By Abigail Roberts
While experiencing high call volumes and service demands in 2025, the Stanford Fire Department also focused on advanced training and new initiatives to bring more services to the community.
Stanford Fire Chief Scott Maples and Assistant-Chief Brian Jenkins submitted an annual review of 2025 to Stanford City Council members this week. In the review, the department reviews training hours, service calls and new initiatives.
“Department members completed a total of 6,520 hours of training in 2025, ensuring our firefighters remain prepared to respond safely and effectively to a wide range of emergencies,” the review states. “In addition, several members achieved new certifications that enhance the departments’ overall capabilities.”
Man Vs. Machine
SFD has seen an increase in incidents involving industrial and mechanical equipment, particularly equipment used in factory settings.
In response to this, the department developed a new emergency response program focused on machinery-related incidents.
“Personnel were trained in specialized skills for these emergencies, now referred to as ‘Man vs. Machine’ responses,” the review states. “The department would like to recognized Builders Supply here in Stanford for their generous donation of specialized tools that allowed us to successfully launch this program.”
Pet Safety Awareness Program
This new program launched by SFD focuses on pet safety in relation to structure fires.
“Through a grant awarded by Wag N 02 For Life, the department received specialized pet oxygen masks kits and personnel were trained in their use, and these kits have already been successfully utilized during emergency response in 2025,” the review states.
For example, SFD used the new pet oxygen masks during a November house fire on Danville Ave., during which they treated several pets.
Cost-saving maintenance
The SFD has also implemented a new cost-saving maintenance program that aims to reduce annual operating expenses by more than $3,000.
“Personnel were trained to conduct fire hose testing in compliance with NFPA 1962,” the review states.
Rather than contracting this service to an outside vendor, SFD personnel were trained to conduct fire hose testing. SFD staff tested 8,050 feet of fire hose in house during 2025.
The department also brought minor repairs for equipment and apparatus in-house by utilizing one of the SFD members who is a dedicated mechanic.
“This initiative handled routine maintenance and less complex fixes internally, saving the department approximately $5,000 in labor costs that would otherwise have been incurred by sending equipment or apparatus out of the station for external service,” the review states.
SFD also enhanced it’s Fire Hydrant Maintenance program to improve fire hydrant management and reliability, according to the review.
“Throughout the year, personnel tested, and made minor repairs, to 288 fire hydrants, ensuring improved readiness and water supply for suppression operations across the city,” the review states.
SFD said the combined efforts during 2025 demonstrate the department’s proactive approach to enhancing operational efficiency, while maintaining high standards of equipment readiness and compliance.
“The accomplishments of 2025 reflect the continued professionalism, dedication and innovation of the members of the Stanford Fire Department, as well as strong support from City Council, Mayor and our community partners,” Fire Chief Scott Maples said. “I am proud of the work accomplished this year and remain committed to providing the high level of service to the citizens of Stanford.”
The review also provides a report of incidents for the entire year. SFD responded to the following incidents from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025:
911 – 4
Abdominal pain – 4
Accident non-injury – 20
Allergic reaction – 3
Animal Complaint – 2
Animal dog bites – 1
Assault – 1
Back injury – 2
Back pain – 2
BOLO – 1
Bleeding – lacerations – 5
Breathing problems – 26
Burns – fire – 1
C300/C500 – 7
Carbon monoxide inhalation – 3
Chest pain – 18
Child birth – 1
Control burn – 33
Deceased person – 5
Diabetic problems – 6
Dog complaint – 1
Domestic – 11
Drug-related – 1
Falls – back injury – 75
Fight in progress – 1
Fire – grass – 2
Fire – structure – 24
Fire – vehicle – 7
Fire alarm – 29
Fire inspection – 29
Fire unknown/other – 22
Gas leak – 35
General complaint – 21
Hazardous materials – 2
Hazardous road conditions – 3
Heart problems – 7
Injury accident – 65
Investigation – 21
Lift assist – 37
Lock out – 6
Log information – 11
Machinery – industrial accident – 1
Medical alarm – 9
Medical emergency – 169
Missing person – 3
Motorist assist – 5
Mutual aid – 1
Officer initiated – 7
Out of county/ car – 1
Overdose – 6
Phone call – 2
Phone/Power lines down – 4
Possible mental problem – 5
Psychiatric – behavioral – 3
Pursuit – 1
Seizure/Convulsions – 23
Shots fired – 1
Sick person – 22
Smoke odor – 5
Special detail – 18
Stroke – CVA – 9
Suicidal – 5
Traffic stop – 6
Train incident – 1
Training – 2
Tree down – 2
Unconscious – fainting – 17
Vehicle inspection – 1
Visitor – 4
Walk – in – 2
Warrant – 1
Water involved incident – 2
Water leak – 1
Welfare check – 16
