A national shortage of volunteers has spread to the Island’s fire departments, prompting some towns to offer more paid positions and rethink their staffing structure.
No one was injured Saturday after a trailer caught fire aboard the barge used to set off fireworks at the annual Oak Bluffs fireworks show.
No one was hurt Wednesday after the fire started at 11 Johns Way.
The retired Oak Bluffs fire chief will be returning in an advisory role this year to aid the department as it searches for a new deputy chief.
The town select board appointed deputy chief Stephen Foster to the permanent post Tuesday night. Mr. Foster will take the helm of the department on Dec. 21, when Chief Nelson Wirtz retires.
A portion of the Oak Bluffs fireworks was cut short Friday after strong winds coming off the water resulted in burning embers falling into the nearby crowd.