Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue 2025 Annual Report

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Buckeye City Council

The city of Buckeye is divided into 6 council districts with a mayor that serves at-large.

623.349.6950

eorsborn@buckeyeaz.gov

Term expires November 2028

Term expires November 2026 Eric Orsborn Mayor

Patrick HagEstad District 4

623.349.6944

phagestad@buckeyeaz.gov

Term expires November 2026

Tony Youngker District 1

623.349.6941

tyoungker@buckeyeaz.gov

Term expires November 2028

623.349.6946

cgoodman@buckeyeaz.gov

CITY OF BUCKEYE

CULTURE

WE ARE BUCKEYE, an exceptional city government that exists to serve one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Our commitment is to provide a safe and sustainable quality of life to all who live and work here, to foster economic growth and stability, and to plan, implement and maintain reliable infrastructure.

Doing this takes all of us. That is why we work as a team to nurture a culture that enables our shared success as an innovative, fiscally responsible, high-performing organization.

Together, we honor our past while embracing new ideas that will lead us into the next phase of our journey, balancing what is needed now with planning for a future filled with limitless possibilities. We put the community first and are relentless in delivering outstanding outcomes for Buckeye’s residents, businesses and visitors.

We recognize the value of teamwork while appreciating the different ways each of us contributes to the whole. We are passionate about what we do ad making the City of Buckeye a great place to work – one where everyone is welcomed, respected and valued.

COLLECTIVELY, THIS IS

623.349.6945

623.349.6942

jberry@buckeyeaz.gov

Term expires November 2028

cbeard@buckeyeaz.gov Term expires November 2028 Craig Heustis Vice Mayor, District 5

cheustis@buckeyeaz.gov

Term expires November 2026

623.349.6943

MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF

We are delighted to share the Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue Department’s (BFMRD) 2025 Annual Report. I am truly humbled to serve the City of Buckeye and to serve with the dedicated men and women of the Department who provide service with pride and professionalism. The level of service and compassion that the members of our Department demonstrate daily is truly second to none. This year marked another year of achievement and facing the challenges of growth as we attempt to keep pace with the growth of our City and keeping our focus on our organizational “True North”: service to the community, service to the members, growth commensurate with the City, and always living within the values that we hold dear— Family, Integrity, Resiliency, and Evolving.

2025 was an extraordinary year in numerous ways, marked by departmental growth and increasing response capabilities. Blue Horizons Fire Station 707 was opened in January 2025, allowing for an additional response company to be placed into service and providing enhanced coverage to the area. This also allowed the ladder to be re-located from Verrado Fire Station 703 to this new facility and increase availability, since it would be separate from the technical rescue specialty also located in Verrado. The Master Planned Community of Terevalis by Howard Hughes completed the development agreement for its first phase of Floreo. This allowed for staffing of Floreo Fire Station 708 to be implemented and located at Festival Fire Station 704 until completion of the station in 2027.

The funding provided by the General Obligation (GO) Bond in 2024 was put into action in 2025. The Public Safety Proposition accounts for $137 million for public safety projects, including Public Safety Headquarters, Training Facilities, a replacing Westpark Fire Station, and a new Victory Fire Station. Victory Fire Station 709 will be located on Indian School Road and North Acacia Way and will provide a tremendous asset to the community. At the conclusion of 2025, the Victory Fire Station 709 design was at 60% with anticipation of council approval in June 2026 and an estimated opening in mid-2027. The design for Westpark Fire Station 706 is also underway, with a location selected on West Broadway Road and South Ironside Drive. This new location will relocate the station from the Westpark Master Planned Community to allow access to major roadways and increase service through reduced travel times.

We successfully implemented a therapy dog program for our members. This new initiative was nearly two years in the making, and four members have dogs that provide emotional support and comfort to firefighters and first responders. These dogs are used to reduce stress, lower cortisol levels, and promote relaxation in high-stress environments. They are not service dogs, but rather therapy dogs that offer companionship and comfort. This program represents a significant step forward in enhancing the health and mental wellness of our members. Welcome to the family Millie, Moose, Piper, and Kobe.

