A lot of people do not find statistics interesting, but data is an increasingly driving force in the fire service. Fire departments across the country gather data and use it to show their citizens what they do on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. Fire department leaders also use statistical information to identify trends and determine operational needs.In 2018, the Falcon Fire Protection District received a record 2,665 calls for service, which is a 6.5 percent increase from 2017 (2,502 calls) and 32.5 percent more than 2014 (2,011). Of that total, emergency medical services, motor vehicle accidents and rescues comprised 66 percent of the 2018 total call volume. Just over half (55.5 percent) of EMS incidents and motor vehicle accidents resulted in at least one patient being transported by ambulance to a local hospital.Falcon firefighters responded to 83 structure, wildland, vehicle and other fires in 2018. It was a dry year, with the first of many Red Flag Warnings for El Paso County occurring at the end of January. The county enacted Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions beginning in March and ending July 30 because of ongoing drought conditions. Significant wildfires:
- Feb. 14: Garrett Road and U.S. Highway 24 (about 32 acres)
- March 20: Woodmen Road (about 242 acres
- April 2: Highway 24 fire (about 386 acres, evacuations ordered)
The people behind the scenesMany residents are familiar with the Falcon firefighters who assist them during emergencies, help with community events and give safety presentations at their childrenís schools. But there are some other support personnel to help keep the Falcon Fire Department running smoothly and efficiently.Fire chief: The fire chief is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the fire department. Duties include managing the annual budget, overseeing mutual and automatic aid agreements with other county fire agencies and managing the budget.Deputy chief of operations: This position combines operations, support and administration responsibilities, including oversight of buildings, grounds and apparatus; overseeing staffing; maintaining the departmentís communications systems; and responding to emergency incidents.Office manager: The office manager serves as the executive administrative assistant with duties that include payroll, bookkeeping, reception and overall administrative support.Training captain: The training captain oversees training and certifications for the departmentís firefighters. Training is a critical activity for firefighters to help them operate safely and efficiently in emergency situations.Fleet technician: The FFPD fleet technician (mechanic) is responsible for repairing and maintaining the agencyís emergency apparatus and support vehicles.Public information officer/data analyst: This combined position handles release of information to the public, monitors the fire departmentís social media accounts and develops statistical data regarding department operations.Chaplains: FFPD is fortunate to have two volunteer chaplains who provide spiritual support and comfort to both department personnel and the public they serve.These are just brief descriptions, as each person has additional responsibilities beyond what is listed. Additionally, an EMS division chief will be hired later in 2019 to oversee ambulance transport operations and emergency medical services for the district.
Ambulance updatesDuring the first week of January, FFPD personnel spent time at the Life Line Emergency Vehicle plant doing final specifications for the new ambulances. Life Line was chosen as the vendor following extensive research and evaluation that began in December 2017. Current anticipated delivery of the two ambulances is August 2019.FFPD has created a webpage to post updates on the fire districtís progress with ambulance transport and other operations. Visit http://www.falconfirepd.org/about-the-department/2019-updates
Stay connected with the Falcon Fire Protection DistrictWebsite: http://www.falconfirepd.orgFacebook: Falcon Fire DepartmentTwitter: @FalconFireDeptNextDoor.com
