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Chatham County Fire Department reports 4,655 calls year-to-date, expands swift-water team and recruit academy
Summary
Fire Chief Vickers told commissioners the department recorded 4,655 responses through Dec. 16 and described growth in behavioral-health contacts, training and infrastructure such as hydrant testing and building preplans.
Chatham County Fire Chief Vickers told the Board of Commissioners on Dec. 20 that the department handled 4,655 responses from Jan. 1 through Dec. 16 and is seeing an increase in call volume and expanded services, including growth of the community paramedic/behavioral-health unit, new swift-water technicians and an ongoing recruit academy.
The presentation summarized operational statistics, training accomplishments and community-engagement work and identified follow-up steps for 2025. Chief Vickers said the department expects overall call volume to rise further this year and described how the behavioral-health unit and alternative transport destinations are reducing arrests and emergency-department usage.
"So far this year from January to December 16th ... we've had 4,655 calls," Chief Vickers said while presenting the quarterly highlights. He reported a 13.21% increase in calls to date and said the department projects about an 18% increase by year-end based on current trends.
Chief Vickers briefed commissioners on medical-service activity tied to the county's community-paramedic behavioral-health unit, reporting 695 contacts between July 1 and Dec. 16: 167 911 calls, 322 follow-ups, 117 referrals from other agencies, 82 transports to alternate destinations and seven telehealth contacts. He said the unit's work includes follow-up to connect people to treatment and to avoid jail or hospital transports when appropriate.
Other operational highlights included: - ALS unit call totals: 861 calls (13 critical, 12 no-resuscitation, 184 emergent, 413 low-acuity and 239 other responses). - Annual hydrant testing: 2,543 hydrants tracked and tested; the department reported a top ISO credit for the work. - Annual building preplans: 992 commercial and multi-family building preplans (46 remaining at time of report). - Swift-water rescue: 12 new internationally certified swift-water technicians completed a pro-board recognized, 400-plus-hour program. - Recruit academy: currently week 12 of a 24-week academy; 15 recruits expected to graduate in March 2025; recruits receive EMT-basic certification and firefighter 1/2 training.
Chief Vickers also described community engagement and prevention work: free home-safety checks, smoke-alarm installations, key-box (Knox-box) outreach and large outreach events (including holiday Santa/children events and public safety fairs) that reached thousands of residents over recent weeks.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions. Commissioner Whiteley asked for a definition of "good intent" calls; Chief Vickers answered that they are reports that, on arrival, do not require emergency action (for example, an alarm or a scene with no ongoing emergency). Whiteley also asked whether the new officer academy had been a cost center or potential revenue source; Chief Vickers said much of the early instruction and support was donated or provided in-kind and that the department is exploring whether to recover costs in future sessions as demand increases.
Commissioner Milton asked whether home-safety checks carry a fee; Chief Vickers said they are provided free of charge and that staff will install smoke alarms and provide safety advice on request.
Chief Vickers closed by noting year-end training-hour submissions were complete and that many compliance and ISO-related reporting tasks have been finalized for 2024. The department said two new fire engines were awaiting equipment installation and expected to enter service within about 30 days, with an in-service event planned.
