Clive and Urbandale Initiate New Response for Fire/EMS

The Cities of Clive and Urbandale changed the way their fire departments respond to calls last October. Fire department calls for service will no longer be based on the geographical boundaries of the cities but are responded to by the closest fire or ambulance available from either fire department. This allows the unit that is closest to the call to respond providing the quickest response to a call for help.

According to Clive Fire Chief Rick Roe, “We have always had a great relationship with Urbandale. We share a training facility, a common dispatch center and we have always worked closely with each other through mutual aid and other projects and this simply takes that relationship to the next level.” The results of this collaborative effort will be that a fire truck or ambulance will reach the scene of an emergency sooner. “This is about getting help to those calling for help in the fastest manner without an artificial barrier” said Urbandale Fire Chief Jerry Holt.

The new process dispatches the closest available unit without regard to the city in which the call is located. “There are locations within both of our cities that are closer to the neighboring city’s fire department. It is a good idea to get an ambulance or fire truck to a call for help in the quickest manner.” Chief Holt explained. “It makes no sense to make someone wait to have their call for help answered so that the city in which the call is located can respond. A great example would be a location within Urbandale on 86th Street just north of Hickman Road. Clive is closer and can respond faster to that location so why don’t we do that?” Chief Roe added “This response configuration puts the customer first. It is all about providing the best possible service regardless of location or city. Working together we can add efficiency and provide the best possible response to a call for help. ”

So if you see an ambulance or fire truck in Urbandale with “Clive Fire Department” on it, take comfort knowing that it was closer to a call and could get there faster than an Urbandale unit. There may even be times where Urbandale units are tied up on a call and Clive units will respond to areas closer to an Urbandale station. “That may be confusing to someone who doesn’t understand the “closest unit response” initiative” according to Chief Holt. “They may wonder why a Clive unit is in Urbandale and it appears that the Urbandale unit is not busy. It is simply because the Clive unit was closer. If they need additional help from Urbandale, they will simply call for Urbandale units to respond.”

Our two fire departments spend a great deal of time working and training together. Both cities need an added fire and EMS presence in the northwestern portions of our cities and they are working together to provide cost efficient services to those areas. Urbandale residents approved a proposed station that could provide services to both cities in that area while sharing operational cost back in November.

If you have any questions, please contact Chief Holt with the Urbandale Fire Department (515-278-3970 or via email @ jholt@urbandale.org) or Chief Roe with the Clive Fire Department (515-223-1595 or via email @ rroe@cityofclive.com)