Richardson Fire Department reports nearly 15,000 calls in 2024, expanded training and apparatus lead-time pressures

Fire Chief Curtis Puvey presented the Richardson Fire Department's annual report for calendar year 2024 to the City Council on March 25, telling council the department handled 14,982 emergency calls and recorded 24,035 apparatus responses.

Puvey described training accomplishments, equipment replacements and recognition: the department reported roughly 36,766 hours of fire-rescue training and 10,024 paramedic continuing-education hours; it replaced a rescue ambulance and an engine at Station 4 and placed a HAZMAT unit into service. Puvey noted the department received Gold Plus recognition from the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline program and that multiple clinical life-saves occurred during the year.

Operational tempo and usage: Puvey said the 14,982 calls translate to high vehicle utilization and that EMS calls make up the majority of responses. He presented a 10-year look-back showing EMS volume remained the dominant demand driver, and heat maps indicating response concentrations near Highway 75 and other commercial corridors.

Property value and investigations: Puvey reported the department documented $29,250,000 of property value saved in structure fires and noted the fire-prevention team completed 2,243 inspections with 353 permits. Of 442 fire investigations, the department identified four offenses and filed one case.

Facilities and apparatus: Puvey updated council on Station 5 construction, which he said remains behind schedule with a contractor dispute; he said substantial completion for the add-on was planned at month'end and overall completion by June but expressed caution. He also told council manufacturing lead times have lengthened substantially: ambulances now take about 18 to 24 months to deliver, engines 36 to 40 months, quints 48 to 50 months and ladder trucks about 50 months. Puvey said ordering earlier can save costs and that the apparatus on the consent agenda is being advanced to secure pricing.

Personnel, health and wellness: Puvey said the department's staffing levels were strong overall and reported wide recruitment interest for the most recent class (591 applications, 297 test attendees, 18 hired). He described department health initiatives (NFPA physicals, shift fitness, peer support and resiliency training) and a new program of department-wide mental-health check-ins; several members made follow-up counseling appointments after the checks. The department has a peer support team and has incorporated a mental-wellness evaluation for personnel.

Lithium-battery/electric vehicle fires and regional work: Puvey and Assistant Chief Sinner discussed growing industry concern about lithium-battery fires. Sinner said the national fire service is working on solutions and that the phenomenon is among the most difficult challenges the service has faced. Puvey described available tactical steps (specialized fire blankets, containment and, in some cases, letting batteries burn under control) and warned that cleanup and gear decontamination is costly.

Mutual-aid and UTD partnership: Puvey highlighted partnerships including UTD's University Emergency Medical Response (UEMR) student EMS unit, which he said handles a majority of campus calls independently; he said UEMR was recognized as the national collegiate EMS organization's Collegiate Organization of the Year and that the department continues to deploy personnel on state task-force missions.

Council comments and anecdote: Councilmember Barrios recounted a recent family emergency and thanked the local station staff for their response; Puvey and staff thanked volunteers and emphasized continuing focus areas: response capacity, training, health and safety and long-range apparatus planning.

Ending: Puvey said the department will continue to refine the fire master plan and present detailed budget and staffing implications during the budget process.