Escondido Fire Department Annual Report
City of Escondido Fire Department 2011 Annual Report Chief s Message It is with great pleasure that I present the 2011 Annual Report to the Citizens of Escondido and the Rincon del Diablo Fire Protection District. It has been a number of years since we have created an annual report for your review. It is very important to us to share information about how your fire department did in 2011, report on our accomplishments, and to highlight our goals for the coming year. I hope you find the contents of this report both useful and informative. The Escondido Fire Department was successful in completing a number of projects that have enhanced the service we provide to the community. We continue to experience increase demands for service even with the slowdown in growth within the City and District. The Fire Department strives to meet these demands by continuing to enhance our Fire/EMS delivery service by responding with quality service with the shortest response times. As part of our plan to enhance the service we provide, we joined with the San Marcos Fire Department to establish a Cooperative EMS Division. The hope with this new collaborative division is to develop a more effective EMS team, improve efficiencies, take advantage of purchasing power with vendors, and develop formalized policies and training, but mostly, to improve service to our EMS customers. Another completed project was the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Our department continues to make public education a top priority relative to maintaining defensible space around homes, adequate access and appropriate evacuations. The department is aggressive in facilitating our wildland fuel reduction programs and to strengthen evacuation routes where appropriate. We presented the completed CWPP program to Council with a 5-0 approval. During the coming year, the Escondido Fire Department will continue to ensure that our personnel are highly prepared for all emergency challenges that face our community. With the decline of the economy, our department continues to be committed to maximizing financial resources while diligently working to maintain our high level of service. I am very proud of the men and women who make up the Escondido Fire Department and the Legendary Service they provide to the community and to one another. From the Escondido Fire Department, we want to thank everyone who has helped make 2011 a safe and successful year. Mission Statement The mission of the Escondido Fire Department is to serve the public and to safeguard the community from the impact of fire, medical, and environmental emergencies through education, emergency services, and enforcement. Core Values Honor We believe that serving the community is an honor and we hold ourselves to the highest standards. Courage We acknowledge that courage goes beyond heading into burning buildings while other are running out; it s the fortitude to do the right thing, always. Pride We take pride in our professionalism, whether we re utilizing our extensive training or offering a simple gesture of comfort to those we serve. Duty We understand that our services are our duty to our community and we carry it out in the finest tradition of the fire service. Michael Lowry Fire Chief
Escondido Fire Department Personnel The Escondido Fire Department maintains a staff of 96 regular full-time employees, 7 part-time employees, and 24 volunteers. All positions, whether full-time, part-time, or volunteer, are vital to the overall success of the department s operations. These positions consist of: 1 Fire Chief: The Fire Chief reports to the City Manager and is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the Fire Department. 2 Division Chiefs: Division Chief of Operations is responsible for the operations, training, and the emergency medical service divisions. The Fire Prevention Division Chief is the Fire Marshal and manages all aspects of fire prevention, including inspections, plan reviews, public education, weed abatement and enforcement. 1 Administration Services Manager: Oversees the administration staff and the daily administrative operations. Primary responsibilities include budget development, financial management, grants, and project management. 3 Battalion Chiefs: Shift Battalion Chiefs are responsible for operational activity during each 24- hour shift. Each Battalion Chief is responsible for maintaining apparatus, facilities, and training programs. One additional Battalion chief is jointly shared with the City of San Marcos and manages the Cooperative EMS Division. 21 Fire Captains: Fire Captains supervise and lead the fire crews at each station. Fire Captains are responsible for scene management at emergency incidents. 21 Fire Engineers: Fire Engineers primary responsibility is to maintain, drive, and operate apparatus. 42 Firefighter/Paramedics: Firefighter/Paramedics provide patients with advanced life support and work as a member of fire suppression crews. 1 EMS Coordinator: Responsibilities include providing continuing education, managing the epcr program, assisting with QA/QI, conducting field care audits, and serving as the liaison with hospitals. 4 Staff Services Members: Provide clerical support to Fire Prevention, EMS Division, payroll, contracts administration, and general customer service in order to ensure the efficient daily operations of the Fire Department. 