SAGINAW FIRE DEPARTMENT SAFER Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services A FEMA, Department of Homeland Security Program
Current SAFER Funding Grant award of $2,317,587 15 fire fighter positions for FY 13/14 and FY 14/15 Prevented the layoff of 15 fire fighters Grant performance period ends June 30, 2015
Current SAFER Funding What has SAFER funding done for the City of Saginaw? It allowed the Saginaw Fire Department to retain 15 fire fighters who faced imminent lay off. It provided us an opportunity to implement a new operational model and adjust internal procedures which maintained service levels and provided improved efficiencies and reduced costs. Fire Department employees have taken on additional roles and responsibilities. Fire Department overtime expenses have been substantially reduced.
Current SAFER Funding What has SAFER funding done for the City of Saginaw? The Saginaw Fire Department is a lean organization 94% of all sworn firefighters are engaged in fire fighting activities The Fire Chief, Training / Safety Officer, and Fire Marshal are the only sworn members who do not regularly engage in fire fighting activities. They do however respond to incidents in a support role. The Saginaw Fire Department has only one part-time civilian clerical employee. Added clerical functions have been taken on by sworn members.
Current SAFER Funding What has SAFER funding done for the City of Saginaw? SAFER funding provided sufficient personnel to allow the Saginaw Fire Department the opportunity to implement new community service programs and life safety initiatives. A new level of participation and engagement with Saginaw s neighborhood associations, civic organizations, and citizens The installation of 10,000 smoke detectors in Saginaw homes
Status of the Current SAFER Grant The Saginaw Fire Department currently has 11 fire fighters who are funded by SAFER grant funds. The current level of SAFER employees is reflective of the promotion of the Fire Chief and the resignation, separation, or retirement of three fire department employees. Based on seniority, as openings have occurred, SAFER funded employees have been shifted out of SAFER funding and into the Public Safety Millage and the General Funds.
Status of the Current SAFER Grant Filling the Vacancies Attempts were made to fill the vacancies however the eligible list was exhausted. A new hiring list is currently in the process of being created The written exam has been completed Oral interviews are currently being conducted Physical agility test to be completed the first week of June.
Status of the Current SAFER Grant Unused Funds Available Due to the vacancies within the SAFER funded employee group, unused funds will exist at the end of the SAFER grant performance period. The Fire Department plans to submit a request to FEMA to extend our performance period to allow us to exhaust all awarded SAFER funds. It is projected that there will be sufficient unused SAFER funds available to fund our remaining SAFER employees for up to three months.
A New SAFER Grant On March 6, 2015, the Saginaw Fire Department submitted a grant application for a new SAFER grant. The grant request is for $2,017,145 to fund 13 fire fighters for 2 years. The grant award announcement period is June 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015.
A New SAFER Grant Why did we apply for only 13 positions? In February of 2015, 13 layoff notices were issued to the 13 employees who were SAFER funded at that time. The layoffs will be effective June 30, 2015 which is the end of the current SAFER grant performance period and the end of the current fiscal year. Within the SAFER grant program, grant requests involving employees who face imminent layoff receive priority.
A New SAFER Grant Will we receive a new SAFER grant? We are very optimistic but cannot predict if we will be successful. The Saginaw Fire Department Grant Team, working closely with the Office of Management and Budget, wrote and submitted an excellent grant application. The application submitted clearly outlined the Saginaw Fire Department s need for SAFER funding and the impact it will have on the City of Saginaw. The application submitted will provide us the best opportunity possible to receive 2 more years of SAFER funding
A New SAFER Grant What will happen if we receive a new grant? Current service levels will be maintained. All initiatives and new programs will continue. Personnel vacancies will be filled from the eligible list currently being created. We will continue to explore all options available to further reduce and eliminate our dependence on future SAFER funding.
