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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSouth Bend Fire Department 2016 Annual Report p�$pvTH 8�d 1222 S.MICHIGAN STREET U PHONE 574/23 5`9255 Soum BEND,INDIANA 466oI-282I rb FAx 574/235-9305 X k 1865 CITY OF SOUTH BEND FETE BUTTIGIEG,MAYOR 1=jIQCI in Clerk's OffjCQ SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMEN -- STEPHEN E COX MAY 17 2017 FIRE CHIEF South Bend Fire Department Annual Report for 20 KAREEMAH FOWLER CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN � 1. Emergency response. In April of 2016,the South Bend Fire Department was determined to be a level 2 ISO rated fire department.The Insurance Services Office(ISO) is an independent auditing agency that works for the insurance industry.This rating places the SBFD in the top tier of fire agencies in the State of Indiana as none have been rated a level 1.The SBFD responded to over 20,000 emergency calls for service.As an all-hazards response agency,the Department provided service for fire suppression,EMS response,water rescue,Hazardous materials mitigation,specialized rescue, and many other response types.This activity falls in line with the Mayor's mission of making the basics easy.The Fire Department's competence,compassion,professionalism,and focus on service allow the Public to have confidence that their needs will be met whenever they call for service.The response capability of the SBFD makes this a safer city in which to live,work,and play. 2. Recruitment,testing,and hiring. The recruitment process initiated in 2014 and continued through 2015 led to all time high numbers of applicants for the SBFD in 2016.Additionally,total numbers of minority and female applicants were at an all-time high as well.This led to the most diverse hiring list the department has used in the past 25 years with an eye towards increasing departmental diversity. The current hiring list includes 27%minority applicants and 6%female.Total numbers of minority and female applicants are at an all-time high,which is a testament to the work done by the SBFD Recruitment Committee-The Committee has also worked with the third-party vendor which provides the department testing(written and interview)to rework the testing process to minimize the effects of disparate impact to any specific demographic group while not reducing standards for prospective applicants.This process falls in line with the City's values of accountability and inclusion. 3. Recruit training and High School Fire Academy. In the beginning of 2015,the SBFD started a recruit academy which included fire recruits from LaPorte Fire Department.This program has continued and we have graduated the third class including recruits fi•om other departments.This gives the SBFD greater flexibility in providing recruit training and allows the department to be able to create a revenue stream to help offset the costs of recruit training. In addition to the recruit academy,a partnership was developed with the South Bend Community Schools and Ivy Tech to create a dual-credit,co-op program for high school students.This class has continued and has expanded to include EMT training for a greater number of high school students in the South Bend Schools.As this program targets 11'l'and 121' grade students, it is a long-term recruiting project.However,the majority of students taking part JAMES Luccxi TODD L.SrcWARCAN ANDREW J.MYER JOHN CORTHIF.R FEDERICO RODRIGUEZ,JR ASST.CHIEF OPF.RATIONs ASST.CHIEF SERvicEs ASsr.CHIRP EMS Assr.CHIEF TRAINING FIRE.MARSHAL. in the program have been African-American,Latino,or female,and fits well with the above stated objectives of improving diversity and inclusion. 4. Training. In order to ensure the members of the department provide service at the high level expected by our citizens,it is imperative that members of the SBFD operate in a culture of constant improvement. Using the training resources available to all members of the department ensures that we remain safe when responding to situations which are inherently dangerous while providing necessary response to calls for service in a solutions-oriented manner.Having access to a state-the-art training center provides our firefighters with a place to safely practice their occupational skills.Examples of training evolutions that were performed in 2016 include incident command,water supply and relay pumping,roof ventilation,high-rise(night drill),bail-out training,water rescue and diving,EMS classes such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support and International Trauma Life Support, and several state certification courses.Members of the SBFD logged more than 50,000 hours of training during the year for 2016.This is in line with the City's demand for excellence and allows members of the SBFD to innovate in the way they perform the functions of their jobs.Training is one of the primary areas in which the department was audited by ISO and which led to the improved rating. 