EDEN PRAIRIE FIRE DEPARTMENT
2024
E P F D XCELLENCE RIDE AMILY EDICATION
Station1
14800ScenicHeightsRd
Engine12,Quint11
Personnel:11FTCareer,1Captain, 3Lieutenants,18PTDutyCrew Station2
12100SunnybrookRd.
Engines21&22
Personnel:1Captain,3Lieutenants, 21PTDutyCrew
Station3
7350EdenPrairieRd
Engines31&32
Personnel:1Captain,3Lieutenants, 18PTDutyCrew Station4
17920LinwoodCt.
Engine41,Tower41
Personnel:1Captain,3Lieutenants, 16PTDutyCrew
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF
FIRE STATIONS
Station1servesasthedepartment’sheadquartersaswellas themainhub.ItalsoservesastheHennepinEMSparamedic ambulanceservicestation.TheStation1serviceareaisthe largestoftheCity'sfourstationsanditscrewrespondstothe mostincidents.Station1isalsotheCity'sprimaryEmergency OperationsCenter(EOC).
Station2isnestledinthebusiest"quadrant"oftheCity whichincludessingle-familyhomes,multifamilyapartments, seniorliving,EdenPrairieCentermallandothercommercial establishments. Station3islocatedacrossfromthepopularRoundLakePark andwithinwalkingdistancetotheCommunityCenterand EdenPrairieHighSchool.Itistheoldestactivestationin EdenPrairie.
Station4isthenewestofthefourStations.Station4is alsohometotheCity'sback-upEmergencyOperations Center(EOC).
MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF
It is my pleasure to share the Eden Prairie Fire Department (EPFD) 2024 Annual Report with you. This past year has been a year of change, challenge and flexibility for the EPFD, and while this report captures many data points and several accomplishments, there is so much more to celebrate and much more is planned for the years ahead
The EPFD is a combination Fire Department utilizing full-time staff and part-time staff (Duty Crew firefighters) for our service delivery. The EPFD continues to place great focus on community risk reduction, including building code inspections, fire and life-safety code inspections, fire prevention education, plan review, preplanning, and public relations with our skilled and innovate building inspections and fire inspections teams. The Emergency Services Division (operations) continues to focus on high-quality effective service delivery, and its Technical Operations Specialist continues to provide innovative solutions to our communications and security needs throughout the City.
In 2024, an outside consultant, Citygate, performed a standard of cover and staffing study for the EPFD. The study results provide a framework to strengthen our service delivery. A strategic implementation plan has been developed from the study to include adding additional full-time staff, station enhancements and process changes within various divisions. The plan provides guidance to staff all four fire stations 24/7/365 within the City.
While the contents of the Annual Report focus on details and data from the Fire Department’s programs, projects and performance, it is the people we serve and the people providing the service who are at the heart of the mission. I want to say a big thank you to our people! We are very fortunate to have such a supportive community, City staff and elected officials, which allows us to provide exceptional service delivery to our community.
In 2024, we lost Joseph Johns one of our Duty Crew firefighters to a tragic off-duty incident. Joseph provided high-quality service, was a leader in personal growth and development, and was a friend to all He is greatly missed by all who were fortunate to know him
I am proud to serve the City of Eden Prairie and lead the incredible team of dedicated men and women at EPFD. As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024, we continue to be focused on what is yet to come for the EPFD and the outstanding community we serve. Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and support!
