Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
City of Westminster 2023 Fire Statistics.
End
publichearing
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From: Craig Covey, Fire Chief
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Craig Covey, Fire Chief
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Receive and file.
end
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is a Joint Powers Authority that provides fire service to 23 cities and all unincorporated areas in Orange County. The OCFA has served Westminster since 1995. OCFA handled 178,370 emergency calls in 2023, 3,000 more incidents than in 2022 and 30,000 more than in 2021 - a 20% increase in just three years.
In 2023, OCFA’s Emergency Command Center received over 228,000 911 calls, dispatching responses in 56 seconds -- well under the 1:04 national guideline.
Westminster is staffed with three paramedic engine companies and a battalion chief. A fourth engine, Engine 25, is stationed in Midway City and has supported Westminster with over 1,000 responses in 2023.
Westminster’s contract costs are for the three engines and chief; it is not charged for all of the OCFA specialty programs, but receives them any time needed for city emergencies. This includes specialties like our technical rescue units, hazmat team, water tenders, helicopters, other specialty units, and an incident management team.
The following are highlights of service delivery and accomplishments in 2023:
• Units in Westminster ran 9,026 emergency calls, a 14% increase over the past three years, including 142 fires, 604 traffic collisions, and 2,933 critical need medical emergencies.
• OCFA fire inspectors and firefighters conducted 1,200 fire safety building inspections.
• OCFA is launching a new “Orion” records management system to streamline and improve our fire safety inspection program and support community development service projects.
• OCFA staff supported and continues to support Westminster development services with numerous projects, including the Westminster Mall Specific Plan and redevelopment.
• OCFA staff and firefighters participated in 47 city events, including the Tet Parade Movies and Music, 65th Anniversary Fall Festival, Trunk or Treat & Halloween Movie Night, Santa on the Go, and Tree Lighting.
• OCFA Cadet Post 1, hosted at Fire Station 64 has over 35 cadets, many of whom are Westminster residents.
• OCFA firefighters supported Westminster High School with “Stop the Bleed” training for over 150 faculty and staff.
• Emergency Ambulance assumed transport services in 2023, and the city continues receiving all revenues from the ambulance program.
• OCFA has actively received 10’s of millions of dollars in grant funding to minimize costs for cash contract cities like Westminster.
• OCFA has a 93.5% funded retirement position.
• In March, the agency hosted its largest and most successful Open House in history, with more than 5,400 community members in attendance.
• OCFA Social Media increased its followers by 20%, garnered 1.7 million total engagements and 31 million impressions. @OCFADivision1 coming soon!
• In 2023, the OCFA garnered $292.3M worth of earned media coverage.
• The OCFA Outreach Program contacted over 600 residents nationwide for DEI interest in the fire service.
• OCFA hosted the 4th Annual Girls Empowerment Camp, a camp dedicated to introducing the fire service to high school aged women.
• Launched the agency’s first #OCFAWomenInFire year-round Social Media Campaign.
• OCFA conducted two recruit academies with 50 candidates each, two engineer academies, two captain academies, and one battalion chief academy in 2023.
• OCFA training section hosts quarterly training for the fire crews and provides 25 career development courses, including promotional leadership classes and academies.
• OCFA continues to be recognized as a cutting-edge agency, constantly at the forefront of fire services, especially in emerging technology. Chief Brian Fennessy was named a “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers” by Governing Technology.
• OCFA developed and deployed the FIRIS program, which provided real-time airborne intelligence to incident commanders via aircraft and a supercomputer at UC San Diego. The model is now becoming a national standard. OCFA is currently leading the country in technology for tracking firefighters at emergency incidents, whether fighting fires in a building or on a hillside.
• After a four-year process, the OCFA purchased and outfitted to new Sikorsky S70 FIREHAWKS that will join agency’s two Bell 412EP helicopters and empower OCFA Air Operations to perform day/night aerial fire suppression, remote rescues, and other all-hazard missions at a far safer and capable level.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
OCFA is proud to be a partner agency and leader in providing fire safety, prevention, and education services in Westminster, and will continue to support the community.
ATTACHMENTS
1. PowerPoint Presentation.
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager