Decorah Fire Chief Reports on Response Times, Volunteer Shortages in Council Session

Your support keeps truth alive in Decorah—donate to local news today! DECORAH — The Decorah Volunteer Fire Department and Decorah Police Department presented public safety reports during a City Council work session on Monday, highlighting call response times, training hours and concerns regarding volunteer firefighter numbers. During the session, Fire Chief Jeff Clement reported that the Decorah Fire Department responded to 130 total calls over the past year, accumulating 1,632 man-hours on those calls. Training remained a significant focus, with firefighters logging a total of 2,646 training hours, averaging 102 hours per person. Clement also addressed questions about response times. "Our average response time, from the time we get paged to the time we get out the door, is about six to seven minutes," he explained. The department also participated in four mutual aid calls, assisting neighboring communities such as Calmar, Spring Grove, and Mabel. A shift in how response times are measured was also discussed. "Before, response time was calculated from page to on-scene, but that varies greatly depending on where the call is," Clement noted. Instead, the focus has shifted to tracking the time from page to the first truck rolling out. However, issues in reporting remain. "The last truck might be nine or ten minutes after the call, but it doesn't say that—it makes it look like they were all first truck. So we need to figure out how to do that better," Clement said. Concerns over staffing levels were also raised, as the department currently has 26 volunteers, well below the full roster capacity of 35. "In my 24 years, I've never seen it full," Clement remarked, adding that current numbers are at the lowest levels he has ever witnessed. Decorah Police Report Crime Trends, Staffing Updates to City Council Police department officials were unable to attend the meeting, but provided the council with updates on crime statistics and staffing levels, with reports covering the last two quarters of 2024. The third quarter saw 1,420 calls for service, averaging 476 calls per month, with 44 welfare checks and seven mental health calls. Arrests during this period totaled 79, with 22 being drug- or alcohol-related and 18 involving assaults. The fourth quarter saw a slight decline in calls, totaling 1,221, averaging 407 per month. Arrests, however, increased to 83, with 27 being drug- or alcohol-related. There were also 24 violations of protective orders recorded. While discussing overall crime trends, officials noted that in 2024, the Decorah Police Department investigated three attempted murders, all involving the use of a weapon and resulting in serious injuries to the victims. "The suspects were taken into custody quickly, isolating the threat to the community," City Manager Travis Goedken read aloud from the report, "The City of Decorah should feel proud of and protected by the professional services provided by The Decorah Police Department." The Decorah Police Department is currently operating with one officer vacancy, though officials noted that a conditional offer is in place for one candidate—pending the completion of pre-employment physicals. "We still have one position open that we're advertising for right now," Goedken confirmed. Feed your curiosity! Subscribe to the free newsletter and indulge in all that's local. Your friends will be impressed.