:

• The district intends to hire three full-time members early in 2026.

• The plan includes promoting three firefighters to Lieutenant and three lieutenants to Battalion Chief.

• Deputy Chief Dave Piper confirmed the plan has been reviewed by the district’s accountant.

The Manhattan Fire Protection District is set to increase its ranks and promote from within, according to a plan outlined by Deputy Chief Dave Piper at the June 16 board meeting.

Piper reported that the district plans to hire three full-time firefighters early next year to enhance staffing levels. In addition to the new hires, the department will promote three current members to the rank of Lieutenant and create three new Battalion Chief positions through promotion.

The promotions will be filled from the district’s current list of eligible personnel.

“Discussed the plan to hire three full time members early next year, promote three Lieutenants from the current list and promote three Battalion Chiefs,” Piper stated during his report. He added that the financial implications of the staffing changes have been reviewed by the district’s accountant to ensure they align with the budget.

The staffing update was part of the Deputy Chief’s review of the May 2025 operational report, which also covered call performance, incident analysis, training hours, and call volume.