5. Wellness/Fitness The department began performing the validations and initial Work Performance Evaluations for all SBFD members.This is an evaluation which ensures all SBFD members have a minimum level of fitness and well-being in order to reduce risk of on the job injury, illness,or death. Additionally,a goal of the program is to ultimately reduce the cost of sickness and injury to members of the department through healthier living.This program fits with the City's stated values of excellence,accountability,and empowerment,and the mission of making the basics easy. 6. Community Risk Reduction. The SBFD Fire Prevention Bureau provided hundreds of hours of public education on fire prevention,gave out thousands of pieces of prevention materials,installed hundreds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to homeowners, and had contact with thousands of local children to stress the importance of prevention in their homes and schools.The Fire Inspection Division performed over 3000 inspections and over 400 hours of fire drill and fire evacuation planning for local businesses and commercial buildings to include both high rise and multi-tenant residential buildings.This activity is necessary to ensure the safety of citizens in the community and to ensure that property owners are in compliance with codes to minimize potential hazards to those that live,work,and play in the city.The Fire Investigation Division investigated 188 structure fires in 2016.There was 1 fire fatality in 2016 which is down from 2 in 2015.The SBFD Fire Prevention Bureau will continue to provide programming and education in risk reduction tlu•oughout the community. Prevention measures and inspections along with strong codes make the City safer for the residents. 7. Services. The SBFD Services Bureau provided project management for replacing the departmental Hazardous Materials response truck,which was over 30 years old,and replacement of two pumper trucks. Additionally,Chiefs Skwarcan and Myer,with staff from the SBFD Ambulance Billing Office researched and applied for additional revenue through Medicaid which provided added reimbursement for calls from 2013,which totaled$13M. An application was submitted for additional reimbursement for the year 2015.The contract was renegotiated with the Memorial Hospital for EMS services provided which will provide the department with reimbursement. Annual firefighter physicals were conducted in compliance with NFPA requirements and results will be incorporated with the results of the WPE listed above in order to provide SBFD members with a better overall picture of their health and wellness and to more adequately provide wellness coaching. Chief Skwarcan was responsible for managing design and bid for new Fire Station 4. Construction on that building should commence within the next 2 weeks. When complete, it will be the City's first LEED certified building,making sustainability and a healthy workplace paramount.These activities,along with fleet and building management are in line with all 5 values listed in the City mission. 8. Special Operations. The SBFD special operations teams include the Hazmat,dive, swiftwater rescue,and technical rescue teams.In 2016,the Hazmat team specified,bid and began contruction on a new Hazmat response truck replacing the 30-yearold vehicle used by the team. Trainers from the Hazmat team also provided an 80 hour hazmat technician course in order to provide this level of certification for additional personnel.The river rescue trainers provided 7,week-long schools in 2016 for personnel from all throughout the region which was the most in one year for the school.These schools typically host 35 students from outside the area and positively impact the hotel and restaurants in the downtown area. Members of the swiftwater rescue team also helped coordinate the third annual International Association of Water Rescue Professionals Conference at the Century Center. Over 160 water rescue professionals from around the world attended.This conference will be held in South Bend again in 2017.Members of the SBFD Technical Rescue Team continued to add to training and response capabilities through further certification training in 2016.Excellence, innovation,and empowerment all pertain to our special operations teams. 9. Emergency Medical Services. EMS constitutes the majority of the call volume for which the SBFD receives calls for service. In order to stay on the cutting edge of the service the department provides,it is important to study alternative methods of providing that service.The SBFD partnered with enFocus to study potential alternative delivery methods to focused groups of patients associated with the use of bronchodilators.A grant proposal was written to pilot the program and initially, $40,000 has been promised to start the program. Specialty training for personnel has begun and will lead to full implementation of the program in 2017.This embodies excellence, good government,and includes keeping the basics easy for citizens.