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Chapter 8 Support Functions

Chapter 8 Support Functions. Introduction. Fire department operations can be divided into several areas, which can be further divided into those that are incident focused and those that are not Not all personnel who work for the fire department respond to incidents

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Chapter 8 Support Functions

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  1. Chapter 8Support Functions

  2. Introduction • Fire department operations can be divided into several areas, which can be further divided into those that are incident focused and those that are not • Not all personnel who work for the fire department respond to incidents • Without support functions, personnel in the fire stations would not have the equipment, training, and facilities they need to perform • Support personnel do not engage in firefighting

  3. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • DISPATCH • Receives requests for emergency services • Alerts the station crew • Police may dispatch fire personnel in small department • Volunteers are issued pagers • Dispatcher may be firefighter or civilian

  4. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • EXPANDED DISPATCH • Beyond immediate capabilities of dispatch center • Large or complex incidents • Some departments have mobile command post • Allows regular dispatcher to be undisturbed • Radio traffic switched to a designated channel

  5. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • GEOGRAPHIC AREA COORDINATION CENTER (GACC) • Expanded dispatch center • Used by federal wildland firefighting agencies • Numerous resources respond quickly and efficiently • Closest available resource can be dispatched in region • Necessary to track availability

  6. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • ALARM BOXES • Before 9-1-1, fire alarm box was common • EMS TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS • Dispatcher can ask about • exact problems • May train in emergency medical dispatch

  7. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • LANGUAGE-BARRIER ISSUES • Many people in the community do not speak English • May not be able to translate for them • PRIVATE ALARM COMPANIES • Alarm is received then fire department is contacted • Departments may charge after several false alarms

  8. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • LOOKOUTS • Used to report fires in forest areas • Early lookout towers: 75 feet high on metal legs • Employee stayed in tower morning to dusk • Modern lookouts include living quarters • Two or three lookouts can give an accurate location

  9. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • MAPS • Departments need updated maps on a regular basis • New streets added • Property ownership • Vacant lots • Determine acreage burned

  10. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) • Maps entered into a computer • Tied to databases with required information • GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) • Can map a fire quickly and easily • Helps determine share of jurisdiction’s suppression costs

  11. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CONTROL UNIT • Ensures compliance with legal and code requirements • Maintains business plans and material inventories • Can send information to the field • Right to Know laws • Require filing business plan and inventories

  12. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • INVESTIGATION UNIT • Arson • Arson bureau • Under fire prevention chief • or its own unit • Arson investigators • Cost recovery

  13. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • PERSONNEL • Personnel clerk • Jurisdiction-wide personnel department • Personnel analyst may write job descriptions • Involved with active recruiting of prospective firefighters

  14. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Support Functions The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities • INFORMATION SYSTEMS • Department manages many types of information • Information systems bureau developed • Data management personnel • Systems analyst maintains the computer operating system for the department

  15. Learning Objective 4 Managerial and Technical Support Functions • BUSINESS MANAGER • Usually a civilian position with financial expertise • Prepares final budget • Tracks all expenditures • Versed in laws that govern the fire department • Day-to-day accounting activities

  16. Learning Objective 4 Managerial and Technical Support Functions • FIRE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT • Contracts signed for use of privately owned equipment • Contracts for vendors at an incident • Helicopters, air tankers, water tenders • Equipment time recorders • Check-in personnel

  17. Learning Objective 4 Managerial and Technical Support Functions • TECHNICAL SUPPORT • Legal services • Investigative technical support • National Weather Service • Hazardous materials • Emergency medical services

  18. Learning Objective 4 Managerial and Technical Support Functions • WAREHOUSE/CENTRAL STORES • Items needed on regular basis • Central receiving facility • May make repairs • SCBA repair technician

  19. Learning Objective 4 Managerial and Technical Support Functions • U.S. FOREST SERVICE • Warehouse at each ranger district headquarters • Supplies needs of all personnel • Cache of fire tools must be maintained • After fire season, staff maintains equipment • Plants trees and works on other projects

  20. Learning Objective 4 Managerial and Technical Support Functions • REPAIR GARAGE • Civilian employees • Specialized knowledge of fire pumps • RADIO SHOP • Radio technicians install and maintain all radio equipment

  21. Learning Objective 4 Managerial and Technical Support Functions • ADJUTANT/AIDE • Assigned to assist chief officer • Performs requests made by the fire chief • Opportunity to learn more about the department • Can help prepare for a promotion

  22. Summary • Must be able to receive calls for service and dispatch • To control hazardous materials in the jurisdiction, the hazardous materials control unit is set up • Responsibility of fire department to investigate all fires • Fire department needs to hire, retain, and provide benefits to its personnel • Provision of supplies and repair of vehicles is a necessity • Fire department requires specialized technical support

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