HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07092013 - FPD D.3RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief to staff a maximum of three 2-person squad companies to respond to
emergency medical incidents for a three-month trial period during wildland fire season. (Daryl Louder, Fire Chief)
FISCAL IMPACT:
Additional projected costs of $170,000 to staff a two-person EMS squad consisting of a Firefighter-Paramedic and a
Fire Engineer on overtime for eight (8) hours per day, Monday through Friday, for the three month trial period. 100%
Special District General Operating Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Since January 2011, the Fire District has de-staffed seven units and closed five fire stations. This is a significant
reduction (23%) in available resources and overall capacity to respond to emergency incidents.
The Fire District experiences a significant increase in multi-unit responses during wildland fire season. This places a
large burden on our limited resources. In many cases, existing resources are committed to other types of emergencies.
Emergency
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 07/09/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen,
Director
Mary N. Piepho, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director
Contact: Daryl Louder,
925-941-3500
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 9, 2013
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
D.3
To:Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:Daryl L. Louder, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Date:July 9, 2013
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Two-person Squad Companies to Respond to Emergency Medical Incidents for 3-month Trial Period
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
medical services (EMS) are a critical part of the District’s all-hazard mission. Approximately 75% of the Fire
District’s responses are for EMS incidents. The peak demand times for service are from 9:00 A.M. in the morning to
5:00 P.M. in the afternoon on Monday through Friday. With high service demands during wildland fire season and
limited resources, the Fire District must explore alternative solutions to maintain service levels.
The Fire District proposes to place 2-person EMS squads in service at fire stations that experience high service
demands during the peak periods. Each unit would be staffed with one engineer or firefighter/paramedic and one
firefighter/EMT hired on an overtime basis. The squad crews would respond to the following EMS calls. Necessary
Alpha incidents (no AMR unit available for 20-minutes), Bravo incidents, and appropriate Charlie incidents in a
smaller pickup truck type unit. The standard paramedic-based engine company response would still occur for life
threatening Charlie, Delta and Echo EMS incidents as well as vehicle accidents, etc., where the additional staffing is
necessary, or other hazardous conditions are present.
The addition of the squad companies during the peak service demand period will allow critical suppression units to be
available for multi-unit (structure and vegetation) responses. The Fire District proposes to staff a maximum of three
units during the peak demand period for three months from approximately July 15th through October 15th.
The staffing cost to implement this program is approximately $18,700 per month/per unit. The maximum cost for
three units for the 3-month trial period is $168,300. Medical equipment from de-staffed units can be utilized to equip
the new units.
The call volume, unit hour utilization, response time data, etc. will be monitored and evaluated on a regular basis to
determine the effectiveness of the squad companies during this pilot period.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The aforementioned EMS squads will not be placed into service during the three month trial period that coincides
with the wildland fire season.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
No impact.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
Speakers: Leslie Grundler, Firefighter; Vito Impastato, resident of Concord.