When you read the title of this column, many of you might have wondered who we will be making things better for? That’s a good question, and the answer is them.
When we use the term ‘them’ in the fire service, it’s understood to mean the people who we serve—any and all people who might need to call you for service, including residents who live in your service area, people who own and operate businesses in your response area and even folks who simply drive through your town. That said, we know that we want to, and probably must, improve the level of service that we provide. What specific services or activities would have a positive effect on the people who you serve?
Turnout gear
The first item that can have a dramatic positive effect on any department operation is to reduce response times, but I’m not talking about driving faster. Getting out the door more quickly starts with how your turnout gear is set or stored. Your gear should be at your riding position and placed so that it can be donned in order and rapidly. Bunker pants and boots should be positioned so that they can be immediately stepped into. The radio harness and strap, which should be draped over the turnout coat, should be donned next. The coat can be put on next.
This simple, organized method of donning protective gear prior to boarding the apparatus makes for a more rapid turn out. If you’re a volunteer and your gear is stored on a gear rack, it should be arranged similarly for the same reason.
When the tones sound
The second activity that speeds your turn out is the manner by which on-duty firefighters start to head out to the apparatus floor for a response.
All firefighters should pause what they’re doing regardless of what it is when an alarm is received and begin their response immediately.
Some alarm systems still are a series of bells, which can take 10–20 seconds to complete. Firefighters should head to the apparatus floor while the bells are ringing, not sit on the rowing machine counting the bells. This also applies to voice alarm systems.
Once the tones sound or the voice begins to deliver the alarm information, all on-duty personnel should be in response and moving.
Training
Training is guaranteed to improve any department’s performance—and not just minimum standards but interesting, frequent, challenging sessions.
Many departments require daily training, but some don’t. Every fire company in every department should consider daily training as an absolute requirement.
Some departments have cargo containers that are installed at their firehouse or training ground, so companies get realistic fire training without traveling great distances or being out-of-service. This is a great investment in improving the performance of firefighters and companies.
Tool maintenance
Departments also can make an effort to replace and repair tools and equipment that are outdated or in disrepair. Of course, not every tool can be replaced with a new one every year, but many departments’ companies are using 20- and 30-year-old pieces of equipment that simply are inefficient. Other departments require on-duty firefighters to repair tools that are damaged, which can result in a well-meaning firefighter making unsafe or ineffective repairs, which could result in a failed operation or injury the next time that the tool is used.
Mutual/automatic aid
The final point for improving operations: Look into sharing of services with neighbors. Many departments, whether in a rural or urban setting, are having great success using mutual aid and automatic aid for their operations. Automatic aid is by far one of the most effective ways to increase the number of companies and firefighters who respond to your alarms without spending a single dollar. With some training and familiarization, it can improve performance at operations dramatically.
