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Fire chief reports improved response times, training expansions and crisis-response results
Summary
Fire Chief Joe Calhoun reported improved EMS response times (20% improvement in priority-1 responses versus earlier years), eight cardiac-arrest saves in 2025, crisis-response teams that handled 4,547 mental-health incidents and added follow-ups, and the planned opening of Station 51 in fall 2026.
Fire Chief Joe Calhoun presented the North Las Vegas Fire Department's accomplishments and near-term priorities, citing improvements in response times, investments in training infrastructure and growth of crisis-response programs.
Calhoun said the department achieved a roughly 20% improvement in priority-1 EMS response times compared with earlier benchmarks and that in 2025 the city recorded eight cardiac-arrest saves (compared with four the prior year). He emphasized that priority-1 events are rare and that missing one call can skew averages, but said the department's goal is to reach a 90% compliance target for priority-1 times.
Calhoun discussed Station 58 (opened recently) and said Station 51 is scheduled to open in fall 2026 to cover a busy portion of the city. He described the crisis-response team (grant-funded) that in 2025 responded to 4,547 people experiencing mental-health crises and completed 1,215 follow-ups, and said 40% of those encounters did not result in transport to an emergency department because alternative care pathways were used.
Other highlights included a new training center classroom building (donated building repurposed for training), a four-story training tower and equipment upgrades such as personal thermal imaging cameras for fireground personnel, Medic West leased units for EMS coverage, and technology investments such as a Starlink system for emergency communications. The presentation was informational and required no council action.