Despite the increased service demand, all levels of our organization displayed unwavering commitment, responding promptly to emergencies, and delivering exemplary customer service throughout 2025. Their tireless efforts have undoubtedly made a profound impact on the safety and well-being of our community. We continue to analyze and evaluate our performance and how we can better serve our community and our citizens. A new focus on data analysis and performance management, combined with evaluation of risk, will provide us with a better opportunity for planning our service delivery and community education efforts.

In conclusion, the Annual Report demonstrates the remarkable performance and accomplishments of our fire department. I extend my deepest gratitude to our firefighters, dedicated staff, and the steadfast support of our elected officials, city management, and the community. Together, we have risen above the challenges and made a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve. As we move into the coming year, we dedicate ourselves to our vision, to “Be the Best and Build for the Future”.

12,827

TOTAL RESPONSES BY BFMRD

11,876 TOTAL INCIDENTS IN BUCKEYE

9,036 TOTAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSES

10 CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

147 SWORN PERSONNEL

8:49 TOTAL RESPONSE TIME (90TH PERCENTILE)

$19.4M TOTAL PROPERTY VALUE SAVED

MISSION

We serve the community, preventing and responding to all emergencies with professionalism and compassion.

VISION

Be the Best and Build for the Future.

CORE VALUES

Our Core Values are embodied in the acronym FIRE.

ERIF$3.8M TOTAL CONTENTS SAVED

FAMILY Our workplace is made up of amazing individuals who are real, vulnerable, transparent human beings who speak from the heart, value others’ contributions, and invest in each other’s growth to achieve greatness while having fun along the way.

INTEGRITY Our members honor our profession and inspire others to preserve trustworthiness, honesty, and compassion.

RESILIENT We have the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. We adapt well to change. We are flexible in our ways. We allow teachable moments and don’t let circumstances define us.

EVOLVING We are adaptive to change and recognize our mission will transform, as does our community. We will keep an eye on the future and trends that elicit our continued evolution. We will alter our service so that we meet the needs of our citizens and community in every way possible.

CORE PURPOSE

“To enable you to grow your family and this community in a safe environment, and to know that we will always be there in a time of need. The Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue Department will always answer the call.”

CITY OF BUCKEYE DEMOGRAPHICS

As of early 2025, the estimated population of Buckeye, Arizona, was approximately 119,000 to 125,000 residents, reflecting its status as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Recent data indicates an increase of nearly 6,000 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, driven by rapid development in the area.

The city is projected to continue its rapid expansion, targeting a population of 300,000 by 2040, as described in azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic.

FUTURE FIRE STATIONS

Fire Station 706 is also under design and will go to bid in the fall of 2026 with completion expected in the first quarter of 2028. This station is a replacement of the temporary Fire Station 706 located in Westpark which has been in place since 2008. This new station will be a single story, four bay station which will be the location of Battalion 701.

At the time of this report, Fire Station 708 located in the Floreo neighborhood of Teravalis, is nearing completion of the schematic design phase. The facility is planned as a single-story, four-bay fire station designed to support the growing service demands of the surrounding community. Construction timelines currently project the station to be operational by summer 2027.

Fire Station 709 is progressing along a similar development timeline and is anticipated to break ground later this summer. This facility will be a three-bay, two-story fire station strategically located at the northwest corner of Indian School Road and Acacia Way, positioning the Department to effectively serve the expanding area of Verrado.

In parallel with these station projects, the Department continues to advance long-term infrastructure planning. We have been working closely with Architect Design Group (ADG) to refine the scope of work for the future Public Safety Headquarters and Training facilities. These discussions are focused on developing facilities that will support operational readiness, training, excellence, and the long-term needs of our growing organization.

