SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (KNEP) – More than 2,000 calls for service and it’s a trend the Scottsbluff Fire Department is seeing each year and it’s just getting busier.
Scottsbluff Fire Department said it released it’s 2020 annual report and response times is one of the key main points. The department is meeting standards nationwide.
“We want to make sure that we’re getting out the door in a timely manner and responding to the scenes that we need to as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Tom Schingle Fire Chief Scottsbluff Fire Department. “In order to do that we have certain standards that we have to meet that we track.”
“Our average response time typically it ranges depending on where we are going,” said Schingle. “Right now we’re averaging right around four and a half to a five minute response which is pretty good considering the national is right around that time.”
Scottsbluff Fire Department said they average six service calls per day. In the past five years calls increased by 16 percent. Now with the weather getting nicer and conditions get dryer residents need to take caution burning on windy and hot days.
“I think we’ll probably still be around the same amount of calls for service maybe slightly higher,” said Schingle. “It does seem to be historically trending upward every year especially where it’s about a hundred or so calls for service that we increase every year over the last few years.”
“As the city grows if there is any growth as you bring in more business as it expands if there is any annexations,” said Schingle. “We certainly need to look at increasing some staffing maybe deploying some sources slightly different so we keep a pretty good eye on it. That’s part of the reason for these annual reports.”
