Fire Chief Jimmy Walker
Message from the Fire Chief
As I reflect on my first half year as Fire Chief, I am deeply honored to lead a team of dedicated, brave, and skilled professionals who work tirelessly to serve and protect our community. These past months have been a time of learning, growth, and reflection as I have come to understand the challenges and opportunities we face, and more importantly, the remarkable commitment of our firefighters and staff.
Our mission remains clear: to respond to emergencies with expertise, compassion, and efficiency, and to build a fire department that is as resilient and dynamic as the community we serve. Throughout the year, we have faced several critical incidents, and each time, I have been inspired by the professionalism, courage, and teamwork displayed by our personnel. Whether it was a large-scale fire, medical emergency, or another of the myriad types of incidents we encounter, the department’s ability to adapt and overcome challenges continues to impress me.
In the coming year, we will focus on several key areas to further improve our service to the community. This includes reviewing all policies and procedures to ensure maximum efficiency, enhancing firefighter training, and fostering stronger community outreach and prevention programs. We will also continue our work on maintaining the safety and well-being of our personnel, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to perform their jobs at the highest level.
I want to thank the community for its unwavering support of our department. We are deeply grateful for the trust and confidence you place in us every day. Together, we will continue to build a fire department that not only responds to emergencies but also works proactively to prevent them and create a safer environment for everyone.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of leading this extraordinary team. I look forward to continuing our important work together in the year ahead.
With gratitude and respect,
Jimmy Walker Fire Chief
Kirk Stobart Deputy Chief
Jeremy Watters David Shelley John Dixon
Craig Duplantis
Andrew Hacker Anthony Champagne
John Borel
David
FIRE CALLS
RESIDENTIAL
PRIVATE DWELLINGS
APARTMENTS
HOTELS/MOTELS
ALL OTHER RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
HEALTH CARE/PENAL INSTITUTIONS
STORES & OFFICES
INDUSTRY/UTILITY
STORAGE IN STRUCTURES
OTHER STRUCTURES
OTHER FIRES & INCIDENTS
HIGHWAY VEHICLES
OTHER VEHICLES
NON-STRUCTURE/NON-VEHICLE
BRUSH/GRASS/WILDLAND
RUBBISH/LDUMPSTERS
ALL OTHER FIRES
MEDICAL ALL OTHER RESPONSES/SERVICE CALL
DISPATCHED & CANCELLED EN ROUTE
HAZMAT RESPONSES
OTHER HAZARDOUS RESPONSES
FALSE ALARMS
AUTOMATIC ALARMS
MUTUAL AID GIVEN
4,264 3,963 259 244 1,039 772 3
Preparing and responding to all hazards
Once again the Independence Fire Department saw another increase in total alarms. This marks nearly a 20% increase of total incidents since 2020. The Public Safety Sales Tax that our Citizens approved in 2021 continues to be a life line for maintaining the Operations of the Emergency Services. However, wear and tear on our personnel and vehicle fleet continue to be a concern with the yearly increase in emergency and non-emergency responses. We spent most of the year evaluating our response plans and continue to look for creative ways to become more efficient in our Emergency Operations starting with the recent implementation of a new Report Management Software to better track this information. We are optimistic that changing the way we are Dispatched and what type of apparatus respond to different types of calls will help keep our
AVERAGE TIME IN MINUTES FROM DISPATCH TO ARRIVAL 2024 - 5:42
2023 - 5:44 2022 - 5:43
PERCENTAGE OF STRUCTURE FIRE CALLS RESPONDED TO IN UNDER 6 MINUTES 2024 - 95% 2023 - 91% 2022 - 91%
PERCENTAGE OF EMERGENCY EMS CALLS RESPONDED TO IN UNDER 6 MINUTES
Committed to delivering quality medical care to the community
The EMS Division had an active 2024, logging 1,845 hours of in-person EMS continuing education units on topics such as CPR, advanced cardiac care, airway skills and report writing. Significant EMS equipment improvements included the addition of refurbished LifePak 15 Cardiac Monitors, new IV catheters, and development of a new EMS stocking inventory. The agreement between IFD and MCC Blue River was updated to allow for two IFD members to attend Paramedic class with the cost paid for by the college. Lastly, the EMS division spearheaded significant department-wide projects, including major changes to dispatch criteria for medical incidents and a department-wide reporting system change to ImageTrend.
2024markstheendofasecondfullyear of operations for the ARCH program. In 2024, ARCH logged 1,610 follow-up community visits and 767 emergency responses, for a total service volume of 2,377 interactions. As a 911 response unit, ARCH returned or kept 722 fire, policeandEMSunitsin-service. Notable ARCH developments for 2024 includes the addition of two Ford Connect vans and the implementation of community health software that integrates with 911 information for improved data collection andpatient reporting.
The Logistics division was created in 2024 to increase department efficiency in reoccurring systems, standardize systems andprocesses, analytics, inventory control, cost reductions, and radio system maintenance.
