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Sawyer County EMS reports lower average response times after third‑crew use, flags rural coverage gaps
Summary
Emergency Services staff reported that using a third, part‑time crew has reduced average run times (to about 11–12 minutes overall), but rural townships such as Draper can still see response times of 20 minutes or longer; staff discussed housing, staffing and regional options for improving rural coverage.
Emergency Services staff told the Sawyer County Public Safety Committee that ambulance run volumes have risen compared with last year and that using a third, partly part‑time crew has shortened average response times countywide to roughly 11–12 minutes, based on CAD en‑route and on‑scene timestamps.
The department’s report showed the bulk of calls remain concentrated in and near the city of Hayward and the town of Hayward; those areas have the shortest response times and account for a large share of runs, including calls to care facilities. Staff said outlying towns such as Draper often have average response times around 20 minutes and sometimes far longer when mutual aid is required; staff and committee members described mutual‑aid handoffs as time consuming because neighboring counties must assemble volunteer crews before responding.
Emergency Services staff outlined operational ideas under consideration: assigning or basing a third full‑time crew in a central or satellite location; partnering with township fire stations for basing and crew quarters; sponsoring EMT and paramedic training for local residents; and studying seasonal deployment patterns. Staff emphasized that distributing crews outward improves response times for remote areas but raises operating costs and requires commitments from towns or local volunteers to ensure vehicles are staffed.
Committee members asked for town‑level breakdowns of average response times; staff said those breakdowns exist and offered to supply them. The committee discussed retention and scheduling: the department uses 24‑hour shifts to remain competitive with other agencies, and county staff noted the importance of suitable crew facilities to recruit and retain personnel.
Staff said a new ambulance is awaiting final equipment deliveries and inspection; upon return to service the county may reassign smaller rigs to more remote stations if local personnel commitments are secured. The department is also cooperating with a consultant study requested by several towns to evaluate regional EMS models.
"It's a perfectly imperfect system," a county official said, summarizing the tension between desired coverage in every town and financial and staffing realities.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff were asked to provide town‑level response‑time data and to continue coordination with towns considering basing arrangements.
