Fire chief outlines staffing, training and technology needs as call volumes rise

Fire Chief Irwin presented the Sedalia Fire Department’s strategic needs and budget priorities for 2026, saying the department saw approximately 3,100 calls for service this year — about a 10% increase from the prior year — and currently operates with a minimum staffing level of 12 across five apparatus. The chief stressed that rising call volume, aging apparatus and training demands create staffing and equipment shortfalls.

Irwin described three staffing and program priorities for 2026: an assistant chief of training to manage recertification and live‑fire training; an assistant chief of emergency preparedness to serve as the citywide liaison with EMA on disaster planning; and a station‑alerting upgrade (Phoenix G2) to reduce dispatch delays and provide redundancy when radio or repeater systems fail. Irwin said the proposed alerting system can reduce turnout time significantly by automating station notifications and providing IP‑based alerts that also fallback to radio dispatch if needed.

On apparatus, Irwin said frontline replacement schedules will bring most apparatus into NFPA‑compliant reserve/frontline status after an engine delivery next year but the department still faces a 23‑year‑old brush truck that needs either replacement or an extensive rehab. He also requested a second set of heavy extrication tools to remove a single‑point‑of‑failure risk.

Irwin provided cost context: he said the ladder truck recently procured cost about $1.68 million and an engine approaching delivery was about $997,000. He acknowledged fiscal constraints and described potential budget tradeoffs and cost‑saving options for the new station under construction, including removing a patio roof or fencing to allocate funds toward the alerting system.

Council members asked for inspection‑follow‑up numbers and for clarification about staff living quarters versus operational needs; Irwin said upgrades to upstairs staff apartments would help attract and retain live‑in personnel. He also confirmed that some training‑position requests were unfunded in prior cycles and that the department seeks phased additions consistent with recruitment and budget realities.

What’s next: The department’s requests were presented for council consideration during budget planning; staff will return with cost estimates and options for inclusion in the next fiscal‑year budget.