FY2022

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS The Fire Emergency Operations is under the direction of the Deputy Fire Chief. The division works a three-shift system. Each duty shift is comprised of 24 hours and consists of one Battalion Chief, one Captain, four Lieutenants, and 14 Firefighters. Minimum daily staffing for the department is 16 emergency response personnel. This division is directly responsible for all emergency incident response. Calls for service are divided into four categories: fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, and hazardous materials. • Fire Suppression : ICFD personnel mitigate various types of fires. They’re also required to investigate false alarms. Firefighting activities typically require more resources (personnel, equipment, etc.) than any other type of emergency. Fires have a greater potential to harm people, property, and community than do other types of emergencies. The department continually looks for ways to decrease response times to all emergencies and to reduce the number and severity of fires. • Emergency Medical Services: All ICFD personnel are certified to at least the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) level. The department does not transport patients, but rather serves as EMS first responders. The Johnson County Ambulance Service provides ALS care and transport service. Together, the ICFD and JCAS provide a tiered EMS response system. • Technical Rescue: Technical rescue incidents are those incidents that require highly specialized knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to safely mitigate the event. The ICFD provides several technical rescue services: water and ice rescue, trench and structural collapse rescue, vehicle and heavy machinery rescue, rope rescue, confined space rescue, and large-area search. The Special Operations Response Team (SORT) provides a core group of highly trained technicians that provide team training in addition to regular company and shift level training on the various rescue disciplines. • Hazardous Materials Response: The department continues to be active in haz-mat response and takes a leading role with the Johnson County Hazardous Materials Response Team (JCHMRT), which includes 15 ICFD personnel. The JCHMRT includes up to 30 members who are trained and certified to the Hazmat Technician level. HIGHLIGHTS • The demand for emergency service continues to increase in Iowa City. In calendar year 2019, the ICFD responded to 7,430 emergency calls for service, representing the busiest year in the department’s history. Those emergencies required the response of fire companies 9,002 times – an increase from 2018 of 455 unit responses, and an increase from 2017 of 743 unit responses. • In calendar year 2019, fire personnel responded to 154 fires, resulting in just over $2 million in property damage. The pre-incident value of the affected property exceeded $63 million, resulting in a total property saved value of $61 million. The largest single fire loss in 2019 occurred on March 5 th at 314 S. Clinton. The building under construction sustained $1,025,000 in property and content loss.

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