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Westfield fire chiefs say new policy and education reduced care-facility calls while overall demand rose
Summary
Fire Chief Rob Gaylor reported a 10.74% overall increase in call volume year‑over‑year for August but a nearly 20% drop in calls to extended-care facilities after the city’s ordinance and education campaign; average turnout time was reported at 1 minute, 7 seconds.
Rob Gaylor, chief of the Westfield Fire Department, told the Board of Public Works and Safety that August call volume rose 10.74% year over year, with a total of 1,237 apparatus responses and an average turnout time of 1 minute, 7 seconds.
Gaylor said the department’s education work tied to a new ordinance for extended‑care facilities has driven a notable drop—19.93%—in calls to those facilities for the same month year over year. “Had we not passed the ordinance, … that would be well over 20 calls a day,” Gaylor said, describing the educational outreach to facilities as a primary driver of the reduction.
Gaylor credited EMS staff—including Walter Rippey, Jamie, Patrick and Brandon—for multiple visits to care facilities to explain what constitutes a 9‑1‑1 emergency and to provide guidance. He said the city intends to handle invoicing of any assessed fees through the clerk‑treasurer’s office, using processes similar to alarm fees, and that the intent of the policy is not revenue generation.
Board members asked for future updates on outstanding concerns raised by the firefighters’ union; Gaylor said the union would be present to address those issues and that the department will report back as needed.
Gaylor said population growth in Westfield contributes to higher overall call volumes and noted that Grand Park receives millions of visitors annually without a proportional rise in calls for service.
The board requested continued updates on the ordinance’s operational rollout; Gaylor confirmed the policy takes effect Oct. 1 and staff believe they are prepared to implement it.
