Jan 2023: Community Message from our Fire Chief

It's a new year and a time to reflect on the successes and challenges of the previous year. More importantly, it's an ideal time to plan how to improve in the year to come. In 2022, Rural Metro Fire responded to over 6800 incidents in San Tan Valley, including 23 structure fires. I have every reason to believe we will exceed 7000 responses in 2023. As your Fire Chief, I am always looking for ways to improve our service in the community to make it safer for everyone. When I look over my fire department, and the system as a whole, I can identify many areas that can be improved upon to better
serve the community.

Looking at other parts of the country and how they are structured in comparison to our community, time and time again I see the benefits of adapting how things are currently done in favor of more effective options. One of the options I plan on exploring in the new year is a regional response as opposed to our current jurisdictional one. Most modern fire systems utilize a regional response to ensure that appropriate resources are available when a call for service is received. These regional responses can also reduce the time it takes for a unit to arrive on scene and assist on calls that range from fires to motor vehicle accidents. With the community's input and the cooperation of our local government and fire chiefs, I know we can find ways to make our system better than it currently is for all residents of San Tan Valley and Pinal County.

Now, on a more personal note, holidays can be a strange time for many folks; dealing with family can be positive, stressful or both and memories can provide comfort or emotional pain at this time of year. It is always difficult, at least for me, to balance the excitement of the holidays with the knowledge, especially in this line of work, that accidents and illness don't stop because of the season.

As I wrote to my firefighters over the holidays, we (first responders) have the honor to be the ones who serve our neighbors when they may need help the most, 24/7/365. We experience the full range of life experiences, joy, trauma, triumph, and tragedy. It is an honor and a privilege to do what we do but, like everyone else, it can take a toll on our mental health. I encourage all first responders and those community members who feel increased sadness or depression this time of year to call or text 988 to speak with someone confidentially. Service members, veterans, and their families can also call 1-800-273-8255 to speak confidentially with a VA responder. As always, if you have an emergency, call 911.

I hope the holidays were peaceful and safe for all of you and, while looking forward to 2023, you are filled with hope and expectation.

Respectfully,
Tim Soule, MS EFO CFO
Fire Chief Rural Metro Fire