2025 Year in Review: Growth, Response, and Community Impact at the Statesville Fire Department

The City of Statesville Fire Department remains a rapid response force committed to protecting the safety and well-being of the community from all hazards.

Watch the full replay of Chief Kurfees presentation to City Council below:

Department Overview

As outlined in the report, the Statesville Fire Department:

• Has been Accredited since 2014
• Achieved ISO Class 1 status in 2023
• Operates four fire stations
• Maintains four engine companies and one ladder company 
• Serves four fire districts divided into 25Geo-Proximity Zones (GPZ)
• Is in planning and preparation for Station 5, scheduled to open in July 2026

Apparatus Inventory

The 2025 Operations Apparatus Inventory includes:

• 4 Front Line Engines
• 1 Front Line Aerial
• 3 Reserve Engines
• 1 Reserve Aerial
• 1 HazMat Truck & Trailer
• 1 Rescue Trailer
• 1 ARFF Truck
• 1 UTV
• 1 Brush Truck
• 1 Battalion SUV
• 1 Ventilation Trailer
• 1 Boat 

Growth & Budget Overview

The SFD Service District (city limits) covers 31.07 square miles, equating to one fire station every 7.77 square miles.

In 2025:

• City limits increased by 24.99%
• The estimated population (31,693 based on the 2024 Census) increased 11.52% since the 2020 Census

Financial highlights include:

• FY 25/26 Operating Budget: $12,705,875 (17.67% increase from FY 24/25)
• FY 25/26 Capital Budget: $396,000 (38.89% decrease from FY 24/25)

Calls for Service (2021–2025)

From 2021 through 2025, the department responded to 29,362 total calls for service.

In 2025 alone, SFD responded to 7,027 total calls, including:

• 942 Fire
• 4,252 Medical
• 196 HazMat
• 477 Technical Rescue
• 6 ARFF
• 1,154 Other-Emergency

The report notes:

• Non-Emergency calls were merged with Other
• Response Class in 2023. Response Classes were modified on July 1, 2025, in the SFD RMS to better define incidents and reduce the number classified as “Other".

Mutual & Automatic Aid (2021–2025)

Between 2021 and 2025, SFD participated in 932 total incidents involving aid:

• Mutual Aid Received: 65 (6.97%)
• Automatic Aid Received: 285 (30.58%)
• Mutual Aid Given: 150 (16.09%)
• Automatic Aid Given: 432 (46.35%)

Response Classifications

The report outlines structured response classifications for:

• Fire (Low, Moderate, High, Maximum risk categories)
• Emergency Medical Services (Low, Moderate, High)
• Hazardous Materials (Low through Maximum)
• Technical Rescue (Low through Maximum)
• Aviation Rescue & Firefighting (ARFF)
• Other Response Class

The presentation emphasizes prioritizing response times, noting that structure fires can reach flashover in 3–5 minutes and that brain damage is possible after 4–6 minutes without oxygen in cardiac arrest situations.

Community Risk Reduction Programs – 2025 Activity

The department’s Community Risk Reduction efforts in 2025 included:

• 133 Plans Reviewed
• 138 Permits Issued
• 124 Fire Investigations
• 881 Fire & Life Safety Inspections
• 1,069 People Trained to Use Fire Extinguishers
• 14,234 People Reached with other Fire & Life Safety Programs
• 32,500 Community Events Outreach
• 43,605 Public Safety Media Announcements
• 32 Car Seat Safety Checks
• 192 Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector Installs

Strategic Initiatives for 2025–2030

The department’s strategic initiatives include:

1. Department Growth with City Council Support
2. Pay & Benefits Enhancements
3. Communications & Service Delivery
4. Physical Health, Mental Health, & Wellness Enrichments
5. Strengthening Community Risk Reduction & Public Education Efforts
6. Technical Rescue Program Improvements

The 2025 Year in Review reflects continued service delivery across a growing city, structured response classifications, measurable community engagement, and a strategic vision for the future.

For more details, view the full presentation here.