HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10222013 - FPD SD.3RECOMMENDATION(S):
ACCEPT a report from the Fire Chief on the status of emergency response times subsequent to the closure of fire
stations and the de-staffing of functional units that began in January 2011.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact. Report only.
BACKGROUND:
Response times are established by local master plans or ordinances and national standards. Response times are
developed through scientific analysis in an effort to successfully intervene in emerging fire and medical incidents.
Community threat/risk and response times are the primary criteria that public safety agencies utilize to determine
resource level requirements and geographic distribution of fire stations.
The response time goal for fires is to arrive and control/suppress the fire before flashover (very rapid fire growth that
is not confined to the room or area of origin) occurs. Fire response times are based on the arrival of the “first-due”
unit as well as an “effective firefighting force” to control the incident. The second portion of the standard is based on
the multiple tactical functions (e.g. fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation, exposure protection, water supply,
laddering, rapid intervention team, etc.) that must be accomplished simultaneously in order to successfully intervene
and control the growth of the fire. From an emergency medical services (EMS) perspective, the response time is
designed to intervene prior to clinical death occurring. Clinical death may be caused by loss of blood circulation
(cardiac arrest) or spontaneous breathing (respiratory arrest). Rapid response time is also necessary for major
trauma/blood loss, anaphylactic shock, severe respiratory difficulty, unconscious patients, etc.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 10/22/2013 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: October 22, 2013
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
SD.3
To:Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:Daryl L. Louder, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Date:October 22, 2013
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Update from the Fire Chief on Emergency Response Times
The Contra Costa County Master Plan stipulates that fire response should be within five (5) minute travel time 90%
of the time in urban and suburban areas. Standards for 911 call processing and dispatch and firefighter turnout time
(getting dressed in protective clothing and safely boarding the apparatus) adds two minutes to the response time for a
total of seven minutes. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and
Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments recommends a travel time of four (4) minutes 90% of
the time. Adding the call process/dispatch and turnout times equates to a total of six minutes.
The District’s system-wide response time for the month of September was 10:26. This significantly exceeds
recommended standards and performance measures. This number has fluctuated since the de-staffing of fire stations in
January 2013 but has averaged close to the 10:30 mark for the nine month period. Since many fire, rescue, and EMS
emergencies are time sensitive, these excessive response times can have an adverse impact on successful
intervention.
An additional recommendation outlined in NFPA-1710 is to have an “effective firefighting force” of 15 personnel
arrive on scene within ten (10) minutes 90% of the time. This includes an eight (8) minute travel time as well as call
processing/dispatch and turnout time. The number of personnel and the time requirement is determined by the
functional tasks that must be accomplished, (e.g. fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation, exposure protection, water
supply, laddering, rapid intervention team, etc.) and the goal of controlling the fire prior to flashover.
For the month of August, the response time to assemble an effective firefighting force at the 90th percentile level was
23:45. This far exceeds the recommended response time. The late arrival delays critical functional tasks that should
occur concurrently in order to effectively control a fire. These delays allow the fire to increase in size and severity
and have the potential to endanger occupants in the building and adjoining exposed structures.
The response time standards provide a metric for fire and EMS agencies to measure their response performance and
to benchmark against agencies and systems. The excessive response times the District is experiencing indicates
insufficient resources to adequately respond to emergencies and protect the public.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Report will not be accepted.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
Director Piepho noted that the meeting packet for the Fire Advisory Commission meeting on October 14, 2013
included thank you letters from the community, and would like them included in today's record. (Attached).