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Hickman Rural Fire & Rescue warns staffing strains as calls rise; new apparatus arriving
Summary
John Brady told the Hickman City Council the volunteer department has handled 203 calls so far this year, averaging a 12-minute response time and relying increasingly on EMTs from Lincoln; the department reported receiving a 3,000-gallon pumper-tanker and an ambulance due in October.
John Brady, representing Hickman Rural Fire & Rescue, told the City Council the department is stretched thin as volunteer recruitment lags and call volume climbs. "We're at 203 calls already this year," Brady said, adding the department expects to surpass 300 calls by year'end.
Brady said the department typically fields about seven EMTs during busy periods and has logged roughly 550 man-hours responding to calls so far this year. "When that call comes out on the radio to the time we knock on the door to say we're here is 12, a little over 12 minutes," he told the council, comparing the volunteer average to an eight-minute response for full-time Lincoln Fire and Rescue.
Brady explained Hickman is recruiting outside the city and has a stipend program that has attracted 11 applicants from Lincoln and other nearby training programs; only one applicant so far was a Hickman resident. He described a vetting and training process for recruits and said a mix of students nearing completion of EMT training and experienced providers are joining the roster.
The department also outlined equipment gains that officials say will boost firefighting and medical response. Brady said the department recently received a pumper-tanker (referred to as unit 41) that carries 3,000 gallons and that a new ambulance and an urban-interface pumper are expected in October. "We have added basically if we get a structure fire right now as this happens, we can bring 7,800 gallons of water with three pumpers to that fire," Brady said, adding the new apparatus should improve the department's ISO rating.
Council members asked for clarification about dropped calls and mutual-aid procedures; Brady said roughly 20 calls have been dropped so far this year but stressed there is an automatic dispatch-to-nearest-district process when Hickman is unable to respond. He described mutual-aid partners in surrounding districts and the dispatch steps taken when no response is received.
The council thanked Brady for the report and for the department's work. Brady urged patience during recruitment and said the department is focused on vetting and training recruits before assigning them to stand-ready shifts.
The council did not take formal action on the report; Brady offered to provide computerized performance statistics on request.
