Report to the Community

Overview

By the Numbers

Total Investigations

• 2022 - 125 investigations
• 2021 - 87 investigations

Incidents in Boise Fire's Response Area

Total Boise Fire Department Responses

In total, Boise Fire Department responded to 25,806 incidents in 2022. This is a 16% increase in the last 5 years.

Boise Fire Department Response Time

The Local 149/Community Assistance Fund

Boise Firefighters raise thousands of dollars each year to put back into the community through donations of food, coats, toys, and other items for families in need.

The Boise Firefighters Local 149 Community Assistance Fund is funded entirely through generous donations from Boise community members and businesses. None of the money used to fulfill our mission comes from tax dollars or the city budget, and firefighters volunteer their time.

In 2022, the Local 149 Community Assistance Fund:

• Donated almost $23,000 to those in need as part of their Random Acts of Kindness programs.
• Donated over 200 brand new coats to students and families in the Boise School District through Operation Warm.
• Partnered with Boise School District social workers to help more than 110 local students with back-to-school supplies.
• Helped over 17 families with short term shelter, clothing, food, and furniture after they were displaced by a large apartment fire.
• Provided over 180 children with brand new toys for the holidays at the Toy Brigade

In 2022, the Local 149 Burnout Fund:

• Donated $20,100 to families affected by fires from 28 different incidents.
• Boise Firefighters Stairclimb Team ranked 3rd overall, raising $16,582 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Firefighter Rich Brown was the 2nd highest ranked individual, raising $9,167.

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Wildfire Division

Over the course of the 2022 wildfire season, we sent 37 personnel across 5 states; Montana, Arizona, California, Utah and Idaho. Our members contributed over 6,000 hours of work to fight wildfires across the West. The revenue generated from these deployments funds our education and training program, local fire mitigation projects, wildfire preparedness and public awareness programs. This year, funds generated will also be used for the purchase of a new Type 5/6 Brush Truck.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Southwest Idaho is one of the most fire-prone areas in the western United States. Despite that, homes are built where undeveloped wildlands meet the built  environment, at the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). Much has been done to combat wildfire risk in the WUI and efforts continue city-wide and with our partners, including the Bureau of Land Management. When it comes to prevention and education, we have an accomplished a lot in the past ten years.

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. In 2022, approximately 65 acres were mowed multiple times throughout the year, with several hundred homes better protected from the threat of wildfire.

Neighborhood Chipping

City of Boise Parks and Recreation and Boise Fire conducted free neighborhood chipping on 24 dates in 2022, chipping and removing approximately 78 cubic yards of hazardous woody biomass. We had approximately 133 homes that participated in chipping. We also held two (2) chipper trainings and currently have seven (7) fire department personnel trained on the chipper.

Neighborhood Chipping Program

Wildfire Home Safety Evaluations

We have completed approximately 433 Wildfire Home Safety Evaluations to date, with 59 of those completed in 2022.

Home Wildfire Evaluation

Boise Fire History

Boise Fire Department was created in 1876 as a volunteer Fire Department, officially organized with 28 men. As the population of Boise grew, the department grew along with it to meet the community’s needs. The Boise Fire Department now has nearly 300 full-time employees, 17 fire stations, a Fire Training Center, a Hazardous Materials Team, Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Team, Dive Team, and a Technical Rescue Team. The department serves a population of 237,000 residents in 130+ square miles.