Reno's Fire Chief says safety is the top priority for both the public and his crews.

The Reno Fire Department released its 2023 annual report yesterday.

Fire Chief Dave Cochran spoke to the media on Wednesday about the report. 

The chief spoke about multiple new vehicles including four new fire engines that are almost ready for use.

Last year, the department responded to nearly 50,000 calls.

To spread that workload around, the department implemented the single role medic program, which places two medics in an ambulance to respond to calls that do not need the resources of a full fire engine.

When it comes to wildfire prevention, the department has been using a team of goats to literally eat away at the growth that fuels wildfires.

But the main highlight of the report is the new central fire station that should be complete by 2028.

"It's going to be a multi-year project," said Cochran. "It's going to be right downtown, not too far from the Aces ballpark and it's going to serve downtown and will really be kind of the crown jewel of the fire department."

The chief also spoke about prioritizing health for his team. 

"We've been able to provide mental health support for them as well as cancer screenings," Cochran said. "The health and well-being of our members is always a primary concern and I feel very proud of the fact that we've been able to advance that at no cost to the members."