Scott Gerber, Fire Chief
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL
Lisa Toomey, Mark Freiberg, Ron Case, PG Narayanan, Kathy Nelson
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Rick Getschow City Manager
Ward Parker
Assistant Fire Chief Operations
Scott Gerber Fire Chief
Justin Johnson Assistant Fire Chief Training/ Health & Safety
Rik Berkbigler Assistant Fire Chief Emergency Management & Prevention
Patrick Maynard, Captain 6, Technical Operations
Josh Privette, EMS Coordinator
Cori Wallis, Quartermaster
Matthew Roberts, Tools Coordinator
Matt Worthington, Captain 5, Training
Jeff Carrane, Inspector 1
Dave Shepard, Inspector 2
Rob Cross, Inspector 3
Mat Stulz, Inspector 4
4 Captains
12 Lieutenants
73 Part-Time Duty Crew Firefighters
Angela Dahler Fire Admin
Steve Kartak Building Official/ Building Inspections Manager
Wendell Stockwell, Building Inspector
Tim Fadden, Building Inspector
Mike Uttenhove, Building Inspector
Terry Enstad, Building Inspector
Ken Kragness, Plan Reviewer
John Nelsen, Plan Reviewer
Lisa Morrill, Building Insp Support Specialist
Riley Lundeen, Building Insp Support Specialist
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
TheEdenPrairieFireDepartment(EPFD)hasexistedasafiredepartmentwithintheState ofMinnesotasince1967.TheFireDepartmentisoneofsixcoreserviceareasthatcomprise EdenPrairie'sCitygovernmentoperations.EdenPrairieislocatedincloseproximitytothe Minneapolis-St.Paulmetroarea,providingaperfectbalanceofsmalltownfeelandbigcity amenities.TheFireDepartmenthasanInsuranceServicesOfficeratingof3.
ThepopulationofEdenPrairieisover65,000andtherearemorethan2,800businesses. EdenPrairieishometoonepublicschoolsystemandthreeprivateschools.
TheEPFD'sserviceareaisapproximately36squaremilesandconsistsofamixofresidential, businessandindustrialareas.
TheprimaryservicesprovidedbytheEPFDinclude:FireSuppression,FirstResponseBasic LifeSupport(BLS),EmergencyMedicalServices,CommunityRiskReduction,Fire PreventionandInspections,FireInvestigations,Training,HazardousMaterials"Operations Level"Response,SpecialRescue(MarineandTechnical)andTechnicalOperations.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to provide residents, elected and appointed officials, and any other interested parties, a concise summary of what the EPFD has accomplished in 2024.
SCOPE
This annual report contains information about the emergency responses, training, personnel and non-emergency activities undertaken by the EPFD from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024. The report summarizes these activities using the best available information at the time of the report's compilation.
HISTORY
March 16, 1967: The Eden Prairie Village Council votes to establish a volunteer fire department. Ray Mitchell and 20 members made up the initial group.
April 1, 1968: The department places into service its first fire apparatus. The truck was purchased with funds donated from the Eden Prairie Lions Club.
January 23, 1975: The department places into service a tanker truck. This unit allows the department to transport water more effectively to a fire scene.
September 28, 1978: During remodel work at the Mitchell Road Fire Station some building material caught fire, giving the department a new record response time to a fire.
December 21, 1983: After 17 years serving as Chief of department, Ray Mitchell steps down and returns to the rank of Firefighter. Ron Johnson is appointed as his replacement.
October 8, 1988: The newly remodeled Station 3 and the brand new Station 2 are open for business. The former station on Technology and Flying Cloud Drive is decommissioned.
March 13, 1990: Spencer Conrad is voted in as the department's third Fire Chief.
January 11, 1994: While under construction, the Eden Prairie water tower catches fire. According to Asst. Chief Mike Rogers the fire was sparked by a welder's torch.
October 1, 2012: scheduling their time on duty.
une 17, 1999: The new (and current) Station 1 is opened. The previous location on Mitchell Road was demolished to make way for the new freeway on-ramp. This station serves as the department headquarters today.
September 5, 2002: George F. Esbensen is appointed as the s first full-time Fire Chief.
City'
March 3, 2007: Eden Prairie's fourth fire station is opened at Dell Road and Linwood Ct.
Duty Crews are established and members of the department are now Their presence is still needed for larger incidents but the majority of the calls are handled by those at the stations. The first shift began at 0500.
December 3, 2015: Accident). versatility when responding to incidents.
Quint 11 is placed into service and responds on its first run (Motor Vehicle The Quint is a first-of-its-kind apparatus for Eden Prairie and provides more
The department kicked off its 50 years of service celebration. Current and retired firefighters gathered at Fire Station 1 to celebrate the event.
