Subject: Operations Week In Review

One of the most important aspects of any good organization is the flow of information.  Each week on Friday, I will be sending out updates as to pertinent and current events in JFRD. 

The first and most obvious question I’ve been answering is what are my priorities and where do I see Operations going?

The answer is easy:  My most immediate priority is to improve your day to day operations by addressing your issues and concerns, specifically - what is it about coming to work that makes your job more difficult than it has to be?  What is it that affects morale for our department that we can change?

Without going into great detail, here are some ideas that I will be working with the Union to address:

Leave issues

·         RMS future leave requests—If 20 people tie up 20 leave requests, that equates to 400 leave days the rest of you can’t get approved for.  Is there a way to improve how we manage this issue?

·         FF and officer LOA’s—allowing FF’s and Officers to LOA with each other.  This opens up the possibility of more LOA’s and reducing the number of requested PL’s thus improving the chance of available PL’s for those that really need them.  For example: if the FF is working for the officer, the engineer would be paid to ride up as the officer and the FF would drive with no out of position pay (this is the same now if the FF and Eng. LOA).  When the officer works for the FF, he or she would ride the back of the unit, unless the District or Battalion Chief needs them somewhere else.

OT Issues

·         How are we managing the OT list?  Can we use the RMS sign up box?  Is there a better way when checking back on?

Detailed Policy on Dual Response

·         Being worked on now.

Here are some projects that will begin immediately:

Summer Uniform Policy

·         The Safety Committee has been tasked with suggesting a NFPA compliant summer uniform.  What does that look like?  What are the months we would wear it?

Truck Company Manual

·         Similar to the Engine Company Manual—Chief Gerbert, Capt. Ennis, and Eng. Vihrachoff are spearheading this important project and I will be looking for others to join the effort.  If you feel you can add benefit to the process please contact me with an email and you will be included in the process.  We have four distinct aerial types that all have similar and dissimilar tactical and operational issues.

Drill / Tactics Manual

·         An email will be going out asking for suggestions on engine, truck, and tanker drills. If you would like to contribute, please respond to this email.  I’m looking for about 20 engine and truck company drills and as many tanker drills as possible.  The second half of the manual will be a tactics guide. For example you may have a section on different construction types and related tactical issues:

·         Is fighting a fire at a two story Springfield house different than a two story Queens Harbor style house…why?

·         What’s different about strip malls located on Lem Turner than strip malls located at Atlantic and Hodges?

·         Is fighting a fire at a house located on Mandarin Rd, on the river, with a hydrant 1.5 miles away different than a house in district 58?  Why?

·         What advice would the HazMat Team give you when responding to gas leaks, propane leaks, etc…why?

·         The idea is we should be passing on experience and knowledge to the next generation.  This isn’t all inclusive but just some examples of where I see this going.   What would you like to see in a Drill / Tactics Manual?

Public Acknowledgment of Gratitude

·         Each week I would like to publicly acknowledge the hard work of our men and women that they do day in a day out.  I have asked our District and Battalion Chiefs (Rescue &  Suppression) to email me any crew, run, or assignment that deserves an acknowledgement.  This week I have three of my own…

·         The Recruits for completing their twelve weeks of training and finally getting their first assignment tonight.  This is a special night for friends and families alike and the beginning of a great and rewarding career……Congratulations!

·         The crew of R20A and E44A led by Lt. Paula Scott and Capt. Robert Gillis for their response to a 3 y/o in respiratory distress.  Their care and treatment of not only the patient, but the parents as well, was apparent when the mother called and couldn’t thank us enough…well done!

·         To the B shift at Fire 4, Station 4, and Station 40 for thinking outside the box and fixing a huge issue out on Heckscher Drive.  It never ceases to amaze me the ingenuity and genius of our fire men and women on the JFRD and our Special Operations Team….what you did was amazing!

·         To all of you—Thank you for what you do, why you do it, and keep up the good work!

Sorry for the long email buts it’s been a busy first week!

As always, thank you and be safe!

Respectfully,

Kurtis R. Wilson