FFD Projected Staffing Estimated Costs (PDF Flyer) Please note the data provided herein was prepared for internal budgeting purposes to assure City administration is prepared for all contingencies. The information was later provided in response to a Texas Public Information Act request.
The City of Frisco provides the following FAQs regarding Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 3732).
Do firefighters have a seat at the table to ensure that policy makers and city leaders invest in and prioritize public safety?
'Seat at the table'
Frisco firefighters play an integral role in a variety of committees and focus groups that directly impact our department's decisions and policies. This participation reflects the City of Frisco's commitment to involving those on the front lines in shaping the work they do. At the Fire Department level, there are more than 200 seats filled by Fire Department employees on 16 different committees/groups. Examples of these committees/groups are:
Engine / Truck / Rescue Focus Groups - provides insight, influence on vehicle, apparatus functionality.
Promotional Process Review Group - reviews promotional processes to be fair, transparent.
Peer Support Group - provides emotional, mental health support, commitment to firefighter well-being.
Peer Fitness Trainers Group - provides resources to maintain physical health, readiness.
Health & Safety Focus Group - maintains safety standards and health protocols.
Driver / Operator Focus Group - provides insights, recommendations on vehicular operations.
EMS Quality Assurance Committee - ensures standards for EMS based on real world experiences.
Awards / Ceremonies Focus Groups - organizes celebrations of team achievements.
Moreover, firefighters, individually and collectively, have a standing invitation to meet with the Fire Chief and City Manager on any issues of concern.
Investment
Since 2004, the City of Frisco has had Public Health and Safety listed as a Strategic Focus Area.
Fifty percent (50%) of the city's General Fund (property tax supported) departmental budget is dedicated to public safety in FY24 including personnel and equipment for both the police and fire departments.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 the General Fund operating expenditures are budgeted at $229.5 million. Police Department expenditures total $56.3 million. Fire Department expenditures total $52.4 million. In FY2023, the City committed a total of $108.7 million for public safety for personnel and equipment.
The City spends more annually on Fire and EMS Operations than Parks & Recreation, Public Works, and the Frisco Public Library combined.
See chart below for break out of General Fund expenditures by department as presented on page 27 of the FY24 Citizen Budget in Brief (PDF).
Currently, the Frisco Fire Department operates nine fire stations. The City of Frisco anticipates 14 stations at build out.
As part of the last two bond programs, Frisco voters approved bonds for several public safety facilities and new equipment. Examples include approximately $38.5 million for a Public Safety Training Center and approximately $36 million for two new fire stations.
Phase I of the two-story Public Safety Training Center opened in 2019, adjacent to Frisco Fire Station 9. Features include:
a four-story, live-fire training structure;
confined space/trench rescue props;
a 300 ft. by 600 ft. driving pad;
an indoor and outdoor classroom, and;
a vehicle extrication pad.
Fire Station 10 is under construction. Fire Station 11, as well as the remodel of existing fire stations, was approved by Frisco voters as part of recent bond elections.
Does the Fire Department have appropriate policies, meet safety standards and have enough firefighters on duty to save lives and protect property?
Safety Standards and Service Delivery
Out of more than 27,000 fire departments in the United States, the Frisco Fire Department is one of only 116 to have international accreditation and receive a Class 1 Public Protection Classification (ISO 1). This puts the Frisco Fire Department in the top 0.4% of fire departments in the nation for delivering excellent fire and emergency services. In Texas, out of more than 1,500 fire departments, the Frisco Fire Department is one of only 8 to have international accreditation and receive a Class 1 Public Protection Classification (ISO 1). This places the Frisco Fire Department in the top 0.6% of fire departments in Texas.
The following information explains how international accreditation and the ISO 1 rating evaluate the Frisco Fire Department’s ability to deliver fire and emergency services to the Frisco community. The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and ISO each sets its own standards in its evaluation process.
The CFAI establishes and maintains a voluntary accreditation program that evaluates fire departments' and agencies' standards of professional performance. The accreditation process involves a comprehensive evaluation of an agency's policies, procedures, and performance to ensure they adhere to industry best practices and are capable of providing effective emergency services to their communities. By pursuing accreditation, fire departments address their capabilities, management practices, and protection and services to the public they serve.
The Frisco Fire Department first achieved accreditation in 2018, which is valid for five years. The department has recently completed the reaccreditation process and will be officially awarded reaccreditation by the CFAI in August of this year. The CFAI process involves an independent review of the department's operations, procedures, and policies.
