1

Fire Department Staffing Needs

“Progressing With Our Community”

Our Firefighters run more calls, cover

more populated miles and protect more

people than ever before.

• Since 2000 the fire dept. has experienced a 30% increase in

emergency call volume.

• From 2000 to 2010 the population of Bettendorf grew 6%.

• Bettendorf continues to enjoy an increase in both commercial

and residential development, including highly populated senior

living centers, apartment complexes, and housing developments.

2

Response Times

• NFPA 1710 – Sets a 4 min response time objective for EMS and

Fire calls.

• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an

international nonprofit organization that was established in 1896.

The company’s mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire

and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and

advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training,

and education.

• Of 15 various addresses reviewed in the station 1 response area,

the time from station 1 averaged 3.14 min, while response from

station 2 averaged 5.01 min.

• Firefighters respond from one station, while all industry

standards require the staffing of a second fire station in a city

the size of Bettendorf.

• Large parts of the Station One response area cannot be reached

in Four minutes or less from Station Two.

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Why does this matter?

Rapid response increases the odds of successful

mitigation of the publics problems.

• NFPA 1710 requires a 4 minute response time to EMS calls

because brain damage occurs after four minutes of oxygen

depletion. Examples include stroke, cardiac arrest, choking, and

smoke inhalation.

• NFPA 1710 requires initial fire units to arrive within 4 minutes to

increase the odds of extinguishing a fire prior to flashover,

therefore, limiting injuries, fatalities and property damage.

• NFPA 1710 requires a full complement of 15-18 firefighters and a

chief officer within 8 minutes (the general time after fire ignition

when flashover occurs). Numerous studies show dramatic

increases in property damage and loss of life if the fire is not

attacked within 4-8 minutes.

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Relevant Facts

• The paid personnel provide the administrative services for the

department.

• The paid personnel provide the immediate response to calls for

service (4.31 minute average response time) and the volunteers

provide the secondary response (10 minute average response

time). Since 1991, immediate response occurs throughout the

city to Panorama Park and Fire District #1.

• Paid personnel provide a guaranteed predictable minimum

response.

• The Fire Chief’s goal is to remain a combination paid and

volunteer organization.

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Current Staffing Levels

• The Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, and Fire Inspector work a 40 hour

per week schedule.

• Twenty-four personnel work a 56 hour work week out of the

Spruce Hills Dr. Station (Station 2) and are assigned to 24 hour

shifts.

• Current minimum staffing is 6 paid personnel on-duty at the

Spruce Hills Station.

• The Resident Volunteer Program provides an additional two (2)

personnel daily, 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. at the Surrey Heights Fire

Station.

• Approximately 1 of every 3 - 5 volunteer firefighters on the roster

can be predicted to respond to structure fires. The majority of

the volunteer personnel are not available during the daytime

hours, Monday through Friday.

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Volunteer Response Analysis

1995 – 2010 Todays volunteers lead busier personal lives than ever before, creating a

volunteer system that is less reliable.

*Blue line indicates accumulated response of all volunteers

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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total Responses

for the Department

Total Responses by

Volunteers

Response examples

• The City of Bettendorf cannot regularly achieve 15 or more

firefighters within 8 minutes. Volunteer response times and

mutual aid (from other cities) response distances show a greater

than 8 minute response, creating dangerous conditions for

firefighters and the public.

• A Davenport family who lives on the north side of Crestline

Drive, who reports a fire, will have 15 on duty Davenport

firefighters and a Chief respond to their home. Their neighbor on

the Bettendorf side of Crestline Dr. will have 6 on duty Bettendorf

firefighters respond, with the hope of command staff, volunteers

and mutual aid to make up the delayed secondary response.

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Span of Control

• Span of control is the business management model that

enhances efficiency by maintaining a minimum number of

subordinates under each supervisor.

• According to the FEMA Incident Command System, a

manageable span of control in the fire service dictates

“supervisory responsibility should range from 3 to 7, with 5

being optimal.” Taking into account “…safety factors and

distances between personnel….”.

• NFPA 1710 states “Each company shall be lead by an officer who

shall be considered part of the company.”

• Currently BFRD runs 2 companies. Only one company is safely

and properly staffed with a company officer. This creates

dangerous span of control issues on emergency scenes,

especially taking into account the dangerous situations and the

physical distance between crews on the fire ground.

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Staffing Goals

• To provide 24 hour per day staffing by 56 hour per week shift

personnel at two fire stations (Spruce Hills and State Street).

• To provide a company officer for Station One/Engine One, and

approach proper span of control on emergency scenes per NFPA

and ICS.

• To continue the Fire Chiefs hiring plan to ensure steady,

systematic growth to match the growing needs of the city.

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Staffing Goals

• Lyle Sumek Associates Inc. documents show in January of 2007,

city leadership listed 4 major challenges facing the city’s fire

department.

1. The declining number of volunteer firefighters.

2. The need for a captain assigned as the departments training

officer and volunteer recruitment coordinator, and

lieutenants to oversee daily operations and volunteers.

3. Having adequate paid staffing levels on the initial response

to safely and quickly handle structure fires before flashover

occurs.

4. Re-staff the State Street station.

• Today the above issues are still un-resolved. No officer

positions have been filled to provide proper span of control and the

State Street station still sits empty, creating longer response times

to large portions of the city.

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12

10 Year Staffing Plan

2007-08 Hire three (3) career Firefighter/EMTs

Minimum of 5 on duty 24/7/365 Spruce Hills Station with

two (2) allowed off at one time

2009-10 Hire three (3) career Firefighter/EMTs to fill promotions

Minimum of 6 on duty 24/7/365 with two (2) allowed off

at one time

2011-12

Postponed

Hire three (3) career Firefighter/EMTs

Promote three (3) career Firefighter/EMTs to

Lieutenants

Minimum of 6 on duty 24/7/365 with three (3) allowed off

at one time

Scott County Emergency Management Agency relocates

from Station Street Fire Station to Scott County

Emergency Communication Center (SECC)

Staff State Street Fire Station (minimum of 3 on duty at

State Street and Spruce Hills Fire Stations)

2013-14 Hire one (1) Captain and three (3) career

Firefighter/EMTs

Minimum of 7 on duty 24/7/365 with three (3) allowed off

at one time

2015-16 Hire three (3) career Firefighter/EMTs

Minimum of 8 on duty 24/7/365 with three (3) allowed off

at one time

Staffing of 4 on duty 24/7/365 at State Street and Spruce

Hills Fire Stations

2017-18 Hire three (3) career Firefighter/EMTs

Minimum of 8 on duty 24/7/365 with four (4) allowed off

at one time [two (2) at each station]