For fast-growing communities, few investments matter more than public safety. In Canyon, that reality became impossible to ignore as the population doubled in recent years, stretching emergency services thin and pushing long-standing systems to their limits. In 2025, the city set an ambitious goal: build the foundation for round-the-clock fire protection supported by stable staffing, modern equipment, and updated facilities. Today, that goal has officially become a reality.
A Goal Years in the Making
The transition to 24/7 staffing didn’t happen overnight. Canyon Fire Chief Dennis Gwyn explained that the department’s former model depended heavily on firefighters and volunteers responding from their homes. That system worked in earlier decades, but with call volumes rising—more than 1,700 calls in 2023, a record year—response times and staffing capacity increasingly became critical issues.
Gwyn shared that when he arrived as chief, establishing a fully staffed round-the-clock station was high on his list of priorities. “I came in as fire chief about 5 ½ years ago, and that was one of my goals. We finally have our staffing levels to the point where we can have four firefighters on duty at a time, and they’re working 48 hours on and 96 hours off.”
City leadership played a steady role in supporting that vision. As Gwyn put it, “It’s been a very positive experience, and they understand the need of getting us where we need to be. There are three shifts operating now, so we’re a little short, but we went ahead and decided to start at 24-hour staffing.”
When Insurance Ratings Became a Wake-Up Call
While the fire department had long recognized its need for expansion, the situation took on new urgency when the city’s ISO rating dropped from a 2 to a 4. That rating affects how insurance companies assess fire risk, and the repercussions would have been significant for residents. City Manager Joe Price confirmed that maintaining the lower rating could have led to 15%–20% increases in property insurance costs.
Avoiding those costs required immediate action—more firefighters, improved apparatus, expanded training facilities, and living quarters for a fully staffed firehouse. These needs ultimately shaped the $14 million Public Safety Bond Issue, passed in 2025 after one of the city’s most extensive public engagement campaigns.
A Voter-Backed Turnaround
Canyon launched a vigorous public safety awareness push ahead of the bond election. City staff hosted tours, open houses, Q&A sessions, and community conversations. Residents were invited to walk through proposed upgrades, including:
New truck bays
Expanded training areas and classrooms
Updated living quarters for firefighters
An improved animal shelter
A larger, more functional police department facility
The effort paid off in May 2025, earning voter approval and unlocking the resources needed to proceed.
New Equipment and Facilities on the Way
With 24-hour staffing now in place, Canyon is already preparing to request an updated ISO evaluation. Gwyn noted, “We will file for a new ISO rating in a couple of months, and with us being on the verge of a two rating now, just the fact that we have 24-hour staffing should get us back up to the two rating.”
New equipment is also on the horizon. The voter-approved bond made it possible for the department to order a new fire engine, expected by August of next year, along with a long-awaited grass fire truck that has been three years in the making.
Inside the station, upgrades are also beginning. While the firehouse is more than 50 years old, Gwyn emphasized its reliability: “We’re in a 50-year-old building, but it’s still a good, sound building.” Architects and engineers are currently developing detailed plans for the renovations.
The Community Impact
Moving from limited daytime staffing to a full 24/7 model is one of the most significant public-safety enhancements Canyon has made in decades. Faster response times, improved emergency readiness, and better insurance ratings benefit every resident and business owner.
Just as importantly, the shift acknowledges the reality of Canyon’s growth. With calls rising steadily every year for seven years straight, and both fire and police services stretched thin, the city has made a long-term investment in keeping its community safe.
A New Chapter for Canyon Public Safety
What began as a concern over shrinking ISO ratings and increasing emergency demand has resulted in a stronger, more responsive fire department—one equipped to protect a growing city around the clock. Through community engagement, voter support, and years of effort from firefighters and city leadership alike, Canyon now enters a new era where help is always on duty, 24 hours a day.
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