FY 2007 Fire and EMS Annual Report

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Trainin The vision of the department's Training Section is to "Facili- tate Personal Safety, Professional Development, and Opera- tional Excellence from Recruitment to Retirement." Its mis- sion is to "DevelopHighly Competent Emergency Response Teams by Focusing on Personal Performance Preparation." The Training Section has taken on a new challenge in devel- opingand delivering the department's own closed-circuit TV training programming, a monthly broadcast called "Safety Matters," which is rebroadcast throughout the month to Eugene and Springfield firefighters and has replaced the sub- scriptionprogramming ofthe past. ;i a~ ~~ I The drill field at the department's 2na & Chambers complex Lance Lighty, Training Chief received important infrastructure improvements including electrical, sewer, and concrete work to support a new flammable liquid prop area; a vehicle ex- tricationarea featuring oillwaterseparators (to pre- ventcontaminants from escaping into the storm sewer system); and additional work in preparation for a planned tank farm/confined space prop that will be completed this year. Successorship is one of the department's principal concerns. With afocus onmid-career development, the Training Section has recently graduated 4 of the department's Officer Development Program (ODP) candidates and has 18 Engineer Development Candi- dates presently enrolled in that program: The Train- ingstaff delivers written and practical exams that document competency in nationally recognized skills; upon completion, these make the candidates eligible to participate in promotional processes for the positions they have become eligible for. A yearly performance appraisal program has been ~~~ developed and is in service; it will ultimately dove- -~ - tail with the City of Eugene's formal appraisal sys- temand assist supervisors in having honest discussions with employees about performance ex- pectations and goals, These efforts help the organization and its people progress in compe- tence. We recently graduated 8 Firefighter/Paramedics from a lateral Fire Academy. The recruits all had previous experience and were given Eugene-specific fire and emergency medical training prior to being assigned in the field. This initiative allowed the department to reduce the length of its recruit academy from 13 to 8 weeks, saving time, money, and resources. Fire Marshal's Office Major changes in Prevention this past year included the hiring of three new Deputy Fire Marshals - Keith Haggas, Amy Linder, and Sandra Johnston -bringing the number of deputies up to six, which is still one below a full complement. Keith transferred to Fire & EMS from the City's Planning & Development Depart- ment, Amy from Yakima, Wash., and Sandra from LaPine. With staff departures, the new hires actually account for one ad- ditionalposition onthe Prevention staff, due to the City's deci- sion.to add a third Deputy in the Construction Plan Review area. Although they are a part of the Fire Prevention staff, those three positions are funded for the most part by the Planning & Devel- opmentDepartment. In a bonus for the entire community, Amy Mike Thrapp, ~~ ere wtarshai arrived with a working partner named. Cody (ahortfor Fire Code Inspector), athree-year-old Dalmatian trained to give fire safety demonstrations (stop-drop-and=roll, crawl low through smoke, dia19-1-1, etc.). Cody is well known in the fire service and is quickly becoming a local celebrity. For the Prevention Section overall, it was another busy year as the staff conducted 715 code enforce- Keith Haggas ment inspections, reviewed 1,377 plans, conducted 1,145 plan review inspections, investigated 29 fires, counseled 7 juveniles at risk. for fire-setting behaviors, and operated the revenue-producing Hazardous Materials Permitting Program and Toxics Right-to-Know Program. The section also conducted the annual New Year's Eve "sweeps" (in which Deputy Fire Marshals and line fire crews visit local party venues to check for fire safety); coordinated the depart- ment'sparticipation inFire Prevention Week (with fire suppression personnel making pres- entations to every second-grade classroom in Eugene); and provided fire safety information and demonstrations to numerous community groups and individuals, Cody .~ ,~ 26 27 ;1n2q~ Linder r +w Sandra Johnston