Discussion and Review of Fire Department Operations, Activities and Outlook Report — Staff Report

City of Tiffin Fire Department | Progress Report | Tom Hartshorn September 2026 Council Progress Report – City of Tiffin, Iowa Summary When I began serving as Interim Fire Chief, my initial focus was to provide stability and consistent leadership to the Tiffin Fire Department while evaluating the department’s organizational structure, culture, operational readiness, policies, staffing, training, and long- term needs. The intent was not to simply maintain the department during a transition period, but to identify areas where we could improve accountability, establish clearer expectations, strengthen our operational capabilities, and better position the department for the future. Over the last three months, significant work has been completed or initiated toward those goals. This update provides the Council with an overview of that progress and identifies several areas that will require continued attention. Current Department Status The department is very inexperienced and has experienced continued turnover over the past several years while call volume continues to increase. The increasing demands of the department will prove to be challenging in the coming years. Call Volume 2026 2025 2024 Calls YTD 453 426 414 Annual Calls 695 (expected) 664 620 % Growth 4.7% 7.1% Staffing Changes Incoming Outgoing 2023 3 6 2024 5 1 2025 6 6 2026 (YTD) 3 5