HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 24-1918INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 24-1918 1
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
October 22, 2024
4 Page 1 of 3
s SUBJECT: UPDATE ON RECRUITMENT AND HIRING OF SWORN
� YA
PERSONNEL IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The purpose of this report is to share the significant accomplishments of the Fire Department in
filling newly authorized sworn positions and positions vacated due to attrition in FY 2024.
Background and Significance
In September 2022, the City Manager's Office established an interdepartmental Fire Ad Hoc
Staffing Committee, which included representation from the Local 440, to review the
recommendations from consultant Citygate on meeting minimum daily staffing requirements. The
committee sought to reach a consensus on the required number of authorized sworn positions,
given the parallel Local 440-sponsored Fitch & Associates study. The committee recommended
the addition of 70 sworn personnel, and in September 2023, the City Council approved the
recommended addition in the FY 2024 budget. Furthermore, the Fire Department needed to hire
50 personnel to address anticipated attrition through FY 2024.
Recruitment Process
To accomplish its goals, the Fire Department worked with Human Resources to administer an
entrance examination in March 2023. The department hired recruits for Fire Department Class 93
and 94 from this exam, resulting in a total of 58 graduates from the classes. Another entrance
exam was administered in October 2023, which seated Classes 95-97, from which 61 recruits
graduated on October 4, 2024. Since March 2023, the department has sworn in 119 firefighters
out of the goal of 120.
Class Demographics
The diversity in the recent recruiting efforts of the Fire Department is notable when compared to
national averages for fire departments. In Classes 93 through 97, a total of 119 recruits
graduated, with 29% identifying as African American, Hispanic, or Asian and 6% identifying as
two or more races. Gender diversity has also been a focus, with 18 females, or 14% of the
recruits, successfully completing the program. This stands in contrast to national trends, where
women typically comprise less than 5% of the firefighting workforce, and racial minorities are
often underrepresented. The department's inclusive recruitment efforts, characterized by low
attrition rates and substantial graduation numbers across all demographic groups, demonstrate a
commitment to fostering diversity that surpasses the national average in both racial and gender
representation.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 24-1918 1
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
October 22, 2024
4 Page 2 of 3
s SUBJECT: UPDATE ON RECRUITMENT AND HIRING OF SWORN
� YA
PERSONNEL IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Classes
# of Graduates
# of Recruits
Males Females White African American Asian
Hispanic Native American Two or More Races
Attrition
Class 93 (Fast Track)
10
10
9
1
6
1 0
1 0 2
0
Class 94 (Full Track)
48
50
43
7
26
10 0
1 0 3
2
Class 95 (Fast Track)
6
6
6
0
2
0 0
3 1 0
0
Class 96 (Mid Track)
15
15
15
0
8
2 1
4 0 0
0
Class 97 (Full Track)
40
46
36
10
17
12 0
14 0 3
6
119
127
109
18
59
25 1
33 1 8
8
The Fast -Track training program is a condensed 12-week course designed for certified
firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. It streamlines the onboarding process by allowing qualified
candidates to bypass the full 9-month training. The program focuses on department -specific
protocols, advanced skills, and physical conditioning, enabling participants to integrate efficiently
into active service within the fire department.
The Mid -Track training program is a six-month training course by the Fort Worth Fire Department
for certified EMTs or paramedics. It focuses on developing firefighting skills and covers fire
suppression, rescue operations, hazardous materials handling, and physical fitness, preparing
participants to meet the fire service's requirements.
The Full -Track Fire Department training program is a comprehensive 9-month course designed
to train and certify recruits as both Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and firefighters. This
program provides in-depth instruction in fire suppression, rescue operations, hazardous materials
handling, emergency medical response, and physical fitness, preparing recruits to meet the
rigorous demands of the fire service.
Recruit Performance Overview
The performance overview of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and fire training highlights
substantial progress and consistently high achievements. EMT training has demonstrated a clear
upward trajectory, achieving a steady 2% improvement between consecutive classes, culminating
in an impressive 91 % score for Class 94. Fire training has remained reliably strong, with scores
consistently ranging between 91 % and 95%, showcasing minimal fluctuation. While fire training
continues to outperform EMT, the gap between the two has noticeably decreased, particularly in
Class 94, where the difference is just 1 %. These results reflect positive strides in EMT training,
indicating successful efforts to enhance performance and close the gap between the two areas.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1918
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
October 22, 2024
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON RECRUITMENT AND HIRING OF SWORN
PERSONNEL IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Recruit Class
Class 88
Class 89
Class 90
Class 91
Class 92
Class 93
Class 94
Class 95
Class 96
Class Average (EMT)
84%
Fast Track
90%
86%
86%
Fast Track
91%
Fast Track
Mid Track
Class Average (Fire)
91%
Fast Track
94%
95%
92%
Fast Track
92%
Fast Track
90%
Since participants in the Fast -Track program are already certified, they are not required to take
class exams, and no class average is calculated. The program focuses on department -specific
protocols, hands-on skills, and physical readiness to ensure smooth integration into active
service. The same applies to the Mid -track program regarding EMT certifications.
In summary, the Fire Ad Hoc Staffing Committee's efforts and City Council support resulted in the
hiring of 119 new recruits and significant improvements in diversity and training. For further
information, please contact Fire Chief James Davis at (817) 392-6801 or via email at
iim.davis(a�fortworthtexas.gov.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS