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Dallas fire and EMS report staffing shortfalls, volunteer recruitment and wildfire deployment
Summary
A Fire/EMS representative said the department is down one full‑time position, will recruit for a firefighter‑paramedic in September, received a $35,000 OSFM summer staffing grant, and has staff deployed to the Flat Fire; six volunteer recruits will begin academy training in October.
A Fire/EMS representative told the Public Safety Committee the department is operating short one full‑time firefighter/paramedic and plans to open recruitment in September.
"We are still currently down 1 position. We will be looking at, starting a recruitment for a firefighter paramedic in September," the speaker said, adding the department currently has 15 full‑time firefighter‑paramedic EMTs, 19 part‑time firefighter‑paramedics and two positions funded by an OSFM grant through Oct. 31.
Staff also reported a $35,000 award through the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) for a summer staffing grant. The speaker said six volunteer firefighter candidates interviewed last week and will begin ride‑alongs and an academy in October; those six recruits are expected to contribute roughly 210 hours in their first year of the recruit academy.
The department has personnel deployed to the Flat Fire, which the speaker described as about 21,000 acres and 5% contained at the time of the update. The speaker said deployed staff left on Friday and could be committed up to 21 days.
The department also picked up a transfer ambulance in Washington; staff said the unit can also serve as a third ambulance if needed and is expected to be in service by Oct. 1 after DMV and Oregon Health Authority licensing and graphics installation.
The speaker closed with workload figures: as of that morning the combined fire and EMS call volume was 3,611 calls, including 834 interfacility transfers. The department plans a public advertising push to increase online enrollment in its fire‑med program.
Committee members asked about chaplain staffing and other operational details; staff said one chaplain will leave for a nursing program and another may retire, and the department will explore partnerships with Polk County Fire District chaplains.
