The operations division provides emergency response to fires of all types, rescues, to include vehicle extrication, and special operations to include hazardous materials incidents. Fire suppression activities also include investigating situations that are fire related such as automatic fire alarm activations, smoke or odor investigations, power line or transformer problems, and flammable fuel spills or leaks.

 

The department has two categories of response; emergency and non-emergency. Emergency responses are those incidents that pose a significant risk to life or property. The initial response of apparatus and personnel is dictated by the type of incident. For example, a typical response to structural related fire calls including activated fire alarms, include two engine companies and a truck company. Examples of emergency response are:

• Reported or possible fire in a structure or activated fire alarm
• A reported fire outside of a structure that involves the potential destruction of property or poses a risk to human or animal life
• All categories of emergency medical incidents including vehicle accidents
• Responses to a man-made or natural disaster involving the destruction of property and the potential for injury or death. This would include requests for assistance from other jurisdictions to the scene

In the event of a working fire within the City, the incident would be upgraded to include a third engine company, a squad company, and a second aerial company. These additional companies are a valuable tool in controlling a fire early and to meet the resources needed on the scene.

Non-emergency responses are those incidents that do not pose a significant risk to life or property. Generally, these types of incidents are a single engine response or in some cases, the Shift Commander will respond and investigate. Examples of non-emergency response are:

• Carbon Monoxide Alarms with no illness
• Activated fire alarms confirmed to be false (downgraded to a single engine response)
• Leaf burning or dumpster fires with no exposures
• Illegal burning with no exposures
• Outside odor/smoke investigations
• Public service calls to assist the public when there is no immediate threat to life or property
• Any apparatus on a change-of-quarters to another jurisdiction

On any incident, should our resources be taxed and or additional help be needed, the department is part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 54.

2006 Responses

Fires	111	$497,500 loss
Overpressure Rupture, Explosion, Overheat (no fire)	1
Rescue & EMS	116
Hazardous Condition (no fire)	53
Service Call	40
Severe Weather	2
Good Intent Call	41
False Alarm/Call	171	(includes false fire alarms)
Special Incident	11