1 Deputy Fire Marshal: The Deputy Fire Marshal manages the work flow through the Fire Prevention staff, coordinating duty rotation and calendars, and filling in as needed as an inspector, plan checker, or representative for the Fire Marshal. 2 Fire Inspectors: Fire Inspectors conduct fire and life safety inspections for businesses. Facilities 1 Headquarters 7 Fire Stations 1 Regional Training Facility Fire Station 4 Update In May of 2010, Fire Station 4 was closed due to the discovery of a large amount of mold throughout the station. Fire Station 4 personnel were relocated to Aegis Care Facility one third of a mile down Bear Valley Parkway. In 2011 the owner of Aegis did not renew the lease with the fire department therefore the crews were relocated to Fire Station 6 when no suitable location was found in District 4. The remodel expansion project has moved forward with the award to Erickson-Hall as the General Contractor as part of the Design Build Team along with Jeff Katz Architecture and the City of Escondido. Demolition has just started with the removal of several trees. It is anticipated the station will be completed by the end of the 2012. Apparatus 1 Truck Company 6 Front-Line Engine Companies 4 Reserve Engine Companies 4 Brush Engines 1 Cal-EMA Brush Engine 4 Front-Line ALS Ambulances 3 Reserve ALS Ambulances 1 Rescue Truck and Trailer 1 Police/Fire Command Vehicle 1 Weed Abatement Officer: Weed Abatement Officer coordinates with property owners to resolve issues of overgrown vegetation on their properties. 1 Hydrant Maintenance Officer: Maintains all city and Rincon-owned hydrants. 1 Emergency Management Coordinator: Oversees the emergency preparedness of the City. 1 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Manager: Trains and manages the CERT team members.
Service Area Districts
Escondido Fire Department - Operations Operations Division The Escondido Fire Department is staffed 24 hours per day 365 days per year. This is accomplished by a three shift schedule (A, B, C) spread throughout seven fire stations strategically placed through the City to provide the best service possible to the community. Each shift is comprised of 1 Battalion Chief, 7 Captains, 7 Engineers and 14 Firefighter/Paramedics. The Operations Division also over sees EMS, Training, Hazardous Materials, Rescues, Communications, Mapping, Mutual/Automatic Aid and Personnel. Escondido-San Marcos Cooperative Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division In 2011, Escondido and San Marcos Fire Departments entered into a contractual relationship to create a new Cooperative Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division to provide joint management and coordination of both cities emergency medical and transportation programs. The collaborative program was developed to gain efficiency and to enhance the delivery of services through the functional consolidation and standardization of EMS management, oversight, training, medical direction and quality assurance and improvement programs. This partnership is maximizing the best practices of both departments and increasing the overall effectiveness for everyone involved. In the first year, both departments have been able to leverage economies of scale by consolidating vendors and gaining better supply pricing. Previous to the new program, San Marcos Fire EMS program was led by a Battalion Chief with assistance from field paramedics and Escondido Fire EMS program was led by a Coordinator/Nurse with assistance from a part-time clerk and field paramedics. Each position had overlapping responsibilities in their respective departments. The cooperative agreement now jointly funds a Battalion Chief who oversees both departments EMS budgets, and supervises field paramedics who are responsible for supplies, equipment, medications, and documentation. Both departments also jointly fund a Coordinator/Nurse Educator to provide training, education, clinical oversight, and regular field care audits. In addition, responsibilities also include overseeing Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement for both departments and serving as the liaison to various EMS groups, organizations, and regional committees. Advantages of the Cooperative EMS Management Agreement: Provides the advantages of scope and scale while preserving the autonomy of local programs. Removes redundancy in program overhead and reduced costs. Provides consistent and assertive medical direction and quality assurance. This results in higher service levels and reduced liability. Provides opportunity for larger scale purchasing advantages in capital equipment and medical supplies. Provides a uniform clinical practice review separated from operational organizational discipline and rank structures. Provides uniform and consistent training for all partner agency personnel. Improved utilization of training equipment. Provides a mechanism for uniform ALS related policies to be drafted, evaluated, and implemented in both cities. One example of the effectiveness of the cooperative agreement is the way we now deliver required EMS continuing education classes to on-duty personnel. Selected paramedics attend one of nine two-hour classes while the rest of the personnel handle the 911 calls in both cities. This provides the ability for personnel to stay in class sessions and benefit from the training in the most cost effective way.
