YOUTUBE VIDEO
FIRST PLACE: "National City Fire Fighter"
National City fire fighters, in conjunction with Blue H2O productions, produced this video of the inner workings of the fire department and staffing during these difficult economic times.
Produced by: National City Fire Fighters and Steve Scoville (Blue H2O)
Submitted by: National City, CA Local 2744
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The National City Firefighters Local 2744 have a video describing the inner workings of the firefighters and some of the challenges we face in these difficult economic times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD-1RWgrZiI
A special thanks to "Blue H20 Productions" and "619media.com" for their assistance in making this video.
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Critical Considerations
National City Fire Department Safety and Staffing
Director Parra, Council,
This October will become a critical period in history of the National City Fire Department in regards to our ability to provide safe and timely emergency service to our citizens and community. Due in part to 6 retirements of Fire Department personnel, daily operational staffing levels will reach critically low and dangerous levels as pointed out below:
1989- National City Operational personnel- 36
Approximately 3800 Emergency calls
2010- National City Operational personnel- 35
Approximately 6500 Emergency calls
As you can see, the Fire Department is responding to nearly twice as many calls as we did 21 years ago with fewer personnel. Dangerously low staffing levels may impede the firefighters arriving on scene and acting in a timely manner with reference to the 2 in 2 out policy. (OSHA mandated firefighter safety on the fire ground). Additionally, our call volume will continue to dramatically increase due to the added automatic aid responses into Chula Vista, San Diego and Coronado with the “border drops” now in effect. (Responding to an emergency and arriving at the scene of the emergency within the 6 minute response time is a locally and nationally recognized standard that will be affected).
It should also be noted that with San Diego Fire Department currently “browning out” fire engines on the National City border, we can expect longer response times when requesting automatic aid, especially on structure fires in National City. This will have an immediate operational and safety impact on fire ground procedures due to our dependence on San Diego and other agencies to fill a first alarm assignment.
In 2007/2008, Fire Chief Roderick Juniel developed the following strategic plan for the fire department. As noted below, the highest priority for the fire department then and in the future was staffing and implementation of NFPA 1710 standards.
NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
PRIORITIES
Priorities:
The following priorities have been established by the National City Fire Department:
- Emergency Response and Staffing.
- Personnel, Apparatus and Equipment Readiness.
- Training.
- Communication.
- Public Education and Marketing.
- Station Readiness.
- Promote a Positive Professional Image and Strive for Innovation.
Strategy
VI.1 Develop a plan for implementing minimum staffing in accordance with NFPA 1710 taking into consideration the needs of National City.
Nationally recognized supporting documents for NFPA 1710 include:
The International City Managers Association (ICMA) and The National Fire Protection Associations 1710 (NFPA 1710) staffing recommendations are:
Staffing recommendations for a first alarm response for a “Medium Hazardous occupancy (which is an Apartment, Office, Mercantile, Single family and multifamily dwellings or a industrial occupancy)” is a minimum of 3 pumpers, 1 ladder truck and 1 chief officer which is (8 firefighters, 4 rated Engineers, 4 rated Captains and 1 rated Battalion Chief), which is total of 17 firefighting personnel on scene within 6 minutes of the dispatch.
In the second addition of Managing the Fire Service published by the ICMA it states:
“Fire suppression operations have three basic functions: (1) rescue; (2)
work involving the ladder, forcible entry, and ventilation; and (3) the
application of water through hose lines. Rescue and ladder companies
handle the first two, and engine companies the third. To raise ladders,
ventilate, search, and rescue simultaneously takes quick action by at least
four and often eight or more firefighters, each team under the supervision
of an officer. The number of firefighters required to search and rescue
should never be fewer than two and typically at least four. The number
of firefighters needed to advance and operate one hose line varies from
two on smaller lines to four on large hand lines. Various controlled and statistically based experiments by some cities and
universities reveal that if about sixteen trained firefighters are not
operating at the scene of a working fire within the critical time period, then
dollar loss and injuries are significantly increased, as are the square feet
of fire spread.
As firefighting tactics were conducted for comparative purposes, five person
fire suppression companies were judged to be 100 percent effective
in their task performance, four-person companies 65 percent effective,
and three-person companies 38 percent effective; six person companies
are judged 20 percent faster than four person companies.”
Along with nationally recognized NFPA standards, the City of National City recently conducted an independent study (City Gate) to evaluate the immediate needs and staffing for the fire department. That study recommended a 3rd station and 1 additional engine and 4 person staffing for the National City Fire Department to meet minimum overall service demands. Additionally, a S.W.O.T assessment that was done in 2008 that addressed an inadequacy within the response area of National City with regards to staffing and apparatus. As you can see from the above statement by the ICMA and the City Gate study the recommendation is for a greater numbers of firefighters on the fire ground in the incipient (beginning) stage of the fire.
As of October 20th, 2010, the fire department will be operating barely above minimum staffing levels as identified in the MOU and SOP’s (11 personnel per shift). Prior to the retirements, we are staffed at 12-13 per shift. The fact is that the fire department rarely operates without at least one person out on sick leave, an on the job injury leave or vacation. Without additional Firefighters being hired, the fire department will be required to callback fire personnel on an overtime rate (time and half) almost every 24 hr shift. The initial savings projected by the retirements will be greatly reduced by these mandatory callbacks.
To conclude, I am requesting that the National City Fire Department make a formal request to the City Council to maintain the levels that are recommended by the ICMA, NFPA and NIST report and hire for the 6 positions that will become vacant in October 2010.
Respectfully
Mark Beveridge
President NCFFA
