Excerpts from wandtv.com:
The Decatur Fire Department responded to a record-breaking 13,108 calls in 2022.
EMS calls made up about three-quarters of all alarms in 2022. The chief is working with the 911 dispatch center on a system to triage medical calls, with the goal of only having firefighters respond to the most serious incidents.
Ten years ago, there were about 121 firefighters serving the city. Today they’re down to 105.
The fire union, Local 505, is also calling for more prevention efforts, which used to be done by city fire inspectors. The union is currently in negotiations with the city over its contract, and is now in its third year of working without one.
