26-1834: Fire Department Staffing and Response Times Update - Citywide

Description

Fire Department Staffing and Response Times Update - Citywide

Summary

Phoenix’s September 2026 Fire Staffing and Response Time Report describes staffing, recruitment, emergency response, and ambulance demand. The department increased authorized sworn positions from 2,027 to 2,059, funded in part through Transaction Privilege Tax revenues, and is expanding recruit academies, fire stations, equipment, and ambulance staffing. Online firefighter testing now occurs twice yearly to improve access and maintain candidate recruitment. Through July 2026, citywide 90th-percentile response times were 7:14 for critical EMS, 5:45 for first-arriving engines, 9:53 for ladders, and 9:12 for ambulances, with performance varying by Council District and compared with NFPA or state standards. The department handled 141,672 critical incidents, while July patient transports rose 7.5% year over year to 10,208. These figures inform City Council oversight and resource decisions as Phoenix grows.