1 / 30

Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association

Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. Baltimore, Maryland May 31, 2014 – June 4, 2014. Donald R. Austin Executive Fire Commissioner, Retired Detroit Fire Department. The Detroit Experience. Detroit’s Historical Population. Macro View of Detroit Issues. Ex-mayor sentenced to 28 years

mahsa
Download Presentation

Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association Baltimore, Maryland May 31, 2014 – June 4, 2014 Donald R. Austin Executive Fire Commissioner, Retired Detroit Fire Department

  2. The Detroit Experience

  3. Detroit’s Historical Population

  4. Macro View of Detroit Issues • Ex-mayor sentenced to 28 years • Deferred maintenance of City infrastructure • Significant population loss = tax base erosion • 80,000 vacant structures • 40,000 vacant and dangerous dwellings • Mayor and Council divided on budget reductions

  5. Macro View of Detroit Issues (2) • Council president abandoned office • 2nd Council member quit • High turnover in City executive leadership • Over 35 Unions in City government • Fiscal cliff inevitable • General Modus Operandi = Survival

  6. Revenue to Debt 1960~2010

  7. Fire Department Sit/StatMay 2011 • Operating under CBA, which expired 2001 • Single-function firefighters • EMS second-class Department members • Seniority-based promotion • All uniformed members in same union • Average commissioner tenure 3.5 years • Mandatory retirement age 60

  8. Administrative Organization Commissioner Deputy Commissioner 2nd Deputy Commissioner 2nd Deputy Commissioner Mayoral Appointment Commissioner Appointment

  9. Operational Divisions Firefighting Apparatus EMS Research & Development Fire Marshal Community Relations Medical Communications Training

  10. Chief of Fire Operations Senior Chief Deputy Chief Deputy Chief B6 B7 B8 B9 B1 B2 B4 B5 Firefighting Division Commissioner Appointment

  11. Fire Department Sit/Stat (2)May 2011 • Complex and inflexible work rules • Courts and Arbitrators decision-making • Inadequate focus on Safety • Fire Stations average age 85 years old • No apparatus replacement program • Apparatus maintenance at Repair Shops • Inadequate organizational record keeping

  12. Fire Department Sit/Stat (3)May 2011 • Deferred maintenance on facilities, apparatus, and equipment • Asset management system non-existent • Alcohol use on-duty • Non-existent investigative procedures • Poor accountability • Vendors not paid timely

  13. Fire Department Sit/Stat (4)May 2011 • Outdated technology CAD, MDCs, networks • No aerial ladder, pump, or hose testing • No NIMS Compliance • Poor use of ICS on incident ground • Browning out of seven fire companies daily • Exceeding budgeted overtime by $6M

  14. Goals and Objectives • Augment administrative staff with identified skills in Labor, Budget, and Purchasing • Data-driven decision-making • NIMS Compliance Project • NFPA testing compliance • Maritime Domain Awareness • Development of Mutual Aid Agreements

  15. Goals and Objectives (2) • Establish a tractor company for demolition • Develop relationships with SE Michigan fire service organizations • Update General Orders and Rules and Regulations • Develop Department library • Dual-function firefighter transition • Merit-based promotions • Transition apparatus repair to GSD • Apparatus and station replacement program

  16. Accomplishments • FF/CPA Deputy Commissioner • 2nd Deputy Commissioner Labor Attorney • 2nd Deputy Commissioner Budget • Personal Services Contracts • $78M awarded in FEMA grants • Non-traditional funding sources • New Public Safety Headquarters • Completion of Burn Documentary

  17. Accomplishments (2) • WSU academic relationship • Contract with Tri-Data for Efficiency Study • 23 donated ambulances rec’d Dec 2013 • 50 FF EMT-basic certified Dec 2014 • Initiated discussion to embrace EMS • Initiated discussion for merit-based promotion • Detroit Public Safety Foundation support

  18. New Detroit Ambulance

  19. DFD Today • Bankruptcy should be finalized by Sep 2014 • Hiring 150 firefighter under FEMA funding • Fire union has not ratified City’s last offer • Moving forward with merit-based promotion • All Division Chiefs are now appointed by Commissioner

  20. Final Thoughts • DFD members, fire and EMS, are dedicated as any firefighters in the US Fire Service • To a large extent we are all products of our environment • Timing is everything in distressed environment • Change agents rarely bask in the sun during their reign

More Related