Glenwood Springs Fire Department

2015REPORT

GLENWOOD SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT

2015 REPORT

MISSION STATEMENT

The Glenwood Springs Fire Department provides service through Dedication, Professionalism, and Excellence.

In 2015, the Fire Department responded to 1,762 total incidents. Of those 1,762 calls, 1101 were EMS/rescue, 620 were hazardous condition, service, false or good intent calls and 41 fire related responses. The Department experienced a 12.9% increase in call volume from 2014.

Our staff consists of 21 full-time, 25 part-time and 2 volunteer responders, covering 3 shifts, as well as the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Marshal and an Administrative Assistant.

Following a thorough assessment of our ability to suppress fire within our response area by Insurance Services Office or ISO the Department was notified that our Fire Protection Rating would be changing to a class two in March of 2016. The attributes that are examined are Communications (10%); water supply (40%); and the Fire department (50%) – which includes personnel, training, equipment, apparatus, station distribution, engine & ladder companies and their distribution, and pumping ability. Addresses potentially impacted by this change will be within the response area for Glenwood Springs Fire Department and within 5 miles of a fire station.

Significant discussion and planning has begun to determine the best and most effective way to respond to calls in light of the Grand Ave Bridge project. Part of the plan of response is to strengthen the ability to respond with multiple apparatus on both sides of the river. Critical to that response has been staffing levels. Approval was given to hire an additional FF/EMT in 2016 to “float” between shifts, filling open spots due to injury, training needs, or personal leave.

A strong coordinated effort was launched to conduct safety surveys in our community. This means an engine company contacts commercial building occupants to evaluate fire risks in the occupancy as well as location of key items such as alarm panels, electrical boxes, and points of entry for crews responding in an emergency. All knowledge is uploaded into “pre-plans” in our New World software and can be retrieved by responders from their Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) in the apparatus when responding to these locations for 9-1-1 calls. This information will allow responders to be more efficient, effective and ultimately safer in dealing with incidents at these occupancies.

2015 has been a very successful year for the department and its’ members, and most importantly, no one has experienced serious injury or illness providing the all-important service to our community.

Gary E. Tillotson

Fire Chief, Glenwood Springs Fire Department

Glenwood Springs Rural Fire Protection District and CityBoundaries

The following pages highlight some of the statistics for 2014 and comparisons to incident statistics from prior years.

Fire Department members are providing EMS care on 62.5% of the incidents and providing investigation or good intent & service on 35.2% of calls.

In 2015 there were 220 instances of concurrent calls of 2 or more.

20 times with 3, and 200 times with 2 concurrent calls.

Calls By Location

Incidents in the eight square miles of the City of Glenwood Springs continue to far exceed the calls in the sixty-four square miles of the Glenwood Springs Rural Fire Protection District. Calls outside of the City and District are primarily mutual-aid responses.

Fire Incidents

2015 2014 2013

NON-FIRE NON-EMS/RESCUE INCIDENTS

Service calls include water problems, public service, assisting the police or other governmental agency, unauthorized burning and others.

False calls include alarms due to malfunctions, unintentional transmission of medical alarms and sprinkler, smoke and carbon monoxide detector activations with no event among others.

Good intent calls include dispatched and cancelled en route, no incident found on arrival and smoke scares among others.

EMS/RESCUE INCIDENTS