Rockford Fire Chief Michelle Panco updated the council Jan. 6 on recent changes to fire-department deployment and on apparatus lead times.

"January 1, we put an additional engine company ... into service when staffing allows. And then we also put an additional ambulance when staffing allows," Chief Panco said, describing Engine 5 (stationed behind Target on Trane/Trainer Road) and Medic 4 (based at Station 4 near Guilford High School). Chief Panco reported that, as of the meeting, Engine 5 had responded to 48 incidents and Medic 4 had responded to 42 incidents since they were placed into service.

Alderman Durkee asked what "as staffing allows" meant. Chief Panco and staff explained the city has overhired to cover expected retirements, has recently graduated a recruit class, and will deploy additional units when the department is above contractual staffing numbers. Director Hegarty explained the budgeting approach for long-lead capital equipment: the city may approve orders now but will budget the expense and the offsetting lease revenue in the fiscal year when the units are delivered.

Separately, staff said the lead time for fire ladder trucks can be about four years and ambulances commonly take two to three years from order to delivery. Council members expressed support for the incremental staffing changes while noting geography and response-time challenges in parts of the city; Alderman Durkee urged the city to consider a long-term solution such as locating an additional fire station on the East Side.

Chief Panco and council members said the staffing adjustments were intended to expand coverage and that the city is managing vacancies with a mix of overtime and new hires until longer-term capacity changes can be made.

No formal vote was required for this status update; council members asked staff to return with additional planning information in future meetings.