Toledo Fire & Rescue Department Announces Operational Changes

The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department (TFRD) is implementing some operational changes this week in an effort to bolster its emergency medical response and transport of patients.

Fire Chief Allison Armstrong outlined some key changes today in an interdepartmental memo that was distributed to all members of the department. These changes, largely due to recent change in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Toledo and Toledo Firefighters Local 92, will implement the following:

• A new 24-hour EMS supervisor unit that will respond to emergency incidents such as motor vehicle accidents with extrication, structure fires, specialty incidents (water rescue, confined space, hazmat, etc.), and EMS incidents to oversee EMS care, triage, treatment and transport of patients.

• As long as the minimum staffing of 113 Local 92 firefighters is met, the TFRD will place in service two additional medic units daily, bringing the total Advanced Life Support (ALS) medic units staffed daily from 13 to 15. The two additional ALS medic units will be responding out of Station 18, near Lewis and Laskey, and Station 13, at 1899 Front Street.

The staffing for these additional ALS medic units will come from placing Engine 12, which was stationed at 3435 Chase St., out of service unless daily staffing is at 117 or higher to place Engine 12 back in service. This decision was made with several considerations in mind. First, Station 12's district has the lowest number of total calls for service, department-wide. Furthermore, it is also surrounded by the next four slowest districts (24, 19, 13 and 3). Lastly, Station 12 is situated between several sets of active railroad tracks. Many times, Engine 12 has been delayed by trains that are using or blocking these tracks. Additionally, because Station 23 at 2743 W. Laskey and Station 25's at 2933 W. Central districts are the busiest districts, putting Medic 28 in service at Station 18 assists with the increased run volume in West Toledo. The TFRD is also evaluating the benefit of moving Medic 13 from Station 13 to Station 7 in the future.

"These operational changes came out of the collective bargaining process, and I believe they represent a positive step forward for both our firefighters and the community we serve. By aligning resources more effectively, we can enhance safety, improve response efficiency, and ensure we're meeting the needs of our residents in the best possible way with the resources currently available." said Fire Chief Allison Armstrong.