It’s Not Your Grandfather’s Fire Department!

The volume of non-fire related calls has become the primary service provided by the Fire Department.

The Fire Department has received approval and funding to hire an independent consulting firm to review the Master Plan and the Standards of Coverage. The review will include but is not limited to; • Equipment and personnel needs • Current and future fire and emergency medical needs • Non-response related services such as prevention, training and administration

Other cities’ have introduced an ambulance service to increase service levels while offsetting public safety costs. Includes; minor collision, public assistance, electrical checks, public welfare checks, etc. 2007-2008 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury Report

In April 2003, the Department achieved one of the plans objectives by deploying at least one paramedic resource in every fire station district in the City. According to the Fire Watch newsletter, the Los Angeles Fire Department is pleased with the results of their EMS Plan. Los Angeles is able to cover the added costs in equipment by billing for the ambulance service.1 The West Covina Fire Department had 7,080 response calls during 2003-2004 which includes 5,907 medical emergencies. In order to help balance their budget in 2004, the West Covina Fire 1 May 2004 LA Fire Watch newsletter 2007-2008 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury Report IT’S NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER’S FIRE DEPARTMENT! Page: 4 Department began providing paramedic ambulance services when responding to medical calls in an effort to increase service levels while offsetting public safety costs. By combining ambulance transportation services with well positioned first responders staffing fire engines, service levels to the community have increased in a cost effective manner.2 West Covina used this system in concert with their City Council’s goal to balance their budget. The City of San Luis Obispo has sited its fire stations and selected its equipment, based on past studies that would support the arrival of emergency equipment to the call scene in under four minutes. San Luis Ambulance Service, Inc. provides transport when the medical emergency requires that the patient be taken to a local hospital. This service is not currently part of the Fire Department. In an August 1, 2007 article posted on the Fire Chief web site, Bruce Evans, (EMS Chief, North Las Vegas Fire Department) reviewed the dramatic changes taking place in EMS offered by Fire Departments. In reference to equipment used, Mr. Evans states “There may be fewer engines and more ambulances deployed in systems where fire-based EMS is the main provider. As engineering practices reduce fires and the baby boomers impact the health care system, look for officials to staff peak-load units in the fire service or convert engine companies to ambulance or rescue companies.” Recently the Chief submitted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Fire Department Master Plan and Standards of Coverage3 which has been approved by the City Council. The RFP states: “Specifically, a Master Plan is needed which includes a Standards of Coverage analysis to provide an objective and systematic examination of the Department’s policies, practices, and activities in the context of the City’s growth in population and existing jurisdictional area. Moreover, the intent of this process will be to provide an evaluation by an independent source for the development of information to aid in policy direction for the Department’s growth and response to changing service demands related to current and future growth.”4 2 West Covina 2006 budget statement 3 See www.slocity.org/ 4 See www.slocity.org/ 2007-2008 San Luis Obispo Grand Jury Report IT’S NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER’S FIRE DEPARTMENT! Page: 5 The goal of the Standards of Coverage analysis is to determine the state of current and future fire and emergency medical service needs. The study will specifically look at the City’s demand with regard to fire stations, staffing and equipment location. CONCLUSIONS Service demands have changed for the Fire Department. Of the 4,356 calls processed by the Fire Department in 2007, only 188 calls (4%) were classified as structure fires. EMS/Rescue calls totaled 2,750; hazardous condition responses numbered 30, and the remaining calls were classified as “other responses”.5 The Master Plan Study and Standards of Coverage Component is intended to evaluate the Fire Department needs and its response to changing service demands related to current and future growth. FINDINGS 1. The volume of non-fire related calls has become the primary service provided by the Fire Department.