Scottsbluff, Neb. - We're getting a better look at how busy the Scottsbluff Fire Department was last year.
In a release, they note that total calls for service were at 2,785 for 2024, which is 37 more than the year before. SFD says that of that number, 92 were fire calls.
However nearly three-quarters, 72%, of all calls were for emergency medical services.
That information comes from Fire Chief Tom Schingle who, at last week's city council meeting outlined those stats plus a look at response times.
"We try and shoot for 5 minutes from the time we're dispatched to the time we're on scene," said Schingle. "We're able to achieve that 65% of the time. the national standard is to try and beat that 90% of the time so we're not too far off but we're definitely a little bit lower, but that's in line with most departments across the county."
The fire department says the number of calls they receive has increased by 38% in the last decade.
The City of Scottsbluff Fire Department employs 17 members, 9 Firefighters, 3 Lieutenants, 3 Captains, 1 Fire Prevention Officer, and 1 Fire Chief. They protect about 6.68 square miles, with an estimated population of 14,264 people.
They also hired two new members to fill two vacancies, the department is currently fully staffed.
For the complete 2024 Annual Report please visit this link.
