CARMEL, Ind. — The Carmel Fire Department is preparing to pilot a new shift schedule to improve firefighter health and well-being.
Beginning July 2026, firefighters will move from the long-used 24-hours-on, every-other-day rotation to a 48/96 schedule, 48 hours on duty followed by four days off, a change union leaders say is designed to support more regular sleep patterns and better recovery time at home, the department said in a Facebook post.
In 2023, Indiana updated state law on the maximum length of firefighter shifts, prompting Carmel Fire Department leaders to reexamine the impact of their schedule on wellness and operations, Current Publishing reported. A committee studied several alternatives and ultimately recommended the 48/96 schedule as the only cost-neutral option that wouldn’t require additional hiring, while still offering potential gains in efficiency, recovery time and overall well-being…