Fire chief seeks hires for academy, single‑role behavioral medics and AV upgrades at training center

Spokane Fire Chief Williams and Battalion Chief Mike Forbes updated the committee on staffing, overtime and service data and requested several items to maintain and improve operations.

Williams said conditional offers are out for a March 16 academy and noted the academy dropout/attrition dynamics (roughly 20–25% attrition during training). Fire leadership proposed a 20‑person academy to keep station staffing levels steady and described a plan to replace single‑role medics currently fulfilled by firefighter‑paramedics.

On behavioral‑health staffing, Williams asked to create four single‑role medics to staff behavioral response units; the chief clarified those positions would be funded by the mental‑health tax and would not carry fire‑protection duties. He said if the May funding allocation does not materialize, the hires would not proceed.

SFD also requested $150,000 in PEG funds to replace a nonfunctional control system and aging audio equipment at the fire training center; staff said the facility is used for broadcast recordings, trainings and as an emergency‑operations backup studio.

Council members asked about overtime drivers, previous dropout numbers (the most recent class lost four recruits), and cost tradeoffs for different academy sizes. No appropriation vote occurred; the items were presented for committee consideration and follow‑up.