Report to the Community 2024

Message from the Chief

As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024, I am proud to report another year of growth, resilience, and service to our community. The Boise Fire Department continues to be dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents, visitors, and fellow first responders. It has been an honor to lead such a committed and skilled team of professionals who consistently go above and beyond to serve the City of Boise.

This year, we faced both new challenges and opportunities. From responding to an increased volume of emergency calls to managing significant wildfire risks, our firefighters demonstrated exceptional preparedness, teamwork, and adaptability. In addition to the traditional aspects of fire and EMS response, our department has made considerable strides in addressing our water rescue, technical rescue, hazardous materials, wildfire response and prevention, and community outreach programs. We continue to invest in training and equipment to ensure we are prepared for any situation.

The heart of Boise Fire lies in its members and our partnerships. Collaboration with local organizations, neighboring fire agencies, and our community members has proven crucial in enhancing our preparedness and response capabilities. Through programs like fire safety education, our public outreach initiatives, and our unwavering commitment to reducing risk, we are building a safer Boise for generations to come.

As we look to the future, we remain focused on continuous improvement. We will prioritize maintaining and enhancing our response times, investing in firefighter health and safety, and integrating innovative technologies to support our work. We are committed to maintaining transparency and ensuring the community’s trust through regular engagements with our residents.

I want to take this opportunity to thank every member of the Boise Fire Department for their unwavering dedication, as well as our community for their continued support. Together, we are making Boise a stronger, safer, and more resilient city.

Sincerely,

Chief Niemeyer signature.

Mark Niemeyer
Fire Chief, Boise Fire Department

Chief Niemeyer, a man with short gray hair and fire chief uniform, posing in front of an American flag. — Boise Fire Chief, Mark Niemeyer

Overview

New in 2024

Completed Station 5 rebuild,
Broke ground on new Fire Station 13

Coming in 2025

Complete new Fire Station 13

Boise Response Area + Fire Stations

With 18 fire stations and 300+ employees, the Boise Fire Department responds to Ada County fire and rescue calls for service in Boise, NACFR, Sunset and Whitney fire districts.

By the Numbers

The Boise Fire Department works with other nearby Fire Departments and Fire Districts to respond to fire and rescue calls for service in Ada County. Use the small grey buttons below to filter between Boise, NACFR and Whitney fire districts as well as by year.

Station Information

Call Volume by Station Number

Investigations, Inspections and Resident Impact:

Comparing station information data across several years helps to identify the effectiveness of interventions and areas that may need improvement going forward.

Firefighter putting yard waste into a large chipper machine.

WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE (WUI)

Slope Mowing

City of Boise Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with Boise Fire Wildfire Division, annually mow fuel-breaks directly behind homes in Chief Eagle Eye, Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve, and along roadways and trails.

Neighborhood Chipping

City of Boise Parks and Recreation and Boise Fire conducted free neighborhood chipping on 9 dates in 2024, chipping and removing approximately 62 yards of hazardous woody biomass. We had approximately 100 homes that participated in chipping.

NEIGHBORHOOD CHIPPING PROGRAM

Wildfire Home Safety Evaluations

We have completed approximately 448 Wildfire Home Safety Evaluations to date, with 15 of those completed in 2024.

HOME WILDFIRE EVALUATION

Wildfire Deployments

The Boise Fire Department Command Staff meets on a regular basis to evaluate and discuss capacity to meet the needs in Boise while also deploying personnel and resources to assist other jurisdictions across the nation. This effort contributes to the National Response Framework, developed by FEMA to coordinate large scale disasters from the local to national level. All costs for personnel and equipment are reimbursed to the City of Boise for this work outside the city. In 2024, Boise Fire deployed to:

34 Wildfire Assignments
25 Incidents
10 States
557 shifts

Firetruck drives down a winter road at dusk.

Firefighters fighting a wildfire at night.

Notable Incidents

A fire truck drives down a Boise road at dusk.

