Spokane Fire Department outlines staffing, overtime and response goals; chief flags limits to immediate cost savings

Spokane Fire Chief updated the Public Safety and Community Health Committee on July 14, saying the department has completed interviews for a mid‑September recruit academy that should close current full‑time equivalent (FTE) gaps and that conditional offers are being processed. Chief told the committee overtime hours are higher than a year ago—overall overtime was reported as about 20% higher and overtime hours 32% higher—partly because staffing levels have been closer to 2023 numbers after larger separations last year. "We are 20% higher than we were the same time last year," he said, and noted an earlier shift from a 70/30 split in favor of straight‑time “extra hours” to the current situation where 70% of extra hours are being paid as overtime. On budget control, the chief said the department’s operating budget is roughly $78.6 million and that about 97% is contractual (largely wages and benefits), leaving roughly $2.6 million of noncontractual spending where managers can move the dial. "Out of our large budget how much we actually are able to manipulate and move around" is small, he said, and cited fuel costs (about $400,000–$500,000 last year) and training (more than $500,000 for a recruit academy) as key recurring noncontractual items. The chief described response‑time goals as layered: a short target for the first unit on scene and an 8 minute 30 second target for the complete effective response force for high‑risk incidents. "I want a first unit on scene in that 4 minute range, and I want that full effective response force is that 8 30," he said, and explained the department’s station concentration and distribution aim to meet those goals. Regarding brush‑fire deployments, the chief said Spokane currently has three members assigned to incident management teams at three separate fires; those assignments are being reimbursed and have been capped at three to avoid depleting local resources during an active local period. Committee members asked about the ongoing transition involving the dispatch/communications partner referenced as "Shrek." The chief said plans are still being developed and that several technical and occupancy details remain unresolved, but he affirmed: "I have 0 concerns with that" in response to whether citizens would receive substandard service during the transition. The chief also told the committee the department will move to the Emergency Responders Health Clinic for pre‑employment physicals and psychological testing, at an expected cost not to exceed $100,000 per year, saying the clinic has expertise with NFPA standards and occupational health for emergency responders. No formal committee votes were taken on the July 14 briefing; the presentation was described as an informational update.