March 16, 2017: April 1, 2019: the fifth Fire Chief of Eden Prairie.
After the retirement of former Chief Esbensen, Chief Scott Gerber was hired as
3,337
CALLS FOR SERVICE
Suppression calls include structure fires, car fires, fire alarms, water flow alarms, smoke scares, in-flight emergencies and industrial accidents.
YEARLY CALLS FOR 2024 CALL CATEGORIES
SERVICE COMPARISON
CALLS
FOR SERVICE CALLS FOR SERVICE BY CATEGORY BY TYPE
Duty Crew calls are paged to staff on duty at the fire stations. Calls labeled as 'ALL' are paged to the entire department and include structure fires, water, aircraft and railroad incidents.
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
The Fire Department provides technical operations with security systems for City buildings, radio tower and microwave maintenance, dispatch console support and maintenance, and mobile and portable radio support for public safety and public service users in the City. Staff members also provide support to other agencies.
TECHNOLOGY
In 2024, the Technology Division started the multi-year process of integrating and consolidating many of the software programs we use in our response capacity and in our day-to-day operations.
The First Due software suite was launched in the spring with a goal for our responders to have critical information easily at their fingertips. EPFD technical staff, functional area stakeholders and the City’s IT staff partnered to migrate multiple applications into one comprehensive platform.
On the Fire Prevention side, we launched First Due modules for Pre-Plans, Inspections, Investigations and Community Outreach. Operations implemented modules for personnel records, response, incident documentation, events and reporting.
In 2025, we will continue the migration with daily checks and inventory management, scheduling and training. When complete, the goal is to have as many of our applications as possible integrated together or interfaced in this platform.
In 2024, the focus for public service radio was on infrastructure upgrades, new product testing and design/planning for the dispatch center remodel. A Motorola backbone hardware refresh and transcription equipment updates were just a few of the tech updates that were performed. Next Gen Portable radios were tested and will likely make their debut in 2025.
In mid-2024, Fire Prevention, Fleet Services and the Technology Division collaborated to expand the Key Secure and Key Defender devices to most public safety vehicles. This project allows us to better support system additions and changes, and expanded the device footprint to more vehicles. This new platform also enhances security on the access side of our response.
And finally, data, data, data. Numerous data projects and requests came across our area. Our data warehouse platforms, introduced in 2023, helped manage these many requests. The Citygate study, ISO survey, grant applications and many other data requests have increased as we look to shape the future of the department.
Many more changes are in store for 2025, and we will be kept busy once again.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Emergency Medical Service calls include medical emergencies, vehicle crashes and other life-threatening conditions. EPFD works collaboratively with the EPPD and Hennepin Healthcare EMS to provide these patients experiencing medical conditions with the best possible care. This call area also includes responses where firefighter(s) provided critical patient care with the paramedics in the ambulance while en route to a hospital.
EMS CALLS — FD RESPONSE
Fl RE EMS CALLS
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
Emergency Medical Service Response (EMS) is a core component of our service delivery. Our EMS system in the City is a tiered and collaborative response which includes the Eden Prairie Fire and Police departments, and Hennepin HealthCare EMS. The police and fire personnel provide “first responder” service to ensure timely and effective patient care in a time of need. Fire Department staff are trained as emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians or paramedics.
The knowledge and skills of the firefighters, police officers and paramedics, along with the state-of-theart equipment we have at EPFD allow for timely and effective lifesaving procedures to be started quickly and continued while enroute to a local healthcare facility. In 2024, the overall healthcare system, including the emergency medical services delivery, has continued to be impacted with staffing and service delivery challenges.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
TECHNICAL RESCUE
EPFD provides first-response capabilities for technical rescue incidents. EPFD works with the State system for technical rescue response, which includes the Edina Fire Department and Task Force 1.
FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT
The EPFD provides emergency response and preventive fire and life safety inspection at the airport in collaboration with the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) staff and businesses onsite.
