Types of Fire Departments

1. Types of Fire Departments Chapter 3

2. Objectives • Distinguish between fire departments. • Distinguish between public and private sector entities. • Identify four types of corporations and how each is created.

3. Objectives • Identify the reason an association creates unnecessary risks for firefighters. • Distinguish between fire departments. • Explain the importance of agreements between volunteer fire companies and the jurisdictions they protect.

4. Fire Department Services • Services a fire department may provide in order to be or remain a fire department: • Firefighting • Code enforcement • EMS • HazMat

5. The Role of a Fire Department • Expanded role in society • Most firefighters take the legal authority to deliver their services for granted • Legal authority is based on type of entity providing fire protection service

6. Distinctions • Legal entities that deliver fire protection services • Kinds of organizations that deliver protection services • Funding sources • Employment status of personnel

7. Public Sector versus Private Sector • Public • Agencies of federal, state, or local government • Private • Privately owned businesses and organizations

8. Corporation • Legally created entity accepted, approved, and recognized through a formal process • Can sue and be sued • Shareholders are not liable for debts • Each state has procedures to create corporations

9. Four Types of Corporations • Municipal • Quasi-municipal • For-profit (business corporations) • Nonprofit

10. Municipal Corporation • Created by state legislature • Provides inhabitants with self-government • Common examples are cities, towns, villages, boroughs, counties, etc. • Specific powers and authority will vary from municipality to municipality

11. Quasi-Municipal Corporation • Also called quasi-public corporation • Created by state legislature to serve a specific need • No broad police powers grant of authority afforded to municipalities

12. Business Corporation • Created by individuals • Registered and chartered by the Secretary of State of each state • Purpose is to make a profit • Managed by a board of directors

13. Business Corporation • Operations governed by corporate officers • Stockholders are the owners • Liability of stockholders is limited to their investment • Board of directors is responsible to stockholders

14. Nonprofit Corporation • Created by individuals • Registered and chartered by the Secretary of State of each state • May have members, but not stockholders • Managed by board of directors

15. Nonprofit Corporation • Officers run operations • Net profits cannot be distributed to its members, directors, or officers • May be organized for any lawful purpose • Many nonprofits are created for charitable purposes

16. Associations • Coming together for common purpose • Rights and liabilities vary from state to state • May be formal or informal • As joint enterprises members can be held liable for actions of other members

17. Why Do Municipal Corporation Laws Matter? • Type of entity impacts a fire department’s • Authority • Responsibility • Liability • Laws the fire department must follow

18. Types of Fire OrganizationsBased on Funding Source • Public sector • Municipal • County • Fire districts • Fire protection districts

19. Types of Fire OrganizationsBased on Funding Source • Private sector • Volunteer • For-profit • Industrial • Fire brigades

20. Municipal Fire Departments • Agency of a local municipal corporation (municipality) • Firefighters are municipal employees • Volunteer firefighters work for municipality • Fire chief reports to executive branch • Primarily supported by taxpayer funding

21. County Fire Departments • An agency of county government • Receives taxpayer funding from the county • Firefighters employed by county • May have volunteer firefighters • Volunteer directly for the county • Fire chief reports to county executive

22. Fire Districts • Either municipal corporations or quasi-municipal corporations • Created and authorized by state legislature • Given power to impose a fire tax • May operate their own fire department

23. Fire Protection Districts • Similar to fire districts • Created by state legislature • Municipal or quasi-municipal corporation • Do not directly provide fire protection • Contractual agreements with neighboring fire department to provide fire protection

24. Volunteer Fire Companies • Private nonprofit corporations or associations • Exist as an independent entity separate and apart from local government • May be designated as charitable organizations by the IRS

25. Volunteer Fire Companies • Funding • Fundraising or donations • Quasi-public entity or private corporation • Status of the fire company is important • Some volunteer fire companies have contracts with community

26. For-Profit Fire Department • Competitively bid on long-term governmental contracts • City, town, or county • Military base • Special installation (Cape Kennedy, Nevada Test Site)

27. Industrial Fire Department • Owned and operated by owner of an industrial site • May lack adequate municipal fire protection

28. Industrial Fire Department • Local FDs and volunteer fire companies are prepared for high-hazard occupancy • Business has full-time fire department to address its needs as a cost of doing business

29. Fire Brigade • Emergency response teams set up at manufacturing or industrial facilities • Provide initial response at the facility • Are employees of the facility • Members have full-time job assignments

30. Certification and Accreditation • Certification generally requires the administration of a test or other means of evaluation • Accreditation is the process by which a certifying body is evaluated by an independent third party and approved to issue certification

31. Summary • What is a fire department? • Public sector versus private sector • Four types of corporations • Associations and joint enterprise liability • Types of fire departments