Your Fire Department: Ready for Every Call, Every Day

As the Fire Chief residents often ask thoughtful and important questions about their fire department: What services do we provide? Why does a fire truck respond to medical calls? How are stations and equipment positioned across the community?

These questions matter. They provide an opportunity to explain how your fire department operates each day to deliver fast, effective, and professional emergency services, and why the system is designed the way it is.

An All-Hazards Approach to Public Safety

Our department operates as an All-Hazards Fire Department, meaning we are trained, equipped, and prepared to respond to virtually any emergency. These include:

• Medical emergencies
• Structure and wildland fires
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Gas leaks and hazardous material incidents
• A wide range of other public safety emergencies

While fires remain a critical part of our mission, the reality is that approximately 75% of our calls are medical in nature, with the remaining 25% involving fires and other incidents.

Currently, the department operates 10 fire stations covering more than 120 square miles, responding to a significant and steadily growing demand for service.

Over the past year alone, our crews handled:

• Over 28,000 calls for service
• More than 17,000 EMS transports

Despite this volume, response performance remains strong:

• Average Advanced Life Support (ALS) response time: 5 minutes, 20 seconds
• Average ambulance arrival time: 7 minutes, 20 seconds

These response times are not accidental. They are the result of careful planning, staffing, and system design focused on getting help to you as quickly as possible.

Why Fire Trucks Respond to Medical Calls

One of the most common questions we receive is simple:
Why does a fire truck arrive when I call for an ambulance?

The answer is speed and lifesaving capability.

Every fire engine and ladder truck is staffed with highly trained personnel capable of delivering Advanced Life Support (ALS) care immediately. Crews include:

• A Driver Engineer
• A Lieutenant who is a Paramedic
• An EMT or Paramedic

When a fire unit arrives on scene, the crew can begin critical medical interventions right away, often before an ambulance is available for transport.

This approach is essential because:

• Fire trucks are assigned to fixed response areas, allowing for faster arrival
• Ambulances are frequently transporting patients, which can place them farther from their coverage zones

By dispatching both fire units and ambulances, the system ensures:

• Immediate medical care upon arrival
• Timely patient transport shortly after

This coordination bridges the critical gap between a 911 call and when definitive care begins.

Strategic Station Placement and Staffing

Our 10 fire stations are carefully located throughout the community to maximize coverage and meet nationally recognized standards, including those tied to our ISO (Insurance Services Office) Class 2 rating, a distinction we are proud to maintain.

Each station is staffed with:

• At least one fire suppression unit (engine or ladder truck)
• At least one ambulance

Some stations include additional ambulances to meet higher call demand.

Not every station has the same type of fire apparatus. Placement decisions are based on:

• Community layout and risk
• Building height and density
• National standards and ISO requirements for fire protection

For example:

1. Engine companies serve areas where standard fire suppression is sufficient
2. Ladder or tower trucks are placed in areas with taller or more complex structures

This strategic distribution ensures that the right resources are available where they are needed most.

The Role of Ladder Trucks

Another frequent question is:
Why did such a large ladder truck respond to my medical emergency?

Ladder trucks are multi-purpose units that play a critical role in daily operations. They serve three primary functions:

1. First-response ALS unit for medical calls
2. Primary fire suppression unit in assigned areas
3. Elevated operations for multi-story buildings and ISO compliance

They are not reserved solely for fires. Instead, they are fully integrated into everyday emergency response, providing both medical and fire suppression capabilities.

Targeted Coverage Where It’s Needed Most

Strategic deployment ensures that resources are positioned where demand and risk are highest.

For example, one of our busiest stations is staffed with:

• One engine
• One ladder/tower truck
• Two ambulances

This configuration supports the area with:

• Higher call volumes
• Larger or multi-story commercial buildings
• Increased need for specialized equipment

Additional ladder units are distributed throughout the community to ensure comprehensive coverage and consistent response capability.

Efficiency Without Compromise

Our system is designed to deliver the highest level of service while using resources efficiently. By integrating fire apparatus into emergency medical response and carefully placing stations and equipment, we are able to:

• Maintain rapid response times
• Deliver advanced medical care quickly
• Meet national and ISO standards
• Effectively manage a high volume of calls

Efficiency is achieved without compromising the level of care or service provided to the community.

A Commitment to the Community

At its core, our mission is simple:

When you call for help, highly trained professionals arrive quickly, ready to act.

Whether the emergency involves fire, medical care, or another crisis, your fire department stands prepared.

We take pride in:

• Our ISO Class 2 rating
• Our advanced medical capabilities
• The professionalism of our personnel
• Most importantly, the trust placed in us by our community

Every call matters. Every response is deliberate. And every day, our focus remains the same, serving and protecting our community with excellence.