Sustaining excellence
Comprehensive services to reduce risk
The Fire Prevention Division provides oversight and support for the inspection of all new and existing businesses, fire code compliance, plan reviews, fire safety/emergency preparedness education, public information and fire investigations. Other services include issuing fire department permits, burn permits/regulations, fire dispatch communications, records management systems and statistical analysis. The Fire Prevention Division employs an Assistant Chief, a Battalion Chief, five Fire Inspectors, and an Administrative Assistant II.
In 2024, the Fire Prevention Division experienced new challenges in the realm of fire investigations and public information. Under the direction of Fire Chief Jimmy Walker, the Fire Prevention Division has built a more robust relationship with the citizens, using social media and communications with local news agencies, allowing information to flow more freely and be more accessible to the public. The Fire Investigation Unit (FIU) has been instrumental in discovering origin and cause of building fires and has built a solid relationship with IPD investigators, who are called in when evidence of a crime has been discovered. IFD and IPD have created the Independence Joint Fire Investigation Unit.
These changes have put the Fire Prevention Division in a position to better serve the community by keeping people
reducing community risk and continuing to support IFD and the citizens of Independence.
The Training/Professional Development Division is led by a strong team consisting of a Battalion Chief of Training and an Assistant Chief. The Assistant Chief also oversees a Battalion Chief in the EMS division, ensuring a comprehensive approach to professional development. This team is further supported by an Administrative Assistant II.
In 2024, IFD hired two recruitment classes, totaling 18 recruits. Each class underwent a 30-day recruit academy. The year also saw the Training Division implementing a comprehensive 5-year strategic training plan. One of the plans key components is a 60 hour driver's program for all personnel, designed to be completed over three years with a 100% completion rate.
The best tools for the job
The Services division, comprised of Assistant Chief David Shelley and Battalion Chief Tony Champagne, has been responsible for maintenance and repair of all fire department buildings, apparatus and equipment. This includes:
53 Response vehicles and apparatus
18 front line apparatus
6 reserve apparatus
20 staff and support vehicles
2 UTV’s
7 other multi use trailers and maintenance equipment items
10 Fire stations and the Fire Training facility.
The Services division functions by coordinating with multiple City Departments (to include Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Municipal Services, and the Police Department) to provide the support needed by the department to function daily.
Here in Services, we also provide many ancillary support functions as well that include:
- Schedule and coordinate Bunker gear fitting (Recruits and current members) to include reviewing annual PPE inspections.
- Conduct and coordinate SCBA mask fit testing (recruits and current members annually)
- Help with and advise general budget issues, related to current vs. expected expenditures. This usually includes monitoring spending on maintenance and replacement with apparatus, stations and equipment.
- Maintain on provide all supplies and equipment needed on these apparatus and buildings.
- Schedule and provide needed items to conduct annual hose testing
- Schedule and conduct annual pump testing.
- Schedule and conduct annual ladder maintenance and testing.
- Schedule and conduct all vehicle familiarization and training with incoming apparatus.
New apparatus- During 2024, the department in serviced 3 newly remounted F550 light Rescue trucks (Rescue 3, Rescue 7 and a Reserve Rescue),1 new 110’ Precision ladder truck (Quint 7) and 1 new Spartan S180 pumper (Pumper 6).
New Fire stations- As the Project management team for the Department, this year we have started the process of Preliminary Station Design for 3 fire stations (replacement of fire station #8 to include training and storage facilities, fire station #5 and a new addition of fire station #11.) We are happy to announce that we will be moving into schematic design very soon as we bring on General contractors.
DAVID SHELLEY
MARK WAKTINS
MARK BIGGS
ANTHONY CHAMPAGNE
RYAN LAUX
ERIC MICHEL
ASSISTANT CHIEF
CAPTAIN
FIRE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
BATTALION CHIEF
CAPTAIN
BATTALION CHIEF
DANIEL BLAND
DAYTON DOCKINS
GAVIN DARBY
KENANIAH FELTENSTIEN
NATHANIEL FITCH
TYLER GANT
ZACHARY GRAHAM
CHASE HAMMOND
ANTHONY KRATOFIL
DRAKE PATTY
IMMANUEL PULIDO-VILLANUEVA
MARCOS RAMIREZ
GEORGE
ANDREW HARRIS
PAT
DON
DAN
ROBERT ATHEARN
LEE
MICHAEL “MICK”
MICHAEL HALL
BILLY CLARK
INSPECTOR
BATTALION CHIEF
CAPTAIN
BATTALION CHIEF
CAPTAIN
• NEW PUMPER 1 – MARCH 2025
• NEW PUMPER 4 – APRIL 2025
• NEW TRUCK 1 – APRIL 2025
• NEW PUMPER 5 – 4TH QUARTER 2025
• NEW PUMPER 8 – 4TH QUARTER 2025
• NEW STATION 8 – BREAKING GROUND JANUARY 2026
Proposed Station 8
Proposed
The Independence Fire Department will meet the challenges of present and future community needs through pro-active leadership, dedication to our core values, provision of quality All-Hazard emergency services, and community risk-reduction strategies in an efficient and effective manner.
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To consistently provide high quality services in the most efficient manner for our growing community and be recognized as a leader in providing quality Fire, EMS, and Emergency Preparedness services. IMPORTANT FIRE DEPARTMENT
