By Mark Wallace
One of the classic questions—or line of questioning—elected officials pursue with their chief is, “How does our department compare to our neighboring departments?” Ostensibly, this line of questioning is the result of the officials’ desire to, at least, be as “good” as neighboring cities. Many elected officials don’t want to pay the price of being better than “The Joneses,” but they also want to make sure their fire departments don’t fall too far behind the others.
When planning, especially when planning to present new programs or improved level of services, it’s important for a chief to compare a range of statistical measurements with neighboring departments. If you are part of a metropolitan area that has a number of adjacent jurisdictions, selecting those that compare with your city is a good way to set some benchmarks.
Your human resources department likely uses a specific set of neighboring jurisdictions with which to compare salaries and benefits. In those cases, the benchmark departments should use the same examples if their comparative data is within a reasonable range; slightly less to slightly more. Often, these include those departments with which your department “competes” for recruiting and hiring new personnel.
The specific statistics on which your department should focus will depend on your specific situation. You must pick the critical comparisons for your jurisdiction. The best comparisons are those that are most important to the citizens you serve. Often, questions on how your department compares with your neighbors postincident becomes a focus after a statistic is highlighted by someone in the local media.
It’s not if but when it will happen. Having an ongoing comparative analysis program in advance of such questions allows you to respond effectively in a day or two because you have a 10-year history of comparative statistics in your research files. A few common comparative statistics include the following:
- The population protected.
- Area (square miles protected).
- Assessed valuation.
- Property tax rate.
- Annual fire department budget.
- Annual jurisdictional budget (general fund as well as capital fund).
- Number of fire stations (area covered per fire station in square miles).
- Number of fire department personnel (sworn and civilian).
- Number of engine, trucks, ambulance, and so on, companies.
- Emergency medical services (basic and advanced life support, medical intensive care unit, transport, and so on).
- Total number of emergency calls.
- Total number of fires (structure fires, commercial fires, vehicle, and so on).
- Number of fires where hydrant lines were laid and flowed (i.e., working fires).
- Minimum staffing on engine companies.
- Minimum staffing on truck (ladder) companies.
- Number of civilian and firefighter casualties/fatalities.
- Insurance Services Office Property Protection Classification (1–10).
- Commission on Fire Accreditation International accreditation (yes or no).
There are a variety of other possible comparable data points, but each department should collect information according to any specific needs or other information specific to their department.
Benchmarking Fire Department Historical Data
In most cases, a department in your area will be known for certain things, i.e., their distinctive competencies. Deciding how your department wants to compare to these departments helps your department establish statistical benchmarks or performance targets. In some cases, your department may be the benchmark, and you want to make sure that you maintain that position among your peers. Such comparisons are best when there are eight to 15 other departments in the area that have approximately the same comparative data. These departments should be considered your equal, while some may be the benchmark for your community.
Statewide Historical Data
Statewide comparative data is often more difficult to obtain in a timely manner. Many times, the data from the state fire marshal’s office is published and reported six to 12 months past the end of the last reporting year. Often, the reported datasets are vastly more limited than the data sets collected and maintained by the individual departments.
National Historical Data
Nationwide comparable data is even more limited than statewide data. The United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association put out data. Use caution with aggregated national statistics that are extrapolated out to cover the “estimated” total nationwide. Statistically, the data collected, analyzed, and distributed is as accurate as possible. However, it is a good idea for the chief to understand which data is an actual count and which is “statistically correct.”
Trend Analysis
The benefit of undergoing comparative studies when preparing for major planning efforts is greatest when several years’ worth of data is analyzed. Having 10 years of identical data points, for example, allows the chief to show significant trends over time. When preparing a plan for a new program or project, it’s important to justify the need. Trend analysis and comparative studies gives the chief a head start in gaining approval for the new project or program.
This article is just a small sample of information that every chief or aspiring chief must know. For more details, watch for the release of the 7th edition of the Fire Chiefs Handbook and be among the first to order your personal copy.
Mark Wallace (MPA, EFO, CFO, FIFireE) is the author of Fire Department Strategic Planning: Creating Future Excellence. He is the former State Fire Marshal of Oregon and a former chief in Colorado and Texas. He currently operates Fireeagle Consulting (www.fireeagleconsulting.com). He wrote the planning chapter in the 7th edition Fire Chief’s Handbook, which was released in fall 2014.
