New fire master plan recommends 4 new stations, relocations and staffing increases to meet Raleigh’s growth

Raleigh’s fire department received a data‑driven master plan recommending a phased program of station relocations, additional apparatus and higher daily staffing to maintain service as the city grows.

Key findings
- Current performance: consultants reported Raleigh’s first‑unit arrival standard is met about 54% of the time; the effective response force (ERF) — the assembled team size needed for many fire incidents — is reached about 48% of the time. Performance varies across the city (Station 1 area performed better; outlying stations showed larger gaps).
- Growth impact: projected population and call‑volume growth over the next 25 years means demand for fire/EMS services will continue to rise and exacerbate reliability gaps unless resources grow with demand.

Major recommendations
- Stations: recommended relocations of Station 23, Station 9 and Station 8 to improve coverage; rebuilds at Stations 10 and 17 on or near existing sites; and four new stations to address gaps emerging as annexations and development expand the service area. Staff recommended a phased timeline across roughly 25 years with priority work in the first decade.
- Apparatus and staffing: add four frontline units over time (including ladder companies), consider quick‑response vehicles for EMS demand peaks, and push toward four firefighters on each engine. Consultants recommended an immediate increase of six firefighters per shift (three shifts = total 18 additional firefighters) as a near‑term adjustment to improve reliability.
- Operations: set a target to reduce call‑processing time (dispatch and call handling) by 30 seconds, expand traffic signal preemption, complete a critical‑task analysis for crews, expand automatic aid agreements and pursue a standards‑based “standard of cover” and accreditation process.

Why it matters
The plan is intended to create a financially paced, risk‑informed roadmap for allocating capital and staffing to sustain service levels as Raleigh grows rapidly. Consultants emphasized continuous monitoring: the city received an analytical toolkit that staff can use to track performance and update plans on an ongoing basis.

Council reaction and next steps
Councilors asked about station siting, the potential for adding second engines at some locations and timetables for re‑evaluating the plan. Staff said recommended work would be phased and that the city should secure potential parcels for future stations as opportunities arise. Consultants suggested a formal reassessment at least every five years, with ongoing monitoring after major milestones (new station openings, annexations, program changes).

Speakers
- Chief Herbert Griffin, Raleigh Fire Department (presenter)
- Greg Grayson, NC Fire Chiefs Consulting (consultant)
- Representatives from Dark Horse Emergency and NC Fire Chiefs Consulting (presenters)

Authorities cited
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 — industry standard cited for four‑person engine staffing and response metrics

Actions and decisions
- Discussion only at the council meeting; staff and consultants presented the final plan and will return with funding and implementation options for council consideration.

Clarifying details
- Current first‑unit arrival target attainment: ~54% citywide (staff/consultant figure).
- ERF attainment: ~48% citywide.
- Short‑term staffing recommendation: add 6 firefighters per shift (total 18) to improve reliability; medium‑term recommendation to pursue four‑person apparatus staffing over six years.
- Estimated station/phasing horizon: 25‑year program with initial phase concentrated in next 10 years.

Searchable tags: Fire master plan, NFPA 1710, station siting, staffing

Ending
Council asked staff to provide financial scenarios and an implementation timeline so that the recommendations can be phased into future budgets and capital planning cycles. Consultants left the city with analytical tools for ongoing performance monitoring.