2024 Data Shows Record Calls for DMFD And EMS Calls Flattening

Press Release

Des Moines, Iowa- Thursday, January 9, 2025 - The Des Moines Fire Department set another record for call responses in a calendar year, but this year that record came with some changes and even a decrease in one major call category.

Preliminary numbers for 2024 show that crews from the 11 DMFD fire stations responded to 33,858 calls, an increase of only 1.45% from 2023's data and roughly half of a typical year's 3-5% increase in calls.

Most importantly, a majority of DMFD's calls for service each year are EMS-related calls and in 2024, those calls flattened and declined by one in 2024, making up 62% of the department's responses.

Fire Chief John TeKippe attributes the flattening of that growth in EMS calls to a new Mobile Integrated Healthcare program that came because of firefighter-led department planning.

"The Mobile Integrated Healthcare program is a direct result of strategic planning conversations with our firefighters who shared ideas and strategies that have helped us serve most vulnerable members of our community in new ways," Chief TeKippe said. "This program has allowed us to proactively manage the health of some of our heaviest 911 users and get them the care they need without resorting to emergency services."

The Fire Department also saw approximately a 16% decrease in fire responses with 797 fire responses in 2024.

"We're excited to see a decline in fire-related incidents, which is why will continue to promote education around fire safety in the kitchen and home heating safety as those are the two most common fire types we see," Fire Marshal Jonathan Lund said. "Residential fires are typically most common from December to February, so we want our residents to continue practicing winter fire safety."

The DMFD Fire Prevention Bureau has provided winter fire safety tips that are available at DSM.city/WinterFireSafety.

In January 2025, the Des Moines Fire Department will graduate the 101^st Class of the Des Moines Fire Academy and the 102^nd Class will begin soon after.

Also expected in 2025 is completion of construction on Fire Station 4 at its new location approximately a mile northwest of the current Fire Station 4 which will assist with response times on the northwest side of Des Moines.