Title
Fire Staffing and Response Time Overview with TPT Plan Update
Description
This item updates the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee on the Fire Department’s current staffing, hiring, community engagement, service demand, patient transport activity, and Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) progress.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
This report provides an update on the Fire Department’s Key Performance Indicators related to:
- Sworn staffing levels
- Recruitment and hiring efforts
- Community engagement
- Emergency response times
- Overall demand for services
- Patient transport activity
- TPT plan update
Sworn Staffing
The Fire Department’s Human Resources team recruits, tests, and hires new firefighters throughout the year to maintain staffing levels and reduce vacancies. Considering the 14-week fire academy, strategic workforce planning is essential for managing attrition. The department is authorized for 2,027 sworn positions, which includes 134 positions funded through the Transaction Privilege Tax. Currently, 1,899 sworn positions are filled and include 48 recruits currently in the academy and scheduled to graduate January 9, 2026. The department is on track to launch its largest recruit class to date, with 65 Phoenix recruits confirmed for Firefighter Recruit Class 26-1. This milestone reflects the department’s continued commitment to building its workforce and obtaining the hiring target.
Recruitment Efforts
The Fire Department remains committed to maintaining optimal staffing levels and meeting the operational demands of a growing city through continuous recruitment, hiring, and training of new firefighters. The Training Section plays a critical role in ensuring that each graduating firefighter is fully prepared to serve the residents of Phoenix. In a significant modernization effort, the department has implemented online testing for firefighter candidates, a first in its history. This transition has streamlined the application and testing process, improving efficiency for candidates while reducing administrative burdens associated with in-person testing logistics. Online testing also expands access to the eligibility list, strengthening the department’s ability to attract and evaluate a diverse and qualified candidate pool. The most recent online testing cycle yielded 1034 applicants and a notable increase in completion rates, with a 5 percent increase from 2024 and a 10 percent increase from 2023. To date, the department has successfully trained 88 new recruits in 2025, with an additional 48 in the academy now. Another online testing process is scheduled to start in January, with the goal of hiring 119 additional firefighters to support the filling of the Transaction Privilege Tax positions and SAFER grant positions awarded.
Community Engagement
The Fire Department actively engages with the community through a robust social media presence and participation in public events, ensuring widespread outreach and communication. Over the last month, social media interactions have been significant, with Instagram reaching 896,000 video views and Facebook and X, generating over 1,250,000 impressions. In September, the department strengthened its community connections by hosting and participating in key events, including PFD Recruit Information Sessions held at the Fire Training Academy, joint Fire and Police participation at community events, and career fairs at local community colleges and high schools to encourage interest in fire service careers. Additionally, the department has leveraged billboard campaigns across the valley to promote firefighter recruitment and fire safety initiatives, including smoke alarms, heater safety, and drowning prevention efforts, reinforcing its commitment to public safety and education.
Emergency Response Times
The Fire Department measures emergency response times from dispatch to on-scene arrival, using National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards as a benchmark. Based on the 90th percentile response times, in September 2025, the first-arriving unit for Critical EMS averaged 7 minutes and 16 seconds, exceeding the NFPA standard of 5 minutes. Ambulance response times for Critical EMS arrived in 9 minutes and 14 seconds, meeting the AZDHS benchmark of 10 minutes. Efforts to improve response efficiency remain a top priority to align with national standards and optimize emergency services.
Calls for Service
The Fire Department closely monitors emergency response activity levels to evaluate system performance and identify capacity for additional service delivery. Historical trends show a steady year-over-year increase in call volume, with a 4.5 percent rise from 2023 to 2024, and projections indicate this trend will continue into 2025. In September 2025, the department responded to 19,568 incidents across the city, reflecting the ongoing demand for emergency services and the need for continued resource optimization to meet the growing needs of the community.
Patient Transport Activity
The Fire Department has provided emergency transportation services for nearly forty years, with demand steadily rising. A three-year analysis of monthly average activity highlights a consistent upward trend. In September 2025, the total number of patient transports reached 9,068, an increase of 674 from September 2024. In just two years, from 2023 to 2025, September transport volumes have grown by approximately 18 percent, emphasizing the increasing need for emergency medical services and the importance of maintaining operational efficiency and resource management.
TPT Plan Update
As a results of the City Council’s approval of an increase to the City's Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT), the Phoenix Fire Department received a dedicated $25 million increase to expand emergency response capacity. This funding aims to cut response times by hiring 134 new sworn full-time personnel and 19 civilian staff members. Additional funds support new fire trucks, vital equipment, and the building of two fire stations. To ensure smooth implementation, the Department established a program management structure inclusive of an Executive Committee, Core Team, and several subcommittees to oversee infrastructure upgrades, equipment procurement, hiring, and training.
The Phoenix Fire Department continues to make significant progress in implementing its Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) Plan, ensuring resources are effectively aligned to support operational readiness and workforce sustainability. Below is an update on the progress:
- Battalion 8 placed into service
- Two Human Resource Aides hired
- Member Services program position enhancements completed
- Community Risk Reduction Planning Captain position filled
- Supply Clerk hired
- Building Maintenance Worker hired
- User Technology Specialist hired
- Rescue 12 placed into service
- Two Department Training Officer positions filled
- Paramedic Training Program Director hired
- Fire Equipment Service Worker hired
- Emergency Response Staffing Office Administrative Aid hired
Additional details on the Fire Department's staffing and response times are included in Attachment A.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.