WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Fire Department has implemented a new method that will allow for quicker emergency response. By shifting around its apparatus inventory and increasing staffing per shift, WFD has created a more efficient model of deployment, according to a press release.
The department added three quick response vehicles, or squads, and moved two front-line trucks to reserve. Adding the support utility vehicles increases the daily minimum staffing on three of WFD’s firefighting units, in turn sending additional firefighters to emergency situations.
Fire Chief Steve Mason said in a press release, WFD has been working on implementing a new deployment model since 2017. The majority of calls don’t require use of the large fire trucks, which can be replaced with the quick response vehicles. This reduces wear and tear on the more expensive vehicles, extending their service life.
“In addition, we’ve been able to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in our fleet replacement fund, providing funding to replace a 25-year-old air/light unit, significantly reduce the average age of our front line and reserve apparatus and provide four-person staffing to three units,” he said.
Each of the new squads is staffed with two firefighters, an officer and a master firefighter. The team will respond to similar calls as the fire engine team, such as emergency medical calls, structure fires and rescues but will also go to non-emergency calls including life assists and home-safety visits.
Eventually the units will be used in WFD’s drone response program to assist with search-and-rescue missions, as well.
The vehicles will be outfitted with hand tools — including for forcible entry — battery-operated saws, emergency medical equipment, fire extinguishers, thermal imaging camera, portable power generator and water rescue equipment. They will also be set up to assist with trailer and boat operations and heavy-duty winches for quickly clearing storm debris from roadways and allowing emergency vehicle access.
The quick response vehicles will deploy from WFD headquarters on Market Street, Station 3 on Cinema Drive and Station 8 off Eastwood Road.
“Our goal is to help foster a safer Wilmington, and we believe adding these units will help us achieve that,” Operations Chief Derek Mickler said in the release.
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