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Annapolis Fire Chief: Department meeting response times but remains below national staffing standards
Summary
Fire Chief O'Malley told the Public Safety Committee the department met or exceeded NFPA response-time standards in June but lacks the personnel to meet the four-person engine/truck standard; the department is pursuing grants, a strategic plan and a 10-person internship pilot.
Fire Chief O'Malley told the Annapolis Public Safety Standing Committee on July that the department responded to 1,198 calls in June, including 871 EMS calls and 291 fire-related calls, and is meeting or exceeding national response-time standards but remains below national staffing recommendations.
"We are responding to every call for service," O'Malley said, adding the department continues to meet response-time goals even though it lacks the national standard staffing level for suppression crews. "We do not meet the national standard when it comes to staffing levels. That national standard suggests 4 persons for an engine company, 4 persons for a truck company."
The chief and Deputy Chief Keith Lopez described staffing as the core budget issue. O'Malley said the department asked the mayor and council for 10 positions during the current budget process — an enhancement the chief said would have cost "over a million dollars" —…
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