July 21, 2002

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Shreveport Fire Ranks 72^nd Nationally in 2001 Incident Response Survey

According to the June issue of Firehouse Magazine, the Shreveport Fire Department’s 31,780 incident responses last year ranks them 72^nd nationally, placing just behind Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York . . .

and ahead of such notable cities as Anaheim, California, Montgomery, Alabama, Arlington, Texas, and Salt Lake City, Utah. In the state, Shreveport ranks only behind New Orleans in run volume. The crescent city came in 53^rd with 47,742 incidents. Baton Rouge was number 100 with just under 21,000 responses.

Last year the Shreveport Fire Department was ranked 75^th in the same survey. The Department has experiences a 27 percent increase in total incident response volume over the last five years. Most of that increase is attributed to emergency medical calls, accounting for more than 70 percent of the Department’s total calls last year. Other than medical and fire calls, the Department also rolls when called for a variety of emergencies and non emergencies, including hazardous material, aircraft rescue, explosive or bomb removal, ring or jewlery removal, water rescue, assist police, assist invalid, and yes, they still make the occasional animal rescue. False alarm calls for the Department were 1,094 in 2001.

The run survey, sponsored by Firehouse Magazine is a comprehensive, national survey of key fire department statistics. The Top 150 is based on total calls which signifies which of the nation’s fire departments are the most active and productive. ###