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

•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

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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe Need, Duties, and Responsibilities

MAPS

• Departments need updated maps on a regular basis

New streets added

Property ownership

Vacant lots

Determine acreage burned

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe Need, Duties, and Responsibilities

INVESTIGATION UNIT

• Arson

• Arson bureau Under fire prevention chief

or its own unit

• Arson investigators

• Cost recovery

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe Need, Duties, and Responsibilities

PERSONNEL

• Personnel clerk

• Jurisdiction-wide personnel department

• Personnel analyst may write job descriptions

• Involved with active recruiting of prospective firefighters

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe 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

Learning Objectives 1 through 3

Support FunctionsThe Need, Duties, and Responsibilities

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

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

Learning Objective 4

Managerial and Technical Support Functions

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• Legal services

• Investigative technical support

• National Weather Service

• Hazardous materials

• Emergency medical services

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

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

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

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

Learning Objective 4

Managerial and Technical Support Functions

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