Module 1

1. Module 1 Now That You Are the Fire Chief The Responsibilities Are Yours Remember when you used to say, “If I was the chief, I would….”

2. Chief 101 Class • This class consists of several programs that together will satisfy the 9S inspection criteria as specified by the North Carolina Administrative Code. The primary objective of the course is to inform current and future chief officers of the various aspects and complexities surrounding the operations and organization of North Carolina fire departments.

3. What is Gateway? • Annual meeting of the various fire and emergency service associations and agencies that is sponsored by the NC State Fireman’s Association. • Discuss various areas of concern, and develop methods to address concerns that all the associations agree to. • This is a group of your peersthat you elect to represent you in various associations.

4. Who attends Gateway?

5. Now That You are the Fire Chief Why Chief 101? • People in the position change. “We are new at this and didn’t get any help from the past chief on anything, plus we are trying to correct a lot of mistakes that have happened in the past 30 years” Excerpt from an email to the NCAFC November 30, 2010

6. Now That You are the Fire Chief Why Chief 101? • Processes change – in line of duty death. • Revisions in policies occur. • To protect our members and their families. • To bring awareness to “the chiefs.” • It may be in the Administrative Secretary's job description, but it is “the chiefs” responsibility. • Why not?

7. Now That You are the Fire Chief When asked how many feet were in a mile, Einstein replied, "I do not know.” “But you are recognized as the smartest man in the world,” his questioner noted. Einstein replied, "I do not keep things in my head that I can find elsewhere. I only need to know where to find it when I need it.” It’s not realistic to think you can know all of this, but others are depending on you to know how to access the resources that are available to them.

8. Now That You are the Fire Chief How was the determination made to initiate this requirement? • A group of your peers, representing you through various organizations, in a forum referred to as “Gateway” identified the need to develop this class. • This is not an ‘OSFM thing’. Typically, 15+ agencies are represented at a “Gateway” meeting.

9. Now That You are the Fire Chief How was the determination made to initiate this requirement? • The organizations attending the Gateway meeting submit ideas for consideration and all organizations agree on 3 to 5 issues to work on for the coming year. • Wide range of topics including health and safety and legislative actions.

10. Now That You are the Fire Chief When • “The Chief” is required to complete the Chief 101 course in order to maintain their 9S / NCRRS Rating. • Important to consider succession planning. • Initially, no department will lose their rating due to non-compliance.

11. Now That You are the Fire Chief Questions • I’ve already had Chief 101, do I have to take this course? Yes • Will our NCRRS rating be revoked if the chief doesn’t take this course? No, but before getting your next inspection the chief will have to complete the course. • I’ve been the chief for __ years, why do I have to go through this? It is now a requirement for NCRRS rating.

12. Now That You are the Fire Chief Questions • I delegate these responsibilities to others in the department? Great idea, but “the chief” is still responsible.

13. Now That You are the Fire Chief Points to Ponder • How many chiefs do we have in the class? • Did anyone beg you to take the position of Fire Chief? • Are you the Chief by default (no one else wanted it)?

14. Now That You are the Fire Chief Points to Ponder • If the answer is “no,” then you basically stood up before the whole community and said through your words or actions that you wanted to be the Chief. • Do your words and actions still show the community and those you serve with that you want to be the Chief?

15. Now That You are the Fire Chief There is always one person held accountable for the success or failure of any organization. • U. S. Government: The President • Church: the Pastor • Law Enforcement: the Police Chief / Sheriff • Local Governments: County/City Manager • Fire Department: that’s You - theChief

16. How Many “want to be” Chiefs Do We Have in the Class? Points to Ponder • How many “want to be” Fire Chiefs do we have in the class? • Do those you work with know that you want to be the chief? Have you publicly stated, “I want to be the fire chief,” or do you just assume that people know?

17. How Many “want to be” Chiefs Do We Have in the Class? Points to Ponder • How many “want to be” Fire Chiefs do we have in the class? • Do your efforts and words demonstrate that you want to be the fire chief? • Do you have a passion for the position?

18. Now That You are the Fire Chief What Characteristics Make a Successful Chief “A successful Fire Chief has to be…” Honest Unbiased – “Like Me”/Friends /Family (volunteer) Motivator Bold Leader Encourager HUMBLE

19. Now That You are the Fire Chief What You Say is Critical • “I think” often becomes “like gospel” to those with whom you are talking; after all, you are the Chief. • “I don’t know” is sometimes a better phrase; and when you’re not sure, be bold enough to use it. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise” – Solomon, Proverbs 10:19

20. Now That You are the Fire Chief What are Your Primary Responsibilities? • “To Save Lives and Protect Property” • Personnel • Citizens

21. Now That You are the Fire Chief What are Your Primary Responsibilities? • Emergency Services Response Triangle • Staffing: adequate numbers to start operations • Equipment: well maintained / operational • Trained Personnel – trained, not exposed

22. Now That You are the Fire Chief • What are Your Primary • Responsibilities? • The Safety of Your Personnel • Training • Personal Protection • Personal Accountability • Enforcing Safety Standards

23. Now That You are the Fire Chief Truly evaluate your department’s response and readiness capabilities • Is your membership protected? • Can you deliver what you say you can? • Are your responders trained properly and do they follow the department’s training standards? • Do you have written, updated Standard Operating Guidelines? • Are your department records current?

