Why This Measure Matters

A rapid fire department response to priority calls helps to ensure public safety and save lives. Tracking response time performance helps effectively allocate resources and identify opportunities for improved operational efficiency.

What’s the Story?

In 2025, the Olympia Fire Department (OFD) met National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) response time goals 53% of the time citywide. All districts experienced some decrease in performance during the year.

The primary factor contributing to this decrease was call concurrency, meaning the number of simultaneous emergency responses occurring within a district at any given time.

Throughout 2025, OFD also placed significant emphasis on training and workforce development. Approximately 40% of OFD firefighters are within their first three years of service, requiring increased training and mentorship support.

In addition, OFD remains committed to maintaining its strong Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) rating and ensuring compliance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) training requirements.

Target

The NFPA standard calls for Fire Department total response time to be 7 minutes and 6 seconds or less 90% of the time.

Performance Measures: 90% and above is On Track, 50% to 90% is Caution, below 50% is Off Track.

Reporting frequency