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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04012014 - FPD D.1RECOMMENDATION(S): ACCEPT a report from the Fire Chief on the District’s plan to utilize the 2013 SAFER grant. FISCAL IMPACT: There will be no negative fiscal impact using the deployment model as stated below, and ultimately the District could save up to $500,000 annually depending upon several different variables including the use of the grant to fill vacant positions. BACKGROUND: In 2012, the District applied for a Federal Emergency Management Agency Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant which would prevent further closures of fire stations and allow the District to hire/retain 27 firefighters. The grant was awarded on February 21, 2014, in the amount of $9,571,500 to be used over a two-year performance period. Although the grant provides funding for 27 firefighters, it is important to remember that the grant does not cover any additional costs such as the differential between firefighter, fire engineer, and fire captain. Because of this, it is cost prohibitive for the District to simply hire the 27 firefighters and place three 3-person engine companies into service. In determining the best deployment for the District and the customers we serve, a group was commissioned to study the performance data of all of the fire stations to determine: APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 04/01/2014 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: Fire Chief Jeff Carman, 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: April 1, 2014 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: D.1 To:Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors From:Jeff Carman, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Date:April 1, 2014 Contra Costa County Subject:Report from the Fire Chief on the District’s Plan to Utilize the 2013 SAFER Grant BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) If the stations closed during the financial crisis were the proper ones to close.1. How the closures affected response times and effective firefighting force mobilization.2. Where and what resources would provide the biggest impact on service performance.3. Based on that review the following deployment is planned: Priority 1: Add a squad at Fire Station 6 FS6 is an extremely busy fire station, running over 4100 calls annually and over 11 calls per day. It is imperative that we provide some relief to the personnel at that station to reduce fatigue and thus the potential for serious injury. Approximately 70% of the calls at FS6 are EMS, and of those over 50% are priority A, B, and C EMS calls. It is clear that a squad at FS6 would be beneficial. The addition of the squad will drop the call volume for Truck 6 to approximately seven calls per day. Additionally, when a major emergency occurs and both companies are in the station, the additional two personnel can provide much needed assistance to Truck 6. As resources become available to the District, priority consideration will be given to staffing an engine company in this station instead of a squad to add water pumping capability. Priority 2: Add an engine company at Fire Station 11 FS11 experiences over 800 incidents annually – over 2 per day. Because over 65% of the incidents in this area are EMS, it seems as though a squad might be sufficient to provide coverage for this station. However, several factors must also be considered in this area. First, because the station is on the far eastern edge of the District, it is difficult and time consuming to provide back-up resources into the area. Second, due to its proximity to critical wildland fire and urban interface potential, it is imperative that a resource with firefighting capability be staffed in this station. For these reasons a full engine company will be restored at FS11. Priority 3: Add a squad at Fire Station 1 FS1 is running 2300 calls annually – approximately 6.5 incidents per day. The station is in a high-risk area where even a small fire could be economically devastating. The second squad will be placed in this station to reduce the number of calls that Quint 1 responds to, allowing it to be available more often for major incidents. The projection is that Squad 1 will respond to approximately 750 incidents annually, reducing Q1’s daily responses significantly. Additionally, SQ1 will add service capacity to nearby stations such as Fire Station 4 and Fire Station15 and add additional personnel to Q1 when major incidents occur. Red Flag Weather Contingency: As an option, on days where Red Flag Weather has been declared, squads may be upgraded to a 3-person type-III wildland engine when necessary. AB197 Contingency plan: The District currently has 12 vacancies which it has been filling utilizing overtime staffing. There is an unspecified number of vacancies that can be safely filled utilizing overtime as it is cheaper for the District to do so but has the potential of causing burnout, fatigue, and injury. AB197 has the potential of creating 5-10 more vacancies within the District at both line and management levels. Because it takes an extended period of time to bring new personnel into the organization, these new vacancies will also have to be filled with overtime staffing. Two additional factors that must be considered include the forthcoming fire season and summer vacations. One remedy for the District will be the ability to utilize the SAFER grant personnel to fill some of the vacancies once the first training academy graduates. Doing so will eliminate the ability of the District to add the resources listed above until a second academy graduates. The estimated time frame for the second academy graduation is late 2014. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: No impact.