By: Emergent Team
Summer brings more than warm weather. For many fire and EMS departments, it brings a sharp uptick in call volume. Wildfires, heat-related medical emergencies, and large public gatherings all stretch resources thin. When demand spikes, preparation makes the difference between running smoothly and being caught off guard.
What is the summer surge in fire and EMS?
The summer surge refers to the seasonal increase in emergency calls, often due to heat waves, wildfires, festivals, and recreational injuries. Agencies may see spikes in both EMS and fire responses, requiring additional staffing, vehicle uptime, and real-time data visibility.
Predictable Challenges Require Proactive Tools
Departments that prepare for seasonal volume swings typically do so with better operational outcomes. The key is using available technology to stay ahead of predictable stressors. That includes everything from regular vehicle inspections to leveraging telematics and dynamic dashboards.
1. Use Telematics to Stay Ahead of Fleet Stress
Summer heat is hard on vehicles. High temperatures can lead to increased mechanical failures, especially in older engines or ambulances.
Telematics systems track vital fleet data in real-time: engine diagnostics, fuel consumption, brake wear, battery health, and more. With smart alerts and maintenance thresholds, your team can address problems before a breakdown sidelines a unit during a critical call.
2. Prioritize Preventive Maintenance and Inspections
With longer daylight hours and more calls per shift, fleets are stretched thinner. Emergency vehicles that skip preventive checks are more likely to fail when they’re needed most.
Digital inspection tools help enforce daily checklists and flag repeat issues. Departments using mobile-friendly apps can assign tasks, log compliance, and set automated maintenance alerts. When teams can spot issues early, they keep vehicles out of the shop and on the street.
3. Deploy Real-Time Dashboards to Track Crew and Asset Status
With multiple overlapping events—think city parades, wildfire staging, or Fourth of July weekend—visibility is everything.
Real-time dashboards allow departments to monitor apparatus location, unit status, crew availability, and incident type from a centralized view. This helps commanders rebalance resources on the fly, adjust shift coverage, and track operational readiness.
Dashboards also make it easier to communicate with city partners, giving visibility into where assets are deployed and when help might be stretched thin.
4. Adjust Staffing for Peak Periods
Many departments don’t have the luxury of adding staff in the summer. But knowing when call volumes rise lets you make smarter decisions with the team you have.
Reviewing historical call data (hourly, daily, and weekly) can help you optimize shift timing and staffing assignments. You might adjust lunch hours, front-load shifts, or pair newer crew members with senior staff when call complexity peaks.
If your software includes analytics dashboards, you may already have the data you need to identify these trends.
Equip Your Department for the Demands of Summer
Emergent’s software solutions were built with exactly these seasonal pressures in mind. From inspection tools to real-time dashboards and asset tracking, we help departments stay operational even in peak demand.
With lightweight, mobile-first software that connects field crews and command staff, your team stays informed and efficient without piling on administrative work.
The summer surge doesn’t have to catch your department off guard. With the right tools in place, you can meet demand with confidence.
Want to see how your department can prepare for peak season? Contact us today for a demo.