Escondido Fire Department - Operations Register for Reverse 9-1-1 Register your cell phone, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone and e-mail address with AlertSanDiego, the county s reverse 9-1-1 notification system. Visit www.readysandiego.org to sign up for this free service. This does not apply to landline numbers, which are automatically registered. Important Phone Numbers 9-1-1 Dispatch Center The City of Escondido 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center (ECC) serves as the primary answering point for all 9-1-1 emergency calls and is responsible for dispatching emergency services including, Police, Fire and EMS The ECC is equipped with the latest technology in order to maintain the City of Escondido s commitment to quality service. The main components include Enhanced 911, Computer Aided Dispatch, Emergency Medical Dispatch and Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). Each communications workstation is set up to recognize TDD/TTY calls from citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing. The ECC is the critical link between community members calling for assistance and Police and Fire personnel in the field. The first contact with the ECC is with a Public Safety Dispatcher who is highly trained in providing the highest level of quality service by maintaining a calm and professional demeanor. Public Safety Dispatchers are trained in CPR and Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) in order to process medical calls for service. This additional training enables dispatchers to provide lifesaving pre-arrival instructions while emergency responders are en-route. Bilingual employees fluent in Spanish are available for interpretation. Escondido 9-1-1 also subscribes to the AT&T Language Line, which can translate over 170 different languages. Additionally, all dispatchers obtained EMD 12,500 Fire Department Calls Dispatched per Year certification through the National Academies of 12,000 Emergency Dispatch (NAED). One dispatcher completed Emergency 11,500 Medical Dispatch Quality Assurance Case Reviewer 11,000 (EMD-Q) certification through the NAED, this 10,500 training will allow for better consistency and 10,000 accountability. 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Emergency (Landline) 9-1-1 Emergency (cell Phone) 760-839-9111 Electric/Gas Emergency 800-411-7242 Police (non-emergency) 760-839-4722 Fire (non-emergency) 760-839-5400 Information Line 760-839-4721 Safety Tip Line 760-743-8477 To report a crime, you can call the Anonymous Tip Line at: 760-743-8477 (TIPS) Stay Informed During an Emergency Check the City of Escondido website for the most current information and any evacuation or shelter information during an emergency. Other emergency information resources include: Local emergency radio stations: * KOGO FM 95.7 & AM 600 * KLSD AM 1360 www.sdcouty.ca.gov/oes www.dot.ca.gov for road conditions and closures Avoid non-essential cell phone use during an emergency. Text messaging has proven to be more resilient during an emergency than voice communication.
Escondido Fire Department Operations Fire Training The Fire Training Division is responsible for ensuring the professional competence of all emergency responders in the Escondido Fire Department. By leveraging technology and combining classroom and realistic live training, this vital division prepares our department for a wide range of emergencies. The Escondido Fire Department possesses a rich tradition of dedication to training. Training prepares us to serve the public safely and more efficiently. We continued that tradition in 2011. 85 department members recorded 41,808 hours of training and classes for an average of 492 hours per person for the year. The department provided internal training in the areas of firefighter survival, pump operations, hose evolutions, ladders, confined space rescue, high angle rescue, trench rescue, ventilation, self-contained breathing apparatus, wildland firefighting, terrorism awareness, and others. We were able to practice forcible entry and ventilation techniques on buildings scheduled for demolition. Our department offered a live-fire training session in another donated structure. We also participated in regional training in the areas of: wildland firefighting, rescue, and firefighter survival. Several of our department members served as instructors for these training sessions. Many serve as instructors at the Palomar College Fire Academy and other Palomar College Courses. A number of our personnel are in the process of taking college courses to obtain certificates as Fire Officers, Chief Officers, Hazardous Materials Technicians, and other disciplines. Public Education As drugs and gang violence continue to take their toll on local communities, Escondido Fire Department personnel assume their responsibility to join law enforcement, schools, businesses, and parents to make Escondido a better place to live, work, and play. Through the Adopt-A-School program, the Fire department provided fire safety talks to the children of Escondido. Fire safety talks, career fairs, and driving safety demonstrations are just a few of the events in which Escondido Firefighters have been participating. They have also joined students for lunch and reading times. The fire crews also hosted an Open House in the Spring, and tours of the fire stations throughout the year, again providing safety information to the children. For more information, call 760-839-5420. Burn Institute Partnership The Escondido Fire Department works with the Burn Institute by providing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that are installed, by our Senior Volunteers, in the homes of elderly residents of the City of Escondido. The two agencies also work together with two programs that help children in our community; one is the Juvenile Fire Starters program which provides education and counseling to children who have started fires and the other is Fire Safe Kids program, an educational program run with the Escondido Elementary School District that teaches fire safety.
