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Council to pursue data review of fire and EMS fleet after rising call volumes, officials say
Summary
Council member Eric Poach asked staff April 1 to assemble a neutral, data‑driven assessment of the borough’s fire and EMS fleet and response capabilities after officials reported rising EMS call volumes and regional closures of ambulance providers.
Monroeville — Council members on April 1 asked borough staff to begin a formal data analysis of fire and emergency medical services in light of rising call volumes and regional shifts in ambulance capacity, and they signaled the analysis will inform capital‑budget decisions and the next multi‑year service agreement with volunteer companies.
Council member Eric Poach framed the request as a need for neutral, evidence‑based planning. "The fleet review should be the top of our list," Poach said, explaining that changing market conditions make prior approaches to apparatus acquisition and maintenance unsustainable.
Key findings and concerns presented to council: - Rising call volumes: Borough figures cited in the meeting showed EMS call averages increasing to about 28–30 calls per day in January–February, up from lower levels in earlier years. Council materials noted an annual average in prior years of roughly 20–24 calls per day. - Regional capacity shrinkage: Poach cited county‑level trends, saying the number of ambulance services in Allegheny County had declined from about 60 pre‑COVID to roughly 31 at the end of 2024. - Fleet, capital and insurance pressures: Officials said apparatus and vehicle procurement costs have risen, and that the borough currently covers certain operating costs under existing agreements; they flagged possible increases in insurance and workers’ compensation exposure tied to EMS operations.
What council asked for: Poach asked the manager to coordinate with potential vendors, collect fleet and response data, and produce an analysis that would include: condition and age of apparatus; staffing patterns and peak‑shift demand; response times and coverage gaps; capital replacement options and estimated costs; and options for intermunicipal coordination or shared services.
Why it matters: Council emphasized that the borough is responsible by ordinance for arranging emergency medical services and that planning now will influence capital‑budget and agreement choices in the coming years. The council also noted that full funding for apparatus replacements is likely to be treated as capital spending rather than part of the operating budget.
Next steps: Council asked staff to prepare the neutral analysis and to use the results when negotiating the next multi‑year agreement with volunteer fire companies and EMS providers. Poach said he would present related material at a regional local‑government conference and bring feedback to borough discussions.
Public comment and context: Several current and former residents and business owners spoke during Citizens Night and the hearing portion, expressing a range of views from concern about safety to support for ensuring robust local services. Councilors said they planned a transparent, data‑driven process before committing to large capital expenditures.
