Fayetteville Fire Department cites response improvements and recruitment challenges in 2024 annual report

Fayetteville Fire Department Chief (Operations) presented the department’s 2024 highlights to the City Council on Feb. 24, emphasizing improved response times and workforce challenges. Council received the report by motion and vote.

Chief Dove reported the department responded to 28,894 calls in 2024—an increase of 796 calls over 2023—with medical and rescue calls making up 66% of responses. The department said it attended 1,138 fires, including 222 structure fires; there was one civilian fire fatality and 33 civilian injuries. "We are proud to report that 90% of the time in 2024, from the time the person dialed 911, there was a fire truck on the scene," Dove said.

The department highlighted programmatic advances: the first full‑time fire investigator, transition of two community risk‑reduction positions to civilian status, first‑ever firefighter cancer screenings, documented lifesaving events and expanded smoke‑alarm installation and CPR training. Community risk reduction work reported 31,000 adult and 20,000 child contacts, 1,679 hands‑only CPR trainees, 1,932 smoke alarms installed and other safety interventions.

Dove also discussed human‑resources realities: sworn vacancies that fluctuated during the year and an expected recruit academy in May with trained staff not available on apparatus until months later because of training timelines. "If you add the 11 approved overhires, we project a 20 to 25 person academy starting in May," Dove said, noting recruits do not appear on apparatus until November because of training requirements.

Why it matters: the report shows improved operational performance and community outreach while identifying persistent recruitment and retention gaps that affect overtime and long‑term staffing plans. Council received the report and staff noted fire division hiring and code‑enforcement investments will be part of upcoming budget considerations.