Greetings everyone and I hope you all had a safe and happy New Year!  Not a whole lot going on this week but let’s hit the important stuff.
 
  • Today is retirement day for Capt. Norris and Capt. Webster.  We would like to wish them both a healthy and happy retirement!
 
  • Promotions—In Suppression you will begin to see provisional spots with TA assignments.  These are ‘parking spots’ until the Captain’s list comes out.  I will be waiting until that list is certified to move all the Squad assignments;  that way everyone has a spot to go to.  After the protest hearing, I will project possible Suppression openings and get those out so the ‘big’ transfer bulletin goes as smoothly as possible. 
 
  • Engineers coming out of Rescue---eight have been approved to come out of Rescue and have been contacted.  As they are reassigned into Suppression, Provisional engineers will be made in Rescue.  Any remaining Suppression Engineer openings will be made by Suppression Firefighters.  Two are coming out today, when we staff Station 62, the remaining six will come out then.
 
  • Reassignment Requests--- Please be reminded that all electronic transfer requests in the RMS reset as January 1, 2014, and you will have to resubmit any pending requests.
 
  • Openings in Suppression---if you think an opening is current but has not been announced, please let me know and I can check for you.
 
  • The Fire Prevention Lieutenants Test---is next week.  Good luck to all those taking the test!
 
  • New Rescue bids—will be unsealed January 15th. 
 
  • New Hurst Cutters---should be here any day now.  15 sets were ordered.  These will cut the new high strength steel found in newer cars.
 
  • New Squads---all the crews have been selected and will be announced next week.  I’m working on the SOG for the new units now and will get a draft version out for you all to see.  Here are some of the highpoints…
 
  • Assigned to all structure fires based on geographical location.  Operates as an engine in their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd due.  Until staffed with a crew of four, they  can supplement the RIT crew on scene.  (ex. Can be assigned with another engine or ladder for a 6 or 7 person RIT crew).  Ultimately the Incident Commander will assign their role at structure fires.
  • Should not be canceled on W3’s or larger.
  • Assigned to all USAR and HazMat calls to back-up the current teams.  No additional USAR and HazMat equipment will be stored on the apparatus.  Additional RIT equipment will be purchased for these units.
  • Assigned to all unique calls as requested by the IC.
  • Must be HazMat /USAR trained, and will be instrumental in developing and delivering the JFRD RIT program.
 
It’s been two months since we implemented the W4 policy.  The idea was to get us out of the cancer business.  I’ve always said the first part of the fire can kill you today, the second part can kill you twenty years from now.  The LODD in Waycross hit close to home and strengthened my resolve to make sure each and every one of you goes home safe.  It is with this emphasis  the necessity for us to renew our focus on Rapid Intervention in the event of collapse, entrapment, or one lost,  and its importance to our goal of bringing you home safe each and every shift. 
 
Congratulations to our provisional promotions today, and I hope everyone takes some time for yourselves this weekend.
Please know you are doing an exceptional job in protecting our citizens each day.
Please keep your thoughts and prayers with our folks as some are going through difficult times.
As always, we thank you for what you do, why you do it, and for always showing why you are the best Fire Department in the country!
 
Very Respectfully,
Kurtis R. Wilson
Chief of Operations
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department