Presentation to Elko County Commission June 2013 Presented by: Gary Zunino

Presentation to Elko County Commission June 2013 Presented by: Gary Zunino

Per Legislative mandate the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) will no longer support delivery of All-Risk (any non-wildland) fire services within Elko County after June 30, 2015. The County must prepare and implement an action plan to take over the all-risk services prior to June 30, 2015.

1. Inventory all NDF, VFD, and City/Township Fire Departments for County and State owned equipment. 2. Assess current and future equipment, personnel, and operational needs. 3. Develop recommendations for management and operation of the Fire District once the County takes a larger role.

1. All 20 fire departments (30 stations) are completed. 2. Inventories are provided in a separate electronic format and provide spreadsheets with all pertinent information including ownership. 3. There are approximately 64 pieces of fire apparatus in service throughout the County with 34 owned by the County/VFD s and 30 owned by the State.

4. In addition there are approximately 4 command vehicles, 1 dozer, and 1 transport owned by the County. 5. Average age of all apparatus is 24 years. 6. Average age of State owned is 33 years. 7. Average age of County owned is 19 years. 8. Twenty two Pieces of front line apparatus are over 30 years old.

Current apparatus is adequate to provide first response fire service to the County citizens but needs to be upgraded. Ruby Valley VFD and Carlin Fire Departments are in the greatest short term need for fire apparatus upgrades. A short (2-5 year) and long (5-10 year) term apparatus and equipment replacement plan, with an estimated budget, needs to be developed.

Most VFD S are adequately equipped with wildland fire fighting personal protective equipment (PPE) but many are lacking in structure PPE including Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA s). Hoses, nozzles, and tools appear to be adequate for the short term but will need to be evaluated and upgraded.

Most real property (fire stations) are in fair to good shape with only preventative maintenance needed. Ryndon VFD will need to be expanded if the current apparatus is left in place there. A new Deeth VFD station will need to be built in a new location in the near future to eliminate the flooding problems. Depending on planned growth several stations may need to be expanded.

Support for VFD s including training, equipment, and recruitment. Dispatch Services. Coverage for the Spr Crk/Elko/I-80 corridor including support for the cities of Elko, Carlin, Wells, and West Wendover. Mechanics and Shop. Communications and Administration with the Commission, VFD s, and Public.

Interface with State and Federal Fire Fighting Agencies. Provide better interface and utilization of the VFD s especially in Spr Crk. Strive for the highest professional standards. Rewrite or establish new mutual aid, automatic aid, and/or cooperative agreements. Provide a prevention position to meet regulatory needs for commercial development.

Clear direction from the Commission if the new Fire District will act in a primary or support capacity for County EMS responses. Maintain or increase the current level of service to the public with the most efficient and fiscally conservative management scheme. Actually establish an NRS 474 Fire District

NDF administers the County Fire District under NRS 472 and NRS 473. There are 13 fire personnel, 6 dispatchers, 2 mechanics, 2 fiscal, and 1 clerical position based in Elko County. All personnel are State of Nevada employees with 12 of the 24 positions funded fully by the State and 12 funded by the County. There are additional NDF personnel based in Elko County at the two Conservation Camps as well as a Resource Management Officer.

In each proposed option, support functions of Dispatch, Mechanics and shop are identified but not itemized as further analysis will be needed. All staffing and associated costs for Dispatch and Mechanics are estimates. Only County funded positions are identified.

12 full time personnel 1 County Wide Battalion Chief 4 Captains 7 Firefighters

CURRENT STRUCTURE STATE FORESTER STATE FMO STATE STATE STATE ELKO FMO LEAD DISPATCHER FISCAL MECHANIC SUPERVISOR BATTALION CHIEF ELKO CO DISPATCHER FISCAL MECHANIC CAPTAIN ELKO CO SPRING CRK CAPTAIN ELKO CO SPRNG CRK CAPTAIN ELKO CO SPRING CRK CAPTAIN ELKO CO WELLS DISPATCHER CLERICAL FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER DISPATCHER FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER DISPATCHER DISPATCHER

Established system but supported with an additional 12 positions in the Elko area paid by the State that will not be available once the transition is complete. 75% (9 out of 12) of personnel are concentrated in Spring Creek. Doesn t allow flexibility to create new or different staffing options. No Administrator or Chief Officer to interface with the Commission or other agencies.

