Inside Maricopa Fire/Medical: A Year in Review

Published on April 17, 2025

A man in a fire department uniform speaks at a podium in a conference room. He appears focused, surrounded by seated attendees in casual attire.

Maricopa Fire/Medical Department (MFMD) recently presented its 2024 Annual Report to the City Council, highlighting a year of growth, service, and community commitment. Fire Chief Brad Pitassi shared insights into the department’s performance, emphasizing how MFMD continues to evolve to meet the needs of a growing city.

Check out the report here.

Here are five important things every resident should know:

1. Call Volume Continues to Grow

MFMD responded to 6,550 calls for service in 2024, the more calls for service in department history. The top types of calls included falls, sick individuals, breathing problems, and traffic-related incidents. These numbers highlight the increasing demand for emergency services as Maricopa grows and the department is expecting year-over-year increase in calls as the population and commercial developments continues.

2. Response Time Remains Strong
Despite the rise in calls, MFMD maintained an average response time of 6 minutes and 16 seconds. That includes both emergency (Code 3) and non-emergency (Code 2) calls. Quick response times save lives and reduce property damage during emergencies. Response time include multiple factors, the two pivotal ones are turnout times (the time it takes for the crew to get the call and hustle to the apparatus, and travel time (the time when the apparatus starts moving till it get to the scene.

3. Prevention and Inspection Efforts Expanded
Fire prevention plays a critical role in community safety. In 2024, MFMD Fire prevent in coordination with Building Safety conducted over 1,000 new development inspections, more than 500 business fire inspections, and nearly 300 permit reviews. These proactive measures help ensure buildings and events are safe before emergencies happen.

4. Training Hours Recorded Soared
MFMD logged over 8,000 training hours—a 41% increase over the previous year. From live fire drills to advanced rescue scenarios, daily training ensures firefighters are ready for any situation. A partnership with Nissan also gave crews valuable extrication practice using donated vehicles. This increase is a result of implementing a better training recording system to allow crews to report what they are doing easier and more efficiently.

5. Community Engagement Is a Top Priority
From hosting 15 school visits to having a dedicated presence at city events, MFMD expanded its reach in 2024. This was made possible due to the more than two dozen Fire Corps volunteers who dedicated their time to supporting the fire crews and connecting the community with valuable fire prevention resources.

Bonus: What’s on the Horizon for 2025?
MFMD is setting its sights and service expansion in 2025. One major milestone? The department has officially submitted a Certificate of Necessity (CON) application—a key step toward offering its own ambulance transport services in the future. If approved, this would allow MFMD to respond even more efficiently and ensure continuity of care from the moment a call is received to arrival at the hospital with it own staff.

As Chief Pitassi said, “We are only getting started.” With strategic planning, passionate personnel, and strong community partnerships, MFMD is committed to protecting Maricopa today—and preparing for tomorrow.