Elected officials understand the importance of four-person staffing after experiencing an emergency scene.

Salt Lake County's Unified Fire Authority opened two new stations and was able to get four-person staffing, a definite change for their southern region. A major factor they attribute this to is running their event scenarios twice—once with three responders and again with four. Their elected officials felt first hand the stress of an understaffed scene and can better understand why NFPA 1710 is  important for first responders and emergency victims.

Salt Lake County's Unified Fire Authority event influenced the decisions made by their elected officials. They knew that the event could do more than a ride-along and provide a greater understanding of the daily demands of fire fighters. “It's remarkable to watch the day and see the give and take and the learning that goes on between the fire fighter and the council members,” explains  Local 1696 President Reo Castleton. He's found that elected officials know fire fighters by name now. “It's so key for them to understand each other's problems before they happen, so the relationship is built. At Fire Ops, it's neutral ground.”