Sandy Springs Fire Department proposes shift change to 48-96 schedule to enhance service

In a recent special called meeting, the Sandy Springs City Council focused on the fiscal year 2026 budget, with significant discussions surrounding the fire department's operations and proposed changes to improve service delivery. The meeting highlighted the fire department's performance metrics from 2024, revealing a total of 12,175 calls, which included 248 fire incidents, 1,461 false alarms, and 4,565 emergency medical service (EMS) calls. Notably, the department has successfully reduced its EMS responses, focusing on life-threatening situations, which has contributed to an average citywide response time of 7 minutes and 7 seconds.

A key topic of discussion was the department's ongoing efforts to enhance community education on CPR, as the number of CPR incidents has seen a decline. Fire Chief emphasized the importance of continuous training and public awareness initiatives to improve survival rates in cardiac arrest cases. The department is also exploring a citywide Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program to further bolster community preparedness.

The council also considered a proposed shift change for fire personnel from a 24-hour on, 48-hour off schedule to a 48-hour on, 96-hour off schedule. This change aims to improve work-life balance for firefighters, allowing them more time with their families and potentially reducing commuting costs. The proposal has garnered support from a majority of the fire personnel surveyed, with many expressing willingness to participate in a trial period.

Additionally, the fire department outlined capital requests totaling $190,000 for equipment replacement and enhancements to training facilities. The need for a new Fire Station 1 and an expansion of Station 3 was also discussed, as the current facilities are deemed functionally obsolete. The chief noted that while these improvements would not immediately reduce response times, they are essential for meeting future demands as the city grows.

The council acknowledged the pressing need for a new Fire Station 4 to serve the southern end of the city, which has been challenging to locate due to budget constraints and land availability. Despite these challenges, the city has the capacity to issue additional debt to fund the construction of new stations without jeopardizing its AAA bond rating.

As the council moves forward with budget discussions, the implications of these proposals will be closely monitored, particularly regarding their impact on community safety and service efficiency. The next budget workshop is anticipated to provide further insights into the financial aspects of these initiatives and the overall fiscal strategy for the city.