Phoenix Fire reports rising recruitment and some improved ambulance response times after rescue conversions

Phoenix Fire Department leaders updated the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee on March 5 on hiring, recruitment and response-time metrics, reporting higher written‑exam participation, several active recruit classes and measurable improvements in areas where part‑time ambulances were converted to full‑time rescues.

Why it matters: Fire staffing and ambulance availability directly affect emergency response times and patient outcomes; the department provided both raw staffing numbers and response-time comparisons to show the effect of recent operational changes.

Key points from the presentation

- Staffing snapshot: The department reported an authorized sworn count of 1,870 positions and 1,809 filled sworn positions; adding 45 recruits in the academy yielded an active sworn total of 1,854 at the time of the presentation.

- Recruitment and testing: The department said written-test attendance rose and that the number of applicants who passed the written test is up 21% from last year. For 2025 the department projected training 110 recruits, with the possibility that the number could increase.

- Ambulance/rescue conversion impact: The department described a conversion program that turned some part‑time ambulances into six full‑time rescues staffed by added sworn positions. Rescue 45’s first‑due ambulance-area response time decreased from 11 minutes 47 seconds (07/01/2024–09/29/2024) to 9 minutes 44 seconds after conversion (09/30/2024–01/31/2025). Rescue 49’s response time decreased from 17 minutes 59 seconds to 12 minutes 12 seconds across the same comparative periods.

- Citywide metrics (January 2025, 90th percentile): Critical EMS incidents — 7 minutes 24 seconds; first arriving engine to a fire — 5 minutes 54 seconds; first arriving ladder to a fire — 10 minutes 02 seconds; ambulance response times for critical EMS incidents (Arizona Department of Health Services standard) — 9 minutes 29 seconds. Total January incidents reported: 21,178; January transports via ambulance: 8,872.

- Ongoing study: The department said it and partners including the City of Phoenix Office of Public Health, Maricopa County Department of Public Health and Arizona State University are studying social determinants of health to understand why call volumes vary by council district.

Subcommittee discussion and next steps

Councilmembers praised recruiting strides and asked how station construction and staffing would be aligned should voters approve bond or tax measures. City staff said bond-funded station construction requires operational funding to staff and operate stations; building a station without staffing would present problems and would require additional council decisions.

Ending: Fire officials said they will continue monthly staffing and response-time updates and that the rescue-conversion process is expected to be completed before the fiscal year is finished; the subcommittee asked for continued monitoring and for details on resource planning tied to growth.