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Health & Fitness

Fire Departments Structure and Daily Staffing

Learn how the East Haven Fire Department is staffed and what a daily shift is like.

As we move into the warmer weather, we enter a time of year where we see an increase in many types of calls. One of those call types involves your barbecue or propane grill.

Please watch the public safety announcement from ESPN's Hannah Storm. Hannah talks about her survival following a grilling accident. http://youtu.be/Rs9hq3lVrnE

This month’s blog I want to provide some insight to the department’s structure, daily routine and responsibilities.

The East Haven Fire Department is compromised of five groups of personnel.

Administrative Staff positions include the Chief of the Department, Chief Douglas Jackson and the Assistant Chief, Charles Licata. The operations of the department is made up of 46 career Local 1205 firefighters (40 firefighters, 4 Battalion Chiefs, 2 Deputy Chiefs, 1 Fire Marshal, 1 Training Officer), four volunteer companies (Company #1 located at Fire Headquarters on Main Street, Company #3 located on RT 80 in Foxon, Company #4 Located on George Street in Momauguin and Company #6 located on Short Beach Road. The last group of personnel is our 911 operators.

The career firefighters have four divisions who are commanded by a Battalion Chief. Each shift works three consecutive 10 hour day shifts followed by three days off and then 3 consecutive 14 hour night shifts. The Deputy Chief Fire Marshal and Training Officer along with the Chief and Asst Chief work Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In future blogs, I will highlight and provide details of each volunteer company for this blog. I will also discuss the career staffing and daily responsibilities.

The career firefighters staff the following apparatus throughout the town 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

Headquarters 200 Main Street Car 4 - Battalion Chief Vehicle staffed with 1 Battalion Chief who is the shift commander
Rescue 1 - Rescue truck staffed with 1 firefighter EMT, 1 firefighter Paramedic Engine 1- 75’ Quint Apparatus staffed with two firefighters

Station #3 Foxon Road/ RT 80 (actual address is 1420 North high Street)
 Truck 3 - 100’ Ladder Truck/Quint staffed with two firefighters
Squad 5 - Mini-pumper/rescue truck staffed with 1 firefighter EMT, 1 Firefighter Paramedic

Station #4 George Street Engine 4 - Engine Company staffed with two firefighter EMT’s.

In addition to the above staffed vehicles we also have multiple additional resources including boats, special hazards trailer, mobile command vehicle, specialized retired military vehicle for flood waters, an all terrain vehicle and many other resources to meet the challenges the town of East Haven faces each year.

In future posts, I will highlight and detail the differences and roles of each type of vehicle.

The career staff has a wide variety of daily responsibilities. Being a paramilitary organization there is a lot of structure to each shift.

0800 to 0900 Firefighters begin releiving each around 7:30 and begin preparing for their day. The shift change would be defined as informal however, there are a lot of formalities that occur. Each firefighter comes into work and places his protective equipment on the truck in the position they are working. This protective equipment is referred to as “gear”. The firefighters gear includes approximately 75 lbs of protective clothing that includes their helmet, fire jacket, fire pants, boots, gloves, nomex hood, air pack breathing mask,  and a portable radio. They also have many individual hands tools, rope and other miscellaneous items carried within their gear. Once their gear is readied on the apparatus, they prepare for the daily radio test which is conducted at 8:05 each and everyday. This radio test orchestrated by the 911 dispatcher assures all of the department’s communications equipment is working properly. Following the radio test all equipment begins to be check, inventoried and maintained. Each day we must make sure all equipment is in perfect condition and ready for usage. This is done utilizing check off lists designed for each vehicle that includes every single item on each truck. During this time the Battalion Chief is beginning his or her administrative duties while tending to the needs of his or her crew.

0900 to 1000 part of the fire department that many have trouble understanding is the “brother hood” that we have. Being at work as a firefighter is UN-like any other profession in the world. When we are at work we are at work yes, however our work is like our home. Each and every morning during this time the first of many meals is shared amongst the shift. This time is spent together in the department’s kitchen. During this time firefighters catch up with their extended family, discuss the previous shifts calls and items of interest. Much time is fire or EMS related which is an informal way to train the less experienced members. Also many stories are shared of the “old days” when many of the retired firefighters stop in to say hello and have a cup of coffee. This brotherhood is one of the deeply seated traditions with every department. This is critical in the overall operations. The brotherhood bonds must be strong when you think of the extremes things that we are tasked to do. 1000 – 1100 is the time each day that the house work is completed. As mentioned previously the firehouse is like our homes. They must be kept clean from top to bottom.

1100 – 1200 this section of time is allotted for training or other tasks, projects or assignments from the Chief's Office. During this time there is a big variety of items that are completed including formal classroom or hands on training, pre-plans, hydrant maintenance, light vehicle maintenance, hose changes, ladder maintenance, hose testing, ladder testing and the numerous other necessary daily tasks so the department, equipment and personnel are ready to respond to any type of emergency. 1300 – 1500 this two hour block is structured the same as the 1100 – 1200 time blocks. Both of these blocks are first assigned to the Training Officer and then the Battalion Chief for completion of projects and tasks.

1500 – 1800 this three hour block has no definitive or regular scheduled items. However frequently it is filled with completing the items that were not completed during the 1100-1200 or 1300-1500 time block. It also the time of day that many of the administrative paperwork is completed by the EMS members and the Battalion Chief.

Each and every call we respond has its own individual report completed by the Battalion chief and every medical emergency has a special medical report that is done. This is also the common time of the day to find members working on their physical fitness.

1800 brings the shift change where the night shift begins and the day shifts ends. During these structured and busy day shifts we also must factor in the calls for service.

Each day we respond to an average of 17 calls for service. There is no rhyme or reason to when, where or what type of call will come in. Many times during the day will you find a dish sitting on the kitchen table well into the afternoon hours that is still filled with someone’s half eaten breakfast. The calls come and go but the daily responsibilities, assignments and tasks stay the same. Training must still be completed, paperwork must be done, firehouses must be clean and equipment must be inventoried and maintained. At times, yes there is some down time. However that down time is few and far between on a regular day shift in East Haven.

In the next blog, I will tackle the volunteer companies and how those members provide a valuable service to our town!

Until next time please remember the following. When you are driving and an emergency vehicle is approaching you regardless of direction you or the vehicle is traveling, if their lights and siren are operating, the state law requires you to pull completely to the right and come to a complete stop. Remember that vehicle is responding to someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle etc. to provide some type of emergency assistance. Please be mindful and allow us to get to the calls safely so we can do what we are trained to do and save lives.

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