Emergency response to unplanned events at the airport occurs with a unified and collaborative team. Any coordinated team response includes staff from the Police Department, Hennepin HealthCare EMS, MAC and other agencies as needed.
Additionally, the City has a Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission which meets quarter. The Fire Chief serves as the staff liaison for the commission.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
EPFD provides first response capabilities for hazardous materials incidents. EPFD works with the State system for hazardous materials response, which includes the Hopkins Fire Department as our Chemical Assessment Team.
WATER AND ICE RESCUE
EPFD provides first response rescue capabilities for all types of water and ice-related incidents. EPFD uses two boats, specialized technology, ropes and coldwater rescue suits.
FIRE INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS
The Fire Inspections Division is responsible for conducting fire code inspections of all existing businesses, single-family/multifamily rental properties and hazardous materials occupancies within the City. In addition, the fire inspectors are responsible for life-safety reviews, fire code evaluations, permit and licensing oversight for buildings, and field inspections for all new commercial and rental properties. Kitchen hood and duct grease removal, hood system maintenance and kitchen fire protection system operation are all components of the division's regular, routine fire inspection program. These inspections are conducted during non-business hours in restaurants, schools and corporate cafeterias. There were 5,451 inspections completed by the division in 2024.
All fire inspectors are qualified to perform fire investigations and act as primary investigators for all fires that occur in the City. The division also supports the Hennepin County Fire Investigation Team. The division investigated 44 fire incidents in 2024, including structure, vehicle, grass, dumpster and cooking fires.
2024 saw the rental market expand by 475 rental units in occupancies sprinkled for rate save
two new apartment
remains a focus. permitting programs hazardous materials rental licensing and paperless process for the implementation of a Full implemented. has been successfully paperless inspection process The inspections program. effectiveness of our ongoing increase the efficiency and electronic technologies to work processes and focused on applying new Prevention Division remains rental growth, the Fire keep up with forecasted inspection capabilities to For our fire complexes.
FIRE INSPECTION SAFETY
There are over 14,000 inspectable occupancies in Eden Prairie that require fire and life-safety inspections on regular intervals. Eden Prairie will see continued development of additional housing and commercial space ahead of the light rail going into operation.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
While code enforcement primarily maintains quality of life standards, it also plays an important role in the early identification of unsafe entry and exit points, maintaining access for emergencies, identifying exterior hazards, reducing public health hazards, and ensuring compliance with the building and fire codes. The EPFD is responsible for enforcing ordinance requirements throughout the City. The Fire Prevention and Building Inspections divisions collaborate with Community Development and other departments to define solutions that meet the needs of the customer and the overall safety of the community. The community is currently classified as an ISO 3-city, which means your home is less likely to be severely damaged or destroyed by fire and may be cheaper to insure. Communities are scored on how well-equipped the City's Fire Department is to extinguish fires in that community.
FIRE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION
The EPFD believes the best fire is a fire that is prevented. Throughout 2024, the department's Fire Prevention Division continued to offer opportunities for the community to learn about fire safety and community risk reduction.
EPFD events such as the Citywide Open House, Night to Unite, Neighborhood Night at The Fire Stations and life-safety education events for community groups attracted over 7,300 participants.
and a great success. The Fire Prevention Division along with our firefighters remained engaged in youth education during 2024. Camp was attended by over 120 children. Our youth fire prevention emphasis continues to build the fire safety culture of the future. The fire prevention education program encompasses all ages, from our seniors to our youngest residents who attend area daycare facilities. The collaboration of Fire, Parks and Recreation, and Police departments makes this event a team success.
In addition to community events, fire inspection staff members remain engaged with our schools on fire prevention education.
Safety Camp once again was well-attended
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
BUILDING INSPECTIONS
The Building Inspections Division performs public safety functions by ensuring that construction which occurs within the City of Eden Prairie conforms to various state and local building codes. The purpose of these codes is to provide safeguards for life, limb, health, property and public welfare by ensuring that buildings are constructed and maintained safely.
