Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue recently released their 2024 annual report.

Within the report, it highlighted an increase in response, stable funding in times of high inflation, and the status of some of the projects they've been working on.

Dale Way, the interim fire chief & CEO of Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, says one of the biggest accomplishments from the last year was implementing an auto aid agreement in select areas with the Reno Fire Department.

This agreement stated the closest unit would respond to the call.

They had about 13,700 responses over the last year, which was above the previous year.

They also spoke on the lessons they learned from the Davis Fire.

Interim Chief Way went on to say “That one was actually a good response, we believe that our emergency management worked well along with all of our other responding agencies.”

They also pointed out their Green Waste Collection program has been very successful.

This collection is in efforts to prevent fires, but unfortunately, with budgetary restrictions, they won't be able to offer it this spring even though they used to offer the program twice a year.

However, they do anticipate bringing the program back next fall, but as of right now, the crews that generally manage that program are going to be busy burning a backlog of material they've accumulated over the last two years.

Way says, “Our citizens brought in more than 2,100 loads of green waste in pickup trucks, trailers, etc.… so obviously very successful in reducing the potential out there.”

As for the budget, he says they're doing ok, but they do foresee having issues in the future with increased costs.

He also gave us an update on a station they're currently building.

Way explains, “We’re really happy we’re finally able to move ahead and complete the capitol improvements for the Hidden Valley station, station 37. It’s been a long time in the making. We had originally purchased a house, but the neighbor next door decided to sell us their house, which was closer to our land, so we bought that house and turned it into living quarters for our crew and are now building the apparatus bay.”

They also mentioned they would like to have another station next year on the I-80 corridor, which would be known as station 35.

And with the warmer weather coming along, they also wanted to give the community some reminders:

  • Create defensible space around your home.

  • Be mindful of open burning.

  • Dispose of green waste properly.

  • Clean your exhaust fans.

  • Fully extinguish fires when camping.