By: The Emergent Team
The reality of a firefighter’s day-to-day duties are much more varied and complex that their community might believe. From handling medical emergencies to responding to false alarms, firefighters are an essential part of our emergency response infrastructure. Understanding how frequently firefighters are called upon for support and the nature of these incidents can help us appreciate their critical role in our environments.
Fire Department Calls by the Numbers
Firefighters are called out to emergencies more frequently than you may assume. According to research from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments across the United States respond to a fire every 23 seconds. This impressive number shows how fire departments must always stay alert and handle a wide variety of tasks.
In addition to fire calls, firefighters are also called to respond to various types of emergencies, including medical assistance, hazardous material incidents, and rescue operations. Medical aid responses have seen a significant increase over the years, now making up the majority of calls for many fire departments. Firefighters must remain prepared to handle a variety of situations, not just fires. Emergency medical services (EMS) calls account for nearly 64% of the total fire department call volume. This shift in focus underscores the evolving role of firefighters from traditional fire suppression to comprehensive emergency response.
Data from the U.S. Fire Administration in 2020 showed U.S. fire departments responded to 26,959,000 incident runs or calls. 64 percent of the calls required emergency medical services (EMS) and rescue services from fire departments. Four percent of all reported fire department runs were fire related and more than half of the calls were to residential properties. In addition, the NFPA’s report of this year showed approximately 490,500 were structure fires, 173,000 were vehicle fires, and 686,500 were outside and other fires.
A Day in the Life of a Firefighter
A typical day for a firefighter can be both demanding and unpredictable. Their schedules, varying between 24- to 72-hours most commonly based on the department, ensures that firefighters are available around the clock to respond to emergencies. A firefighter's day often begins with checking and maintaining their equipment, ensuring everything is in working order and ready for immediate use. They also participate in training exercises and drills to keep their skills sharp and prepare for various emergency scenarios.
When a call comes in, firefighters must quickly don their gear, board their apparatus, and head to the scene. The nature of the call can vary greatly – it could be a small kitchen fire, a multi-vehicle accident, or a medical emergency requiring urgent care. Regardless of the situation, firefighters must remain calm, focused, and ready to act. In between calls, firefighters also engage in public education and community outreach, teaching fire safety and prevention to local residents and schools. They also use downtime to rest, eat, and bond with their colleagues, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork.
How Call Volumes Vary by Station
The frequency and type of calls can vary significantly depending on the location and size of the fire station. Urban fire stations, for instance, typically experience higher call volumes than their counterparts in smaller towns or rural areas. This discrepancy is largely due to the higher population density and greater number of potential emergencies in urban settings.
For example, a fire station in a large city like New York or Los Angeles may receive hundreds of calls per day, ranging from fire alarms and car accidents to medical emergencies and hazardous material incidents. These high call volumes demand a rapid response and require firefighters to be constantly prepared for the unexpected. On the other hand, a fire station in a small town or rural area might receive significantly fewer calls. These stations might handle several calls a day, with the majority being related to medical emergencies or non-fire incidents. However, despite the lower call volume, firefighters in these areas must be ready to respond quickly and efficiently, as the availability of additional resources may be limited.
The life of a firefighter is both challenging and rewarding, marked by long hours, intense training, and a deep commitment to public service. By understanding the frequency and nature of their calls, we can better appreciate the vital role firefighters play in keeping our communities safe.
At Emergent, we aim to relieve firefighters of cognitive demand, cutting down reporting time over 50% so crews can focus more on the call at hand. For more information on how we help, reach out to schedule a demo.
