Record-breaking emergency calls: How firefighters are responding amid the surge
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A record-breaking surge in emergency calls is keeping firefighters busier than ever. YFD says they're getting hundreds of calls every week, but are still able to respond fast.
Yuma Fire Department PIO David Padilla says YFD runs on average 300 to 350 calls per week ranging from medical emergencies to fire responses, but over the last two weeks they've set a new record.
"Two weeks ago, the Yuma Fire Department ran about 420 calls. Almost a hundred call increase, setting a record for us that the new record for the highest amount of calls we ever ran in a week. And then, the following week we broke that record hitting 441 calls," Padilla shared.
YFD says they set a goal to get to every emergency in seven minutes or less, but with the increase in calls crews are having to adjust the way they respond to emergencies.
"As we see an increase in call volume we see that units are having to either divert their 911 calls or have to break up, instead of having and engine and an ambulance both responding, sometimes we get an engine to respond initially, and then, the wait for an ambulance to clear from a different call," Padilla added.
To see that speed in action, I rode along with YFD as they responded to an emergency. In a matter of minutes, we arrived on scene and they immediately jumped into action.
YFD firefighter Ryan Akset says time management is critical in times like these: "Time management is really everything from time of dispatch to time being on scene the amount of time we spend on scene and it really depends on the call."
Which is why they spend their time training to prepare for situations like these.
"We do a lot of training on that for when the time arises and works seamlessly, and nobody is caught up in the moment. Everyone can work flawlessly together," Akset expressed.
Akset says he doesn't expect to see this influx drop anytime soon with the amount of growth the city of Yuma is seeing.
