Manhattan Fire District Fills Full-Time Vacancy, Welcomes Part-Time Members and Interns

Manhattan Fire Protection District Meeting | February 17, 2026

Article Summary: Following a recent disability hearing, the Manhattan Fire Protection District is moving to fill an operational vacancy with a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic while simultaneously onboarding a new wave of part-time personnel and interns.

Manhattan Personnel Updates Key Points:

• A firefighter was recently granted a Duty Disability, creating a vacancy on the department’s full-time roster.

• The District will utilize a previously approved contingent hire to fill the Firefighter/Paramedic vacancy starting next week.

• Three new part-time members and seven interns are scheduled to start soon.

• Current staffing and response times remain stable, and recent community surveys have returned high marks for the department.

The Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, reviewed personnel changes and recruitment efforts, confirming the hiring of a new full-time Firefighter/Paramedic to backfill a recent vacancy.

Fire Chief Steve Malone reported to the Trustees that a recent disability hearing had concluded, resulting in a firefighter being granted a Duty Disability. This administrative action officially created a vacancy within the department’s full-time ranks.

To maintain staffing levels, Malone stated that the District will immediately move to fill the position. During the prior Board meeting, Trustees had proactively approved the hiring of one Firefighter/Paramedic contingent upon a vacancy becoming available. With the vacancy now official, Malone confirmed the new full-time position will be filled and the recruit will begin work next week.

Deputy Chief Dave Piper provided a broader overview of the department’s staffing pipeline during his operational report. Piper announced that three new part-time members and seven interns will be starting with the District soon. The internship program serves as a direct pathway for future employment; Piper noted that several of the incoming interns are currently finishing their schooling and completing their certifications. Once those requirements are met, they can be transitioned to part-time status.

Despite the recent full-time vacancy, Piper assured the Board that overall staffing levels and emergency response times remained stable throughout January. Furthermore, the District’s ongoing customer surveys have yielded positive feedback from the Manhattan community, with Piper highlighting that the department has received high marks and complimentary comments from residents.

Chief Malone also briefly updated the Board on his administrative outreach, noting that he recently met with the new Village Administrator for Manhattan to maintain open lines of communication between the District and the municipal government.