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Keller Fire Rescue reports more than 48,100 calls in 2024; highlights EMS advances and ISO Class 1
Summary
The fire chief presented the department’s 2024 statistics, said EMS calls made up most responses, and described technology and training investments credited with improving cardiac-arrest outcomes. The council asked for finer breakdowns of response times excluding mutual aid.
The Keller Fire Chief reported to the City Council on Jan. 21 that the department logged just over 48,100 calls for service in calendar year 2024, with emergency medical calls making up the majority of responses.
The chief said Keller Fire Rescue operates three stations and that the department’s average turnout performance met its internal goals about 95% of the time; the average response time reported was 5 minutes, 59 seconds. Fire department staff stated that about 75–80% of calls were for EMS. The chief said the department made 2,389 transports to medical facilities in 2024 and that the department is meeting national response standards for fire and EMS (NFPA 1710: 5 minutes for fire, 9 minutes for EMS).
Why it matters: The department highlighted investments in life‑saving equipment and data systems that staff said improved outcomes. The department reached an ISO Class 1 rating, added a new engine and an ATV for special events, and has an ambulance on order. The chief credited technology — ventilators, LifePak 35 monitors and the Pulsara platform — with improved cardiac arrest care: of 59 cardiac-arrest cases in 2024, staff reported a 21% rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), above the national average cited by the chief (9–15%). Staff also reported 47 identified STEMI cases where early recognition and hospital notification aided treatment.
Programs and community work: The chief described community programs including a juvenile fire setter intervention program, school fire‑safety education, drowning‑prevention partnerships and the city’s CERT volunteer team. The department maintains 10 outdoor warning sirens; staff noted a budget need to replace two of them. The department also described community engagement programs such as the annual “Fill the Pantry” and youth camps.
Technology and plans: Staff outlined three near‑term technology goals for 2025: implementing Fire Prevention/FirstDue software with building hazard data for responders; integrating CAD dispatching across regional partners so the closest unit is dispatched regardless of jurisdiction; and upgrading emergency vehicle preemption systems (moving away from Opticon) to improve safety and response times at congested intersections. The chief described a proposed community AED program using cellular/GPS‑enabled AEDs that dispatchers could ping to alert nearby trained volunteers when a cardiac arrest is reported; the program is in early planning and would begin with the city’s CERT volunteers.
Council follow-up requests: Council members asked the chief to provide a breakdown of response times limited to incidents inside the Keller city limits (excluding mutual aid responses). The chief agreed to provide that data on a monthly basis and staff said five‑year trend slides and additional EMS/transport breakdowns could be provided at a future meeting.
Direct quote from the presentation: "Our mission is to making a difference and fostering trust," the chief said, describing the department’s updated vision and values after a community‑focused strategic plan in March 2024.
The council thanked the chief and staff for the update and asked staff to provide the requested response‑time and trend data on future reports.
