Fire district evaluates performance

Medical calls continue to make up the vast majority of incidents requiring a response from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District.

The District recently completed an evaluation of 2017 emergency response data. The District audits emergency response performance to determine if organizational response goals are being met.

In 2017, District personnel responded to 1,182 emergency calls for assistance. The vast majority of the requests for assistance were for a medical emergency (69 percent). Only three percent of the emergency calls received were for a fire. The remaining emergency calls were for other types of incidents including false alarms, public service requests and other types of incidents.

When it rains, it pours. It is common for multiple 911 calls to be received in a short period of time. Sometimes 911 calls are received while personnel are still working at another emergency incident. When these calls occur, they are identified as a "back-to-back" call. The District responded to 279 back-to-back calls in 2017.

In 2017 District personnel treated 61 "walk-in" patients at the Elm Street fire station. The fire district encourages people who are experiencing a severe medical emergency such as chest pain or difficulty breathing to call 911 instead of driving to the fire station.

The audit finds that 911 calls occur more frequently during daylight hours and on or near weekends. 2017 data shows that more 911 calls are received on Friday and Sunday and over half of all 911 calls occur between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6bp.m.

Fire District goals for responses within the city of Sisters are to have the first arriving emergency vehicle on the scene within six minutes of being dispatched 80 percent of the time. Actual performance was: Interior fire response 10 percent compliance (total of five incidents), wildland fire response 100 percent compliance (three incidents), and emergency medical response 91 percent compliance.

Fire District goals for responses to emergencies in rural areas (outside the city of Sisters but within eight miles of the Elm Street fire station) are to have the first arriving emergency vehicle on the scene within 12 minutes of being dispatched 80 percent of the time. Actual performance was: Interior fire response 80 percent compliance (five incidents), wildland fire response 60 percent compliance (five incidents), and emergency medical response 80 percent compliance.

District officials note that rural and remote wildland fires can be difficult to locate due to the incidents being reported without an actual address for units to respond to. This can result in longer response times.

Fire District goals for responses to emergencies in remote areas of the fire district (more than eight miles from the Elm Street fire station) are to have the first arriving emergency vehicle on the scene within 30 minutes of being dispatched 80 percent of the time. Actual performance was: Interior fire response (no fires in this zone), wildland fire response 100 percent compliance (one incident), and emergency medical response 81 percent compliance.

The District met or exceeded performance objectives in eight out of nine categories.

For more information contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District at 541-549-0771.