Message from the Chief
Welcome to the 2022 Annual Fire Report. August 2022 marked my 14th year as your Fire Chief. I am proud to be the leader of an organization made up of 74 genuinely outstanding individuals that care for this community. Our personnel is the greatest asset to this department. As a team, we have witnessed a great deal this past year and will take on the challenges ahead as we enter 2023. So, to begin, I’d like to thank them all for being such a productive and responsive department to all the demands that we are faced with.
From a people standpoint, we saw 3 members of our department retire, and we hired 6 new Firefighters/Paramedics. As the retirements took place, we promoted one member to Battalion Chief, two members to Lieutenant, one to Driver Engineer, and appointed a new Deputy Chief. Although we lost quite a bit of experience to retirement we continued to enhance our advanced cardiac arrest initiative, which now shows a 33% cardiac survival rate compared to a 12% national average.
As we enter 2023, the community will see even more new developments in how we provide our service. We have hired an EMS Lieutenant to further advance our department in EMS patient treatment and care. We are also adding a new apparatus to our fleet, a 3,000-gallon water tender. This apparatus will allow us to expand our capabilities during water outages and drought situations, mitigating risks we discovered in the 2021 Winter Storm Uri.
I am very proud to lead this dedicated organization as we move forward. I am excited about the future of our organization. Southlake is a great community to live, work, and play. Your Southlake Fire Department is here to provide world-class service. Rest assured, we will respond quickly, efficiently, and effectively to serve your needs.
Respectfully,
MICHAEL STARR, FIRE CHIEF63 SWORN LINE
8 SWORN STAFF
3 SUPPORT
74 TOTAL PERSONNEL
The Southlake Fire Department’s leadership team works to manage and coordinate the many complex administrative services of the department, including planning, organizing, and directing budget and fiscal policy and payroll, conducting analytical studies, developing, establishing, and implementing policies and procedures, recruiting, and continuous training.
Fire Chief
Organizational Structure Leadership Team
Mike Starr FIRE CHIEF Jeremy Wilson DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF OPERATIONS Kelly Clements DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF FIRE MARSHAL Trey Porter BATTALION CHIEF A-SHIFT Clif Altom BATTALION CHIEF B-SHIFTOur History
1956 Southlake is incorporated
1966
Southlake’s first Fire Chief Howard Moffat appointed
1966 Southlake Fire Department formed as all volunteer force
1969 Chief “Bob” Steele, Southlake’s longest standing Fire Chief (25 Years) is hired
1979
Southlake’s Junior Fire Department is organized from boys from Southlake Carroll High
1988
Southlake
Fire moves to a full time professional paid staff
Facilities and Equipment
2022 Notable Achievements 1
PUBLIC EDUCATION “IT TAKES A VILLAGE”
The Southlake Fire Department constantly creates innovative programs to serve the community. This year, during a conversation with White Chapel Church, the idea of a “touch-a-truck” event became much larger.
Lori, who serves the special needs population at White Chapel Church, wanted to do a touch truck event with the Southlake Fire and Police Departments. As everyone knows, fire and police equipment are subject to emergency calls. When that call happens, the crews must leave a scheduled event.
While thinking about backup plans in the event of an emergency, the “It Takes a Village” event was born. The event was developed to serve families of special needs adults and children and to provide local resources.
Many examples of resources are provided, such as different types of therapies, translation for deaf
or hard of hearing, medical services, emergency services, handicapped vehicle conversion services, and emergency preparedness. While the resources were important, we wanted families to have a worryfree fun day out as well.
Activities included station tours, our original toucha-truck, which came to fruition, photo opportunities with Star Wars characters and princesses, a photo booth, therapy animals, bounce houses, and much more. Another community partner, Carroll Independent School District, had a resource table with fun activities, and attendees were happy to see familiar faces in the crowd.
If all our partners are back on board for this year, our tentative plan is to hold our second event in September 2023.