Escondido Fire Department Fire Prevention Fire Prevention and Support Services During 2011, the Fire Prevention and Support Services Division of the Fire Department were active with a number of projects aimed at improving fire and life safety for the citizens of the City of Escondido. In April 2011, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) was completed. This was a grant funded study of the wildfire risk to the areas of the City of Escondido and the Rincon Water District that are adjacent to wildland areas. Since these areas are at a greater risk during a wildfire, they were identified and prioritized so that the Fire Department could provide a better response during a fire. The study was conducted by a contract company, Anchor Point Fire Management. As part of the CWPP, there was an Annual Work Plan developed. This plan identifies areas that need mitigation and provides a system for prioritizing projects. There were a number of projects completed this year including the removal of Eucalyptus trees along Via Rancho Parkway, brush removal in several locations including: Hubbard Hill around the communication site; along La Honda Drive leading up to Daley Ranch; along Quail Glen near Via Rancho Parkway; in the area around the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility (HARRF); and in Kit Carson Park. As part of the ongoing plan we also completed over 2000 home inspections in the wildland interface areas around the southern part of the city. These inspections were simple visual inspections conducted by Engine companies, Senior Volunteers and trained interns that focused on assisting residents by providing them with simple ways to fire safe their homes. These residents were sent letters identifying their property, and informing them of what steps they could take to assist firefighters in making their homes safer during a wildfire event. Some of the information provided was ensuring that addresses were visible; trees were trimmed around driveways to provide better access for firefighting equipment, and ensuring areas around the home had vegetation removed or reduced to slow the spread of a wildfire towards their home. These inspections are continuing throughout this new year as we work around the perimeter of the city. The Fire Prevention Division works to provide a safe place for citizens to live, work, shop, eat, and enjoy. During this year they reviewed over 700 plans for new construction and building improvements within the city. In addition, 579 Life and Safety inspections were conducted in existing businesses. The suppression Engine Companies conducted an additional 1007 Life and Safety inspections in existing businesses. These inspections ensure that the buildings are safe for both the public and the employees. There were 327 construction inspections conducted. These inspections ensured that all Fire Codes were being met and that the building, when complete, will be a safe place to live, or conduct business. Other actions taken by the Fire Prevention Division included; issuing of burn permits (21), tent/canopy permits (37), blasts (3), and weed abatement of 245 properties. The department also serviced 2964 fire hydrants within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the City.
Escondido Fire Department Administration Support Services The Administration Division of the Escondido Fire Department is responsible for providing leadership, long-range planning, budget development, financial management, personnel management, payroll, grants, project and contract management and general customer service both to internal and external customers. Our role is to serve the public by providing the best quality emergency services to the citizens of Escondido and the Rincon del Diablo Fire Protection District. The Administration Division is also responsible for overseeing a $17 million dollar budget. The monies from the budget are used to deliver fire protection, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, public safety education, fire investigation and training for department personnel. During the past year, our fire department was able to achieve several goals designed to improve the level of service provided to the community. These same goals resulted in operational efficiencies and additional revenue through cost recovery. Additionally we focused on aggressively seeking out grant opportunities in order to further our departments ability to improve the service we provide. In 2012, the Escondido Fire Department will continue to monitor our service levels for efficiency, effectiveness, and overall quality. We will ensure that the service we provide matches the needs of the community. Performance Measures Minutes 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Average Response Times in Minutes - 2011 District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 City of Escondido's Quality of Life Standard is to respond to emergencies within 7 minutes and 30 seconds 90% of the time.
