Decatur Fire Department needs fire investigators and inspectors urgently

Since May 2020, the Decatur Fire Department has been without fire investigators or inspectors.  These individuals are responsible for promoting fire prevention and safety, investigating the cause of fires, and ensuring buildings meet fire safety standards.  Prior to May, there were three full-time firefighters in this Division.  Currently, there are none.  

NOT HAVING FIRE INVESTIGATORS AND INSPECTORS CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY

Fire prevention programs provide fire safety education for children and parents to keep families safe from fire.  Fire inspectors inspect buildings to make sure they are safe for citizens to use as they are intended and perform fire code enforcement.  Fire investigators determine the cause of fires including arson.  Just as a police department needs detectives, a school system needs teaching assistants, and a hospital needs nurses, a fire department needs fire investigators and inspectors. 

Typically, the Decatur Fire Department conducts approximately 125 fire investigations each year, inspects over 250 schools and businesses, installs over 150 smoke detectors including for families with limited income, and provides dozens of educational programs for children including Fire Prevention Month in October.  These tasks protect the public and were performed by fire investigators and inspectors. 

Decatur has a larger number of structural fires than other municipalities and thus, has a greater need for fire investigators.  Without fire investigators, firefighters must remain at the site of the suspicious fires until the State Fire Marshal investigator arrives, potentially limiting the capabilities of the fire department for long periods of time. 

CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE COMPARABLE TO LAST YEAR WHILE THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS HAS DECREASED

Year-to-date through April, the Decatur Fire Department has responded to 3,423 alarms compared to 3,481 in 2019 (2% fewer).  However, while the number of calls is similar, the number of firefighters is currently 100 compared to 108 budgeted (7% fewer).  Thus, not only does the city lack important capabilities in fire inspection and investigation, but the overall number of firefighters is less while the needs remain equivalent. 

THIS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED PROMPTLY

Public safety is the top priority of city government and currently the city is lacking significant capabilities in a critical area of its fire department.  The city needs to promptly address and resolve this public safety issue.