Mint Hill firefighters said they responded to a record 3,200 emergencies in 2012, and they expect that number to grow each year along with the town's population.

"We have an ever-increasing call or need for our service, and we want to be able to answer that when it's here," Chief John Phillips said.

In the future, Phillips would like to add 15 more paid firefighters to the 21 his department already has, along with dozens more volunteers.

"The more personnel, resources we have to put at the task that we do, the better prepared we feel like we are," Phillips said.

Phillips said right now, the department is able to respond adequately to emergencies, but the need for more firefighters is heightened whenever severe weather hits.

"When situations like the weather happens and we know the call load is going to increase, then we would feel much better if at times we have twice the staff that we have," he said.

People in Mint Hill Eyewitness News spoke with said paying for more firefighters would be money well spent.

"The community is growing. And with that, the fire department should grow," Earnest Little said.

As Mint Hill's population grows, the city manager said he will look more closely at firefighter staffing levels, but considers the department's current service levels to be excellent. Mint Hill's new budget takes effect in July, and there will be plenty of discussion before it's approved.  Officials said it's unclear at this point how much it would cost to add more firefighters, depending on the need.