Fire Station Personnel Rules and Regulations PDF

Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 408.14 The daily routine weekend and holiday schedule for all Division personnel assigned to Division fire stations on all three units will run from 0800 hours to 1200 hours. This period of time shall be completely devoted to accomp...

Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 408.14 The daily routine weekend and holiday schedule for all Division personnel assigned to Division fire stations on all three units will run from 0800 hours to 1200 hours. This period of time shall be completely devoted to accomplishing Division goals. The following schedule is intended as a guideline to be utilized by all Company Commanders: 0800-0830: Roll call, assignment of watch duties, check of equipment on assigned apparatus and vehicles, apparatus/vehicle operational check, inspection and cleaning of personal gear and equipment, raising the Flag, etc. 0830-0900: Preparation for tour of duty: relaying of important information and specific duty assignment, discussion of related needs and concerns, completion of company members individual needs. 0900-1200: Training and company school as needed; inspection of hydrants, etc.; cleaning and maintenance of station, apparatus and equipment. 1200-1300: Lunch period 1300-1700: Inspection of hydrants or other duties necessary to accomplish Division goals. NOTE: Company Commanders shall be responsible for insuring that members do not engage in activities or pursue interests of a personal nature during this time period. This includes activities such as viewing television for entertainment purposes and playing cards or other games for any reason. 408.16 The holiday schedule will be observed on the days listed in the current collective bargaining agreement: Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 408.18 Each day at the completion of the weekend or holiday routine work schedule, Company Commanders shall hold a critique with the members of their companies. This critique should consist of an informal review and evaluation of the day's activities, having the same goals as those stated in Section 408.10. 408.20 Company Commanders should attempt to leave the period of time from 1200 hours to 0800 hours as free from routine duties as possible unless in their opinion, a portion of this time is needed in order to accomplish Division goals. STATION WATCHMAN 410.00 In each Division fire station, a daily detail of one member shall be assigned each day as station watchman under the direction and general supervision of the officer in charge. As a rule, the duties of watchman will be rotated equally between the firefighters assigned to all engine, ladder and rescue companies at a given station. Division Officers, under normal circumstances, shall not perform station watchman duties. 410.02 In addition to the regularly assigned watchman, a second station member shall be designated as alternate or "back up" watchman. Any time the regularly scheduled watchman is unavailable the “back up” watchman will assume the watch duties. 410.04 In those stations where more than one company is assigned, the member designated as alternate watchman shall be one who is assigned to a company other than that to which the regular watchman is assigned. In large, multi-company stations it may be necessary to designate a second back-up watchman, in order to assure that proper station watch coverage is provided. 410.06 In stations where medic transport units are assigned, members of such companies shall perform and maintain an effective station watchman function during those times that other regularly assigned companies are out of quarters and unavailable for such duties. Normally, medic personnel will not be specifically designated as regular or alternate watchman. Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 410.08 Members detailed to perform the duties of station watchman shall be responsible for efficiently discharging all of the duties and activities associated with this assignment, and shall not allow themselves to be placed in a position where they might be unable to do so. These duties include - but are not limited to - being immediately available to people visiting the station and answering of fire Division telephones in the officially prescribed manner. 410.10 If it becomes necessary for the station watchman to be away from or out of direct sight of the immediate vicinity of the watch area for more than just a moment or two, he or she shall first secure the permission of the officer in charge, and should also attempt to get the alternate watchman or some other station member to provide coverage for the duration of this absence. 410.14 Station personnel assigned to watch duties shall be permitted to sleep in at an officially designated location any time after 2200 hours. They shall wear appropriate clothing, suitable to receive visitors who may have reason to enter the fire station during the night hours. Station watchmen shall not occupy beds or sleep anywhere in the station after the 0700 hours "wake-up" announcement. 410.16 Station watchmen shall be held strictly accountable for ensuring that Division base station radios or monitors are never turned off or unplugged. They shall not permit the volume control to be turned down or the speakers to be blocked or positioned in such a way as to prevent the clearly audible reception of all pertinent transmissions. Members on watch shall remain constantly alert to any communications which may be relevant to operations at their station. 