Scottsdale, Arizona
Rural/Metro's Scottsdale operation is a shining example of how the public and private sectors can come together to run an efficient, responsive fire department.

Rural/Metro has served Scottsdale, Arizona since 1948, first through a subscription program and, when the city incorporated in 1951, through a contract for fire protection that has been stringently evaluated and renewed ever since.

Working in conjunction with city officials, Rural/Metro has been a positive force for improvement in Scottsdale. In addition to the most efficient emergency services available, Rural/Metro provides residents with significant tax savings and extensive community service programs.

Rural/Metro's innovation has also helped to make Scottsdale one of the safest cities in the country. For example:

• An in-depth six-month study cited the Scottsdale Rural/Metro Fire Department as "one of the best fire departments we have had the opportunity to review;"
• Rural/Metro was instrumental in leading the passage of a residential and commercial fire sprinkler ordinance that has made Scottsdale a proven safer city in which to live and work (to view a 10-year study about fire sprinkler safety in Scottsdale click here)
• Taxpayers pay less than 46% of the national average for their fire protection
• Scottsdale's current fire loss rate is 235% better than the national average
• Scottsdale's emphasis on fire prevention has resulted in an incidence of structure fires that is more than 300% lower than the national average.

Scottsdale deserves a great deal of credit for Rural/Metro's success because, from the very start, city officials encouraged innovation in thinking. As a result, Rural/Metro was able to explore different methods and technologies to meet the city's needs. (To view Rural/Metro Fire Department's 2001 Annual Activities Report to the city of Scottsdale, click here)

Today, Scottsdale is national headquarters for Rural/Metro, as well as its flagship fire operation. Rural/Metro's dedication to quality service and efficiency has made Scottsdale a safer, better place to live.

What We Do
Since personnel costs account for up to 70% of a fire department's budget, Rural/Metro uses an innovative staffing blend of full- and part-time firefighters.

In Scottsdale, Arizona, Rural/Metro actually staffs fewer full-time firefighters per capita than most traditional fire departments. We hire the right number of firefighters full-time to make the initial response promptly and quickly. But Scottsdale also staffs a large number of highly trained, state-certified "on call" reservists who respond as back up for full-time firefighters to all major incidents.

In addition to this standard reserve program, Scottsdale also operates a groundbreaking fire support program through which 40 city workers are also trained as reserve firefighters. These city workers -- who hold city posts that they can leave for a few hours without disruption -- serve on four teams of 10 persons each. The four teams rotate service, each responding to calls one week out of every four. Every member of the "on call" team is guaranteed to respond as back-up to full-time firefighters on all major fires.

Scottsdale also benefits from Rural/Metro's emphasis on fire prevention. Rural/Metro dedicates 15-20% of its total budget to prevention activities, operating a comprehensive program to prevent and minimize fires. Prevention activities include:

• Stringent fire safety codes
• Plan inspection of all commercial properties
• Frequent site inspections of all buildings, including those under construction
• Free home fire-safety inspections
• A variety of public education programs and events designed to help residents prevent fires and other emergencies from occurring.

Keys to Doing It Well
Studies have shown that Scottsdale, Arizona has a significantly lower fire loss rate and per-capita cost than comparable communities.

In addition to our progressive staffing structures and enhanced fire prevention activities, the keys to achieving this success include:

Flexibility and accountability in our contracts.
Rural/Metro operates under a performance-based contract that requires we meet specific standards in critical areas such as response times to emergencies; training levels; and community service programs.

Firefighters cross-trained for medical response.
Rural/Metro's efficiency enables the company to fund Scottsdale's ambulance service entirely through user fees ... at no taxpayer expense. Rural/Metro applies the revenue gained from user fees and subscriptions to fund an integrated paramedic program that staffs all Scottsdale fire and ambulance units with paramedics. This ensures optimal paramedic coverage and availability, and the quickest possible paramedic response to medical emergencies. All ambulance personnel are cross-trained as firefighters to provide additional manpower on fire, rescue and hazardous materials scenes.

A Philosophy of Responsiveness.
Rural/Metro offers a number of non-emergency services beyond the scope of traditional firefighting. These services include removal of snakes and other poisonous reptiles, assistance to individuals locked out of their cars or homes, and emergency utility shut off in the event of burst water pipes.

Superior Training
Rural/Metro firefighters are among the best trained and equipped in the nation. Our quality assurance program ensures that all personnel remain state certified for both firefighting and emergency medical response. In addition, we emphasize continuing education that exceeds the training requirements of most fire departments.

Extensive Community Service Programs
Rural/Metro follows a philosophy of total community involvement. We're proud to be a part of the communities that we serve, so we continuously give back to them all that we can through donations and volunteerism in numerous community service programs.

National Purchasing Power
Rural/Metro's posture as a national leader in the fire protection and ambulance industries provides significant savings in the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies. Our purchasing power enables us to buy the best at a fraction of the standard cost. We also provide customers with savings through a systematic approach to procurement, warehousing, product distribution and inventory.