Fire Rescue staffing and record call volume
Summary
Call volume has jumped 250% since 1987 while full-time staffing barely grew, causing delays on overlapping calls. The SAFER grant would add two firefighter/paramedics with the feds covering most costs for three years.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jun 9, 2026.
Impact analysis
Estimated city savings of $244,534 over three years versus budgeted hiring, with no obligation to retain positions after the grant.
Everyone who calls 911 in De Pere — faster ambulance and ladder truck response with fully staffed shifts.
Residents faced slower coverage during the year's staffing shortages, with the city often down to two ambulances and relying on mutual aid 103 times.
Mentions & discussions (3)
Finance/Personnel Committee - Jun 9, 2026
Call volume has jumped 250% since 1987 while full-time staffing barely grew, causing delays on overlapping calls. The SAFER grant would add two firefighter/paramedics with the feds covering most costs for three years.
Common Council - Apr 8, 2026
2025 was the fire department's busiest year ever — 3,463 calls, up 36% since 2014 — while the department ran four to five members short for ten months. The back-staffing system is breaking down, with only one member answering 98% of call-ins. Response times average four minutes; hitting eight minutes would trigger planning for a new station.
Common Council - Mar 17, 2026
One extra firefighter and one extra police officer funded from reserves — a flexible staffing tool the city has used before to boost public safety without committing to permanent positions.
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