Title
Phoenix Fire Department Staffing and Response Time Report
Description
This item updates the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee on the Fire Department’s current staffing, hiring, community engagement, service demand, and patient transport activity.
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
- Calls for service
- Patient transport activity
Sworn Staffing
The Fire Department’s HR 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 2,059 sworn positions, which includes 134 positions funded through the Transaction Privilege Tax. Currently, 1,938 sworn positions are filled, including 63 recruits in the academy scheduled to graduate May 15, 2026. This milestone reflects the department’s continued commitment to building its workforce and meeting its hiring target.
Recruitment Efforts
The Fire Department remains committed to maintaining optimal staffing levels and meeting the operational demands of our growing city by continuously recruiting, hiring, and training new firefighters. The Training Section plays a critical role in ensuring that each graduating firefighter is fully prepared to serve Phoenix's residents. 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, thereby strengthening the department’s ability to attract and evaluate a diverse, qualified candidate pool. The most recent online testing cycle yielded 1,034 applicants, of whom 803 completed the testing process, and 405 were selected for the interview process.
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 662,261 video views and Facebook and X, generating over 800,000 impressions. In January, the department strengthened its community connections by hosting and participating in key events, including PFD Recruit Information Sessions held at the Fire Training Academy, 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 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards as benchmarks. Based on the 90th percentile response times, in January 2026, the first-arriving unit for Critical EMS citywide averaged 7 minutes and 15 seconds, exceeding the NFPA standard of 5 minutes. Citywide ambulance response times for Critical EMS arrived in 9 minutes and 15 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 assess 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 a 1.9 percent increase from 2024 to 2025. In January 2026, the department responded to 19,429 incidents across the city, down from 25,135 in January 2025, representing a 22.7 percent decrease.
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 shows a consistent upward trend. In January 2026, the total number of patient transports reached 8,769, a decrease of 103 from January 2025. Although this is slightly lower than the previous year, January transports are still 4.5 percent higher than in 2024, underscoring the continued need for additional emergency medical services and the importance of maintaining operational efficiency and effective resource management.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.