Fire & Emergency Services Administration Chapter 1 The Past

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Mission Statement To mitigate the threat to life and property from fire, medical and other emergencies through education, prevention, community preparedness, emergency response and recovery programs. —Colorado Springs Fire Department

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Learning from the Past Remember both the successes and failures. Progress is the result of courageous leaders’ actions. –These leaders are the unsung heroes of our profession.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Fire Service History Fire protection in North America began in In early America, massive fires struck many large cities. –The results were demands for fire codes and paid fire departments. Because of our federal form of government, fire services started and continue to be located at the local level.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration United States Fire Service (Page 1 of 2) Estimated to be 30,542 separate fire departments Almost half the departments protect 2,500 or fewer residentsーmost with one fire station. –Paid departments protect 44.8% of the U.S. population. –Volunteers protect 21.5%.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration United States Fire Service (Page 2 of 2) Differences between departments still exist that keep many of them from working together during major emergencies. –Can be organizational or equipment- related

Fire & Emergency Services Administration America Burning Report of the National Commission of Fire Prevention and Control (1973) –Many of the newer NFPA standards are a direct response to this report. –It was re-issued in 1998 with updated statistics. –The report is still seen as significant and timely today.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Insurance Service Office (ISO) Created by the insurance industry after several major city fires (1800s) Largely responsible for uniformity of the American fire service Has been used by fire chiefs to gain budget increases Main emphasis is on reducing property loss in major citywide fires

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Early Fire Prevention Codes A leader in the area of national consensus codes, the NFPA was founded in NFPA creates, updates, and adopts standards using a consensus method of committees that represent the fire protection community.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Today’s U.S. Fire Service Major survey by FEMA/NFPA in 2002 –Need to refurbish or replace many fire stations, fire apparatus, and SCBAs. –Many companies have fewer than four fire fighters. –Fire prevention is inadequate. –Programs for basic fire-fighter fitness and health are lacking.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Fire Service Standardization (Page 1 of 2) The U.S. fire service could be characterized as being made up of many small organizations. The large number of independent fire departments makes it very difficult to standardize.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Fire Service Standardization (page 2 of 2) NFPA fire service standards are helping the process. In the past 25 years, NFPA standards have been created for fire-fighter training and education. These standards are overwhelmingly preferred.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Planning Tools Many departments have relied on the ISO grading schedule. As an alternative to ISO for planning, the IAFC and ICMA have created a new accreditation program for fire agencies. For EMS, an accreditation program was created in 1991.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Federal Involvement FEMA –Along with the Department of Defense and the FBI, FEMA is providing training equipment and resources to prepare for terrorist activities. OSHA –The driving force behind the interest in hazardous materials was the growing concern for worker safety and health. USFA and NFA –These programs provide a path to national uniformity by stressing curriculum, management, and leadership practices.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration U.S. Forest Service Established in 1905 An agency of U.S. Department of Agriculture Developed NIIMS –Includes command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance Developed the “Red Card”

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Incident Management System FIRESCOPE –To implement a system to manage large- scale emergencies U.S. Forest Service’s NIIMS Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department IMS DHS’s NIMS

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Current U.S. Fire Service Trends Smoke alarms Automatic sprinklers Fire safety education Greater standardization More mutual aid agreements National credentialing of fire personnel? More emphasis on fire prevention New services

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Emergency Preparedness/Management History At the federal level, started in In the next 200-plus years, the government created many other programs to provide funding for disaster recovery.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration U.S. Department of Homeland Security Established November 25, 2002 Focus on protecting our country and its citizens Number one priority is prevention Home to FEMA and USFA

Fire & Emergency Services Administration EMS History Modern EMS started with the 1966 publication of Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society. The report served as a blueprint for a national effort to improve emergency care.

Fire & Emergency Services Administration Generational Challenges Some characteristics of younger generations are challenging for administrators. Teamwork, self-sacrifice, and personal organization are necessary traits for a leader to possess.