On Wednesday January 7, 2026 the Watertown Fire Department began a trial transition from their current “California” schedule to a 48/96 work schedule.
Under the California schedule, firefighters work a repeating pattern of 24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, followed by 96 hours off. While this schedule has served the fire service for many years, it creates frequent transitions between work and home and limits recovery time between shifts.
The new 48/96 schedule moves firefighters to 48 hours on duty followed by 96 hours off. This change does not increase the number of hours the firefighters work. They will continue working a 56-hour work week, which equals 2,912 hours per year, compared to the standard 2,080 hours worked by most full-time employees outside the fire service.
What this change does provide is a more stable and predictable schedule for our firefighters and their families, fewer work-home transitions, and longer recovery periods for rest and sleep. These factors are increasingly recognized across the profession as critical to health, safety, and performance.
Across the country, many fire departments are moving toward even shorter work weeks, such as a 42-hour model with 24 hours on and 72 hours off. At this time, that model is not financially feasible for Watertown, as it would require creating a fourth shift and adding additional full-time staffing. The 48/96 schedule allows us to take a meaningful step forward within our current resources.
This change will be implemented as a trial program. Throughout 2026, the department will conduct a thorough review, comparing data from 2025 and 2026 in key areas including sick leave usage, accidents and injuries, operational readiness, and training hours. The goal is to ensure this schedule supports firefighter wellness while maintaining — and ideally strengthening — the level of service our community expects and deserves.
This trial schedule is the result of strong collaboration between the Fire Department, Union Local 877, and City leadership. Union Vice President Josh Archibald led the efforts on behalf of the membership as the parties worked together to move this forward.
Josh shared, “The Union is grateful for the opportunity to test this schedule, which reflects a continued commitment to supporting the health, well-being, and work-life balance of firefighters while preserving the high standard of service our residents expect”. The Union also expressed appreciation to the City of Watertown, Mayor Stocks, the Finance Committee, the Common Council, Deputy Chief Johnsen, and our department leadership for their support and willingness to explore solutions that benefit both firefighters and the community.
The Watertown Fire Department remains committed to taking care of the people who protect this community and making thoughtful, data-driven decisions that serve the residents and visitors of Watertown today and into the future.