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Fire chief highlights EMS coverage area, staffing gaps and grant wins
Summary
Fire Chief Crystal Bell told the council the department covers a 202‑square‑mile ambulance service area, has struggled with vacancies but used grant funding and the city services fee to restore positions and to fund training, and has several FEMA and state grants supporting equipment and staffing pilots.
Fire Chief Crystal Bell briefed the council on department operations, staffing and grants.
Bell said the fire department has 92.5 funded positions but has struggled with vacancies (as many as 12 during a prior period, later reduced to about six). The department’s biennial budget is roughly $41.8 million, with about 10 percent of that funded by levy dollars that account for 16 firefighter positions; the city services fee preserved several positions during prior budget cuts.
Primary functions…
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