The numbers that matter
To the editor:
I am responding to the July 17 letter to the editor “Before asking taxpayers for more, show them the results.” The author claims he analyzed Cape Coral Fire Department operational data including response times to determine additional funding is questionable.
If the writer had actually compared Cape Coral Fire Department response times with NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 1710, the internationally recognized standard for career fire department operations and sets strict response time benchmarks, he would have found the Cape Coral Fire Department has severe problems, as listed below.
Cape Coral 2025 Report NFPA 1710
Dispatch 2:26 No more than 64 seconds,
95% of the time.
Turn Out. 1:50 Firefighters should be suited
and in their apparatus within
80 seconds for fire
responses and 60 seconds
for EMS calls.
Travel 7:26 First responders should arrive
on the scene within 240
seconds (4 minutes) for fire
suppression and EMS incidents,
90% of the time.
Cape Coral’s response time deficiencies may be related to the fact that they respond to a tremendous number of EMS (Emergency Medical Service) assist calls, many of which result in reports of “no emergency here” or “no victims found”. There is a high likelihood that if an actual emergency is reported the closest fire apparatus are not available because they have been dispatched to one of these nuisance calls.
Dennis McCloskey
Cape Coral