TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, Interim City Manager
FROM: Dave Gerboth, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: title
Salem Fire Department - Standards of Coverage, EMS Division, WVCC Operations, and Automatic Aid.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe and Healthy Community
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SUMMARY:
summary
The Salem Fire Department is presenting an update on its Standards of Coverage, the establishment of the new Emergency Medical Services Division, operational updates from the Willamette Valley Communications Center, and the development of Automatic Aid agreements with regional partners. These updates are intended to address significant increases in call volume, evolving community risks, and to align department operations with national standards.
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ISSUE:
Information only.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Call Growth and Staffing: From 2011 to 2024, call volume increased by 98% while the population grew by 17%. Despite this, daily on-duty staffing decreased from 43 to 41 personnel. Several companies are now operating at utilization levels that trigger the need for additional units.
NFPA 1710 Standards: Response benchmarks require a 4-minute travel time for first responders with AED capability and an 8-minute travel time for advanced life support units. National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) 1710 also specifies a minimum of 4-person staffing on fire suppression companies, underscoring the importance of effective staffing and deployment strategies.
EMS Division: Effective July 1, 2025, the department assumed responsibility for ambulance transport. The division includes 60 staff and operates as an enterprise fund, with compliance levels averaging over 90% in Marion and Polk Counties.
WVCC: Dispatches for 32 agencies, handling more than 450,000 calls annually with 79 staff. Staffing challenges mirror national trends in attrition, necessitating ongoing recruitment and retention efforts.
Automatic Aid: Recent incidents highlight the importance of regional collaboration. Automatic Aid agreements enhance operational effectiveness and community safety by ensuring the closest available resources respond.
Staff will present a report to City Council at a future council meeting recommending that City Council accept the Salem Fire Department’s Standards of Coverage report and support the department’s efforts to:
• Align operational performance goals with NFPA 1710 standards.
• Update on our transition of ambulance services to the newly created Emergency Medical Services Division.
• Address staffing and operational needs at the Willamette Valley Communications Center.
• Advance Automatic Aid partnerships with regional agencies.
BACKGROUND:
The Salem Fire Department serves the community through an all-hazards model, operating 11 fire stations, 11 engines, two ladders, two battalion chiefs, and nine ambulances. Specialty teams provide hazardous materials, technical rescue, wildland, water rescue, and other specialized services.
The department’s Standards of Coverage review identified the need to better align response goals with national standards, modernize EMS delivery through direct city operations, stabilize WVCC staffing, and strengthen regional cooperation. These efforts are essential to meeting the demands of a growing and increasingly complex service area.
DAVE GERBOTH
FIRE CHIEF
Attachments:
1. NONE