RetJaxFF
02-29-2008, 07:23 AM
Based on article below it looks like JFRD may be hiring in the future.
Numbers tell the story:
Nearly 128,000 runs last year. Engine companies
and rescue units exceeding 400 calls a month.
A department-wide travel-response time three
minutes longer than a national recommendation.
From 2001 to 2005, our city’s population grew 9 percent, yet
emergency service call volumes increased 16 percent. By 2016,
Duval County’s population is projected to exceed 1,000,000.
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is destined to
become busier and response times longer, according to city
growth statistics, the department’s leadership and an outside
consultant that’s studied JFRD twice since 2001.
“EMS resources are not keeping up with the population and
development growth curve,” says the 2006 TriData study. The
report also references JFRD’s travel-response time of seven
minutes, two seconds or less, 90 percent of the time. The
National Fire Protection Association’s recommended travel
time is four minutes or less, 90 percent of the time.
For JFRD to meet growing demand, reduce travel times and
approach the four-minute level, TriData says the department
needs to achieve the correct mix of station locations, available
apparatus and staffing. This is now JFRD Director Dan
Kleman’s focus.
“TriData’s recommendations represent a significant expansion
in our capacity to meet Jacksonville’s growing demand for
emergency services,” said Kleman. “I plan on spending most of
my time, effort and energy pursuing this matter. But in light of
the recent property tax changes, securing the funding to
implement these recommendations will be the greatest
challenge our department faces this year.”
Starting last fall, Kleman and the division chiefs examined Tri-
Data’s recommendations, conducted internal analysis and
mapped JFRD’s next five to 10 years. They presented an
outline to City Council’s Finance and Public Health and Safety
committees earlier this month.
The big picture includes eight new fire stations, each with an
engine company and rescue unit. Recommendations also
include adding four rescue units and four ladder companies to
Improving JFRD’s Travel Times
JFRD excels at quick call processing, dispatch and turnout times, but TriData says reducing travel time will require more stations.
5
existing stations, adding two marine units and establishing fourperson
minimum staffing for all new engine companies and 23
existing engine companies. In addition, a combination of seven
existing stations will undergo renovation or relocation.
Kleman is discussing the idea of expansion with the Mayor’s
Office and hopes to identify funding strategies that would not
burden the city’s general fund.
“Since I arrived, I’ve talked about us becoming one of the best
fire and rescue departments in America,” Kleman said. “We
have reached milestones in training and management issues and
now we must achieve the necessary resources to serve our
growing community. This is how we will meet future demands.
This is how we will reduce response times and become one of
the best departments in America.”
Numbers tell the story:
Nearly 128,000 runs last year. Engine companies
and rescue units exceeding 400 calls a month.
A department-wide travel-response time three
minutes longer than a national recommendation.
From 2001 to 2005, our city’s population grew 9 percent, yet
emergency service call volumes increased 16 percent. By 2016,
Duval County’s population is projected to exceed 1,000,000.
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is destined to
become busier and response times longer, according to city
growth statistics, the department’s leadership and an outside
consultant that’s studied JFRD twice since 2001.
“EMS resources are not keeping up with the population and
development growth curve,” says the 2006 TriData study. The
report also references JFRD’s travel-response time of seven
minutes, two seconds or less, 90 percent of the time. The
National Fire Protection Association’s recommended travel
time is four minutes or less, 90 percent of the time.
For JFRD to meet growing demand, reduce travel times and
approach the four-minute level, TriData says the department
needs to achieve the correct mix of station locations, available
apparatus and staffing. This is now JFRD Director Dan
Kleman’s focus.
“TriData’s recommendations represent a significant expansion
in our capacity to meet Jacksonville’s growing demand for
emergency services,” said Kleman. “I plan on spending most of
my time, effort and energy pursuing this matter. But in light of
the recent property tax changes, securing the funding to
implement these recommendations will be the greatest
challenge our department faces this year.”
Starting last fall, Kleman and the division chiefs examined Tri-
Data’s recommendations, conducted internal analysis and
mapped JFRD’s next five to 10 years. They presented an
outline to City Council’s Finance and Public Health and Safety
committees earlier this month.
The big picture includes eight new fire stations, each with an
engine company and rescue unit. Recommendations also
include adding four rescue units and four ladder companies to
Improving JFRD’s Travel Times
JFRD excels at quick call processing, dispatch and turnout times, but TriData says reducing travel time will require more stations.
5
existing stations, adding two marine units and establishing fourperson
minimum staffing for all new engine companies and 23
existing engine companies. In addition, a combination of seven
existing stations will undergo renovation or relocation.
Kleman is discussing the idea of expansion with the Mayor’s
Office and hopes to identify funding strategies that would not
burden the city’s general fund.
“Since I arrived, I’ve talked about us becoming one of the best
fire and rescue departments in America,” Kleman said. “We
have reached milestones in training and management issues and
now we must achieve the necessary resources to serve our
growing community. This is how we will meet future demands.
This is how we will reduce response times and become one of
the best departments in America.”