Attachment A - PSJ Fire Department Hiring-Staffing Report Dec 2023.pdf

Note: Report Data Through October 31. 
 
Page 1 of 6 
 
 
 
Firefighter Applicants  
With all public and private sectors, workforce challenges to attract and retain quality candidates 
are more important than at any other time. This new reality is consistent across the Fire Service. 
Firefighter recruitment requires proactive efforts to ensure that a highly trained, dedicated, and 
committed workforce exists to meet the growing needs of our community. (Testing frequency 
is based on the number of applicants and the number of full-time positions being recruited to 
ensure a robust candidate pool is available). 
 
 
 
 
2,477 
2,058 
1,880 
2,090 
1,348 
1,445 
1,271 
1,621 
1,379 
1,190 
1,319 
896 
921 
730 
2015
2016
2017
2019
2021
2022
2023
Applicants
Tested
Phoenix Fire Department 
Staffing, Hiring and 
Activity Report 
 
December 2023  
Attachment A

Note: Report Data Through October 31. 
 
Page 2 of 6 
 
Firefighter Recruit Training 
The Fire Department’s Training Section is considered one of the best programs for its 
commitment to ensuring that every Firefighter who graduates the Fire Academy is well-trained 
and prepared. 
 
Sworn Staffing Level 
The Fire Department works throughout the year to hire and train new firefighter recruits. We 
aim to ensure that all vacant sworn positions are filled quickly. With the fire academy lasting 14-
weeks, we must plan for attrition and coordinate recruitment, hiring, and training to minimize 
vacancies. Note: In October, the decreased fill count was due to retirements.  
 
69
123
29
104
68
135
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Maximum Recruits per Year 150
1,745 
1,741 
1,739 
1,735 
1,729 
1,765 
1,756 
1,749 
1,786 
1,778 
1,760 
1,760 
1,760 
1,760 
1,760 
1,784 
1,798 
1,798 
1,798 
1,798 
 1,680
 1,700
 1,720
 1,740
 1,760
 1,780
 1,800
 1,820
Fire Department Staffing 2023
 Filled + Recruits
Allowed to fill

Note: Report Data Through October 31. 
 
Page 3 of 6 
 
Fire Department Sworn Staff Ethnicity Demographic 
The Fire Department is committed to values of diversity and inclusion and understands the value 
this brings to our department and our community. We are focused on the goal of ensuring our 
department reflects our community. The department connects with the different communities 
within the City of Phoenix and beyond through a collaborative approach, such as with the 
multiple affinity groups. Affinity groups provide invaluable mentoring and support to new and 
current fire service members.  
Phoenix Fire Department 
 
 
Maricopa County 
 
White 
68.3%
Black 8.3%
Asian 1.2%
Hispanic 
19.0%
Other 2.0%
American Indian/Alaskan 
1.1%
White 
54.3%
Black 5.3%
Asian 4.0%
Hispanic 
31.2%
Other 3.5%
American Indian/Alaskan 
1.6%

Note: Report Data Through October 31. 
 
Page 4 of 6 
 
Emergency Response Times 
Seconds count when responding to emergencies within the City of Phoenix. The 
members of the Phoenix Fire Department must arrive quickly when an emergency 
occurs. Response times are measured and monitored daily to ensure the system's 
health is known and drive resource deployment. The National Fire Protection 
Association (NFPA) publishes response time standards for the fire service. The chart 
below includes the NFPA response times and the Phoenix Fire response time by the 
unit responding by City Council District.

Note: Report Data Through October 31. 
 
Page 5 of 6 
 
Call Volume Activity 
Overall, emergency responses and unit activity levels are key metrics the fire service utilizes to 
understand how the system is performing and what capacity levels exist. Before 2023, activity 
levels have been on an upward trend for the past decade. While a two to three percent increase 
year over year has been the consistent trend, the year-over-year increase in 2021 and 2022 was 
significantly higher. After careful review and adjustment to dispatch protocols, the fire 
department has reduced the overall 2023 activity level by an average of eight percent compared 
to 2022.

Note: Report Data Through October 31. 
 
Page 6 of 6 
 
Emergency Patient Transportation Activity 
 
The Phoenix Fire Department operates our own emergency patient transportation system. 
This system has been in place for almost four decades. This system ensures that the residents 
of Phoenix receive the highest level of care from the point of calling 9-1-1 to the hospital 
arrival. While the number of transports remained consistent for many years, the department 
has experienced an average increase of 20 percent more transports each shift.  
 
 
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2021
2022
2023
2023
2022
2021
Total Number of Patient Transports