Chelmsford firefighters vote no confidence in Chief

Chelmsford Firefighters IAFF Local 1839 unanimously declared no confidence in Fire Chief Gary Ryan on June 8, citing staffing and operational failures, communication breakdowns after serious incidents—including a 40-foot fall injury in April—and budget undersp

When a firefighter fell 40 feet onto solid concrete during training at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in April, the incident didn’t end with the ambulance. In Chelmsford, the union says it exposed a pattern—one that helped drive a unanimous decision the next month.

On June 8, Chelmsford Firefighters IAFF Local 1839 approved a vote of no confidence in the town fire department’s chief. In a June 8 statement posted to Facebook, the union said Fire Chief Gary Ryan poses “measurable harm to both this department and the residents it serves.”

Union president Rob Albon tied the vote to what he described as Ryan’s repeated failure to handle core operational responsibilities. Albon cited Ryan’s “failure to meaningfully address known staffing and operational issues. ” ignorance of “basic fire ground operational protocols. ” and “almost nonexistent communication” during critical moments.

Those concerns, the union said, were repeatedly raised in an internal survey. Albon said the focus was not on firefighters themselves.

“Importantly, respondents consistently expressed confidence in their colleagues and the department’s ability to perform,” Albon said. “The concern is not with the institution. It is with what many believe is the direction and support coming from the Chief’s office.”

The union pointed to the April incident involving 28-year-old Nick Spinale, who was seriously injured after the fall. The statement said Ryan failed to communicate with the union about a plan to cover Spinale in the aftermath of the incident.

Gov. Maura Healey later filed legislation to ensure that Spinale received full pay and benefits while recovering from his injuries. But the union said it believed that the communication failures surrounding Spinale were only part of a broader problem, not an isolated lapse.

The statement also referenced an October 2025 house fire that killed two men. Albon said in the statement that Ryan’s focus was “directed toward administrative matters and report writing rather than addressing the human impact on the firefighters who responded.”

Beyond those specific incidents, the union described wider structural issues. It cited a “lack of meaningful engagement” from Ryan. a stagnant leadership structure. and a staffing model that the union said “creates preventable delays. limits operational effectiveness. and increases risk to both residents and firefighters.”.

Albon said staffing problems have been brought to Ryan’s attention since 2016. Over the past decade. the union said department members have “repeatedly raised concerns regarding firefighter safety. span of control. and operational effectiveness” that have not been adequately addressed. according to the statement.

The union also raised allegations about how the chief managed departmental finances. Albon said Ryan allegedly mismanaged his operating budget. and that data from previous years “shows a consistent pattern of underspending.” The union pointed to personnel funds that went unspent. totaling $2.5 million in unspent funds from FY2015 to FY2025.

Ryan responded in a letter to acting Town Manager John Sousa Jr. and the union posted that letter on Facebook as what it called an effort to show “transparency.” In the letter. Ryan said the claim that he failed to support Firefighter Spinale or advocate on his behalf was inconsistent with what he described as the documented record. He said he has actively supported department fundraising efforts for Spinale and testified in favor of Healey’s legislation. according to The Boston Globe.

The union, however, said the Sunday follow-up kept the focus on more than Spinale’s injuries and ongoing contract negotiations, which Ryan also said may have contributed to the no-confidence vote, according to The Globe.

“Ultimately, this vote was not about one incident, one disagreement, or one bargaining session,” the union said. “It was about years of growing frustration and a belief among our membership that the relationship between department leadership and the firefighters has deteriorated to a point that can no longer be ignored.”.

For residents. the stakes of that deterioration are simple: when the call comes. the department’s leadership is supposed to be ready—clear in communication. grounded in procedure. and backed by staffing and support that don’t leave firefighters to fill the gaps. For the union, this vote is the clearest way it knows to insist those gaps have gone on too long.

Chelmsford Massachusetts firefighters IAFF Local 1839 Gary Ryan no confidence vote Nick Spinale Maura Healey staffing issues fire ground operational protocols budget underspending