Performance Measures (Continued) 100 90 80 70 Respond to emergent calls in less than 7:30 minutes 90% of the time - 2011 Percent 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 Citywide 500 Responded to Rincon District - 2011 475 Calls 450 485 481 490 425 400 2009 2010 2011 Year San Marcos 269 Ambulance Auto-Aid Received - 2011 Other 18 Cal Fire 20 Fire/EMS Aid Given - 2011 Rancho Santa Fe 11 Vista 8 Rancho Santa Fe 38 San Diego 16 Deer Springs 8 San Marcos 34
Escondido Fire Department Community Involvement 9/11 Tribute On September 11, 2001 our nation experienced terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and ultimately a field in Pennsylvania. One year later, on September 11, 2002, the Escondido Fire Department unveiled a Tribute Ribbon painted on the south side of our training tower. This ribbon, painted by Captain Eric Souza and Engineer Dennis Nagle paid tribute to those who perished in the attacks. In 2007, old Fire Station One was demolished in order to clear the land for a new Station One. Unfortunately the Tribute Ribbon was lost in the demolition. In early 2011, discussions were conducted regarding painting a new Tribute Ribbon on the new Training Tower. Upon taking these ideas to the City Beautification Committee we discovered just how much the ribbon was missed by all city employees. Therefore, plans were developed to have the same individuals (now retired) re-paint the ribbon on the new tower. Both retired employees eagerly agreed and spent a month designing and painting a new Tribute Ribbon on the west facing side of the tower. On September 11, 2011, the ten year anniversary of the attacks, the new ribbon was unveiled. The unveiling was timed to coincide with the time the first WTC Tower fell. This event was widely attended by the public and City employees alike. Volunteer Program Our Senior Volunteer program utilizes senior members of our community who volunteer their time to assist the Fire Department with administrative and logistical duties. This includes transporting mail and equipment between all seven Fire Stations, Fire Headquarters, and City Hall. Volunteer s also work with assistance of the Burn Institute with mobile home parks within the city, where many of the residents are also senior citizens, to install or inspect fire smoke detectors. The Senior Volunteers went to the homes of 213 senior residents of the City, and installed 361 smoke detectors to improve the fire safety for these individuals. They also inspected an additional 131 homes and changed batteries in 289 already installed smoke detectors.
Escondido Fire Department Emergency Preparedness Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program In 2011, the Escondido CERT Program Manager completed several goals in not only team management and academy instruction but also completed the Emergency Evacuation Plan and the Continuity of Operations Plan for our City. There were 3 CERT Academies where nearly 100 new students were taught how to prepare for and respond to a disaster. The Escondido CERT Team of approximately 150 members expanded their knowledge by attending continuing education classes in Shelter Operations, HAM radio use, and CPR/First Aid/AED certification. The second annual Escondido CERT Team member picnic was a success with nearly 55 Escondido CERT members and their families in attendance. Seventeen members of the City Employee CERT Team took part in a Wildland Urban Interface class. This module was not part of their initial training but was well received by the participants. The CERT Program Manager is looking to expand the City Employee CERT Team response capability and membership in 2012. The Escondido CERT Program is a member of the San Diego CERT Council. The San Diego CERT Council meets six times a year providing consistency, guidance, and funds for the 33 CERT teams in San Diego County. There are more than 2,000 CERT Members / Disaster Service Workers in San Diego County. In addition to team assistance, the San Diego County Operational Area is nearing completion of a Mutual Aid Agreement that will enhance the response capability of CERT Teams within the County. Emergency Management The Emergency Management section of the Fire Department has been busy keeping the City prepared to respond to emergencies on a local and regional level. We have updated and published revisions to the City s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), our Evacuation & Repopulation Plan, the Emergency Resource Catalog, and the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). We have trained fellow employees in more than a hundred hours of mandatory State of California Standard Emergency Management System (SEMS) requirements, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) courses. Additionally, we had an Emergency Operations Center Tabletop Exercise on September 29, 2011 with approximately forty participants discussing how Escondido gathers and shares intelligence information, manages our Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and provides public information and warnings. We have provided community outreach/educational presentations to the Women s League of Escondido, Palomar College Emergency Management Class, Northrup Grumman, Palomar Hospital Disaster Preparedness Fair, and a local Boy Scouts of America troop. On September 8, 2011, Emergency Management activated the EOC in response to the Pacific Southwest Power Outage that affected all of San Diego County.