Greensboro Fire Department 2024-25 Annual Report

CITY ON A MISSION

AND OUR

EXPA SA D

DI C CIT"V CR RDOFCOV

WT

The City of Greensboro continues to grow through new development and annexations, bringing new opportunities and challenges for the Greensboro Fire Department. With every new neighborhood, business, or roadway that becomes part of our city, the Fire Department must ensure that our residents and visitors continue to receive the same high level of service they expect and deserve.

What is the Standard of Cover? The Standard of Cover guides how we provide fire protection and emergency response throughout the city. It sets specific performance goals that ensure we can respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.

Why Growth Matters As Greensboro expands, it becomes more challenging to meet these time-based performance standards. Longer travel distances or increased call volumes can slow response if stations, staffing, and apparatus are not carefully planned to grow alongside the city. This is why planning ahead with new stations, equipment, and personnel is essential. The Importance of Full Staffing A key factor in meeting our Standard of Cover is maintaining four personnel on each truck. This staffing level allows us to quickly build toward the 17 firefighters required on scene for a moderate structure fire. See facts below from NFPA 1710 Fact Sheetfor the Public: • Fire suppression operations have three basic functions: (1) rescue; (2) work involving ladder, forcible entry, and ventilation; and (3) the application of water. To raise ladders, ventilate, search, and rescue simultaneously takes quick action by at least four, and often eight or more firefighters, each under the supervision of an officer. • If 16 trained firefighters plus an incident commander are not operating at the scene of a working fire within the critical time period, then dollar loss and injuries are significantly increased as is fire spread.

For Greensboro, the Standard of Cover means:

• First Unit Response: The first fire apparatus, staffed with four firefighters, must arrive at any residence within four minutes of travel time, 90% of the time. • Effective Response Force (ERF): For a moderate structure fire, we must have 17 firefighters on scene within eight minutes of travel time, 90% of the time. This staffing level allows us to conduct essential fireground operations safely and effectively. These standards are based on national best practices and are critical for firefighter safety, civilian safety, and limiting property damage. Today's structure fires can go from a small flame to flashover in just three to five minutes, leaving little time for escape.

14