First responders: Fire Department what they do, Palo Alto

We also put out fires

Daily News/Jason Green, Staff, 11/28/14.  "Report: Fires no longer the focus for Palo Alto Fire Department."

Shinny truck, heroic quick response

"Only 1.5 percent of the 2,118 calls for service the Palo Alto Fire Department received in the first quarter of the current fiscal year were for actual fires, according to a new report from the city's top fire official.  The vast majority, about 62 percent, were for emergency medical service, Fire Chief Eric Nickel wrote in his inaugural quarterly performance report, which the council is set to receive Monday.  The shift in focus isn't unique to Palo Alto, according to the report. However, the Palo Alto Fire Department is the only fire department in Santa Clara County that provides ambulance and transport services.

....  The "overwhelming majority" of the 1,315 emergency medical service calls the fire department received in the first quarter of the current fiscal year were for maladies that did not involve a car crash. About 76 percent resulted in ambulance transport to a hospital or care facility.  Good intent and false alarm calls made up nearly 30 percent of the 2,118 calls the fire department received in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, according to the report. Calls for rescue/hazardous materials and service made up about 3.8 and 3.2 percent, respectively."  Read article.

Reference - City of Palo Alto/Fire Department,  North County Fire/Pacifica.

Note photographs: Pacifica firetruck from Wikimedia; Pacifica accident from Youngstown Fire Forums.

Posted by Kathy Meeh