MENTAL RESILIENCY
Some statistics provided on first responders and their mental health have been documented by the US Department of Health in a supplement from the Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Administration Help for Heroes Program.4 The statistics reveal the following associated with firefighters, police officers, and EMS professionals:
“It is estimated that 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including, but not limited to, depression and [PTSD], as compared with 20% in the general population. In a study about suicidality, firefighters were reported to have higher attempt and ideation rates than the general population. In law enforcement, the estimates suggest between 125 and 300 police officers commit suicide every year.”
This year we created a partnership with F1rst to complete a mental health and wellness resiliency training to assist employees with comping skills and mindset in a high-stress environment. Three personnel attended the first responder stress and trauma 3-day conference to enhance peer support in mental health situations.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
The Office of Emergency Management worked with internal and external stakeholders to update the City’s “All Hazards” Emergency Operation Plan. The “all hazards” approach allows the ability to respond to a range of emergencies varying in scale, duration, and cause.
An emergency operations plan is a course of action developed to mitigate, prepare, and respond to potential events that could endanger the City’s ability to function. The plan includes measures that provide for the safety of citizens and, if possible, property and facilities. It also contains provisions to assess the severity of an incident and implement steps to eliminate the problem.
The City of Southlake’s Emergency Operation Plan was submitted to the State and received approval for the Basic Plan and the 22 annexes.
Financial Overview
Ensuring Financial Stability
One of Southlake Fire’s goals in 2022 was to maintain financial stability. Through additional strategic initiatives, the fire department made great strides in building a healthy financial foundation to continue to fund the department’s operations. In FY22, Southlake Fire received over $100,000.00 in grant funding to help achieve the highest standards of safety and security.
Fire Operations
73%
FY2022 Budget
$8,190,574
DPS Support
18%
Fire Prevention
3%
FireAdmin3%PUBLICEMS3% ED > 1%
7.14
We respond to fires in under 7.14 Minutes
90% of the time, well above industry standards
4071
Southlake Fire responded to 4,071 calls for service
0.46 24
All calls for service were dispatched in under 46 Seconds, 90% of the time, well above industry standards
In 2022 Southlake Fire fought 24 structure fires in other jurisdictions
We respond to medical calls in under 6.23 Minutes
90% of the time, well above industry standards
6.23 7
In 2022, Southlake Fire battled 7 structure fires in the City of Southlake
2022 Statistics
Residential Structural Fire Locations
The City of Southlake Fire Department combines resources from jurisdictions throughout North Central Texas to ensure that first responders will arrive as quickly as possible to all emergency calls. As a participating member of the North East Fire Department Association (NEFDA), the citizens of Southlake have access to the resources of 14 other jurisdictions. Southlake Fire promotes an aggressive fire prevention program and stringent fire code, which helps to mitigate most major structure fires within the boundaries of the City.
Emergency Medical Services
33%
CPR Success Rate
This is well above the National Average of 12% for out-ofhospital cardiac arrest, per the American Heart Association.
22
Min
ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) to Door
ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a very serious type of heart attack during which one of the heart’s major arteries (one of the arteries that supplies oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the heart muscle) is blocked. The Nationwide standard is 90 minutes from first EMS contact to percutaneous catheter intervention. The Southlake Fire measure is STEMI to hospital door within 40 mins. Our annual average is arrival at the door within 22 minutes.
2022 Mission: Lifeline
The Southlake Fire Department achieved the 2022 Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus level recognition award for the 3rd consecutive year, presented by the American Heart Association. This is the highest level of recognition related to pre-hospital cardiovascular care available to EMS providers nationwide.
Public Safety Education
Installation of 289 car seats
33 CPR classes
211 Participants
The Southlake Fire Department offers a variety of public education events to build community relationships and share departmental safety education initiatives.