A New SAFER Grant What will happen if we do not receive a new grant? Service levels will be reduced. 2 of Saginaw s 4 fire stations will be closed. Stations that will be closed: Station # 3, 1602 Hess Station # 4, 2208 State Street
Service Reductions What is the impact of closing 2 fire stations? Response times will increase in the areas of the station closures. The current geographic location of Saginaw s 4 current fire stations provides excellent service coverage. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards recommend that the first arriving engine company arrives on scene of a structure fire within 4 minutes, 90% of the time.
Service Reductions Calculated 4 minute Response Coverage 4 Fire Stations 2 Fire Stations
Service Reductions Fire Spread Versus Time There are many variables and calculations to consider when determining the rate of fire growth in structure fires. The rule of thumb in the fire service is that fire doubles in size every 60 seconds. A timely response, adequate personnel and equipment, and the application of good fireground tactics are critical for the rescue of fire victims and the reduction fire losses. The callback of off-duty personnel and mutual aid will be utilized when additional resources are needed however neither of these approaches have a significant impact on the initial timely response and deployment of resources and equipment. Mutual Aid cannot be relied on as an everyday supplement to reduced fire department staffing.
Service Reductions The Effect on the Community Increased response times will impact the Fire Department s ability to affect rescues and limit fire losses in some areas of the City. To protect the safety of our remaining fire fighters, fireground strategies and tactics will be adjusted on some incidents to account for the reduced number of personnel. Defensive tactics will be employed with greater frequency which will negatively impact our ability to reduce fire damage in the community. Fire Department services will be re-evaluated. Some non fire suppression services will be reduced or eliminated based on available staffing. Examples may include: responses to motor vehicle accidents, participation in community functions, fire safety initiatives (smoke detector installations, presentations) etc.
Service Reductions The Effect on Saginaw Fire Department Personnel The reduced number of Fire Department employees will increase the workload and strain on each member. Structure Fire Response Staffing Current Command Vehicle, 1 Incident Commander Ladder Truck, 3 Personnel Fire Engine, 3 Personnel Fire Engine, 3 Personnel Fire Engine, 3 Personnel Reduced Command Vehicle, 1 Incident Commander Ladder Truck, 4 Personnel Fire Engine, 4 Personnel Total personnel on scene: 13 Total personnel on scene: 9
Service Reductions The Effect on Saginaw Fire Department Personnel Fire fighting is a physically demanding, labor intensive occupation. The Saginaw Fire Department is a very busy fire department, with an average of 193 structure fires per year over the last 3 years. The fire fighters that will be laid off, without SAFER funding, will be our youngest members. Without SAFER funding and with the reduction of personnel, the average fire fighter s age on the department will rise to approximately 45 years old.
Service Reductions The Effect on Saginaw Fire Department Personnel A smaller, older workforce will likely result in an increase in fire fighter injuries. All possible safety measures will be employed, however due to the physical demands of the job and the high volume of fire incidents that we respond to, all injuries cannot be prevented. Incident Commanders will adjust their strategies and tactics to keep fire fighter safety a primary focus.
Summary The current SAFER grant, funding 15 fire fighters, will expire on June 30, 2015. The Saginaw Fire Department has applied for a new SAFER grant, totaling $2,017,145 to fund 13 fire fighters for 2 years. The announcement period for the new SAFER grant is June 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015. Since we may not receive notification regarding our new SAFER grant application by the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2015, we will request an extension on the performance period for our current grant. We will use unused funds from the current grant to fund our current SAFER employees for up to 3 months or until we receive official notice on the outcome our new SAFER grant request.
Summary If we are successful in attaining a new SAFER grant, we will retain our current SAFER fire fighters and fill any vacancies that have occurred. Fire protection services will be maintained and the citizens of Saginaw will see no decrease to the level of services provided. If we are successful in attaining a new SAFER grant, we will continue to increase our efficiencies and explore strategies to improve our long-term sustainability and further reduce or eliminate our future dependence on SAFER funding. If we are not successful in attaining a new SAFER grant, 2 fire stations will be closed to account for a reduction of fire fighters. Response times will increase and our ability to provide adequate fire and life safety protection in some areas of the City will be impacted.
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