The agency responded to 13,698 calls last year, up 3.3% from 13,255 in 2018, according to data released by the city Tuesday. It adds to a steady climb during the past decade, with the department first hitting the 10,000 mark in 2013.
"We're seeing a lot more increase in our medical calls or other rescue-type calls, more than structure fires," Chief Shawn Krizaj said. "Why? That's a little harder to explain."
Only 260 calls — less than 2% of the total call volume last year — involved an actual fire. But medical and rescue calls totaled nearly 5,500, while miscellaneous incidents, such as smoke scares, lock-outs and animal rescues, increased to more than 6,800. Those are the types of incidents that make up the vast majority of the department's response.
Krizaj said the reasons behind the increase in call volume are likely multifaceted, and not necessarily a bad thing.