By the numbers: Lincoln Fire Department's annual report shows highest volume of calls for rescue and emergency medical services

[January 06, 2011]  On Tuesday, the Lincoln Fire Department released a three-page summary report of calls made in the calendar year 2010.

2010

The report showed that all totaled, the city fire department was dispatched 1,895 times.

Rescue and emergency medical service calls constituted the majority of the calls, totaling 1,313. Of these calls there were:

• 2 watercraft rescues.

• 20 calls for extrication of victims from vehicles.

• 57 vehicle accidents, 32 of which involved victims with injuries.

• 22 "stat" calls: 10 listed as "trauma" and 12 listed as "heart."

Firefighters responded to a total of 97 hazardous conditions with no fire present. This included:

• 16 calls relating to spills of gasoline, oil, other flammables, and natural gas or LP leaks.

Fire calls totaled 109, with estimated property damage of $980,075. These calls included:

• 24 building fires, with damage estimated at $806,500.

• 2 mobile property fires, with damage estimated at $100,200.

• 8 passenger vehicle fires, with damage estimated at $13,650.

• 5 road freight or transport vehicle fires, with damage estimated at $41,000.

There were also 41 occurrences when a call was canceled en route and two calls where firefighters found no evidence of fire or incident when they arrived.

In addition, there were:

• 125 false-alarm calls, with the majority of those being due to malfunctioning alarm systems.

• 5 recorded as malicious, mischievous false calls.

• 1 false-alarm bomb scare.

Compared with previous years, the 2010 numbers were lower.

2009

The summary report for 2009 indicates that Lincoln city firefighters were called out 2,065 times in the calendar year.

There were 66 fire calls. This included:

• 15 building fires, with estimated damage totaling $593,100.

The 1,401 emergency medical service incidents included:

• 4 "water and ice related" rescues.

• 1 "swift water rescue."

• 1 watercraft rescue.

There were 148 false alarms, including:

• 7 malicious, mischievous calls.

• 1 false-alarm bomb threat.

2008

The 2008 summary report was released Monday. Total calls were 2,076, with the following breakdown:

• 83 fire calls.

• 28 building fires, with estimated damage exceeding $1.5 million.

• 1,451 calls for emergency medical services.

• 118 false-alarm calls.

• 5 malicious, mischievous false calls.

Included were three searches:

• 2 for people on land.

• 1 for person in water.

And,

• 1 trench or below-grade rescue.

According to Mark Miller, interim fire chief, there are 18 firefighters on the city payroll. Those 18 personnel are divided into three 24-hour shifts with six men on duty. Each shift has one day on, then two days off duty. This is equivalent to each firefighter working approximately 120 24-hour shifts in a year.

Miller said that while the average shift size is six, when sick time and vacation days are taken into consideration, more often than not the number of men on duty totals only five.

When an emergency medical call comes in, one fire truck with two firefighters is dispatched.

When it is a fire call, the first call sends two firefighting vehicles and the fire car. If the situation dictates, two additional apparatus can be dispatched to the scene.

When firefighters are not out on call, there is maintenance work to be done, paperwork regarding the incidents they have been involved with and ongoing training.

Miller said the current year has gone all right financially. Overtime is always an issue for the fire department. Miller said the call for overtime is on an emergency basis only and is something that really can't be controlled.

The city council begins building its 2011-12 budget in March. The fiscal year begins May 1.

Many of the city department heads, including Miller, are currently working on their budget figures for the next fiscal year. He said the council has asked that he hold the line on the budget, asking for no new money in the new year.

The fire department did receive grant funds this year to install an exhaust system at the firehouse and has been given the go-ahead by the city council to seek bids for that system and its installation.

The department also had some capital equipment needs put on hold due to city finances. Those needs were added to the list of funds that would come out of the city's new general obligation bond.

Miller said that now that the bond money is available, he will be spending some time looking at the equipment needs of the department and putting together information for the city on potential purchases.

Miller was appointed interim fire chief after the departure of Chief Kent Hulett in November.

Mayor Keith Snyder said then that he wanted to devote some time to examining the chief's job description before beginning a new search. To date, there has been no official announcement that the search has begun.

[By NILA SMITH]