410.18 When answering Division telephones, station watchmen shall relay all information of an urgent or emergency nature to the proper officer or member(s) immediately upon receipt thereof. Information of a general or non-emergency nature shall be either relayed to the proper officer or member or entered accurately in the company journal as conditions warrant. Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 410.20 The watchman shall properly record all pertinent information received for later entry in the company log. This shall include all public address system, telephone, radio or other messages; markings of apparatus in or out of quarters; information relevant to the respective stations concerning streets closed, blocked, or opened and hydrants out of service, abandoned, or back in service; sprinkler or standpipe systems out of service or returned to service; training activities; visitors to the station and their business, including Division members, civilians or others. 410.22 The watchman shall notify the Officer in Charge of the station of any personnel in quarters for the purpose of working on any portion of the station or any equipment or apparatus therein. He/she shall also properly record names, purpose of visits, times of arrival and departure, material delivered or picked up, and work completed. 410.24 The watchman shall bring to the attention of the Officer in Charge any occurrence of an important or unusual nature. This shall include such things as orders and other information received by him/her, messenger alarms, injuries occurring on station property, visitors to the station, any change in the status of apparatus or equipment, or any other event or situation that may affect the smooth and efficient operation of the station. 410.26 The watchman shall be responsible for the general cleanliness and order of the watch area and shall be responsible for seeing that all communications, bulletins, and various other items received during his tour as watchman are properly processed, recorded, or otherwise dealt with according to existing policies and instructions from his superiors. FIRE STATION COMMUNICATIONS 412.00 Division Telephone Procedures: Fire Division telephones installed in Division fire stations are to be used for official business only. Members utilizing these phones shall keep communications as brief as possible, and shall refrain from engaging in idle or unnecessary conversation. Members shall discourage the use of Division telephones as a means of being contacted for non-official purposes, and shall not distribute the Division business telephone number for such reason. Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 412.02 Division members answering Division telephones shall first state their station, bureau, or office designation, then their rank or title, and finally their last name. This procedure shall be mandatory and shall also be used when members use Division telephones to contact other stations, bureaus, or offices. 412.04 Members shall not use Division telephones to contact the Fire Alarm Office for a period of five (5) minutes after an alarm has been transmitted, and for fifteen (15) minutes after a multiple alarm has been transmitted, except in emergency situations. 412.06 Members receiving emergency runs over the Division fire phone, after stating their station, rank and name, shall carefully listen to, and repeat back in a voice loud enough to be heard by other members in the vicinity, all of the information that they are receiving from the Fire Alarm Office. 412.08 The procedure stated above shall be mandatory, as it serves to verify the proper receipt of the message being transmitted, and also acquaints nearby station members with the nature and other particulars of the emergency. Any addresses, directions or other pertinent information should be written down by the member answering the call. 412.10 (Deleted 12/31/15) 412.12 (Deleted 12/31/15) PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM PROCEDURES 412.14 The Division public address system is the primary means by which alarms of fire and other emergencies are relayed from the Fire Alarm Office to the various fire stations. Non-emergency and informational notifications are also transmitted by this means. 412.16 When relaying fire runs the Fire Alarm Office will precede the actual dispatching of companies by announcing the talk group for the run about to be dispatched, i.e. “This run will be on Battalion 1 Talk Group.” The Fire Alarm office will then sound a short level tone, and say “ATTENTION,” then give the address, nature of the emergency, and the companies to respond. Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 412.18 When relaying EMS runs the Fire Alarm office will sound a warbling tone and then name the responding companies, the address and nature of the emergency. 