12 Full time employees Fire Administrator and Admin Asst. 2 Division Chiefs 1 Captain 5 Firefighters 2 Mechanics

ELKO COUNTY COMMISSION COUNTY MANAGER OPTION I MINIMUM COVERAGE FIRE ADMINISTRATOR 2 MECHANIC(S) DISPATCH ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DIVISION CHIEF OPERATIONS/ RECRUITER DIVISION CHIEF TRAINING/ PREVENTION CAPTAIN (SPRING CREEK) VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER

Provides an Administrator to oversee the District as well as interface with the Commission, State, and Federal Agencies. Minimal full-time staffing and costs. Provides only one person coverage for Sp Cr. Most VFD dependent option. Develops support positions for training and prevention. Establishes an operations and recruitment position to support the VFD s.

17 Full-Time employees and 1 seasonal Fire Administrator and Admin Asst. 2 Division Chiefs 3 Captains 7 Firefighters 2 Mechanics 1 Training Officer 1 six month seasonal

ELKO COUNTY COMMISSION COUNTY MANAGER OPTION II PREFERRED OPTION DISPATCH FIRE ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DIVISION CHIEF OPERATIONS DIVISION CHIEF PREVENTION/ RECRUITER 2 MECHANIC(S) FIRE DISTRICT TRAINNING OFFICER FIRE DISTRICT CAPTAIN (WEST) FIREFIGHTER VFD S: City of Carlin Independence Valley Jiggs Midas Mtn City Elko North Fork Ryndon CAPTAIN (EAST) SEASONAL (6 MONTHS) VFD S: Wells Deeth Clover Jackpot Jarbidge Metroplis Ruby Valley Tecoma W. Wendover CAPTAIN (SPRING CREEK) FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTER VFD S: Spring Creek Ten Mile Lamoille FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTER

Provides an Administrator to oversee the District as well as interface with the Commission, State, and Federal Agencies. Segregates operations, training, and prevention/vfd recruiter functions. Continues to provide at least one person coverage for Sp Cr. Increases full time staffing on I-80 corridor. Provides more support to the VFD s. Establishes a foundation for career advancement.

ELKO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BUDGETED COST ESTIMATES 3/12/2013 State 12 FTE's (State Expense) County 12 FTE's County 12 FTE's County 17.5 FTE's OPTION I OPTION II CURRENT (MINIMUM) (PREFERRED STRUCTURE COVERAGE) COVERAGE) SALARY & BENEFITS 1,017,089 1,087,912 1,620,312 SERVICES & SUPPLY 225,000 300,000 300,000 DISPATCH COSTS 1 320,000 250,000 250,000 ADDITIONAL STATE COST 1 289,000 0 0 WILDLAND FIRE PREMIUM 0 400,000 400,000 SUBTOTAL 1,851,089 2,037,912 2,570,312 CAPITAL OUTLAY 45,000 250,000 250,000 BUILDINGS & ENGINES 1,124,000 500,000 500,000 3,020,089 2,787,912 3,320,312 1 = Additional State Cost Allocation

NDF currently supports all County Fire District dispatching through six full-time dispatch positions as well as the building, consoles, mountain top repeaters, and radio techs. All 911 emergency calls are initially received by Central Dispatch and then routed to the NDF side of dispatch. NDF is assisted in dispatching by their Federal partners (BLM and USFS) when personnel are available.

Switch Fire District from NDF Dispatch over to Central Dispatch. Stay with NDF through cost share agreements/staffing.

NDF currently provides a shop facility and two mechanics out of the Elko NDF Regional office that provide the majority of mechanical repairs and maintenance to the Fire District. The County currently pays for parts and materials used on County/VFD owned equipment.

1. Partner with County Road Department shop. 2. Partner with NDF through cost share agreements/staffing. 3. Create Fire District shop and hire mechanics. 4. Contract On-Call Mechanic. 5. Partner with County School District shops.

NDF has managed the Fire District for Elko County since 1956, therefore, there is very little experience or knowledge within the current County staff to take over management. The establishment of the foundational organization and agreements will be critical to the long term success and service to the public.

Administration, Dispatch, and Mechanical repairs will become the County s responsibility. The Elko County population continues to grow as do the needs for all-risk fire protection and prevention. The Spr. Crk./Elko/I-80 corridor has the largest population base outside the incorporated cities and account for the largest number of all-risk incidents.

The County should strive to maintain or increase the current level of service but the manner in which that service is provided can be adjusted from what is currently provided. It will be imperative to complete and codify all necessary agreements prior to the actual transition from NDF.