21st Century Fire and Emergency Services

As the role of the federal government shifts away from responding to everyday needs, local governments have also begun addressing such issues as climate change, affordable housing, homelessness, immigration, the opioid epidemic, and behavioral health. This reality has led local fire and emergency services to become the health and safety net for communities. The DNA of fire departments is to respond to EVERYTHING and help EVERYTIME.

While fires may be diminishing due to better engineering, codes, and enforcement along with an increased focus on community risk reduction activities, calls for service are up for every department. These calls are for help, and the calls received today are much broader in scope. The services required often fall outside the traditional scope of fire and emergency services. Yet these departments are uniquely positioned to respond to such calls. This paper outlines several critical issues that are impacting local governments today and others that will have an effect over the course of the next three decades.

 

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