Ahwatukee’s fourth fire station is on track to open by the end of the year.
And it will be a big help to the department’s efforts to reduce emergency response times to meet those recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The association develops roughly 300 codes and standards that serve as the foundation for fire, electrical, and life safety across the globe.
In a briefing Nov. 5 before the City Council Subcommittee on Public Safety and Justice, Executive Fire Chief Tim Kreis and Deputy Chief Reda Riddle-Bigler gave an overview of the steps the department is taking to reduce response times for both fires and medical emergencies as well as the department’s recruiting and staffing efforts.
Recapping the new fire stations and expansions being undertaken throughout the city, Kreis had good news for western Ahwatukee residents:
“Station 74, which is located in West Ahwatukee, is going to be a great addition to our community. It’s coming along fine. We anticipate that station’s grand opening at the end of 2025 and having an Engine 74 and a Rescue 74 providing service to that community will be a great addition.”
With a breathtaking view of mountains and the Preserve, the new station sits on 7.75 acres on W. Chandler Boulevard near 19th Avenue, occupying about half that.
While the $500 million General Obligation Bond voters approved in 2023 is funding other new fire stations across the city, the Ahwatukee fire station was funded with capital dollars in a deal that Mayor Kate Gallego and former Councilman Sal DiCiccio reached over three years ago with soon-to-retire City Manager Jeff Barton.
The 13,000-square-foot facility will house a fire engine, medical rescue and 23 firefighters who already are completing Fire Academy training.
It also will provide a landing pad for a rescue helicopter, which Gallego said will be helpful in mountain rescues.
Kreis reminded the panel that with steady population growth over the last 10 years, Phoenix Fire “did not see a corresponding increase in capacity to match that population growth.”
As a result, emergency response times for both fires and medical emergencies several years ago were almost twice the recommended national standard.
Kreis said response times are now within the 90th percentile of those recommended by the NFPA.
City officials in the last two years put a major emphasis on expanding its firefighting and ambulance infrastructure while stepping up efforts to fill vacancies.
A city memo to the panel stated, “Response times have stabilized in recent years due to the positive impact of adding emergency service resources to the system.
The Phoenix Fire Department provided to City Council last week this look at its average response times to fires and medical emergencies in each Council District as well as city-wide averages. The orange numbers at the top of first three columns are the recommended response times by the National Fire Protection Association and on the fourth column the time recommended by the Arizona Department of Health Services to ambulance responses to emergency calls. Fire officials said Phoenix’s response times are within the 90th percentile of the national standards.
(Phoenix Fire)
“This overall trend demonstrates that the city’s strategic investments in emergency services personnel, equipment, and infrastructure, including the construction of new fire stations, expansion of ambulance services, and technology upgrades, are positively impacting response times amid the city’s growth.”
Since July 1, the Fire Department has filled 157 vacancies, bringing the total number of filled positions to 2,027 from a previous 1,870, according to a memo the department provided the subcommittee. The number of budgeted positions is 2,300.
The demand, especially for emergency medical services, has continued to increase. The report noted that in September, total calls for patient transports hit 9,068 – an 8% year-over-year increase over the 8,394 recorded in September 2024.
The report said that since Phoenix began emergency medical transportation nearly four years ago, “analyzing the monthly average activity levels over the past three years reveals a consistent upward trend in service demand.”
Just as the Phoenix Police Department has experienced, Phoenix Fire also has run into challenges recruiting to fill all the budgeted positions it has.
This year the department has recruited a total 136 men and women to begin their training and has another 65 recruits ready to begin academy in January.
To encourage more recruits, the department transitioned to online testing.
“This new process will take place twice a year and is designed to offer greater flexibility and accessibility for applicants,” the council report said. “By enabling remote testing over a longer window, candidates can better prepare and complete their exams at their convenience.
“The biannual schedule provides more frequent opportunities to apply, helping to streamline recruitment efforts and maintain a steady flow of qualified candidates for the department.”