412.20 All companies dispatched and responding to emergency runs transmitted over the public address system shall verify their response on their vehicle’s Mobile Data Computer (MDC). (Revised 12/31/15) 412.22 The announcement "all stations" shall normally be the preliminary means of indicating that a non-emergency or informative message is about to be transmitted. If the message is to be recorded in each station's company journal, the phrase "to be logged" shall be included when announcing the message. Other messages may be designated as ones which "need not be logged". If a message is not specifically designated as "to be" or "not to be" logged, the information put out should be written down on the rough log. Officers in charge of each respective station shall decide whether or not to have such information recorded in their finished company journal. 412.24 412.26 (Deleted 12/31/15) If the words of a message transmitted over the public address system are not understood, contact the Fire Alarm Office for a repeat or clarification. If the meaning of the message is not understood, or needs additional explanation, the appropriate Battalion Chief shall be contacted. 412.28 All PA messages and announcements other than emergency runs, service runs, routine day-to-day business, and testing activities must be approved by a Deputy Chief (ES-2), or a higher ranking officer, before being put out. Directions for completing the P.A. Message form, FA-660, are found in the Division’s Forms Manual. 412.30 (Deleted 12/31/15) 412.32 (Deleted 12/31/15) Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 412.34 Routine business messages such as hydrants in or out of service, chiefs on duty, streets closed or reopened, etc. should be put out prior to 2000 hours, providing such information is available at that time. However, any message approved by the Chief or Administration Officer, and any other information of an important nature shall be put out over the public address system as necessary, regardless of the hour. (Revised 12/31/15) 412.36 Extra company, multiple alarms of fire, water responses, company move-ups, or “10-3” radio transmissions shall be transmitted to all stations during all hours of the day and night. The Fire Alarm Office may, if conditions warrant, relay information regarding such assignments to all stations, immediately after the actual dispatching has been accomplished. (Revised 12/31/15) 412.38 Members of companies that are likely to be involved in subsequent alarms, or who may be called upon to fill in at stations vacated by companies responding to current alarms shall prepare for such possibilities by assembling in the watch area and monitoring base station or apparatus radios whenever a multiple alarm is sounded. 412.40 The Division public address system is tested daily at the following times: 0700 hours the first scheduled test of the day, also indicating reveille (station personnel shall not occupy beds after this notification); 0758 hours - the standard "assemble for roll call" message and test; 0800 hours - the roll call signal; 2000 hours - the last regularly scheduled test of each day. BASE STATION RADIOS 412.42 Stations having base station radios or Division scanners shall set and maintain the volume control so that any Division personnel in the immediate vicinity - and particularly the designated station watchman - can easily monitor those communications being transmitted. The officer in charge of the station on each of the respective units shall be responsible for ensuring that the volume control is not turned down below readily monitored levels at any time. Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel FIRE STATION VISITS - FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS 414.00 All visitors to City Fire Stations are to be accorded prompt, courteous and respectful attention. All Division members shall be polite and courteous to all persons at all times. 414.01 Visitors are defined to be all individuals not employed by the Division of Fire, excluding persons making repairs to Division facilities or equipment, or otherwise conducting Division business. Visitors are prohibited from entering a Fire Station between 00:01 and 07:00 hours. Riders, students, and observers are exempted from this requirement if they have written approval of the Fire Chief. Each visitor’s stay will be limited to three hours of cumulative time during any one shift. The Battalion Chief of the district may wave this rule but must approve each occurrence. When an emergency run caused all Division members to vacate the facility, the Division member in charge of the facility may choose to delay response until the visitors have been cleared from the building and the building is secured. The Division member in charge of the facility may not choose to exercise this option; however, all members will unquestioningly assist if the “clear and secure” option is chosen. Visitors may not remain inside Division facilities, which are vacated by Division personnel who leave on non-emergency business. All visitors, at all times, are prohibited from entering any dormitory, locker room, or bedroom areas of the station except that officers may have visitors in their offices during non-prohibited hours. If the Division member in charge of the facility approves visitors may enter these areas during scheduled Station House tours. Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 414.02 Company Commanders shall be responsible for Division public relations at the fire station level. Occasional visitors are to be welcomed, and if an interest is shown, various pieces of apparatus and equipment should be explained and demonstrated. Request from visitors to ride Emergency Services Vehicles must follow the guidelines of SOP 04-04-02, CFD Rider Policy. (Revised 10/15/14) 414.04 Non-Division personnel shall not be allowed to frequent the various fire stations or loiter on station property. Persons having official business to transact may be allowed to visit quarters; as may friends or relatives of Division members. In general, visitors to fire stations should remain in common gathering areas such as kitchens and watch booths. 