By Joanie Baker
The Messenger-Inquirer
OWENSBORO, Ky. — An audit of the Owensboro Fire Department revealed that while the number of area fires has steadily increased over the years, the organization has had “outstanding” response and turnout times.
On Monday, consultants with the Emergency Services Consulting Inc. presented the results of their in-depth study to members of the department’s administrative staff along with City Manager Bill Parrish, Police Chief Glenn Skeens and Operations Manager Tony Cecil.
In addition to evaluating the response capabilities and potential risks, part of the analysis involved a critique of the department’s operating structure.
The audit recommends adding six firefighters and an inspector to the department — but the city’s plan for restructure suggests eliminating at least two positions in addition to reorganizing the ranking system. Parrish said the audit had not been presented for consideration when the proposed structure was drafted.
Phil Kouwe, senior vice president of the consulting group, said the department is seeing an increase in fires over the years — from 291 in 2003 to 484 in 2006.
“This bucks the system nationwide, where fire incidents have stabilized,” he said.
Kouwe said this may indicate a need for additional community education and increased emphasis on prevention and building inspections. The audit recommends the department have an additional building inspector.
The consultant said the national ideal response time for firefighters to arrive on scene is about five minutes. Owensboro is averaging a 5-minute, 49-second response time during 90 percent of its calls.
“This is outstanding for the departments we study,” Kouwe said, stressing that the five-minute goal is ideal but often unattainable.
Fire Chief Ronnie Heep said the audit only proves that the department is responding “very well” to the community’s needs.
He said the department will continue to look into ways to decrease response and turnout times, which are still below average.
“The assessment went better than even I anticipated,” he said. "...I think the fire department is exemplary in our performance, and I think it was echoed in the audit.”
After the presentation of the audit, Parrish said it “sounds like we’re in great shape.”
But the city manager said the department may have to find a way to accommodate the recommended changes without adding personnel.
“We owe it to the taxpayer to ask if we can keep the same number of people on the trucks with efficiency that will not force us to add six to seven people,” he said.
Kouwe said the department staffing is where it needs to be — the audit shows the comparison of paid firefighters per 1,000 population to mirror the regional median and International City County Management Association averages.
“The department as a whole is not benchmarked as overstaffed or understaffed,” he said.
Parrish said the city must force some cuts or reorganization in an effort to thwart the rising costs of health care and retirement.
While the city has suggested eliminating two positions from the fire department, Parrish said none of the plans are “set in stone” and wants the departments to bring him alternatives.
On Monday, he said the audit results will be taken into consideration.
“This is the general direction where we may be going in,” he said of the proposal. “This does not mean there are not opportunities for change.”