January 31, 2024

Tonight, at approximately 5:00 pm MT a privately owned hangar that was under construction collapsed. The hangar construction site is on the Boise Airport’s airfield near W. Rickenbacker St. and Luke St. Three people died on scene, and 9 people were injured. Five of the injured are in critical condition and receiving care at local hospitals. The response included 3 Airport Rescue Firefighting units, 8 Boise Fire engines, 3 Boise Fire trucks, 2 Battalion Chiefs, 1 Division Chief, 3 Safety Officers, 2 heavy rescue units, 10 Ada County Paramedic units including 6 ambulances, 3 Canyon County Paramedic units including 2 ambulances, 4 Acute Rescue and Transport ambulances, Gowen Field Fire Department, Idaho State Police, Boise Police, Ada County Coroner, Garden City Police, and Airport Operations.

February 3, 2024

At approximately 5:30 pm tonight Boise Fire responded to a mutual aid request for a truck that rolled off an embankment on Hwy 21 at milepost 13. When fire crews arrived, they found one patient near the Highway, and immediately provided patient care. They also found a truck and one other patient 150 feet down a steep hillside. Boise Fire’s tech team was called in to rescue the patient. They lowered 150 feet down, immobilized and packaged the patient in a basket, and brought her safely up the hill to an ambulance. Both patients were transported to local hospitals with significant injuries. There were no other reported injuries. The response included Engine 12, Truck 7, BC 1, and 3 Ada County Paramedic units.

March 22, 2024

At 10:15 pm tonight, Boise Fire was dispatched to a reported structure fire on the 9200 block of W Ustick Rd. Upon arrival, fire crews found a three-story, Victorian-style home fully engulfed in flames. Six fire engines and one ladder truck worked quickly to establish a water supply and an elevated master stream to bring the fire under control within 20 minutes of arrival, stopping the spread to neighboring structures. At the height of the battle, firefighters were flowing 3,000 gallons of water a minute on to the fire, and had to establish two separate water supply sources. Sadly, two dogs died in the fire. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians. Firefighters remained on scene overnight and through the morning to ensure the fire would not reignite. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

Our hearts go out to the family. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of their pets and historical home.

Fire fighters approach a helicopter in the foothills during the day.

May 31, 2024

Around 3 pm this afternoon, Boise Fire and Ada County Paramedics were dispatched to the 8th Street Extension to rescue a patient in an ATV that rolled off the road down into a drainage. Moto 1, Moto 2, ATV 1 and Tech 7 were deployed to reach the patient 150 feet down the hillside. Due to the steep terrain, a low-angle rope rescue system was used by tech team members to get the patient back up to the road. Boise Fire and Ada County Paramedics provided patient care and packaged the patient for transport. Due to the patient’s significant traumatic injuries, Life Flight was called in to transport him to a local hospital. The response included BC 1, Engine 2, Engine 1 (Moto 1, 2 and ATV 1) Tech 7, EMS 20, M15, and Life Flight.

Strong work by the crews from Boise Fire, Ada County Paramedics, and Life Flight for quickly working together to find, package and transport the patient to get him the care he needs.

A fire truck drives down a rural street during the day.

June 21, 2024

Today around 4:45 pm, Boise Fire and BLM were dispatched to a grass fire in the Foothills near N. Collister Dr. on Polecat Gulch. Upon arrival, fire crews found a 4-acre grass fire threatening a home and a barn. Firefighters worked quickly to protect those structures. The fire was mapped at 36 acres and contained just after 6 pm on June 22. There are no reported injuries or damage to any structures. In total, 30 units from Boise Fire and BLM are worked to control the fire. The cause of the fire was arson.

Fire Fighters put out fire in Boise neighborhood during the day.

