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Spokane Fire Department: recruit academy, CARES referrals reduce 911 contacts; fuel‑mitigation push continues
Summary
Spokane Fire leaders told the Public Safety Committee they will start a March recruit academy, reported reductions in 911 interactions after CARES referrals, described nurse‑navigation impacts, and outlined fuel mitigation projects including roughly 700 acres mitigated and a San Sushi neighborhood kickoff.
Spokane Fire Department leaders told the City Council Public Safety Committee on Jan. 6 that staffing initiatives, behavioral health partnerships and fuel‑mitigation projects are producing measurable results but that resource gaps remain.
Chief O'Bourke said the department’s 2025 recruit academy will begin March 3 to fill 18 vacant full‑time firefighter positions; the academy is 16 weeks plus a five‑week EMT program. The department reported six percent lower uniform overtime in 2024 compared with 2023, though overtime hours remained 22% over the budgeted amount and overall hours fell 19% compared with 2023.
The department highlighted the CARES social‑work program, now staffed with three social workers and one remaining vacancy for the planned expansion.…
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