2012 Final Run Numbers

Here are the final run numbers for 2012 and the number of responses needed to qualify for the pension.

Number of EMS Runs: 50
Needed to Qualify: 5

Number of Fire Runs: 34
Needed to Qualify: 4

How the Pension Works

This is an overview of the requirements to qualify for the pension. If you elect to join the pension fund, state law requires that you respond to at least 10 percent of all calls annually, and attend at least 10 percent of all training. Please note that these new rules apply only to members of the pension plan.

According to the state board, the rules apply only to those calls generally considered appropriate for each firefighter. So, if you are an EMT, first responder, or IV tech, only ambulance calls will count toward your minimum. Calls to fires will not be counted. 

Conversely, if you are not an EMT, first responder, or IV tech, we will not count ambulance calls toward your total; we will count only fire calls.

Our department receives more ambulance calls than fire calls. When a fire truck accompanies the ambulance to an EMS call, credit will be given to firefighters who accompany the ambulance, but it will not be counted as a fire run. Only non-EMS calls will be counted as fire runs, unless there is a specific fire call as well as an EMS call. For instance, a motor vehicle accident where one of the vehicles is on fire.

If you are an EMT, first responder, or IV tech:

• All EMS (ambulance) runs will be counted as EMS runs and count toward the annual total that you are responsible for
• You will be credited with a response for each EMS run you respond to
• You must respond to at least 10 percent of all EMS calls and attend at least 10 percent of all training, including the annual EVIP training
• Fire calls will not count toward the total runs you are responsible for
• If you do respond to a fire call (non-medical call), you will be credited with a response and it will count toward your EMS runs

If you are a firefighter:

• All fire runs (non-medical, non-ambulance) will be counted as fire runs and count toward the annual total that you are responsible for
• You will be credited with a response for each fire run you respond to
• You must respond to at least 10 percent of all fire calls and attend at least 10 percent of all training. This means that the annual EVIP training is mandatory.
• EMS (ambulance) calls will not count toward the total runs you are responsible for
• If you respond to an EMS call (e.g., accompanying the ambulance to an accident scene) you will be credited with a response and it will count toward your fire runs

Please note that you will receive credit for “crossover” responses. That is, firefighters who accompany the ambulance will receive credit for a response toward the total fire runs. EMTs who respond to fires will be credited toward EMS runs. No response will go uncredited.

If you fail to meet these requirements for any given year, you will not receive pension credit for that year and your money will either be refunded or applied to next year's pension if desired.

Also note that percentages are rounded up. The law reads that you must respond to at least 10 percent of the calls. So if there were 10 calls and you responded to one, then you fulfilled the requirement. However, if there were 11 calls, then you would need to respond to two calls for your response percentage to equal at least 10 percent.

Here is an overview:

• All non-EMS runs will be counted as fire runs.
• All EMS runs will be counted as EMS runs.
• When a fire truck accompanies the ambulance on an EMS run, the EMTs will be given credit for an EMS response and the firefighters will be given credit for a fire run, but it will not count as a fire run.

Run sheets will be used to determine each person’s tally of call responses. For each call you respond to, please ensure that your name is included on the run sheet (not the incident report) so that you can be credited for your response.

IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to make sure that your name is on the run sheet.