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Suffolk Fire & Rescue reports 12% increase in 2025 calls, averages 6:14 response time
Summary
At a May 6 staff report, Suffolk Fire & Rescue detailed a 12% rise in incidents in 2025, about 22,400 incidents and roughly 54,000 unit responses, new apparatus and station openings, and ongoing accreditation and technology work to reduce response times.
Fire Chief Michael Barack presented the Suffolk Fire & Rescue 2025 year‑in‑review to council on May 6, reporting an increase in activity and several operational milestones.
Chief Barack said the department handled approximately 22,400 incidents in 2025, generating roughly 54,000 unit responses (multiple units often respond to single incidents). He reported a 12% year‑over‑year rise in calls and an average response time of about 6 minutes 14 seconds across the city; staff noted response targets vary by urban, suburban and rural zones.
Operational highlights cited in the presentation include the commissioning of Rescue 1 (Market Street), Tanker 7 in Holland, Replacement Ladder 5 on Bridge Road, opening Station 11 and moving it into service, completion progress on a training burn building and a new stoplight for Station 10, and the department’s acquisition of ventilators for medic units. Chief Barack also described specialty teams — hazmat, maritime incident response, technical rescue and tactical med — and noted the department’s international accreditation and work to maintain and improve performance.
Council members praised firefighters and highlighted the department’s role during recent brush‑fire activity (three‑plus weeks of suppression in some areas) and in regional mutual‑aid deployments. Chief Barack said the department would continue accreditation work and pursue technology upgrades in the 911 CAD system to shave processing and response time.
Provenance: figures and program details were provided in the department’s presentation at the May 6 meeting; direct attribution is to Chief Michael Barack.
