PHOENIX – A steep drop in firefighter applicants and growing disparities in emergency response times have sparked urgent concerns in Phoenix, with some city leaders questioning how long the fire department can sustain its current staffing levels.
During the Dec. 4 meeting of the City of Phoenix Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee, Council Member Jim Waring of District 2 highlighted how staffing and response time challenges have been especially severe in his district.
“The thing that matters in District 2 is fire station location. We’re building six more stations, none of which are in District 2. In District 2, it’s not even close to the level of service,” Waring said.
The new fire stations are slated for areas near the rapidly expanding Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plant and other high-growth zones.
Waring emphasized that while the new stations are necessary for high-growth areas, the lack of any planned stations in District 2 highlights a significant issue for his constituents.
“District 2 shows longest response times despite having the lowest number of emergency calls. District 2 is also the lowest in emergency response activity,” Waring said.
Recent staffing shortages have highlighted a growing decline in interest in firefighting careers across Phoenix. In 2014, the Phoenix Fire Department received 2,100 applications for firefighting positions, but that number has dropped significantly in the years since.
“That plummet by two-thirds, it’ll be three-quarters soon if the trend is continuing in applicants, just indicates a dramatic loss in people wanting to do the job,” Waring said
Fire Chief Reda Riddle Bigler said that the department has had to adapt to this trend by implementing new hiring strategies to attract candidates.
“All fire departments are hiring at a very rapid rate around the city…the candidate has a lot of the options nowadays with where they want to work,” Bigler said.
To attract more applicants, Phoenix Fire has implemented hybrid and online testing and outreach initiatives aimed at younger audiences. Bigler said these efforts are essential as competition for candidates remains fierce.
“The PFD experience gives schools the opportunity to take a field trip and really see what the profession has to offer. We know that children are making career choices as early as a junior in high school,” Bigler said.
To further address retention and support firefighter well-being, the department has amended its training programs to include health and wellness initiatives. These programs focus on peer support, cancer prevention, and injury prevention to combat the physical and mental toll of the job.
“This is coming after an ASU study showed decline in interest in public safety careers,” said Bigler.
In addition to Waring, Phoenix resident Eric Nielson also voiced concerns about equity in response times across the city. He recounted a personal experience when it took 22 minutes for police to respond to an armed attack near his home.
“I’m shocked to hear District 2 say they’re for equity in response times. I couldn’t agree more,” Nielson said.
While the department continues to grapple with staffing shortages and response time disparities, city officials emphasized the importance of balancing resource allocation with the needs of growing areas.
Waring also urged the city to assess firefighter retention rates to ensure proposed solutions are effective.
“Yes we’re getting more applicants from a smaller number of people, but how long is that sustainable?,” Waring said.
Edited by Wendy Maddox.
