From 2002 through 2024, the Windsor VFD call volume steadily evolved alongside the community it serves. Early in the 2000s, annual responses were modest but as the years progressed, with increased development, rising population and traffic, and expanding mutual-aid responsibilities, there was a clear upward trend in emergency activity. By the mid-2010s and into the 2020s, the department was consistently handling a broader range of incidents, from fire and rescue to medical and public-service calls, demonstrating both the community’s changing needs and the department’s commitment to meeting them. There were 31 total calls in 2002, but the rate has increased over time, quadrupling to 136 calls 21 years later in 2023.
The next chart of monthly call totals by year notes the same steady rise in overall activity. While most months follow predictable seasonal rhythms, several stand out with unusually high numbers of responses tied to major wind events. These spikes often correspond to widespread tree damage, downed power lines, and related hazards that require multiple deployments in short succession. Taken together, the chart shows not only how call volume has increased over time (with a color scaling of blue/low to red/high), but also how severe weather can rapidly elevate the department’s workload.
August 2011 – Hurricane Irene – 18 calls
October 2017 – Wind Storm – 28 calls
April 2020 – Wind/Snow Storm – 13 calls
September 2020 – Wind Storm – 7 calls
December 2020 – Wind/Snow Storm – 10 calls
December 2023 – Wind Storm – 40 calls
Between 2020 and 2024, motor-vehicle crashes accounted for the largest share of the department’s emergency responses, making up 41 percent of all calls. Storm-related incidents, primarily downed trees and damage assessments, represented another 19 percent. Fires of various types, including structure, chimney, and wildland, comprised 15 percent of total responses. The remaining 25 percent covered a wide range of other calls, such as fire alarms, smoke investigations, and assistance to EMS.
