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Coldwater Fire Chief reports stable call volume, new gear and expanded training in 2024
Summary
Fire Chief David Schmaltz presented the department's 2024 annual report at the Feb. 24 council meeting, reporting about 1,359 calls, new equipment purchases from grant funds, increased training hours and plans to focus on lithium-ion battery education and apartment-complex drills in 2025.
Fire Chief David Schmaltz delivered the Coldwater Fire Department's 2024 annual report at the Feb. 24 council meeting, reporting the department responded to about 1,359 calls last year and outlining equipment purchases, training achievements and objectives for 2025.
Schmaltz said the department was able "this year to secure about $52.05, in grant money," and used grant funds to buy 12 new sets of turnout gear, two new automated external defibrillators, three gear racks and a battery-powered patient-lifting bag the department has used on several calls. He also described hiring and staffing changes: three part-paid firefighters hired late last fall (expected to graduate fire school in mid-April) and one additional firefighter added to a shift in January.
On operational statistics, Schmaltz said total call volume was 1,359, roughly steady with the previous year, and he reported an increase in fire-suppression incidents (a roughly 15% increase from the prior year and roughly 27% from 2022) while noting he would need to drill into data to identify specific causes. He said false alarms have risen in part because alarm companies and on-scene technicians have not consistently coordinated to put systems in test mode.
The chief described mutual-aid arrangements with Quincy and Bronson and said Coldwater received more mutual aid from Quincy than it provided, and he noted an increased number of responses in Coldwater Township tied in part to lift assists and Life Care coverage gaps. Schmaltz said the department's EMS share of runs (about 55% to 56%) remains below the national average (commonly cited as 65% to 70%).
Schmaltz highlighted training: the department exceeded ISO's 192-hour fire-training expectation with 423 training hours in 2024, despite some firefighters being out on injury leave, and the inspection, prevention and investigation bureau reached its inspection targets. He emphasized public education goals for 2025, including outreach on lithium-ion battery risks and monthly live training at apartment complexes; "not to be afraid of [lithium-ion batteries], but just to be aware," he said.
On property protection, Schmaltz reported the department estimated property saved at about $366,000,000 with losses of about $870,000; he presented this as the department's incident-value estimate. Response-time averages in the city are near four minutes, the department's target and consistent with National Fire Protection Association standards, though he noted limitations in the underlying timestamps and possible underrreporting of actual turnout speed.
Ending: Schmaltz closed by outlining training and prevention priorities for 2025 and took questions from council. The presentation was received as informational; no council action was required that evening.
