Safer Nfpa

[LVFD301]

Trying to work on the number of firefighters our department "needs" according to the NFPA. The information from 1720 points to an initial
response of 6 for a rural area, but how does that translate to how many firefighters do I need to achieve that?

To me, it's a lot like nailing jello to the wall....

[AFD2181]

I belive there is somewhere in there where it asks about number of person responding on initial assignment?

Anyone...buheler.....buheler.. ...

[Greenacres2]

That's more an issue of analyzing your particular needs. Between 4 pm and 6 am, our volunteer department could field 6 with an 8 man roster. Weekdays, we have trouble getting 3 or 4 out of our current 20. One of our auto-aid depts has many "second-shift" members, so they have the same problem at a different time of the day. What does YOUR dept need to fill, and what will it take to get YOUR residents to step up to fill that need??? The answer to that is a successful SAFER project. Good luck!

earl

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

The 6 in 1720 points to 2 in, 2 out (RIT), 2 ready to go next.

Personally I think the goal of rural responses per NFPA shouldn't be any different than suburban or urban response in terms of total firefighters, it's the time that it takes to get them on scene that will increase. All departments should aim for 4 FFs per truck with either hiring or R&R. Especially R&R, it's free money so do what you can to make it as large a response as possible at all times of the day. The more bodies you have, the better chance of filling up the seats at all hours.

I know departments that recruited school bus drivers, retired truckers & equipment operators just to be D/Os. The school bus drivers usually only are working during morning and afternoon hours, and available in between. While I think it is important that the person at the pump panel understand what is going on inside the building when pumping, if it's between rolling and not rolling train the people to drive and pump. Take them to a live burn exercise just to get the feel. But that's off subject, so I'll stop rambling.

- Brian

[neiowa]

Throw in ISO variables/considerations. Manpower is a very significant portion of your ISO rating. Considerations might include station manning (day/rec room for member use, or free apartments, or sleepover program, maybe an autoshop for member use). Anything that puts FF in the station.

Hours when station is manned (clock them in/out/document) count same as if paid FF. Alternative is 1 paid/full time = 3 vol or if lacking documentation 1 to 6 ratio.