With restrictions lifted, 2022 was a regular public education year, with everything back to normal. As in past years, the most popular safety education initiatives were CardioPulmonary Resuscitation, Child Passenger Safety, and visits to local schools and daycares. In addition to the initiatives already mentioned, the department taught first aid classes, Stop the Bleed, and Babysitter training, held a Fire and Police Citizens Academy for both youth and adults, assisted with fire drills, taught kitchen safety in the schools, station tours, and balance classes for our senior population.
The department hosted several community events, including It Takes a Village, Splash Story Time, and our most popular event, Trunk or Treat. The Trunk or Treat event has grown over the years. This year, a record number of city departments, businesses, and civic organizations participated. The event also gives those who need community service hours a chance to volunteer. Learn about the new It Takes a Village event under 2022 Notable Achievements. Our annual toy and food drive held at all the stations within the city had a record year for collections. This initiative provides toys and food to those
10 Fire Extinguisher classes
294 Participants
less fortunate during the holiday season. Our number of community partners increased this year, and we were able to help a record number of children. This event brings the community together by working together to serve others.
We want to ensure that the department encourages residents to dispose of waste responsibly! The increases in cost to dispose of waste have increased exponentially. However, we are still able to provide these services to residents. Our department holds one big event tagged as the Crud Cruiser. We collect household hazardous and electronic waste during the event, allowing residents to shred sensitive documents. To reduce the crowd at the Crud Cruiser, we held two pre-game events at Station 1 and were able to collect electronics and paper. The pre-games worked well in past years, and pre-game events will be in the Spring of 2023 to reduce crowds at the large event on June 17th.
As in past years, the department will continue to promote our safety education initiatives and produce innovative ideas to maintain relationships and prevent injuries through safety education. Life preservation through public education.
Continuity of Operations Exercises
Throughout 2022, the Office of Emergency Management conducted ten tabletop exercises on Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) to ensure that each City department can perform essential functions needed to keep the City operational during an emergency or disaster. These plans not only look at the tasks but the personnel and the equipment necessary to continue to carry out operations.
After conducting exercises, any operational changes to the plan are made, any outdated information is updated, and the plan is revised for the upcoming year.
The City learned how important COOP plans are over the last 2 years, as they have been implemented for the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Winter Storm Uri.
Public Outreach and Education
The Office of Emergency Management conducted over 20 hours of community education with over 516 residents and community members in attendance. Events ranged from winter weather safety briefs to boy scout meetings, book readings at schools, and a special needs preparedness and resource fair. The Office of Emergency Management passes out preparedness information to assist citizens in the steps they take to ensure they are safe before, during, and after an emergency or natural disaster, with the goal of a secure and resilient community.
Vector Control
Every year from April-November, The City of Southlake’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) conducts vector surveillance and submits weekly mosquito samples to the Tarrant County Public Health Lab to test for West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus. These samples are collected by placing mosquito traps every Thursday morning between 7-9 am and then collecting set traps 24 hours later. This year, OEM set at least five, sometimes six traps every week, depending on mosquito reports/complaints. In 2022, 141 traps were set. Of those 141 traps, zero tested positive for West Nile Virus and zero tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis. OEM received 16 mosquito complaints from citizens concerning high mosquito activity and standing water issues. The OEM responded by surveying the areas, treating them with larvicide if needed, and setting extra mosquito traps to determine mosquito activity. As a mitigation measure, OEM acquired gambusia fish from Tarrant County Public Health lab, placing them in Carillon Pond, off North Carroll Ave.
Fire Prevention Services ENSURING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT
The Fire Marshal’s office plays a pivotal role in maintaining the safety mission of the department and strives to develop proactive risk management awareness through plan review, fire inspections, code enforcement, and fire investigations. The mission of the Southlake Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office is to protect our community from the perils of fire, explosions, and other hazardous conditions.
4 6 %
1,973
NEW CONSTRUCTION
HIGH HAZARD
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
ANNUAL BUSINESS
OTHER
1, 973 Shift-based prefire plans completed. A pre-fire plan provides emergency services with information about your property so a more efficient and effective operation can be conducted, meaning less damage to your property and a better chance of a successful rescue.