24. Now That You are the Fire Chief Remember – you are now responsible. Delegating or assuming does not relieve you of the responsibility of knowing.

25. Is Your Membership Protected? • Is your roster up to date? • Is there a process for updating your roster as members are added or deleted? The roster is a living document and should be updated as changes occur, not tomorrow!

26. Is Your Membership Protected? Consequences of not having a current roster: • In the event of a firefighter death, family members would not be eligible for NCSFA death benefits, possibly resulting in the fire chief and department facing civil action.

27. Can You Deliver? Your local officials most likely assume that you can provide all these services because you are the fire department. • Fire Suppression • Emergency Medical Services • Vehicle Extrication • Water Rescue • Hazard Materials Response • Other types of Emergencies

28. Now That You are the Fire Chief • Identify what the hazards are in your community and inform the local officials of the department's capabilities to respond to hazards in your response area.

29. Now That You are the Fire Chief • “The Routine Response” • Contrary to popular belief, “we can not be all things in all situations.” • There are risks which fire departments are not equipped to handle and we should let local officials know before we are faced with these incidents. • While this may not change frequently in many areas, it should be an annual review during the budget process.

30. Now That You are the Fire Chief • It is critical that you provide an assessment of the department’s readiness – especially successors. (No better time than at the beginning.)

31. Now That You are the Fire Chief • The reputation of the past chief can be a positive with the community, but a negative within the organization or vice versa. • “You can only rely on past success until the next alarm.” • Are you turning your head to any weaknesses the department may have or are you identifying them?

32. Now That You are the Fire Chief • The Story of the 3 Envelopes “In a Crisis” • Blame it on your predecessor • Reorganize • Prepare 3 envelopes

33. Are Your Responders Ready? • Standard Training Requirements • Pension Fund and Death Benefit Qualification – 36 Hours Minimum

34. Are Your Responders Ready? • Standard Training Requirements • NCRRS Requirements for Maximum Credit/Person • Company Training – 240 Hours • Driver/Operator – 12 hours • New Driver – 40 hours • Officer – 12 Hours

35. Are Your Responders Ready? • Drill Sessions: 8 – 3 hour sessions (24 hours) • Multiple Company Engine Training: • 4 – 3 hour sessions • Night Drills: 2 – 3 hour sessions • Recruit Training – 240 hours • Hazardous Materials – 3 Hours

36. Are Your Responders Ready? What are your department’s standards? As the chief each of us need to go back to the core question: Are your responders ready?

37. Standard Training Requirements vs. Application of Techniques • Meeting “Standard Hours” in reality only has an administrative meaning. It does nothing to show if a firefighter really knows how to apply what he/she has been exposed to. • “Pencil whipped” or “tried and tested”

38. Standard Training Requirements vs. Application of Techniques • Classroom exposure is essential to development, but it does not replace the need to conduct hands on drills. • Adopt the state of Missouri’s slogan, “Show Me.”

39. Standard Training Requirements vs. Application of Techniques • The Chief and the department need to identify minimum requirements that the department will accept for each position

40. Standard Training Requirements vs. Application of Techniques • After identifying minimum requirements there needs to be a means to evaluate each persons actual skills and abilities. • Question: should you accept “Yes” to the question, “Do you know how to….?”

41. F/F Deaths and Injuries Primary Causes of Death • Heart Attacks • Physical Fitness • Stress • Traffic Accidents • Seat Belts • Rollovers • Relative Speed

42. F/F Deaths and Injuries Primary Causes of Death • Fire Ground • Lack of Situational Awareness: Collapses, etc. • Burn Injuries

43. Line of Duty Deaths • LODD’s are tragedies that bring a great deal of stress on “the Chief”, the fire department, the organization and the local community.

44. Line of Duty Deaths • Because these types of events are so sudden and so devastating, it is possible to overlook some very important things that need to be done early in the event to insure the firefighters family has opportunity to apply for all federal and state benefits. “Never make a major decision in the middle of a crisis” – Jerry Falwell

45. Line of Duty Deaths(First Reactions) • Autopsy • Confine and Control all Protective Clothing

46. Line of Duty Deaths(First Reactions) • Have everyone who was on the scene to write a description of the event. • Begin collecting all relevant reports about the incident (911 tapes, weather reports, etc.) • Call OSFM to activate the Death Benefit Assistance Team. (Critical step)

47. OSFM Death Benefit Assistance Program • Not designed to take over from any AHJ, but insures that all federal and state procedures are followed for the protection of the firefighter’s family, and provides support and assistance to the local fire chief.

48. OSFM Death Benefit Assistance Program • Not a time to be territorial. • These situations dictate the need for outside resources that have experience dealing with federal and state paperwork and procedures. (Testimonial from someone who has benefitted from the team.)

49. OSFM Death Benefit Assistance Program • Activation of the team incorporates: • Notification of State and Federal Agencies • Notification of the Fallen Firefighters Foundation • Firefighter Funeral Procedures • Funeral service benefits (see Dignity Memorial)

50. OSFM Death Benefit Assistance Program • Activation of the team incorporates: • Media assistance • Report writing and review • Compilation of documents • Allows you time to work with the family and be with your personnel.