NEW HIRES

K9 NEW HIRES

The Department implemented the K9 therapy dog program in 2025. Our furry members may be cute but

dogs have a serious job providing comfort and support to our firefighters. Whether it’s after a tough call or

moment at the station, these pups help reduce stress and anxiety, boost morale, support emotional wellness, and encourage conversations about mental health. A heartfelt thank you to The Fetch Foundation, a non-profit organization whose training and support make this program possible. Their dedication to first responders is making a difference – one paw at a time.

MOOSE

 60 hours of

 Timber Mesa deployment with 2 funerals and station visits – 6 days

 Attended the 9/11 stair climb, PD badge ceremony, Phoenix Fire funeral, pancake breakfast, and 707 photoshoots

KOBE

 240 hours of station time

 2 visits with crews pos-traumatic incident

 Visited NAU psychology students to discuss benefits of animal therapy

 Estimated consumption of 300 pounds of dog food for the year.

MILLIE

PIPER

 360

 2 crew visits for post-traumatic event

 Estimated 200 pounds of food for the year

ACCREDITATION

The Department is one of 334 accredited agencies worldwide and 15 within the state of Arizona as 14% of the U.S. population is protected by an accredited agency. BFMRD received Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program in 2024. The rigorous accreditation process continues annually with Annual Program Appraisals (APR) before the re-accreditation process every five years. The Department’s focus on continuous quality improvement leads to increased efficiencies, improved organizational accountability, and enhancement of overall service delivery to our community.

INSURANCE SERVICES OFFICE

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is a leading source of information about property/casualty insurance risk. The organization provides statistical, actuarial, underwriting, and claims data for a broad spectrum of commercial and personal lines of insurance. Community investment in fire and emergency services has helped BFMRD earn its Class 2 ISO rating. Ensuring this continued level of service requires a shared effort and responsibility among the Fire Department, local leaders, business owners, and residents. Earning a Class 1 ISO rating will place BFMRD among the highest-rated departments in the country.

The CFAI-accredited agencies are often described as being community-oriented, data-driven, and outcome-focused. They exemplify organizations that are strategic-minded and well organized, and are properly equipped, staffed, and trained. Agency accreditation is an international recognition of achievement. It shows your community that your agency continually self-assesses, looks for opportunities for improvement, and is transparent and accountable through the application of a true third-party verification and validation process.

Fire Chief Jake Rhoades stated, “The processes and focus on continuous improvement have become the norm in everyday management and service delivery, demonstrating our commitment to provide the highest quality of service to our community.”

BOND UPDATE

The Buckeye General Obligation (GO) Bond was approved in November 2024. Prop 494 was approved by the Buckeye voters, with an approval rate of 64%, which is funded through a secondary property tax. The first funding of the bond for public safety was dedicated to the design and construction of Victory Fire Station 709 and re-construction of Westpark Fire Station 706. In addition, a consultant was employed to conduct a needs assessment and potential planning for both a Public Safety Administration building, and Public Safety Training Grounds.

Proposition 494: Public Safety provides a total of $137 Million for public safety projects. The current status of these projects includes the following:

WESTPARK FIRE STATION 706

The project will establish a permanent fire station within the Westpark community, replacing the current interim facility. This facility is under design with projected completion by the end of 2027.

VICTORY FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION

The Victory Fire Station 709 is currently under design and will be located at Indian School Road and North Acacia Way. This facility will be presented to council in June 2026 with completion in summer 2027.

PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS

Funding from the bond will establish Police and Fire administration facilities which will serve as the base for Buckeye patrol and fire administration. The consultant is providing needs analysis for planning purposes.

PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING SUPPORT FACILITIES

Funding supports the initial phase of developing advanced training facilities for the Buckeye Police and Fire Departments. The consultant is providing needs analysis for planning purposes on land owned by the City.

Of the current 334 internationally accredited agencies, BFMRD is one of 103 departments to maintain an ISO 2 rating.

WHY ARE ISO RATINGS IMPORTANT?

