1. Chapter 8 Support Functions1-

2. 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 1-

3. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
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

4. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

5. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

6. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

7. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

8. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

9. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
MAPS
Departments need updated maps on a regular basis
New streets added
Property ownership
Vacant lots
Determine acreage burned

10. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

11. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

12. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
INVESTIGATION UNIT
Arson
Arson bureau
Under fire prevention chief
or its own unit
Arson investigators
Cost recovery

13. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
PERSONNEL
Personnel clerk
Jurisdiction-wide personnel department
Personnel analyst may write job descriptions
Involved with active recruiting of prospective firefighters

14. The Need, Duties, and Responsibilities
Learning Objectives 1 through 3
Support Functions
The 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

15. Managerial and Technical Support Functions
Learning Objective 4
Managerial and Technical Support Functions
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

16. Managerial and Technical Support Functions
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

17. Managerial and Technical Support Functions
Learning Objective 4
Managerial and Technical Support Functions
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Legal services
Investigative technical support
National Weather Service
Hazardous materials
Emergency medical services

18. Managerial and Technical Support Functions
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

19. Managerial and Technical Support Functions
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

20. Managerial and Technical Support Functions
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

21. Managerial and Technical Support Functions
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

22. 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 1-