Chandler Fire Chief Dwiggins had done things to greatly improve the department since he took over, which has lead to lower home insurance costs for you. We talk to the Chief about this and what it is like day-t-day to be a firefighter.

1:00 Introducing Chandler Fire Chief Tom Dwiggins

Always wanted to be a fireman
Did ride-a-long when in high school
Joined military out of high school to serve the country
In Air Force went in the firefighter department

3:15 What did you do when you got out of Air Force? A month after discharge Tolleson hired him as a volunteer firefighter

4:52 How has training for firefighter changed?

More EMS coverage
New techniques for fighting fires
More with hazardous materials
Wider range of emergencies

6:03 How often does the Chandler fire department respond to an actual fire?

26,500 incidents total
10% fire related
Not as many fires as 30 years ago because of fire prevention
Fire code improvements help cut down and make safer

7:58 Fire Station in Chandler

11 fire stations in City of Chandler
Believe we are built out as fire department
4 firefighters on every truck

9:32 What is the daily life of a fireman like?

Every shift change inventory and test all equipment at 8am
Develop a plan of the day
1 hour of physical fitness a day
Community events

13:06 What is the process from 911 call to on scene

An alarm goes off in station notifying you of a call
Immediately head to the truck
A computer screen in the truck will have real-time from dispatch
Assignments will be given out on the truck
When an alarm goes off they are told what type of emergency, but are ready for any different scenarios

16:10 What different threats do you run into on scene?

Respond to shootings and assaults
Often will see a fire truck parked with us inside, staging for a dangerous situation
Sometimes an incident that could turn violent
Trained to identify situations

18:02 What is the relationship with neighboring Cities

We share resources, no borders
We respond into neighboring cities, they respond into ours
911 sends a signal to closest truck no matter City
If Chandler truck is closest to a Gilbert situation, they will be dispatched
We received automatic aide about 3,000 times a year and sent out aide over 2,000 times
When we send a bunch of trucks to help in Gilbert, Phoenix will send trucks to sit in our stations to help cover anything that may go on
Phoenix has most resources outside of NYFD

23:12 What does a 5-alarm fire mean?

Amount of resources
1st alarm is 1-6 engine companies so 5-alarm would mean 30 engine companies and 12 ladders responding

24:26 What type of events are hazmat teams called out to?

Hazmat team goes through 5-week academy
Any environment with chemicals
Car fires
Businesses or cars with chemicals on scene

25:55 What are some of the preventive measures that are working?

Youth training
We go into Chandler Unified and talk to them about fire safety
1st and 2nd grade classrooms, when we get to them young it has a lasting impact
Christmas tree watering is a big message
Deep fryers at Thanksgiving
Social Media helps
Youth face-to-face adults social media
No texting and driving and leaving kids in cars

30:35 I recently read your ISO rating is 1, can you explain what that means

Insurance rating
Water systems
1-10, 1 is elite, 10 is bad
We have been a 3 for a long time
Impacts insurance rates, lower rating, better the premium
We made an effort to lower it to get to a 1
Less than 1% are ISO 1's
Our City has helped us do what we needed to achieve this

34:13 If you had a friend from out of state thinking of moving here, what would be your sales pitch why Chandler is so great?

Parks
Schools
Well run
Neighborhoods
Community support
Safe
Great jobs
What is going on downtown

36:30 What are the charities your crew is involved in?

Involved in community
Coaching
Chandler Firefighters Charity
Used to help victims of fire
97% contribute from paycheck
Golf tournament helps raise money
Help homeless with hotels and clothes

41:25 Buddy coming in, what should they do and where to eat?

Downtown Chandler events
Veterans Oasis Park
Serrano's

Resources Chandler Fire Department Website Chandler Firefighters Charity Chandler Fire on Instagram Around Chandler on Instagram