2026 STRATEGIC PLAN OF ACTION

Maintaining a strategic focus is critical in a community that is growing as fast as Buckeye. The “True North” of the organization focuses on service to the community, service to members, growth commensurate with the community, and living within our values. 2025 marks the final year of the current strategic plan and one that institutionalized many of the processes and areas of improvement when the current plan was implemented in 2023. Our leadership has implemented processes for continuous improvement, including critical planning to identify the strategic trajectory and establish the foundation for its next three years of growth and development.

Given the foundation data review, program appraisals, and organizational self-reflection and analysis, the top 10 projects for this strategic plan have been identified. Understanding that some of these projects may have timeframes that extend beyond 2025 or even the life of the strategic plan, the focus on these projects will allow ancillary objectives within the strategic plan workbook to be accomplished. In addition, there will also be elements of the strategic plan that are completed, partially completed, or extend beyond the life of the current plan, depending on the complexity of the specified item and its strategic implications for the organization.

As identified in the recent Relationship by Objective (RBO) meeting, the top projects have been identified, and by the conclusion of 2025 the BFMRD will have:

\ Expanded the use of established metrics to drive program development

\ Improved our EMS service delivery and supported our providers

\ Developed a long-term facility maintenance and construction plan of action

\ Conducted a workload analysis of administrative staff to ensure additional staff requests are in-line with the demands of any new advanced services

\ Developed best practices for the creation, review, approval, and publication of all Department procedures

\ Ensured training and professional development is designed to meet future organizational needs

\ Enhanced the well-being of all Department members

\ Ensured agency-wide behavioral health & wellness initiatives

\ Evaluated if current community outreach and public education programs meet the needs of the community through community survey(s)

\ Developed a recruitment and development plan for a long-term workforce

2025 SPECIAL EVENTS

JANUARY

 Race to the Runway Marathon

 Buckeye Days

FEBRUARY

 Buckeye Air Fair

MARCH

 Buckeye Union High School Career Fair

 Read Across America

 Verrado Founders Day

APRIL

 Easter Bunny Event

 Desert Hills Epic Easter Egg Hunt

 Desert Sunset Elementary School Spring Carnival

MAY

 Memorial Day Ceremony

 Fire Truck Hose Down at Bales Elementary, Sequoia Pathfinder Elementary

 Festival Charity Walk

JUNE

 Car Seat Safety Check Event

 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

 Great Hearts Roosevelt Summer Bash

JULY

 Independence Day Celebration at Buckeye Airport

 Firework Shows at Sun City Festival and Verrado

 Project Pool Safety at Verrado Marketside Villas

AUGUST

 Joe Foss Shooting Complex Grand Opening

 Fry’s Grocery Store Open House

SEPTEMBER

 9/11 Stairclimb and Pancake Breakfast

 Festival Ranch Patriot Day Event

 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion Food March

OCTOBER

 Partnering with Arizona Burn Foundation for the Smoke Detector Walk

 City of Buckeye Halloween Carnival

 Trunk or Treat with: Abrazo Buckeye ER, Tartesso Community, Verrado Baseball, and John McClain Elementary

 Fall Festival at Grace Fellowship Church

 Community Helper Parade at Young Hearts Preschool

NOVEMBER

 GAIN Family Night

 City of Buckeye Cotton Fest

 Desert Sunset Elementary Ruby Bridge Walk to School Day

DECEMBER

 City of Buckeye Glow on Monroe

 Sundance HOA Parade

 Lions Club Christmas Parade

 Verrado Holiday Celebration

 Tartesso Light Parade

DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 Opening of Fire Station 707.

 Architect selection and design of Victory Fire Station 709, Westpark Fire Station 706, and Floreo Fire Station 708.

 Mass Fatality/Casualty emergency management training.

 The Technical Resource Technician (TRT) program began Arborist Training (tree rescues).

 Lucas Devices went live in June.

 Cadet program achieved an 86% success rate.

