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South Bend Fire Department <br />2014 Strategic Plan <br />Introduction <br />Members of the South Bend Fire Department created the following strategic plan in order <br />to develop a living document that would be easily acted upon to steer continuous improvement <br />within the Department-over-the sheft�and long term. <br />The Process <br />Starting out as a volunteer fire company, which organized in 1853, the South Bend Fire <br />Department has evolved into a modern, career fire department of 251 sworn members. All - <br />hazards response services include fire suppression, emergency medical services and transport <br />ambulance, hazardous materials and technical rescue responses, and Swiftwater and dive team <br />operations. Over the last 161 years, as South Bend grew from a settlement to a town and into an <br />industrial city, the needs of the community from the fire department have continually evolved. In <br />order for the South Bend Fire Department to adapt and respond to those changes, strategic <br />planning has been necessary. <br />In.late 2013, Department leadership, including members of the IAFF Local 362 <br />leadership team, agreed that the Department would benefit greatly going through the process of <br />gaining accredited status through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. As part of <br />this process, it was decided to hold a formal strategic planning session which included members <br />of the South Bend Fire Department to create a community- driven Strategic plan document. This <br />document is a plan which will be systematically reviewed by a joint committee in order to <br />remain current and relevant to the Department's needs. <br />Classes were held with Chief Cox and Captain Metzger (Accreditation Manager) in order <br />to explain the goals and objectives of the committee so that all departmental personnel would <br />understand the scope of work to be done by the committee. It was explained that the strategic <br />plan would provide short-term direction, set goals and objectives, optimize the use of resources, <br />and build a shared vision for the Department. <br />Page 2 of 18 <br />