Fall 2020 Hometown Messenger

PUBLIC SAFETY

A quicker response Fire Department sees drop in response times with 24/7 duty crew model

Shortly before 2 p.m. Friday, July 3, the Shakopee Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire under the carport at McDonald’s on Marschall Road. In less than five minutes, firefighters were on scene extinguishing the van's engine fire. The department’s quick response likely saved the building from a holiday weekend loss. “We were able to get on scene quickly because we had firefighters at the station ready to go as soon as the call came in,” said Fire Chief Rick Coleman. “A few minutes can make the difference between saving and losing a life or property.” This spring, the fire department adopted a temporary 24/7 staffing model to provide the department better staffing predictability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, the Shakopee

Shakopee firefighters have adopted an around-the-clock staffing model during COVID-19 to provide better predictability to who shows up to calls and reduce contamination. The result has been shorter response times to calls.

full-time staffing. The benefit for residents and businesses has been a faster response time, especially to evening and weekend calls. Currently, firefighters are en route in about one and half minutes, down from an average of six minutes pre-pandemic. In mid-July, the department responded to a Saturday evening call for a grill propane tank on fire

house, resulting in just exterior damage. With more than 60 percent of Shakopee firefighters trained as emergency medical technicians, the quicker response also adds value to medical, rescue and accident calls. While the duty crew model is temporary, funded by the city’s share of the CARES Act, the City Council discussed use of the model full-time at its Aug. 5 meeting. Moving to the model permanently is estimated to cost an additional $266,000 a year. The council directed staff to bring back more information at a future meeting.

"A few minutes can make the difference between saving and losing a life or property." Rick Coleman Fire Chief

Fire Department relies on a full-time weekday duty crew and a staff of paid-on-call firefighters, who respond to evening, weekend and holiday calls. With the pandemic’s requirements for sanitation and tracking employees, the department switched

to an around-the-clock model that asked paid-on-call firefighters to take overnight shifts and weekends to ensure the city had

next to a townhome. Firefighters were on scene before the fire could burn into the

NEWS & NOTES

Fire Department adds six new firefighters The Shakopee Fire Department recently added six new firefighters to its team. The new firefighters, who started Aug. 3, are Russell Barry, Mason Runyan, Todd Nellermoe, Adam Schmitz, Jay Sims and Noah Stave. The firefighters will go through a two-year probationary period, which includes several months of classroom and hands-on training, followed by medical training to the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) level.

New officer sworn into office The Shakopee Police Department welcomed its newest patrol officer, Coby Fontes, during a swearing-in ceremony Aug. 10. Fontes graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in conservation law. Before coming to Shakopee, he was a community service officer with the Minnetonka Police Department. In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors, particularly fishing.

Police Officer Coby Fontes

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