Event Recap
Public Safety Committee Meeting Recap: September 25, 2025
The Public Safety Committee of the City of Asheville held a virtual meeting on September 25, 2025, to review departmental updates and emergency preparedness reports. The agenda focused primarily on information sharing regarding the Asheville Fire Department’s (AFD) operational priorities and a review of the city’s response to Tropical Storm Helene.
Key Decisions The only formal vote taken during the meeting was the approval of the minutes from the July 31, 2025, meeting. Antanette Mosley made the motion to approve the minutes, which was seconded by Sheneika Smith. The motion passed unanimously with a 3-0 vote. No other motions or decisions were recorded.
Discussion Highlights The committee heard a quarterly update from AFD Chief Mike Cayse, who reported a slight increase in overall call volumes compared to the previous year. Chief Cayse noted that the Central Business District experienced the highest volume of calls, with medical responses being the most frequent type. He also provided an update on the Resource Engagement Support Team (REST), which continues to address homelessness and quality-of-life issues in the Central Business District and West Asheville despite staffing shortages.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the AFD’s plan to implement a fourth shift for firefighters, a change previously approved by City Council. Chief Cayse explained that promotions for the new shift have been completed and efforts are underway to balance the shifts, which will result in reduced work hours for firefighters. Additionally, the department is phasing in Advanced EMT (AEMT) capabilities, aiming to equip all fire trucks with personnel trained to provide advanced pre-hospital care.
The committee also reviewed the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) After-Action Report following Tropical Storm Helene. Jeremy Knighton, identified in the agenda as the presenter for this item, presented a comprehensive review of the city’s response. The presentation highlighted the value of having a formal plan and emphasized the importance of city-wide collaboration and resilience. The review identified areas for improvement, and the department outlined ongoing efforts to implement these changes using a structured planning model.
Community Input No public comment was received during the meeting.
Follow-ups No specific follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by committee members or staff during this meeting. However, the presenters outlined ongoing departmental work plans, including continuing firefighter training for AEMT certification, finalizing the balancing of shifts for the fourth shift implementation, and addressing gaps identified in the Helene EOP after-action report.
Impact This meeting provided residents with updates on how the Fire Department is adapting its operations to meet community needs. The expansion of medical capabilities through the AEMT program and the implementation of a fourth shift aim to improve response times and patient care. Furthermore, the review of the Helene response demonstrates the city’s commitment to learning from past events to strengthen its emergency preparedness and ensure a more resilient response to future disasters.