Many Seacoast-area fire departments now rely heavily on mutual aid from neighboring towns to meet call demand, a circumstance some attribute to understaffed departments.

The National Fire Protection Association has reported that fire departments across the nation lack adequate staffing, and many Seacoast-area fire departments are no different.

Firefighters are considering wearing body armor after one of their own was shot on a call this week.

Fire Lt. Paul Lutton, 46, was shot in the calf while he and other crew members were leaving the scene of a house fire. Police have yet to identify or find the suspect. A bullet also grazed the turnout coat of firefighter Dwayne Montgomery, but he was not injured.

Union officials are now looking into purchasing body armor.

Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park say the lack of text notifications during the evacuations in Gatlinburg Monday night was due to a “communication failure” between various agencies caused by disrupted communications systems.

Some residents told WATE 6 On Your Side they didn’t receive the alert on their mobile devices and others said it was broadcast after the fire had reached the city.