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available to respond from within that territory when an emergency occurs in that area. <br />Response reliability would be 100% if every company were available in its station when <br />a fire or emergency call is received. In reality, there are times when a call is received <br />when the first-due company is out of area or unavailable. This requires that a later-due <br />company, in the pre-determined response order, be assigned. If the later-due company <br />is too far away, the call cannot be handed within the desired travel time. <br /> <br />Prior to the redeployment of Valley River Fire Engine to Santa Clara, the Valley River <br />area's response reliability was at 93.90% (7-01 to 6-02). After redeployment, with only <br />an ambulance stationed at the Valley River Station, response reliability for that area <br />dropped to 54.53% (7-03 to 6-04). At the same time, the response reliability for the <br />Sheldon Station and Downtown Station, which absorbed some of this call volume, <br />dropped from 86.42% to 84.29% and 94.36% to 88.78%, respectively. <br /> <br />Two outcomes are sought by re-staffing Engine 9 at the Valley River Station: <br /> <br /> · Improve overall response times throughout the service area. <br /> <br /> · Increase response reliability throughout the service area with significant <br /> improvement in the Valley River neighborhood. <br /> <br />Improvement in these two measures and the associated service delivered to the public <br />should be recognized upon the re-staffing of Engine 9. <br /> <br />Progress to Date: <br /> <br />A recruit firefighter process has been planned, posted and the selection process is well <br />under way. From this process the department will develop a list from which two training <br />classes will be hired as explained under "action plan" below. <br /> <br />In addition, a plan has been developed by the department and is being presented to <br />the Fleet Board that calls for the retention of an additional fire apparatus that is <br />scheduled to be replaced in FY06. By retaining this piece of equipment targeted for <br />surplus, the department will have the resources to place a fire engine at the Valley <br />River Fire Station in accordance with this plan. <br /> <br />Action Plan: <br /> <br />The department has developed a cost estimate and timeline for re-staffing the Valley <br />River engine as well as filling vacancies caused by normal attrition. The lead depart- <br />ment representative for building the finance package is Julie Lindsey, Fire & EMS <br />Department Finance Manager. <br /> <br />Currently the department has just completed a firefighter recruitment and selection <br />process to develop a list of qualified candidates. The first group has already been <br />given job offers. <br /> <br /> <br />