At the Sept. 9, 2025, City Council Work Study Session, the Scottsdale Fire Department provided an update on wildfire prevention strategies, the use of fire-retardant products, and the role of community volunteerism in supporting public safety.

Balancing Innovation, Professional Standards, and Volunteerism

Fire Chief Tom Shannon emphasized the unique position Scottsdale holds in public safety. While the City benefits from the service of more than 100 dedicated volunteers who contribute to prevention, education, and support functions, Scottsdale’s status as a metro-sized fire department requires a fully staffed career force for emergency response.

“Our city serves the public at a level that is internationally renowned,” Shannon noted. “Volunteers are an invaluable part of our mission, but the realities of fire and EMS response require professional staffing to meet national standards and protect the community.”

Chief Shannon acknowledged that it can feel contradictory to highlight the limits of volunteer firefighting while also honoring the tremendous value that volunteers bring. Scottsdale’s volunteer program contributes in prevention, cadet training, community outreach, logistics, and support roles, helping to create the world-class service for which the city is known. The utilization of volunteers is an operational item and therefore is within the Fire Chief’s scope of responsibilities to deploy as appropriate.

A History of Innovation in Public Safety

Shannon reminded the Council that innovation is part of Scottsdale’s DNA—from early adoption of residential fire sprinklers to leadership in special event management and emergency medical services (EMS) systems. However, he noted that profit-driven models in the past undermined public safety, culminating in the 2004 withdrawal of Rural/Metro from Scottsdale.

That moment prompted Scottsdale to create its own municipal fire department. On July 1, 2005, Scottsdale entered the Phoenix Regional Dispatch and Deployment “automatic aid” system—today the largest all-hazards emergency response system in the world outside of FDNY. This move exponentially increased survival chances for residents and visitors alike in emergencies ranging from heart attacks to mountain rescues.

Wildfire Prevention in and around Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Scottsdale is unique among metro-sized cities, because it includes the nation’s largest municipal preserve. At 30,500 acres, Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a community point of pride, but the natural Sonoran Desert flora combined with an expansive wildland-urban interface (WUI) – where the preserve abuts urban development – creates substantial challenges for Scottsdale Fire's planning and response.

The Sept. 9 City Council workshop reviewed fire mitigation efforts to protect the preserve that include ground-applied fire retardants, approved by the U.S. Forest Service, which can reduce vegetation flammability, reinforce fire lines, and extend water efficiency.

While effective, retardants must be carefully managed to avoid environmental impacts to waterways, wildlife, and sensitive cultural sites. The city reaffirmed its commitment to innovation in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and surrounding natural area open spaces (NAOS), built through decades of collaboration between residents, planners, developers, conservation groups, and public safety providers.

Looking forward

Chief Shannon concluded by underscoring his responsibility to ensure that Scottsdale’s fire and EMS services remain among the safest and most resilient in the nation. Volunteers will continue to play a vital role in prevention, outreach, and community connection. The ability to adjust volunteers lies with the scope of responsibilities of the Fire Chief as this is operational related.

“We honor our volunteers today and always,” Shannon said. “Their work strengthens our bond with the community, while our career firefighters ensure that Scottsdale meets the highest standards of public safety.”