In reviewing the staff report for the upcoming East Contra Costa Fire Protection District meeting, the Chief is reporting there were a total of 542 calls with an average response time of 7:32 minutes. Comparing this to the month of November, the District ran 558 calls with an average response time of 7:00 minutes. The response times for the first six months of the year averaged for the District was 6:24 minutes for 3,162 calls.
When I went back even further and checked the pre-station closure and firefighter layoff times from June 2012, the District ran 566 calls with an average response time of 6.34 minutes. Given the reduced resources, we are lucky its only increased a minute and there has not been as much chaos as their should have been in 2012.
Our guys are doing a fabulous job considering what they have been given to work with. Hopefully this response time figure helps people realize that after this grant expires, we are screwed. It’s time to begin working on the next revenue enhancement with community stakeholders taking a “Public Safety First” stance on any parcel tax proposal that may get proposed by any community (whatever the reason may be). It’s time to drill it in peoples heads the need for additional revenue.
Here is the information directly out of the staff report.
PREVIOUS ACTION
At the June 25, 2012 Board of Directors meeting, the board approved by Resolution 2012–10 the Preliminary Operating Budget for fiscal year 2012/2013. The preliminary operating budget reduced staffing levels from 48 personnel to 27 personnel and closed three fire stations.
On August 29, 2012, the Board approved by resolution to accept the 2011/12 SAFER Grant. The grant period started November 18, 2012 and will end November 17, 2014.
SUBJECT BACKGROUND
The staff report is to give you a summary of the activities throughout the District for the month of December and a review of calls within 2012.
On November 18, 2012 at 8 AM the District reopened Fire Station 94 in Knightsen as part of the SAFER Grant. The crew of three consists of a Fire Captain, Engineer, and Firefighter. This changes our service model from three stations to four stations.
Calls for service:
In reviewing the calls for service for the month of December, there were a total of 542 calls with an average response time of 7:32 minutes. Comparing this to the month of November, the District ran 558 calls with an average response time of 7:00 minutes. The response times for the first six months of the year averaged for the District was 6:24 minutes for 3162 calls.
Looking at the response times for closed stations;
- Station 54-downtown Brentwood, had 122 calls in the month of December with an average response time of 7:57 minutes. In November there were a total of 107 calls with an average response time of 7:27 minutes. For the six the first six months of the year there were 675 calls with an average response time of 5.23 minutes.
- Station 95-Bethel Island had 32 calls in the month of December with an average response time of 13:06 minutes. In the month of November there were 26 calls with an average response time of 15:07 minutes. For the first six months of the year there were 574 calls with an average response time of 7.01 minutes.
Auto aid:
In the month of December the district received auto aid from Contra Costa County Fire 26 times with them sending 38 units. The District sent auto aid to Contra Costa County Fire 14 times providing them with 16 units. During the month of November, Contra Costa County Fire came into the District 39 times with 47 units and we responded into Contra Costa County Fire 16 times with 18 units. The first six months of the year, the District has received auto aid from Contra Costa County Fire 155 times with 201 units. The District has responded to Contra Costa County Fire 100 times with a total of 117 units.
2012 Calls for Service:
In the calendar year of 2012 the District ran 6303 calls for service with an average response time of 6:54 compared to 2011 where we responded to 6260 calls with an average response time of 6:27.
2012 Auto aid:
In 2012 the District received auto aid from Contra Costa County Fire 389 times with them sending 518 units. The District sent auto aid to Contra Costa County Fire a total of 167 times and 194 units. Comparing this to 2011 where the District received auto aid from Contra Costa County Fire 322 times with 413 units. The District provided auto aid to Contra Costa County Fire 171 times with 198 units.
6 comments
CoCo Tax should be sued and abolished for being the most disgraceful organization in the state of California. This was never about fire protection, it was about ensuring their corporate funders did not see a large increase on the land they own.
Per Mr. Burkholder’s June 3 article.
Six People Who Should be Held Responsible should Measure S Fail. You can contact them should you lose your home or your family is injured. These folks have twisted facts and lied.
Kris Hunt, Walnut Creek (out of District)
John Gonzales, Knightsen
Dave Roberts, Oakley
Walter MacVittie, Discovery Bay
Jeff Barber, Discovery Bay/Truckee
CC Times Editorial Board (Dan Borenstein & Dan Hatfield neither live in District)
I appreciate you bringing up that list Rob. There are others who should be added, but I shall digress.
This is very sad that families have been put in danger over poor rhetoric and $200. Response times have gone up 1 minute which is HUGE. Ask anyone who has needed help since June how it has effected them. Want proof or disagree, hold your breath for 7:32 minutes and let me know how that works for you.
We appreciate you fighting the good fight Mr. Burkholder.
Last week we had a major accident on East Cypress Rd (just past Jersey Island Rd)-a full grown cow got out onto the the road and a man driving down the road “looking at the moon”, yes he made that statement, hit it. His car was totaled and the cow killed. Ok so what is my point–the last one to the scene was fire, Engine 94 from the Knightsen station. But not by much-I would estimate that all first responders were on scene within 7-10 minutes of the 911 call. And that is a great response time!!!!!
For an agency that covers as large an area as ECCFPD does you can’t just look at call volume and call times, to get an accurate picture. One or two calls for collisions on either Vasco Rd, or Byron Highway could throw the response times way out of proportion. Delays due to units being tied up on other incidents also create a longer than normal or average response time. I’m sure if the response time are broken down to the 2 cities vs. the county area the times would average out well for the city responses. Outlying areas of the district will not fare so well, as it is a long haul out to the edge of the district.
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