INSPECTIONS
PERMIT VALUATIONS
ePERMITS AND eSCHEDULING
To better serve our customers and improve efficiency, we continue to implement eServices. Currently we offer ePermits and eScheduling which allows our customers to receive many types of permits and schedule inspections online. We implemented ePlan Review services in 2024.
PERMITS I SSUED
In Eden Prairie, we strive to minimize any potential negative impacts of the building code and/or code enforcement by working with with contractors and owners to achieve code compliance, not against them. The division’s primary activities (services) include plan review, on-site inspections, approvals for occupancy, permit issuance, collection of fees and providing information to the public.
RECRUITS
2024 was another successful year of recruit firefighter training and onboarding.
Four experienced firefighters graduated from the Fast Track Fire Academy in March. An additional six Fast track recruits started their journey in December, joining the department’s 2024-2025 Fire Academy. All six remain on track to graduate in March 2025.
TRAINING
THE FUTURE OF EPFD
In 2024, the EPFD dedicated considerable time to ongoing education for its current staff. This included providing additional training opportunities resulting in the certification of 14 new Fire Apparatus Operators, 7 Boat Operators, 11 Front Right Seat Officers, 9 Blue Card Commanders and 6 Emergency Medical Technicians.
TRAINING
19,896
TRAINING HOURS
195 AVERAGE HOURS PER FIREFIGHTER
Our department’s training program offers opportunities and flexibility to address the evolving needs of both the organization and its members. Firefighters can participate in weekly department training sessions, train during their shifts, and pursue additional external training to enhance their knowledge and refine their skills in firefighting, medical response, hazardous materials management and special operations.
The EPFD is proud of its training programs for firefighters, from recruits to veterans. Training is the backbone of the department, emphasizing both confidence and competence.
This training demonstrates firefighters practicing fire attack techniques.
Firefighters receive ongoing training to maintain proficiency in several critical areas, including roadway safety, fire suppression, occupant rescue, hazardous materials management and emergency medical skills. Additionally, ranks, such as firefighter wellness, understanding psychological trauma, nutrition, the importance of sleep and cancer awareness. The Training Division ensures the curriculum aligns with the requirements necessary for firefighters to training covers topics that are relevant to the fire service across all regions and and Licensing. retain their Minnesota State Certifications
COMMUNICATIONS
DISPATCH
The City of Eden Prairie operates its own Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), also known as a dispatch center. All 911 calls made in Eden Prairie are sent directly to the dispatch center, allowing for enhanced, personalized customer service.
Eden Prairie Public Safety Telecommunicators answer emergency and non-emergency calls, make sound decisions for successful emergency management, and formulate a line of questioning to effectively prioritize and dispatch resources to the public. They ensure responder safety by accurately documenting information, disseminating relevant facts, and maintaining the status of firefighters and police officers while on a call.
All Public Safety Telecommunicators are trained to effectively maneuver through several different systems to perform all facets of the position: utilizing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone technology, participating in the Matrix Allied Radio for Emergency Response (ARMER) and knowledgeably accessing numerous criminal justice related databases.
Eden Prairie dispatchers also serve as liaisons between the public and the various City departments, serving as the primary contact for various departments after hours, on weekends and on holidays.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
ALL-HAZARD
APPROACH
The City of Eden Prairie has adopted the all-hazard approach to emergency management and crisis response. The Fire Department serves at point for the coordination of the emergency management system. City preparedness and overall community preparedness are cornerstones to our system. In 2024, we conducted Citywide emergency management tabletop training exercises with City departments.
The Fire Department and the City are committed to promoting a culture of resilience and to ensuring that everything possible has been done to prevent, mitigate and manage a catastrophic event.
