Prescott Fire Department outlines station upgrades, staffing and wildfire programs after voter-approved funding

Prescott Fire Department leaders on Thursday told the City Council that voter-approved Proposition 4 7 8 and city appropriations are funding new firefighters, planned fire stations and a set of health-and-safety and technology upgrades intended to reduce response times and community risk.

The report laid out staffing and capital changes already under way and near-term steps: six new firefighters have been hired and onboarded, an engine company is being staffed for weekday daytime coverage, direct-exhaust capture and air-curtain systems for existing stations have been ordered, and architects will be solicited to help design new stations including a planned Station 76 near Watson Lake, and a remodel of Station 72 on Sixth Street.

Why it matters: Department leaders said the mix of personnel, equipment and technology funded by the proposition will improve response distribution and help meet the eight‑minute total response time goal the city adopted jointly with CAFMA. Officials linked the changes to rising call volumes and a heavy share of medical/rescue work in Prescott.

Deputy Chief Tom Knapp, who leads emergency and essential services planning, summarized what the strategic-plan update reflects: "We were able to... incorporate [the…