 Celebrated 25 years of full-time service.

 Data dashboards created for EMS, Operations, Fire Prevention, and Council Districts.

 New partnership with Heart Fit for Duty for member annual physicals.

 Boosted public education at various elementary schools during Fire Prevention week.

 Hosted ISFSI 1403 course for live fire training.

 Placed two new engine companies into service.

 Buckeye firefighters partnered with the Elks Lodge and Buckeye Elementary School for Shop with a Cop and Firefighter.

SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT

SPECIAL DELIVERY ON I-10

On a September morning, the crew from Engine 703—with support from Medic 321— helped bring a beautiful baby girl into the world on the side of I-10 at Verrado Way. Both mom and baby were doing well at the time of delivery, and we are grateful for the quick, skilled response of our firefighters and medics who responded with speed and skill!

Welcome to the world little one!

EARLY MORNING FIRE – ONE RESCUED

At 1:15 am on April 1, we responded to a mobile home fire with the assistance of two neighboring agencies.

When firefighters arrived, they found the structure actively burning with reports of someone still inside. Engine 702 immediately began a search, locating and rescuing an adult male from the home. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition for further medical care.

The fire was rapidly extinguished and the cause was investigated.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

In December, we welcomed Sarah Silk to the Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue team! Sarah is our new Community Risk Reduction Manager and will be leading our public education and prevention programs. Her passion for community safety and collaboration will help us strengthen outreach, expand life-safety education, and reduce risk across Buckeye. We look forward to the positive impact she will make with our residents, schools, and community partners!

SAFETY AND SURVIVAL

In 2025, the Training Division delivered a wide range of high-impact programs focused on modern fireground performance, instructor development, and regional partnerships. The work was centered on taking care of our people, holding a high standard, and continually improving how we prepare Buckeye firefighters for the modern fireground. We completed the Underwriters Labratory (UL) course on Modern Fire Dynamics and reinforced those concepts through live-fire training evolutions focused on fire behavior and decision-making. We also hosted an ISFSI Live Fire Instructor credential course— widely regarded as the gold standard for live-fire instructor development—which certified 12 of our members and attracted firefighters from across the country. This investment strengthened our internal cadre and ensured we continue to build trainers who can develop others with consistency and credibility.

We trained more than 300 West Valley firefighters in ladder company operations, hosted an engineer academy, and expanded foundational readiness through targeted training. Professional development remained a priority throughout the year. Members attended Arizona State Fire School, Fire-Rescue International, the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), and International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) Instructor Conference. We built the infrastructure to support our new firefighters and their long-term success by developing and launching a new digital task book system that provides a more consistent, trackable, and effective way to guide development through their first year with the City of Buckeye.

To accomplish this undertaking, we increased our instructor cadres by more than 40%, expanding our capacity to deliver high-quality training and mentorship across shifts and disciplines. By strengthening our instructional bench and modernizing our development systems, we are building a sustainable foundation that supports our people and positions the organization to keep getting better—today and into the future.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS TECHNICAL RESCUE TECHNICIAN

Three members were TRT-certified in 2025: firefighter Connor Spire, firefighter Freddy Baldridge, and firefighter Matt Barjas with a combined total of 600 hours of initial training.

Throughout the year we focused on developing our members to increase their capabilities and our entire rescue team’s efficiency and proficiency. Members were sent to a certified PPE inspectors’ course to ensure our equipment continues to be maintained appropriately. Mulitple members attended advanced trainings in Trench Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Urban Ops, and Wide Area Search, as well as the Rescue symposium. This training and education were not only retained by the members but passed on to the entire team through our Continuing Education (CE) program.

TRT program members had 905 hours of CE training in 2025. We were able to replace equipment that had aged out or was no longer serviceable, such as Paratech Shoring equipment, confined space airlines, and communication lines.

Note: Our Department requires 33 hours per year of additional mandated training for technicians.

