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.
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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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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]