Funeral and Memorial Services

• The Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) has a standard operating procedure (SOP) S1109 R3 for funeral protocols, last updated October 1, 2019.
• The SOP outlines procedures and responsibilities for memorial/funeral arrangements for Line of Duty Death (LODD), active, non-LODD, and retired Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) personnel.
• The death of a FWFD member requires a swift, coordinated effort between the FWFD and the family, focusing on the family's needs
• There are four levels of service/honors based on the decedent's status, and memorial/funeral procedures for retired firefighters and non-LODD deaths differ from LODD protocols
• The four levels of service are:

Levels of Service

• Level One: For LODD of an active, uniformed FWFD member
• Level Two: For non-LODD of an active, uniformed FWFD member
• Level Three: For a retired firefighter whose death wasn't from an LODD or incident
• Level Four: For a member's spouse, dependent children, or a non-uniformed FWFD employee

Notifications

• In the event of a death, critical injury, or illness, the Fire Chief, Chaplain, PIO, Honor Guard Commander, Shift Commander, L440 President, and the Duty Chief must be notified within 60 minutes.
• Those members can appoint a designee if unavailable.

Public Information Office (PIO) Responsibilities

• The PIO must prepare department emails and press releases for distribution within three hours, pending family notification and approval.

Family Liaison Officer

• A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) should be established early to coordinate with the family, chaplain, and department.
• In case of an LODD, the Fire Chief can authorize a Liaison Officer to assist the Chaplain in meeting the immediate family's needs.
• An initial planning meeting should occur within 12 hours of death notification, involving the FLO, Chaplain, PIO, Honor Guard Commander, Assistant Chief of Operations, and Local 440 President.
• The Fire Alarm Office (FAO) announces the death and follows up on arrangements with family approval.
• A staff car and driver should be assigned to the deceased member’s immediate family.
• A Planning Committee assists with the memorial/funeral.
• Request the Texas Governor's office to lower US flags in Fort Worth to half-staff until sunset the day after interment.

Chaplain and Liaison Officer

• The FWFD Chaplain or Liaison Officer coordinates with the family to meet immediate needs and gathers/shares key information:
  • Funeral home details (name, address, phone number)
  • Service location (church, etc.)
  • Clergy/service information
  • Cemetery location and route
  • Any request for apparatus to transport the casket
• They also notify the Honor Guard Commander.

Honor Guard Commander

• The FWFD Honor Guard Commander:
  • Maintains a constant FWFD presence with the deceased from death to interment, with family approval.
  • Selects, organizes, and supervises Honor Guard participation details.
  • Designates and directs an Officer in Charge (OIC).

Officer in Charge (OIC)

• The OIC:
  • Selects and directs the Honor Guard detail.
  • Coordinates a viewing schedule with the funeral director, based on family wishes.
  • Assigns a funeral home detail to stand watch during viewing hours.

Planning Committee

• Planning Committee members have specific functions:
  • Operations Officer: Oversees memorial/funeral activities. Operations and Logistics officers cooperate with the PIO for press releases and info.
  • Liaison Officer/Chaplain: Coordinates between the family and the fire department.
  • Logistics Officer: Works with the master scheduler to secure fire apparatus, vehicles, equipment, and facilities.
  • Public Information Officer (with family approval): Communicates memorial/funeral arrangements, employee information, and background to the media, FWFD personnel, and other agencies. The PIO ensures arrangements with police for escort, parking, traffic control, and street closures and that all press releases and information come from the same PIO in cooperation with the Operations and Logistics officers.
  • Finance Officer: Secures funds for anticipated expenses.
  • Planning Officer: Coordinates with staff positions, establishes planning meetings, and oversees the individual functions to include Viewing, Memorial, Cemetery and Reception.
  • Viewing Officer: Plans/executes functions for the viewing/visitation, following family wishes and protocol.
  • Memorial Officer: Coordinates with the Family Liaison, Chaplain, and Honor Guard Commander to plan/execute the memorial service.
  • Cemetery Officer: Plans/executes functions at the cemetery, coordinating with PD for traffic and procession.
  • Reception Officer: Coordinates with the Family Liaison Officer.

Further Procedures

• The Fire Chief must be updated as requested.
• In-service fire companies may position along the funeral procession route to give a final salute, if in their first alarm territory.
• When FWFD apparatus from the firefighter's station are used in the funeral procession, specific rules apply: specialty units need Fire Chief approval and apparatus travel is limited to Tarrant and surrounding counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Johnson, Parker, and Wise), and any differences must be approved by the Fire Chief

Funeral Home or Church Ceremony

• The OIC coordinates pre-ceremony activities and seating arrangements with the funeral home director or minister.
• The FWFD Chaplain participates in the service according to the family's wishes.
• FWFD personnel assemble in Class A uniforms and following directions from the OIC

Graveside/Cemetery Service

• FWFD personnel assemble and participate as directed by the OIC.
• The FWFD Chaplain participates in the service according to the family's wishes.

Procedures for Non-LODD and Retiree

• Arrangements requiring alternate memorial/funeral protocols must be approved by the Fire Chief.
• Depending on family wishes and resources, the FWFD may provide an Honor Guard.
• The FWFD Chaplain or Family Liaison Officer is the primary liaison between the family and the FWFD.
• Fire apparatus is only used to transport a casket for LODD funerals.

Other Considerations

• For in-service fire companies that position along the funeral procession route, a salute may be given if within the first alarm territory.
• When FWFD apparatus from the firefighter's station are used in the funeral procession, the use of Specialty units require approval by the Fire Chief and the use of apparatus is limited to Tarrant and surrounding counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Johnson, Parker, and Wise), and any differences must be approved by the Fire Chief.

This lesson covers the responsibilities of various officers and guidelines for funeral processions. It also explains the coordination between the FWFD and the deceased member's family. Additionally, it highlights the circumstances for fire apparatus use and the Fire Chief's approval requirements.