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Consultants to Henderson City Council: staffing increases and possible third fire station recommended after injuries and rising calls
Summary
Consultants told the council there have been five fire-related civilian deaths in the last decade and 14 firefighter injuries in five years, reporting rising call volume and recommending hiring additional firefighters and exploring construction of a third station in the city's western section.
HENDERSON — Consultants from Management Solutions for Emergency Services told the Henderson City Council on Feb. 10 that while the city’s two existing fire stations are not out of compliance, the department could improve response and safety by hiring additional personnel and studying a third station in the western portion of the city.
Keith Bost and A.C. Daniels summarized the firm’s findings on behalf of the fire study. Bost reported an increase in call volume in recent months, noted what he described as sleep deprivation among firefighters because of the small force, and cited five fire-related deaths in the city over the past 10 years and 14 firefighter injuries in the last five years. The consultants recommended hiring more staff and considering a third station to improve coverage.
Fire Chief Steve Cordell responded that the issues raised in the study “have been included in budget requests for years,” acknowledging the study’s alignment with long-standing department concerns. Council members asked clarifying questions about staffing and safety standards; when asked about the National Fire Protection Association standard that two firefighters on a truck should not enter a burning structure alone, Chief Cordell confirmed that NFPA guidelines support that practice.
Mayor Eddie Ellington and several council members thanked the consultants and the chief for the report. City Manager E. Terrell Blackmon said the council would have an opportunity to review the full study again at the Board Retreat on Feb. 26 before taking further in-depth action.
What happens next: the report will be discussed in more depth at the council’s retreat; any staffing increases or facility investments would require budget authorization and follow-up planning.
