It is the consensus of this Imagine.Akron:2025
workgroup that the Akron Fire/EMS departments are by far one of the most efficiently run
city services in Akron.
With the highest regard and respect for this department, we here by
make the following recommendations to assure its continued excellence into the year 2025:
Fire & Safety Education
To help prevent fire and to promote public safety an expanded public
safety education program is needed. A program that would provide useful information to
citizens on an on-going bases covering fire safety, EMS, police services, use of 9-1-1,
etc.
The media, such as television, radio and the Internet would play a
major role in delivering this educational campaign to the citizens of Akron.
Some workgroup members also feel that a safety inspection program is
needed to make homeowners and other residents aware of potential fire and other safety
hazards that might exist in their homes. This program could be implemented by the fire
department or could be done by those hired by the city or ever perhaps by community
volunteers.
Countywide Fire/EMS Department
As Akron is planning to build a new state-of-the-art training facility;
a countywide department will assure that all firefighters in the region will have the
highest level training available. This countywide fire and EMS would also guarantee all of
the people in Summit County a more sophisticated and better-equipped department.
We strongly recommend that Akron’s Fire/EMS services become a
countywide service. Steps should be taken to explore its feasibility. It will minimize
costs and will provide uniform service throughout the county. Technology will be shared
within the system; communications and training are most important.
The cost for this countywide system would be shared proportionately
with those communities who participate.
Ideally, we hope to move to a countywide fire department by the year
2025.
Fire Equipment, Med Units and Physical Plants
From discussions about equipment and physical plants, we understand
that equipment will be heavily impacted by technology in the next 25 years. Therefore, we
feel that there is a need for a minimum of a "ten year capital plan" and that a
full assessment be made within the next five years of all stations and major equipment to
assure that both are able to adequately serve Akron’s neighborhoods through the year
2025. This would be in anticipation of Firehouses #2 and #12 being replaced and the
upgrading of Firehouse # 3. To better serve the city, 2 to 4 stations will need to either
be replaced or have major renovations.
Fortunately, due to the projection that Akron will remain relatively
the same population-wise and geographically, we will not have a need to build additional
stations in the next 25 years.
Fire/EMS Staffing
With the marked increase in EMS calls and the likelihood that this
trend will continue, given the aging population, what will be the most effective and
efficient means to maintain highest quality of EMS services?
Also with the history of medical payments to private ambulance services
and their inability to make a profit, will these companies exist in the year 2025? If they
do not, the reliance on Akron’s EMS department will demand a more reasonable staffing
pattern.
Given the department’s traditional staffing pattern of 24 hours on
and 48 hours off we suggest that the department review future needs.
