Fire and police chiefs report improvements in training, staffing and response times

Parowan — At the April 16 council meeting Parowan’s fire and police chiefs presented annual updates showing progress on staffing, training and equipment readiness.

Fire Chief Allan Cavalier said the department is "improving" operational readiness: the department maintains two structural engines, a 50‑ft ladder truck, and multiple brush trucks, and has 26 firefighters on the roster with 15 having turnouts that meet the recommended replacement standard (10 years or newer). He credited partnerships for training access, highlighted six new recruits completing Firefighter I training, and said the department is working toward improved ISO insurance ratings through training, certifications and equipment testing.

Police Chief Addison Adams reviewed 2025 activity statistics: about 316 property‑crime reports, 178 crimes against persons, 33 drug/alcohol incidents, 477 medical/emergency responses and 2,741 total calls to service handled by a force of six officers (including a school resource officer). Adams said per‑officer report counts improved year‑over‑year and that training hours for the department exceed state minimums (311 training hours reported year‑to‑date vs. a 240‑hour benchmark).

Council members thanked both chiefs for their leadership and noted continued needs, including apparatus maintenance and recruiting lifeguards and other seasonal staff for summer operations.