SHELBY — The Shelby Fire Department has experienced some of the biggest changes in its history over the past six years.
Shelby Fire Chief Mike Thompson recently released the department’s 2024 year-end report, outlining some of those changes.
The report is embedded below in the article and can also be found on the city’s website.
A new fire station, the takeover of emergency medical services, addition of manpower and the passage of a new fire levy are significant examples of the department’s growth, according to the chief.
The report includes everything from fleet maintenance to important department dates, as well as a complete statistical breakdown of incidents and calls for service.
In 2024, the department had 2,016 total calls for service — increasing its call volume from the previous year by 153 incidents. About 1,600 of the instances were single responses.
About 300 times, the department received a call for service while another incident was on-going. A full department response, requiring all manpower to respond, occurred 114 times.
Nearly 20 percent of calls in 2024 required at least four or more firefighters. Ten times the department had a full response and multiple calls at once.
Over the past 15 years, Shelby has seen a 30.5 percent increase in calls for service, according to the report.
Personnel changes
The Shelby Fire Department has 16 full-time firefighters who work on a 24/7 basis. Full-time personnel typically work a 24-hour shift, followed by 48 hours off.
Ten individuals also serve as volunteer firefighters for the department. They are compensated for time worked, as well as monthly training.
“We work with three shifts, with a five-man minimum per day,” Thompson said. “Our volunteer staff responds to all fires, motor vehicle accidents and any time manpower is requested.”
In 2024, Shelby had five volunteer resignations, added three new volunteers and hired one new full-time position — filled by Collin McBride.
RELATED READING
The past year presented the department with a new challenge. Since taking over EMS transport in October 2023, a need for rapid staffing became evident.
“When someone has time off, (is) sick or injured, it creates overtime,” the report said. “The staff worked a tremendous amount of overtime and filling open positions became difficult.”
To solve this issue, the department created a floater position — which works with all shifts to fill any gaps. In the event of a long-term leave of absence, the floater assumes the position until the firefighter can return.
John Grimes applied internally for the position, the report said, and is currently assigned to Shift 3 while the department has a firefighter on long-term injury leave.
(Below is a PDF of the Shelby Fire Department’s 2024 year-end report.)
Second year of EMS transports complete
Shelby has now performed its second full year of handling all 911 EMS calls without the assistance of a private ambulance service.
“We have made tremendous strides providing EMS coverage to our customers,” Thompson said. “The biggest additions in 2024 were the introduction of RSI (Rapid Sequence Intubation) drugs and replacing old Rescue 38.”
The City of Shelby originally placed its order for a new ambulance in April 2022 — with a 600-day delivery estimate. Slated to replace the aging Rescue 38 vehicle, the arrival date was ultimately revised to November 2024.
“Through much discussion and debate, the decision was made to cancel the order of a third ambulance,” Thompson said. “There was no penalty for the city canceling the order.”
Purchase of new Rescue 38
Shortly after this decision, Madison Township listed a 2015 Braun Type 1 ambulance for sale. The unit had 80,000 miles on it, but was nine years newer than Rescue 38.
Using levy funds, the city purchased the ambulance for $35,000.
Rescue 38 was sold using Gov Deals for $14,400, ending up in New Jersey to be used as a construction vehicle. The proceeds from Rescue 38’s sale went to the fire equipment fund to purchase needed equipment.
“To save money, we did as much as we could in-house to get new Rescue 38 in service,” the chief said. “The radio, traffic emitter and manual cot were all installed by SFD staff.
“All the equipment was taken out of the old Rescue 38 for reuse. Our personnel even stripped off the old decals and replaced them with our color scheme at the station. This was a further saving to our department.
Local organizations also helped the department purchase a refurbished heart monitor for new Rescue 38. The Shelby Eagles Club contributed $21,000, along with $1,000 from the Shelby Owls Club. The Moose Club also donated $2,500 toward equipment.
More space needed at High School Avenue station
Shelby has now called its High School Avenue station home for six years. The 12,443 square-foot station was largely paid for by a donation from the late Grant Milliron.
“We wish to thank the Milliron family again for the unbelievable gift to our community,” Thompson said. “This is a gift that may never be matched in Shelby again.”
As the need for increased staffing has continued to grow, so has the need for space to accommodate personnel. Although “hard to believe,” the chief said the department has “run out of room” at its station.
“In 2025, we will need to discuss adding on to our building,” Thompson said. “Our new added personnel are sleeping in the training room until more space is created.
“With so many new staff members, the training room needs to be used for the intended purpose.”
Conversations regarding the department’s aging fleet will also need to be had over the next few years — specifically discussing Shelby’s bigger trucks.
The department’s most current large truck is 12 years old. Tanker 34 was purchased through the Assistance to Firefighters grant. The city only had to pay five percent of the purchase price.
Thompson said the life expectancy of a fire truck is 15 to 20 years, depending on use.
“The age of our vehicles has shown how well we take care of the equipment,” he said.