HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire Service Response Study 1982MEMORANDUM
TO: N. Desch
W. Shaw
S. Killeen
R. Anderson
FROM: D. Jennings .1� 0
RE: G. Proper Meeting
DATE: February 22, 1983
Commissioner Bob Anderson, Alderman S. Killeen and myself
met with George Proper, Fire Specialist from New York State
Department of State on February 18 to discuss progress based
upon his response study of February 1982 and some broad
areas of concern. I would classify those broad areas as
a) Fire Service Organization, b) Fire Service Equipment,
c) Equipment Positioning, and d) Fire Service Management.
Fire Service Organization
There are three forms of organizations for the fire service.
a) A city fire company
area of the surrounding Town.
b) A joint municipality
c) An independent fire
serving by contract, selected
fire service.
service district.
Discussion regarding organization (b) and (c) above indicated
no preference with respect to the operational efficiency of
the fire service. George felt that the key factor in fire
service was the management of the service. (George lives in
the Town of Colonie, a large well managed Town around Albany.
Population about 80,000 - diverse mixture of residential -
industrial - service tax base. He frequently illustrated his
comments with what Colonie is doing.)
Fire Service Equipment
When first response equipment (light truck, automatic trans-
mission, 100-300 gallons of water, all entry and protective
equipment) was discussed, George made two points:
a) Colonie has first response equipment and - it is
always the first to go. In a real fire they size up the
situation and call for aid. Colonie always responds an
engine - as well as a first response vehicle.
b) You need water to put out a fire - and a first
response vehicle does not have much.
-2-
(My interest in first response equipment is ease of movement
of the equipment that produces trained personnel at the
scene. And their first concern is for life safety. I am
not too sure whether a 70% damaged or a 100% damaged house
is so significant to a living family.)
High pressure fog equipment was discussed. This equipment
can sometimes extinguish an involved house fire with a small
amount of water.
Georges response to that was that high pressure fog equip-
ment had its purposes (aside from the above he mentioned,
flammable liquids because foam is a normal accessory) but
that it should be considered an available response rather
than a normal response, subject to competent fire management
on the scene.
George qualified most of his discussion regarding equipment
positioning with his lack of knowledge of the specific
territory.
He stated from a homeowners insurance rating standpoint, the
most important factor was rate of fire flow. There are
apparently three options for maintaining the required fire
flow. a) hydrants, b) Tanker - pond - relay system, and
c) large diameter hose. He elaborated on the benefits of a
reel laying system for large diameter hose.
In general site location discussions, there seemed to be two
areas of agreement.
a) The sites being considered on South Hill were
generally acceptable because not very many site location
errors were possible, considering the terrain and area.
b) On West Hill, the predominant factor had to be
central location within a road network. I believe we could
extrapolate these thoughts by drawing a straight line west
from the octopus and looking for a site with a road network.
To benefit the geography it should be up to three miles east
of the Towns westerly boarder. I think we have to look at
completing our Town road network, if we want a location
different than the octopus.
Fire Service Management
George concluded a number of his discussions about fire
equipment and site locations and included a number of stories
that illustrated the key effect of fire management personnel.
Specific discussions regarding volunteer - paid firemen
frictions suggested that we be more careful of terminology.
-3-
"All firefighters are professional. Some are career - some
are volunteer." In discussion regarding malicious false alarms
at educational institutions, Mr. Proper suggested that for safety
the firemen evacuate the building and diligently search for fire.
He stated that this had worked wonders in some situations he had
knowledge of.
He also talked about training in management and I reviewed
the "Volunteer Fire Service Administration" course at Montour
and found it to consist mainly of management training.
Since I have become involved in this area I have heard discussions
from past Commissioners, absence of discussion from current
Commissioners, and discussions with elected representatives, that
we have a fire service management problem. I have four comments
on this subject.
a) I certainly understand that the City Planning
Department might not consider planning for mown fire safety
as a high priority - no matter how well its represented by the
Chief.
b) The Chief seems to have a long range plan (i.e.,
large hoses) and hasn't told me about it and I guess -
no one else.
c) I appreciate personally the difference between
doing and administering. Possibly our Fire Commissioners
didn't when making the Chiefs appointment. Its a hard
discrimination but its key to management success.
d) If this has been an experience building time - the
times almost over.
DJ/js