Buckeye’s Community Paramedicine program delivers non- emergent, post- discharge, and preventive home care via specially trained paramedics to improve chronic disease management, medication adherence, and patient safety. Since 2015 it has reduced unnecessary 911 calls and transports, strengthened emergency response capacity, and earned high community trust while remaining adaptable to changing needs.

NEW ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR 2025: Child passenger safety seat and home safety education for families and seniors, plus hands- only CPR, AED, and Stop the Bleed training for the public and municipal staff.

ANCILLARY PROGRAMS FOR 2025:

\ Car seat education/donation program.

\ Completed procurement and placement of an AED and a Stop the Bleed kit in every municipal building.

\ AED in every police patrol vehicle.

\ Stop the Bleed Kit for all Public Works and Parks Department field vehicles.

\ AED, Hands-only CPR, and Stop the Bleed training for all City employees.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

\ Festival Town Hall at Station 704, Veterans Lift Up

\ Festival Foothills Farmers Market

\ Buckeye Business Connection presentation

The EMS division partnered with Banner Health and the University of Arizona to secure a new administrative medical director, Dr. Rachel Munn. Banner University Medical Group (BUMG) and the University of Arizona (UA) provide unique value by combining Medical Direction Services and university-level EMS training.

In March 2025, the EMS division completed department-wide Cyano-Kit training. Cyano-kit is a lifesaving medication that can reverse cyanide poisoning in victims exposed to smoke inhalation.

The EMS division changed narcotic procedures to reduce unit hour utilization by implementing narcotic vaults inside the station vending machines. This allows crews to restock controlled substances at the stations instead of riding in for restock to comply with DEA and Arizona Department of Heath Services (AZDHS) requirements.

The EMS division held a workshop to gather input on making the Image Trend user interface more intuitive and efficient. The EMS division successfully revamped the EPCR to provide a more streamlined, efficient system to improve efficiency in documentation.

Buckeye hosted a regional EMS event with guest speaker Erik Jaeger, subject matter expert on agitated patient sedation, and death in custody. The Department took Erik’s training and created a 2.5-hour training block that was implemented department-wide for every crew to improve safety with combative patients and prevent in-custody deaths.

The EMS division upgraded its training equipment in 2025 with 3 new mannequins: one adult, one obstetric mannequin that can deliver a baby and placenta, as well as a preterm infant mannequins. The technology and realism of these mannequins increase training fidelity by providing realistic scenarios. The EMS division also purchased and began using the I-simulate monitor simulator for realistic EKG identification and patient diagnostics during EMS training.

\ Banner Health presentation

\ Dementia Friendly Buckeye Symposium \ G.A.I.N. Event

The EMS division purchased two refurbished LP15 monitors to equip MRV702, E708, and E709. EMS also purchased 10 iPads for deployment of EMS crews on special events.

To improve efficiency, the EMS division implemented a bin system for delivering EMS soft goods and picking up expired EMS soft goods that can be used for training.

FIRE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

INSPECTIONS, CLEANING, AND REPAIR

Approximately 320 sets of assigned bunker gear are reviewed. Our members complete an annual self-inspection, and advanced inspections are performed by an independent service provider.

PPE is sent out for quarterly inspections, cleaning, and repairs. If repair costs fall within the cost matrix, the gear is repaired. Any items falling outside the matrix are recommended for replacement.

EXTRICATION TOOLS

Each engine and ladder is stocked with powered extrication tools. An engine complement consists of a gas power plant, a Combi-Tool, and a Ram. Ladders have a full complement of equipment—battery powered cutter, spreader, large and small Rams, and a Pedal Cutter. The Department’s goal is to replace all gas power plants/tools with battery powered tools. This equipment is serviced annually.

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA)

Each of our line members are issued two assigned masks that have to be fit tested to the individual. Each forward apparatus is also outfitted with a RIT Pack Emergency Air Supply system supported by a 6000-psi cylinder. All SCBA equipment is inspected annually by a thirdparty vendor and conducted in-house.