Fire partnership improving emergency responses for Jackson area

An ongoing partnership between neighboring fire departments is proving to be a success for the Jackson area, resulting in faster response times, patient outcomes, and cost savings.

In Aug. 2023, the Jackson Fire Department and the Summit Township Fire Department launched a collaboration that allows fire units to respond to medical emergencies, fire alarms and vehicle crashes outside their township or city limits if the call is closer to where they are stationed. A partnership already existed for fire responses.

One year into the expanded partnership, fire officials are reviewing response data and finding many benefits. From Aug. 2023 to Aug. 2024, Jackson firefighters responded to 414 calls for service in Summit Township. During that same time, Summit firefighters responded to 430 calls for service in the City of Jackson. Records also show that the average emergency response time from a Jackson crew to Summit was 4 minutes, while Summit's average response to Jackson was 3.5 minutes. This balance in call volume and improved response times shows that the expanded zones are optimizing both department's resources.

Officials are also reviewing how the shared resources are improving responses to fire emergencies. Looking at three structure fires that happened in Summit Township over the past year, Jackson fire crews were able to reach the emergencies in an average of 2.5 minutes, while it took Summit firefighters an average of 6.1 minutes to arrive.

Reducing travel distances is bringing down expenses for the fire services. From Dec. 2023 to April 2024, Jackson saw an approximate $5,000 reduction in fuel costs for vehicles and Summit saved approximately $6,000 on fuel. The shorter travel distances are further reducing maintenance costs for vehicles and equipment.

Deputy Fire Chief Tim Gonzales says residents of both communities are seeing the benefits of this partnership. "When every second counts, an efficient response can save lives and improve patient outcomes," Gonzales said. "Dispatching the closest unit also frees up other resources to respond to additional calls. This is particularly important in situations where multiple emergencies are happening at the same time."

Summit Fire Chief Tim McEldowney says the collaboration has improved responses to hard-to-reach areas in the township, such as neighborhoods along Francis Street. "When someone calls 911 for help, there shouldn't be a difference in the level of service they receive, no matter what side of the border they're on," McEldowney said. "This collaboration helps make both departments more sustainable as we face rising costs while still providing high quality service to residents."

The success of this partnership has brought additional agreements for the two departments. A Summit fire truck is now stationed at Jackson's Fire Station No. 2. It is staffed by off duty personnel from both departments who respond to callback requests during significant incidents. This provides full coverage to both communities during a major incident or if another emergency occurs. This effort is being tried out over a three month period. Summit fire trucks are also now being repaired by Jackson's Department of Public Works.