Greetings to everyone and I hope you had a safe week as the weekend is finally here. This Week in Review a long one so let’s get started.
 
  • DriveCam officially launched yesterday as now all videos are screened for risky driving behavior and sent to the District and Battalion Chiefs for coaching if needed. So please act and drive accordingly.  Risk Management had the FHP give an opinion on the window mount units.  Basically, they said state law exempts the City of Jax (JFRD) from having to comply with the laws regarding window mounting. Therefore, all window mounted DriveCam units are legal.  Discussions involving the program are still being discussed between the Union and Risk Management.
 
  • R33, R40 & staffing changes at 33,34,35, and 49—Tanker 33 will now be staffed and R33 will become a regular rescue effective 8/3/13 at 0800 hrs. (the loud applause you hear is from R36 and R34).  This was done by moving the Tanker Engineer position from 34 to 33.  R40 officially goes in service 8/3/13 as well and will be full time unit. R40 was staffed with the Br-35 engineers and the FF’s at E49 (by RC’ing the positions to Rescue Officers). 
 
Here are the new staffing levels.
  • Sta 33—engine-2, tanker-1, rescue-2 (total-5)
  • Sta 34---engine-3, ladder-4, rescue-2, tanker—manned when needed (total 9)
  • Sta 35—engine-3, rescue-2, chief-1, brush—manned when needed (total 6)
  • Sta 40—engine-2, rescue-2, marine-1, tanker-1 (total 6)
  • Sta 49—engine-2, tanker -1, rescue-2 (total 5)
 
  • New Rehab Program—an updated Rehab SOG is coming out today and a new emphasis on complying with NFPA Standard 1584 Emergency Incident Rehabilitation.  Focal to this program is documenting firefighters who have breathed at least one 45 minute bottle or individuals exposed to hazardous materials or substances and placing this form in your permanent medical file at HQ.  This is for your protection down the road! 
 
  • RMS OT Sign-up Beta Testing—Programing is underway to make some changes in the RMS sign up for OT.  Once completed, we will beta test  for 30 days to make sure the bugs are out  prior to implementing.  Want to know how it works?
 
  • When you sign off on your daily staffing, next to your PIN box, will be an availability box for you to select.  Choices are available, not available for OT, and for what division—Rescue, Suppression, or both. Then at 2200 hrs that night, three lists are generated for everyone to see. (if you do not sign off by 2000 hrs, the system defaults you to unavailable).  The lists are Rescue and Suppression Officers, and one list for FF’s and Engineers.  Next to your name are your certifications and what division you want to work in (or both for FF’s & Engineers).  The top of the list are those individuals with the least amount of OT.  If you are unavailable, you do not go to the bottom of the list.  If you do not notify the Chiefs by 2100 hrs, there is no penalty because the system defaults to not available for you.  Again, I stress, this RMS OT system is a test version that will start on approximately 8/17/13 and last for 30 days. So what does that mean for our current lists?
  • Rescue will remain unchanged.
  • Suppression effective today—If you are available or unavailable for OT, continue to notify Fire-5 by 2100 hrs.  If unavailable, you will not go to the bottom of the list;  you will maintain your position until you are called for a 12 or 24 hr spot.  If you fail to notify Fire-5 and you are called for OT, you will not be given 3 turn downs but you will go to the bottom of the list as the opportunity for OT was given to you and you didn’t take it. 
  • If you’re happy with the changes, you can thank the ‘A’ shift chiefs and the Fire-5’s for bringing this issue to my attention as everyone is looking for ways to improve the system.
 
  • Pre-Fire Planning for ISO—we are now two weeks into this and plans are slowly beginning to trickle in.  Here are answers to common questions we are receiving.
  • Do I have to go in person for the plan or can I write the information by memory?—both are acceptable.  Obviously completing a Pre-fire plan by walking through the structure is the best option for familiarizing the crew with the building and systems, but we all have places we go on a daily basis for runs.  Just use your best judgment and guidance from your chiefs.
  • What if the zip code given to me splits fire districts?—two options. First you can complete the plan for them, or second give it to the appropriate station. Again, follow your chiefs guidance on these matters as they have the ultimate responsibility for the program.
 
  • Captains for New Fire Station 62—RMS opened up yesterday for captains at 62. Construction begins August 12th and the captains’ input into the process is helpful.   Once the six day advertising is over, the captains will be announced.
 
  • Tornado on 8/1/13—the strongest tornado (EF-2) in 10 years hit the Regency area yesterday evening at the same time a two-story W3 house fire was underway.  Simply put, Southside and the rest of town quickly got busy.  This is a simple reminder that our everyday thunderstorm activity can quickly turn into a major event.
 
  • Budget—If I could field-deputize every auditor or budget email we have been receiving, we could cure or staffing issue in one day!  This is a humorous way of looking at a very serious process that goes on each year.  We are still working through that process as we get closer to presenting to the Finance Committee.  As the plan becomes final, we will make sure you know exactly what it looks like and how it will affect us.
 
  • We are currently trying to schedule the next Company Officers meetings at the TA.  We will be educating everyone in the budget process.
 
  • Classes—are being announced every day for PGD (your promotional requirements) and for Special Operations (USAR, HazMat, Marine) so please keep an eye for out for them.
 
  • Time to acknowledge some of our hard working folks…
 
  • I know not all of our calls are true emergencies and not all we do for the public is recognized.  On Saturday at 1000 hrs, a car broke down in an intersection in District 14.  While making rounds, a certain battalion chief pulled over and called for E14 to assist in pushing the car out of harm’s way.  How many times a day do we see the same thing and simply drive by thinking that’s someone else’s problem?  The driver here ended up being Capt. Ennis’s (L31) mother and the chief he and I would like to thank is Brady Rigdon.   This is a true tribute to Chief Rigdon’s character.
 
  • To Tactical Support….I know each of you are familiar with what they do on a daily basis.  What you don’t see is what they do for everyone else.  From organizing  moves for Special Events, Clerk of Courts, Public Buildings, JSO, and Public Works, to special projects few see in the field, Capt. Norris and his crew display a can do attitude that is so appreciated on a day by day basis.
 
 
  • To all the personnel behind the scenes at HQ.  There are people here, who day in and day out, work extremely hard to make this department better for all of us who very often go unrecognized for all they do….thank you again.
 
 
 
Well that should do it for this week. Please keep up the good work and continue to stay positive during these trying times.
 
As always, we thank you for what you do, why you do it, and for being the best Fire Department in the Country!
 
 
Very respectfully,
 
Kurtis R. Wilson
Chief of Operations
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department