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Township fire chief cites rising call volume as response times lengthen; board presses for solutions
Summary
The township’s fire chief told the board that higher call volumes and hospital offload delays have pushed average response times above 6 minutes, and staff and directors discussed options including additional ambulances, certification pay, and targeted staffing changes. (Transcript: discussion and staff follow‑ups requested.)
Board members pressed township fire leadership on Aug. 20 after learning the average emergency response time has increased to about 6.14 minutes, exceeding the 4–5 minute goal some directors described as critical for cardiac arrest care.
Chief Buck (fire chief) told the board the rise in average response times stems from higher call volumes tied to population growth and increased activity in town‑center and regional destinations, and from periodic ambulance offload delays at area hospitals that reduce available transport resources. He estimated EMS calls now comprise roughly 65–75% of the department’s total calls.
The chief and staff described mitigation approaches that include working with Montgomery County Hospital District and Harris County partners, using community health paramedics to reduce unnecessary transports, seeking additional ambulances at busy stations (Station 1 was singled out as a priority) and pursuing automatic‑aid agreements with neighboring agencies.
Compensation and credentialing were a central part of the conversation: staff explained the township’s certification/incentive pay framework for firefighters (paramedic pay increases, technical rescue incentive) and said paramedics receive a roughly 10% bump once cleared by the medical director. Board members asked for data on recruitment and retention, vacancy and turnover rates, and whether incentive structures are competitive with peer cities.
What happens next: Directors asked staff to provide a deeper analysis of response‑time drivers, options and costs — including the likely fiscal impact of placing an ambulance at Station 1, the effect on ISO rating thresholds if response times continue to increase, and how certification pay influences recruitment and retention. No staffing or pay changes were approved at the meeting; staff will return with more detailed scenarios and cost estimates.
Representative quote: Monique Sharp, president and CEO, summarized the trade‑offs: 'We are in a market‑based situation,' and staff should present options and data that allow the board to prioritize public safety within the overall budget.
