Blog of Aaron J.: fire department management

Photo courtesy of LAFD Photo | Harry Garvin

The two standards that address the organization of fire departments and provision of firefighting services, NFPA 1710 (career) and NFPA 1720 (volunteer), outline five systems that must be in place for effective fire department management.

Safety and Health System. An occupational safety and health program must be provided. This program must meet the requirements of, and be established in accordance with, NFPA 1500.

NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program, specifies the minimum occupational safety and health program requirements for organizations that provide fire, rescue, and emergency medical services.

Incident Management System (IMS). The incident management system is a crucial component of all fire department operations, as it provides the foundation for all operation types.

NFPA 1561, Standard on Emergency Services Incident Management System and Command Safety, defines the roles and responsibilities of command functions and describes the essential elements of an incident management system.

Training Systems. Having a training system in place ensures that all members are trained for, and competent to, execute the fire department's stated responsibilities. Training programs should be based on the communities hazards and risks, and the minimum criteria stated in the following code sections:

NFPA 1710 - Chapter 4, Organization and Chapter 5, Fire Department Services
NFPA 1720 – Chapter 4, Organization, Operation, and Deployment
NFPA 405, Standard for the Recurring Proficiency of Airport Fire Fighters (for departments providing ARFF services)

Communications Systems. All emergency services organization must have a reliable communication system. These are essential for the prompt delivery of fire, rescue, and EMS services.

NFPA 1221, Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems, provides guidance and requirements for facilities, equipment, staffing, and operational procedures for emergency communications centers.

Pre-Incident Planning. A communities structures, hazards, and risks, should be identified and potential emergencies planned for. A priority for pre-incident planning are those facilities considered to be target hazards.

NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, should serve as a guide in developing plans that will assist in managing incidents and protecting lives and property. Elements of pre-incident planning should include, fire protection systems, building construction type, building contents, and facility functions and operating procedures.

For successful fire department operations and the safety and security of your community these five systems must be in place. With the overwhelming amount of responsibilities, tasks, and requests that need to be addressed, keeping these five critical systems in mind, will keep your department focused and on the path of forward progress.

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The purpose of NFPA 1710 is to provide minimum criteria to address “the effectiveness and efficiency of career” fire department personnel and operations. This standard outlines seven objectives that must be met. Fire department staffing levels should be based on the ability to meet these objectives and to deploy firefighting resources as outlined in the standard. This task analysis should account for, life hazards to the public, safety of the firefighters, property loss potential, types of occupancies and properties to be protected, and fireground tactics, apparatus, and expected results.

Sunset with burning building by Petteri Sulonen

NFPA 1710 defines the following types of incidents and deployment criteria.

Single-family dwelling, defined as 2,000sq.ft., two-story, single family dwelling (no basement, no exposures)
Strip shopping center, defined as an open-air shopping area of 13,000sq.ft. - 196,000sq.ft.
Apartments, defined as a 1,200sq.ft. unit inside three-story, garden-style building
High-rise buildings, defined as structures with the highest floor greater than 75’ above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

Minimum staffing for full alarm assignments to single-family dwelling fires require a total of fourteen personnel, divided as follows:

(1) individual dedicated to incident command
(1) personnel to establish and maintain water supply
(4) personnel to operate handlines, (2) per line, minimum of two handlines required
(2) handline support members, (1) per attack and backup line
(2) personnel assigned to victim search and rescue team
(2) personnel to raise ground ladders and assist with ventilation
(2) personnel assigned to the initial rapid intervention crew (IRIC)

Minimum staffing for full alarm assignment to an open-air strip shopping center fire incident requires a total of twenty-seven personnel, divided as follows:

(2) personnel assigned to incident command
(2) personnel to establish and maintain water supply, (1) per supply, minimum two required
(6) personnel to operate handlines, (2) per line, minimum of three handlines required
(3) handline support members, (1) per attack, backup, exposure line
(4) personnel assigned to victim search and rescue, (2) teams of two personnel
(4) personnel to raise ground ladders and assist with ventilation, (2) teams of two personnel
(4) personnel assigned to RIC, (1) officer (3) members
(2) personnel to provide initial medical care

Minimum staffing for full alarm assignment to an apartment fire incident requires a total of twenty-seven personnel, divided as follows:

(2) personnel assigned to incident command
(2) personnel to establish and maintain water supply, (1) per supply, minimum two required
(6) personnel to operate handlines, (2) per line, minimum of three handlines required
(3) handline support members, (1) per attack, backup, exposure line
(4) personnel assigned to victim search and rescue, (2) teams of two personnel
(4) personnel to raise ground ladders and assist with ventilation, (2) teams of two personnel
(4) personnel assigned to RIC, (1) officer (3) members
(2) personnel to provide initial medical care

Minimum staffing for full alarm assignment to a high-rise fire incident requires a total of forty-one personnel, divided as follows:

(2) personnel assigned to incident command, (1) officer with (1) aid
(2) personnel assigned incident command at fire floor, (1) officer with (1) aid
(1) incident safety officer
(1) officer, at interior staging area two floors below fire floor
(1) officer, building lobby operations
(1) officer, external base operations
(1) individual assigned to establish and maintain water supply to the standpipe system
(1) individual assigned to monitor and maintain building fire pump operations
(4) personnel to operate handlines, (2) per line, minimum of two handlines required at the fire floor
(2) personnel to operate handline, (2) per line, minimum of one handline required at floor above fire floor
(4) personnel assigned to RIC
(4) personnel assigned to victim search and rescue, (2) teams of two personnel
(4) personnel assigned to evacuation management, (2) teams of two personnel
(1) individual to manage and monitor elevator operations
(2) personnel assigned to firefighter rehab, (1) ALS trained
(4) personnel assigned to vertical ventilation, (1) officer (3) members
(2) personnel for equipment transport
(4) emergency medical personnel, (2) teams of two personnel

These numbers represent only the minimum requirements for the initial alarm. As the incident escalates, it is understood that additional personnel and apparatus may be needed.

To provide effective and efficient staffing levels, a thorough knowledge of the community must be had. This is why the conduct and maintenance of a community risk assessment is critical to, not just fire prevention, fire department operations as a whole.

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Five Systems for Effective Fire Department Management

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