July 4, 2024

It was another busy Fourth of July for Boise Firefighters with 31 reported fires between yesterday and this morning. Early this morning, around 5:45 am, Boise and Meridian Fire were dispatched to a structure fire involving two homes on the 4500 block of Cochees Way. Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy fire coming from one of the houses that was extending into the neighboring house. ACSO arrived on scene evacuating nearby residents. Firefighters coordinated fire attack, knocking down the fire, while also protecting the other surrounding homes. The fire did extensive damage to both of the homes, and the Local 149 Burnout Funs is supporting the displaced occupants. There were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire was improper disposal of fireworks.

At 1:36 am this morning, fire crews also responded to an exterior fire that was extending up the side of the house on the 5500 block of S Missoula Way. The fire was caused by improper disposal of fireworks. There were no reported injuries.

Fire truck and fire fighters block a road in the Boise foothills.

July 22, 2024

Tonight around 8:30 pm the Boise Fire HazMat team responded to a tractor trailer leaking liquid on I-84 eastbound at Milepost 62. Approximately 200 gallons of sodium hydroxide was released on to the road and into the ditch. Upon arrival, Engine 12 decontaminated the driver on scene, as HazMat technicians and Clean Harbor worked to clean up the spill using floor dry to absorb the product. The driver was transported to a local hospital. There were no other reported injuries. I-84 eastbound was closed while crews contained and cleaned up the spill but it has since reopened. The chemical spill was caused by ten 300-gallon totes that had slid forward in the trailer, damaging the front right tote. The floor decking of the trailer was then damaged from the chemical.

October 4, 2024

The fire was reported Friday, October 4, 2024, about 1 mile east of Boise on the north side of Idaho State Highway 21. The fire was very visible from East Boise as it burned in mostly grassy fuels in the Boise Foothills. Quick work on initial attack stopped the fire from reaching nearby homes. The Bureau of Land Management, Boise District, along with the Boise Fire Department and other local agencies led initial firefighting efforts. Resources include hotshot crews, engines, dozers, and aerial resources. No injuries were reported. The fire burned around 10,000 acres. The cause of the fire was from a downed Idaho Power line.

Firemen put out fire in the Boise foothills.

October 30, 2024

This afternoon, Boise Fire and BLM responded to the Leeds Fire located roughly 5 miles southeast of Boise. Upon arrival, crews initially found a slow-moving brush fire moving towards the south. A change in wind direction caused the fire to burn to the north at a higher rate of speed threatening homes and a subdivision. Fire crews immediately worked to protect the structures while also working to contain the fire. A CodeRed was sent out to nearby residents notifying them of the fire. No evacuations were ordered. The fire was contained around 8 pm last night. A shed, outbuilding, and some fences were damaged in the fire, but no homes were lost and there were no reported injuries. The fire is mapped at 354 acres. BLM is investigating the cause of the fire.

In the Community

Engaging with the community is an integral part of the Boise Fire Department. Boise Firefighters attend several events city-wide each year, including National Night Out, the Boise Veterans Day Parade, Fire Safe House, Shine a Light at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, and numerous school and event visits. Boise Fire also partners with the West Ada School District to provide fire prevention education. Each October, firefighters visit around 60 schools, meet over 10,000 elementary students, and provide information on the importance of smoke alarms and having a fire escape plan.

A firefighter helps a child down from a latter on the Fire Safety House vehicle.

Public Education

173 smoke alarms installed in 35+ homes
4,128 students at 62 different schools reached through Fire Safety Week
7,400 estimated attendees at 40 different National Night Out parties
2,973 students at 58 different schools reached through the Safe House

Group of firefighters standing next to several people who use wheelchairs.

Firefighter giving a small child a high five.

Firefighter kneeling down with small children feeling his helmet.

Firefighter kneeling down next to a fire truck showing kids the fire hose.

Firefighter in a classroom reading a book to a group of kids.

We Want Your Feedback

The Boise Fire Department takes great pride in serving the people of Boise and we are always looking for ways to improve our service to the community. We launched a new ongoing community survey to gather feedback on our service after an incident. Whether we responded to a call at your house, your neighborhood, or we provided an inspection or other public service, we want to hear from you.

TAKE SURVEY

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