ISO #1 Rating:
An ISO rating is an objective measure of a fire department’s ability to serve its community. ISO (Insurance Services Office) creates ratings for fire departments and their surrounding communities, which calculate how well-equipped fire departments are to put out fires in our community. The score looks at areas such as emergency communications, water supply and pressure, firefighter training, and much more. A fire department is given a score between 1 and 10, with lower numbers indicating a better score.
Since 2000, the Frisco Fire Department has maintained a Class 1 Public Protection Classification (PPC) Rating score awarded by the ISO.
Staffing:
Frisco’s daily minimum staffing level is 62. This is the number of firefighters required to staff all our apparatus and deliver fire protection and EMS services to the residents, businesses, and visitors of Frisco.
There are currently 233 career firefighters assigned to fire operations on three rotating 24-hours shifts. Two shifts have 78 firefighters, one shift has 77 firefighters.
By design, the 15 to 16-person difference in personnel above the minimum staffing level allows for members of each shift to participate in training, take various forms of leave (i.e., vacation, sick time, worker’s compensation) and employment vacancies.
Any day we have at least 62 firefighters on a shift, the additional personnel are placed on engines or trucks, providing additional staffing on each fire apparatus.
Policies and Procedures:
The Frisco Fire Department is committed to maintaining and improving operational standards. To achieve this, five years ago the department adopted Lexipol, a trusted third-party system. To date, the Frisco Fire Department has transitioned approximately 90% of existing policies into Lexipol. This ensures that department policies are aligned with the latest practices, regulations, and legal standards. Lexipol helps the Frisco Fire Department improve operational efficiency, reduce liability risks, and enhance the overall safety and effectiveness of our personnel.
Fire Safety Statistics:
In 2022, there were 87 structure fires in Frisco. This equates to 0.39 structure fires per 1,000 people, which is almost four times lower than the national rate of 1.46 structure fires per 1,000 people.
The fire fatality rate in Frisco is effectively 0% with only one fire fatality in recent years, which was not related to a fire.
There have been no line-of-duty member fatalities, and member injuries remain relatively low.
The Frisco Fire Department was recognized by the Texas Sprinkler Coalition for the most fire sprinkler saves in buildings during 2022.
High-quality Equipment and Rapid Response Times:
The Frisco Fire Department operates a broad range of state-of-the-art apparatus, including nine fire engine/quints, seven ambulances, three ladder trucks, one heavy rescue, one Haz-Mat vehicle, and one special operations truck.
The City of Frisco invests in Pierce fire apparatus and Braun ambulances.
The average age of front-line fire suppression apparatus is 3.5 years.
A replacement fleet of seven front-line ambulances is currently in production and are expected to be in service by the end of 2024. The Fire Department proactively replaces its fire apparatus through its fleet replacement program and the department's in-house fleet maintenance center ensures all equipment is returned to service as quickly as possible.
The department has also seen a rapid rise in call volume as the city continues to grow. The City Council has supported, and voters approved two additional fire stations that are currently in development to manage this increase and maintain response times.
Workforce and Retention:
The City of Frisco offers competitive pay and benefits to public safety personnel with the average gross income for the following fire positions in calendar year 2022.
Fire Lieutenant
$120,177.13
Driver/Operator
$113,395.15
Firefighter
$105,149.54
The table above only includes employees with full service in 2022; benefits not included.
Our team is staffed with 233 career firefighters, of whom 206 are paramedics. The department addresses the health and safety of its personnel with entry-level physicals, annual medical exams, and immunizations.
As of July 2023, the average tenure of a Frisco firefighter is 11 years and 7 months.
As of July 2023, the department has issued conditional offers to seven firefighter applicants, which will subsequently fill all current firefighter vacancies.
Building Code Standards and Fire Prevention Measures:
The rapid development in Frisco is controlled by national fire and building code standards, including requirements for sprinklers and fire alarms in large residential and commercial structures' low fire rate.
The Frisco Fire Department is the only agency of its size in Texas that employs two full-time Fire Protection Engineers to ensure strict compliance with fire codes throughout the development of all commercial buildings.
Community Development and Growth:
Frisco is one of the fastest-growing large cities in America. Throughout our growth, the Frisco Fire Department addresses this growth and maintains the capacity to provide services to our community and in assistance to multiple neighboring jurisdictions in the Dallas/Fort Worth region, when requested.
Local Government Code 174: Provisions Regarding Collective Bargaining