Fire/EMS reports 14% increase in calls and evolving mutual‑aid demands after wildfire and flood events

Frank, representing Fire/EMS, briefed council Aug. 5 on rising call volumes and operational pressures. He said total calls for service increased about 13.9% for Jan–July 2025 compared with 2024, with EMS calls up roughly 17%. Major events referenced included a March structure fire (crab apple fire), a May wildfire and July flood responses that consumed resources for sustained periods.

The department identified brush fires (67 calls so far in 2025, equal to all of 2024) and gas‑leak responses as contributors to the higher call counts. Analysis of geographic distribution showed that urban and remote county areas together accounted for about 65% of the increase, producing pressure on longer rural response times (15–25 minutes) while city response times remain near five to five‑and‑a‑half minutes.

Frank said staffing improvements are underway: five of six planned positions were filled, enabling better activation of a fourth ambulance. He noted mutual‑aid relationships vary by community (for example, Stonewall and Harper provide different types of support depending on district arrangements) and that the city does not receive reimbursement from Atmos for gas‑leak standby calls. The department plans to continue assessing deployments and may bring recommendations for district coverage or resource allocation in future briefings.

Council and staff discussed transfer delays to hospitals during major incidents and the need to balance transfer obligations with ongoing emergency operations; Frank said hospitals and private transport providers coordinate when the city cannot perform a transfer because resources are committed to larger incidents.