Why did the department change their career fire fighters schedule?
The fire department switched to a 24 hour coverage on July 8th, 2002, with a minimum staff of career fire fighters. Previously, career fire fighters only staffed the stations Monday through Saturday, 06:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Paid-On-Call (Volunteers) responded during the other hours from home. 1.1999, the Tri-Data Corporation evaluated the fire department and recommended a number of organizational structures be altered to better utilize a combination of career and paid-on-call fire fighters. 2. In 2000 & 2001, a Process Action Team, comprised of paid-on-call and career fire fighters researched methods to provide a more consistent response to the citizens of West Des Moines. Their opportunities for improvement included a restructuring that allows for 2 fire trucks to be staffed around the clock with career fire fighters as the minimum standard of preparedness. 3. By having career personnel and paid-on-call fire fighters work together 24 hrs./day and 365 days a year, a closer team setting wa