Playing with Fire: What a Report Reveals about Memphis Fire Personnel

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - To ease budget problems, the city said it's looking at possibly slashing 2,100 jobs. City officials say Memphis fire and police jobs will not be cut, even though a recent study shows there's an "abundance of fire and EMS personnel". Fox 13's Jill Monier spoke with the fire director Monday about the study.

 A study by a group, put together by the mayor, found Memphis has twice as many battalions as six other cities it was compared to but the Memphis fire chief said that's not comparing apples with apples.

In 2009 the Memphis Fire Department responded to more than 122,000 calls. Fire director, Alvin Benson said 75 percent of those were calls for medical help and not fire calls.

“I'm convinced we may need more than 33 ambulances on the street, as EMS call volume increases, transport increases,” said MFD Director Alvin Benson.

But a study by the Strategic Business Model Assessment Committee, developed by the mayor to look at city efficiency, shows the Memphis Fire Department seems to have an "abundance of fire and EMS resources and personnel" already.

The study compares the Memphis Fire Department to six other cities with similar demographics.

They found, in Nashville, firefighters respond to 10% more calls across an area almost twice as big as Memphis but they have 18 fewer fire stations and 700 fewer personnel.

For example Indianapolis has 130,000 more people, they respond to 10,000 more incidents but they have 15 fewer stations and 700 fewer employees, how do you justify the Memphis Fire Department having as much personnel as they have?

“That's a fair question. I have a team working on that as we speak- not only looking at their cities compared with the study but going beyond that, all major cities in America how do we stack up to other cities?” said Director Benson.

Director Benson said he takes the study seriously.

“If we determine there's opportunity to do things in a different way, obviously we're going to do those things.”

But he points out; the comparisons aren't exactly the same.

“I know a city or two on that list doesn't have the same type of insurance rating city of Memphis does, I know a city on that list, currently seeking additional resources for that community.”

The Memphis Fire Department has 1,874 employees. They make up roughly 22% of the city's budget.

According to the 2010 budget, the firefighting command staff alone cost more than $71 million. Then add firefighter training, special ops, communications, fire prevention and firefighting at the airport. The total cost is more than $80 million.

But the city officials say, while they may be looking to cut 2,100 jobs to fill a budget gap, they're not looking to cut public safety positions.

“In the areas of civilian staff, whether its police or fire side, we may take a hard look at those positions but not the police men and women and fire men and women on the ground we won't be looking at those areas,” said CAO George Little.

So if the mayor said you're safe what's the motivation to change anything?

“I think its right, we work for the taxpayers, I feel we have to make the best use of taxpayers money,” said Benson.

Director Benson does agree with the study, in that they should get alternate response vehicles instead of using fire trucks to respond to EMS-medical calls which is something they brought up to the city council before.

Mayor Wharton was not available for comment on the issue but his office did release this statement from him, regarding the results of the study:

"These recommendations are of course not meant to solve all of our problems. They will, however, serve as a blueprint for the difficult work that lies ahead."

Below is the final report from the Strategic Business Model Assessment Committee.
 

Strategic Business Model Assessment Committee Final Report