HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 104.06 REVISED 3-2015_Engine Co Staffing & Response StatusSOG 104.06 - Engine Company Staffing & Response Status
Effective. 3/16/1995
Revised: 3/5/2015
Replaces: UOG 104.06A III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III 111 1111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111
I. Guiding Philosophy
First responders are first, and foremost, public servants. We risk ourselves to help others.
However, circumstances arise that require balancing our ability to respond with the concern for
firefighter safety. Whether a call for service is for a fire, medical emergency or technical
response, we do our best to utilize the human, apparatus and equipment resources we are
provided for the benefit and well-being of the customers we serve, balancing the risk profile of
the situation with the risk to firefighters.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for minimum staffing and response
status of engine companies for firefighting operations and other calls for emergency service.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. Outline regulatory parameters that provide the basis for this policy.
B. Communicate guidelines and related responsibilities for the staffing and response
status of Class A/Type 2 Engine Companies.
IV. Definitions
A. Class A/Type 2 Engine Company — Fire engine specified as Class A (per NFPA
1901) and/or Type 2 (per NWCG) that is normally staffed with at least three
firefighters.
V. Reaulatory Parameters
A. AAA Arbitration 70-390-0049-91 (Grievance #91-05, Awarded 3/11/1992).
Arbitrator Barnett M. Goldstein found two -person engine companies to be an
unsafe staffing level for fire operations, but did not impose a remedy that required
the City to increase staffing on engine companies. However, the City did work
with the Union and began staffing engines with a minimum of three -persons
subsequent to this award.
B. AAA Arbitration 70-390-0070-00 (Grievance #00-05, Awarded 12/1/2000).
Arbitrator Bill Detwiler found that the City did not violate the collective
bargaining agreement regarding staffing relative to the health and safety
provisions of the contract.
C. AAA Arbitration 70-390-00454-03 (Grievance #03-01, Awarded 4/23/2004).
Arbitrator Raymond L. Britton found that three-person engine company staffing
must be maintained for fire response, since the City created a past practice by
staffing engines with three persons after the 1992 arbitration award. This is why
engine companies must go out of service for structure fires whenever a crew
member is assisting EMS when enroute to the hospital.
VI. Staffing & Response Status Guidelines
A. No member shall leave his/her assigned station/apparatus, thereby reducing
staffing levels and the response capabilities for his/her assigned unit, unless
authorized in this policy.
B. When the staffing level of a Class A/Type 2 Engine Company is reduced to less
than three crew members, the apparatus will be placed out of service for structure
fire response. The Company Officer will notify the Fire -EMS Communications
Center whenever this situation occurs.
C. The Deputy Chief may reduce engine company staffing to less than three crew
members to release a firefighter due to an unanticipated emergency. The engine
will be placed out of service for structure fire responses until a minimum of three-
person staffing is restored.
D. The Company Officer may reduce engine company staffing to less than three
crew members as required to carry out emergency services only (i.e. assist EMS
in patient transport).
1. The engine will remain out of service for structure fire response until a
minimum of three-person staffing is restored.
2. For medical emergencies, the engine and remaining crew will follow the
EMS unit to the hospital to retrieve the member(s).
IMPORTANT NOTE*:
BFR members are approved to drive Beaumont EMS units to the
hospital if needed.
• BFR members ARE NOT approved to drive private ambulance
companies units, but may assist with patient care in the back of the
unit.
*Reference SOG 206.02 -Assisting EMS Providers in Patient Transport
E. Dispatchers may deploy a Class A/Type 2 Engine Company, while in transit to
the hospital and/or when staffed with at least two crew members, to emergency
medical, public assistance, grass, vehicle or dumpster fires if they are
geographically the closest unit to the call for service.
F. No engine company or rescue unit will be in service for any type of call when
reduced to one crew member.
SOG 104.06 — Engine Company Staffing & Response Status Page 2 of 2