Collaborated with Police and Parks and Recreation on Community Center evacuation drill
Updated the City’s Emergency Operations Plan Emergency Operations upgrade and setup documentation completed
Collaborated and executed reunification drill with Eden Prairie Schools
Conducted joint CERT training with Hopkins, Minneapolis and St. Louis Park
Produced and distributed special event plans for all large gatherings
The Fire Chief also serves as the City's Emergency Management Director and is responsible for:
Overall accuracy and readiness of Emergency Operations Plan
Ensuring the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is functional and ready to be used
Defining and updating the City’s hazard mitigation plan
combined plan with —
Hennepin County
Training personnel for the incident command system
Coordinating emergency management efforts with the South Region and Hennepin
County Emergency Management
OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
Outdoor warning sirens are used as part of an overall comprehensive Eden Prairie has 17 sirens which are
warning and notification system.
When outdoor warning sirens sound, they are for real emergencies and are designed to warn people who are OUTDOORS to seek immediate shelter. They are not designed to warn people who are indoors.
The siren sound is always the same, regardless of the type of emergency. If the sirens sound, DO NOT call 911 to ask what’s going on. Seek shelter and turn on the TV, radio or other device for information.
Testing of outdoor warning sirens takes place on the first placed strategically throughout the community and are tested regularly by City staff for proper operation.
Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
CHAPLAINS
SUPPORT GROUPS
AUXILIARY
The goal of the Auxiliary is to offer support and encouragement as a unified group regardless of station, tenure or status. The Auxiliary actively avails their services to assist in EPFD events, programs or individual needs as requested.
The Auxiliary meets monthly to plan for participation in fire and police events.
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT)
The Eden Prairie Fire Department Auxiliary provides a network of support for EPFD personnel and their families to offer assistance in times of need or loss, and to recognize times for celebration. public safety system. being on call for the wearing a pager and Chaplains take turns safety responders. members and public care to community emotional and spiritual program that provides volunteer chaplain Department to support a works with the Police The Fire Department
Community engagement in the emergency management process reinforces resiliency and readiness. One effective method of reinforcing this engagement is by supporting CERT, a group of highly motivated volunteers who are advocates and resources in the event of an emergency incident. These individuals go through an extensive training program and meet monthly to maintain their skills. The Fire Department coordinates the CERT group to secure resources, assist with training and to provide oversight. This program has over 50 members to help increase involvement in neighborhood activities.
2024 KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
EMERGENCY SERVICES/ OPERATIONS
Pre-build on three new engines
Sold Engine 22
Upgraded headlights and emergency lights to LED on older trucks
Completed annual required testing on:
Hose
Ground ladders
Ladder trucks
Gear cleaning
Pump testing
TRAINING
Fire officer development remains a component of our fire officer training curriculum.
Monthly officer meetings also provide incident command development, mental health and leadership skills.
INSPECTIONS
5,451 fire inspections were performed
Replaced an open Fire Inspector positions due to internal promotions
Updated Key Secure Program to improve building access during emergencies
Implemented new First Due
Inspections and Preplan software to improve documentation and efficiency
Conducted over 400 plan reviews for fire suppression systems in new and existing occupancies
Participated in numerous fire investigations in Eden Prairie and in other suburban fire districts
Conducted fire extinguisher and hands-only CPR training for Eden Prairie businesses and private organizations
PROMOTIONS AND YEARS OF SERVICE
PROMOTIONS
SAM MULVANEY— LIEUTENANT
DAN BIRD— LIEUTENANT
JAMES CRABTREE— LIEUTENANT
MATHEW STULZ — FIRE INSPECTOR
DAVE SHEPARD — FIRE INSPECTOR
10 YEARS
BERNARD DE HOOG
COLE HYTJAN
BEN JOHNSON
COLLIN O'BRIEN
5 YEARS
ADRIAAN BRESLER
JAMES CRABTREE
ROB CROSS
MATTHEW ROLAND
DAVID SHEPARD
BRIAN SYKES
20 YEARS
MIKE LYNCH
25 YEARS
WARD PARKER
2024 RETIREES
IN MEMORIAM — JOSEPH JOHNS
Joseph emphasized the crucial role of mentorship, demonstrating how effective development and strong relationships can inspire and uplift others. His warm smile, infectious laugh and genuine personality resonated deeply with those around him, making a lasting impact on everyone he met.
Firefighter Joseph Johns
Badge #332
Years of Service
2015 – 2024
