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Fire chief briefs committee: calls, response times and new wildland unit
Summary
Fire Chief Bailey told the Public Safety Committee the department handled 1,629 calls in 2025, improved response times to an average of about 7 minutes 12 seconds, completed 175 inspections, and is standing up a wildland program with a brush truck and a subject-matter expert slated for readiness in May–June.
Fire Chief Bailey reviewed the department's quarterly report at the March 2 committee meeting, highlighting staffing and operational metrics as part of the city's accreditation and preparedness work.
Chief Bailey said the department ended 2025 with 1,629 calls for service (down 86 from the prior year) and that EMS calls accounted for a larger share of the workload (about 55%). He reported a city response-time average of roughly 7 minutes 12 seconds and 175 inspections completed in the year. Transport work outside the city generated roughly $60,000 in revenue for the department last year.
On accreditation and preparedness, Bailey said legal and recordkeeping cleanups are underway for the Snoqualmie municipal code for the fire department. He also described a new wildland program: the city purchased a brush truck, and Martha Duddles — a firefighter with prior wildland experience — is taking the subject-matter expert role; the chief said the unit is expected to be ready by May or June for the summer season.
The chief emphasized mutual-aid relationships across Eastside jurisdictions and noted the department continues to refine turnout and travel time metrics as staffing levels are adjusted. Committee members thanked the department for the report and had no follow-up motions during the meeting.