414.06 Company Commanders may, for justifiable reasons, exclude from the fire station any person who is not a member of the Division of Fire. They shall exclude or cause to be arrested any disorderly person or any person thought to be under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance. 414.08 Company Commanders shall ensure that, on occasions of station visits by school children or other juvenile groups, there shall be a sufficient number of station personnel assigned to keep children from dangerous areas. When children or other visitors are in fire stations, the apparatus or vehicles at such stations shall not leave quarters or be moved for any reason until it is certain that the children or other persons are safely out of the way. 414.10 Division employees receiving requests from various groups or organizations to visit fire stations should refer persons making such requests to the Division's Community Relations/Public Education Office. (Revised 12/31/15) Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 414.12 The Community Relations/Public Education Office will complete a Program Request Form (OF-270) and send it through normal Division channels to the fire station that is to be visited. The officer in charge of the station will call the person requesting the visit in order to confirm the particulars and will properly record the finalized information on the station calendar or other scheduling aid. After confirming the proposed visit, the yellow copy of Form OF-270 is to be returned to the Community Relations Office. 414.14 If requests for group visitations to fire stations cannot be referred immediately to the Community Relations Office, the member receiving the request shall obtain the following information and send it into the office on an OF-270 at the earliest opportunity: a. Specific fire station that the group wishes to visit. b. Date and time of requested visit (Note: It is required that at least two weeks prior notice is given when scheduling fire station visits). c. Name of group or association. d. Name and phone number of the adult who will be in charge of the group. e. Number of persons who will be in the visiting group, including a breakdown of the number of adults and children. (NOTE: For groups of 10 or less and OF-270 need not be submitted, for groups of 10 or more and OF-270 is filled out and forwarded through channels. If requested amount is too many, rescheduling may be attempted.) 414.16 If for some reason a pre-scheduled visit cannot be handled as initially requested, the person who made the request must be contacted and informed of this fact as soon as possible. Likewise, if a scheduling conflict is noted at the time the request form is received, the requesting party should be contacted and an attempt made to reschedule the visit at a mutually agreeable time. However, before canceling and/or rescheduling any pre-scheduled program or station visitation, the involved company officer must first obtain permission to do so from ES-2. Only the Deputy Chief has the authority to cancel programs. Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020 Chapter IV Rules And Regulations Governing Fire Station Personnel 414.18 Fire Safety Education program requests are received by the Community Relations/ Public Education Office and relayed to the various fire stations on Form OF-270. The top section of this form is completed by Community Relations and contains all of the information received from the person requesting the program. The form's four copies (white, yellow, pink and gold) are then distributed as follows: 1. The first copy (white) is forwarded to (ES-2) in charge of the unit on duty the day that the program or visitation is to take place. (Information and file copy) 2. The second copy (yellow) and third copy (pink) are forwarded to the Battalion Chief in the district where the program is to be presented. 3. The fourth or last copy (gold) is kept by Community Relations for their records. After reviewing the program request and determining which Fire Station is to be given the assignment, the Battalion Chief forwards both the yellow and pink copies to that station. Any questions concerning reasons why a particular station was assigned a specific program should be referred to the appropriate Battalion Chief. 414.20 Confirming Program Requests: It shall be mandatory that program requests are confirmed at the company level by the date indicated on the Program Request Form (OF-270). This confirmation verifies the time and location of the program and gives added insight into just exactly what the person or group involved would like to have covered. 414.22 After confirming program requests the yellow copy of the form (OF-270) is to be returned to Community Relations. This will alert them to the fact that the program request has been verified and will allow them to have the necessary materials and equipment reserved for the program presenter. (Note: keep pink copy until after the program is presented, and then return it to the Community Relations Office.) Revised 12.07.2017 Updated as of 2.18.2020