A PUBLICATION OF THEMOBILE FIRE-RESCUE

DEPARTMENT- EST. 1888

JANUARY 2007

Our Mission

The Mission of the Mobile Fire- Rescue Department is to iden-tify and respond to communityneeds in order to deliver aneffective and efficient systemof service which minimize riskto life, health, and property fromfire, trauma, acute illness, andhazardous conditions.

"Quality Professional

Services Delivered with

Compassion"

Visit Our Website:http://www.cityofmobile.org/fire/

Inside FeaturesAnnual Report of Calls........................................................................Page 2Operations Division.............................................................................Page 3Citizen Valor Award............................................................................Page 4Communications Division...................................................................Page 5Training Division..................................................................................Page 6Unit Response Report........................................................................Page 7Featured Cartoon................................................................................Page 8

The 2006 Year in Review!

Annual Report of Calls

The following is a breakdown and total number ofcalls and call types made by the Mobile Fire-RescueDepartment for the year 2006. Also below you will find aHistorical Review of the annual service demand of thedepartment.

Fires Other 76Fires Structures 343Fires Cars 272Fires Trash, Grass, Woods, Rubbish 1,056Fires Cooking 113Fires Misc. 323Total Fires: 2,183

Rescue EMS Emergency 381Rescue EMS Other 42Medical Assist EMS Crew 232EMS Excluding Vehicle Injury 13,190EMS Vehicle Injuries 1,614Misc. EMS Calls 294

Total EMS Calls: 15,753

Hazardous ConditionsGasoline Spills 36LPG-Natural Gas 69Chemical Spills 11Carbon Monoxide Incidents 2Power Lines Down 79

Published quarterly by theMobile Fire-Rescue

Department

Editor: Steve Huffman

Contributions: (251) 208-2857 - E-MAIL:huffman@cityofmobile.org

WEB SITE: http://www.cityofmobile.org/fire/

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FY-89 14,149FY-90 16,683FY-91 17,892FY-92 18,692FY-93 19,723FY-94 20,383FY-95 22,127FY-96 23,345FY-97 24,301

FY-98 24,298FY-99 26,327FY-00 28,812FY-01 25,475FY-02 26,037FY-03 25,302FY-04 26,831FY-04 actual 26,978FY-05 29,445FY-05 actual 29,553FY-06 30,260FY06 actual 25,888FY-07 31,074FY-08 31,888FY-09 32,702

Historical Review of Annual Service DemandTrend Analysis-Linear Regression 5 year Projection

Hazardous Conditions Continued

Electrical Other 59Hazards Misc. 109

Total Hazardous Conditions: 422

Service Calls 1,267Good Intention Calls 1,864False Alarm Calls 4,277

Severe Weather or Natural Disaster 10Special Type of Incident 42undetermined Type 63

Total Number of Incidents: 25,888

These numbers reflect from January 2006 untilNovember 2006. On page 7 you can see these numbersbroken down by unit number.

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The Operations Division is composed of a singledivision that is subdivided into three sections and furthersubdivided into three work shifts, with an approximate totalof 450 fire suppression and medical personnel. DeputyChief Ricky Brannon, who took over command of thedivision in January 2006, oversees the day to day activitiesof all emergency response units, including fire suppression,emergency medical services, hazardous materialsresponse, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and rescueactivities. He provides direction in the way of emergencypreparedness, pre-planning, incident mitigation, as well as,developing programs and methods to allow for emergencyresponse units to interface with the community they serve.

The Operations Division is the largest division withinthe Mobile Fire-Rescue Department and consists of uniformedfirefighters, firemedics, firefighter/drivers, Captains orCompany Officers, and District Chiefs. These are the crewsthat make up the city’s fire and rescue companies andrespond to more that 30,000 calls per year.

The Operations Division is responsible for combatingand controlling fires both onland and the waterfront,property conservationmeasures, mitigation of fireand hazardous material threatthrough annual inspectionsand preplanning in commercialand public buildings, andinspecting and maintaining firehydrants; providing the deliveryof extrication, rescue, basicand advanced life support,early defibrillation andrelated emergency medical

services; providing delivery support systems to includehazardous material teams, high angle rescue, heavyextrication, EMT-P and EMT-D.

Here are some of the notable accomplishments ofthe division in 2006:

1. Companies inspected over 10 thousand fire hydrants inthe City and it's Public Safety Jurisdiction.

2. Received three new E-One Squad Trucks for USAROperations.

3. Received new pumper from Ferrara Fire Apparatus whichwill replace Engine 22.

4. New ladder truck to replace Truck 10 has been orderedand delivery is expected sometime in January.

5. New bunker gear to include traditional helmets wasissued to personnel.

6. New furniture was purchased for stations to include beds,couches and recliners.

7. New Homeland Security/Special Operations Division wascreated. District Chief Doug Cooper assigned as DivisionLeader

8. New fireboat 2 "The Phoenix" was placed on duty and inservice.

9. USAR Alabama Task Force 1 responded to Cameron, LAfrom March until May of 2006.

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NOVEMBER - Rusty Loewen - Drive TC05

STEVE HUFFMAN/Editor

Citizen Valor AwardOn Friday, October 6, 2006 Mobile Fire-Rescue

Department responded to the scene of an intentional firelocated at 1215B Arlington Street.. The structure was aduplex apartment owned and operated by the Mobile HousingBoard. The apartment was occupied by Lakeada N. Millerand her two-year old son, Michael D. Price.

On the day of the event Ms. Miller was involved in adomestic situation with her soon-to-be ex boyfriend. Theboyfriend allegedly pushed Ms. Miller out the kitchen doorlocking her out. He then proceeded to set a pile of clotheson fire in the middle of the kitchen floor at which time he fled,locking the door behind him with Ms. Miller’s infant son leftinside.

Ms. Miller alerted two Mobile Housing Boardemployees, Chris Samuel Matthews and Edward AnthonyRouse, who were working in the area nearby. Matthews andRouse were able to kick open the metal door and withoutregard to their own safety, rescued the infant from theapartment that was filled with heavy smoke conditions.They then grabbed some nearby water hoses and were ableto extinguish most of the fire prior to the arrival of Engine 11.

For their brave actions the Citizen Valor Award waspresented to them on behalf of the Mobile Fire-RescueDepartment before the Mayor and City Council at theCouncil Meeting on November 14, 2006.

The Chaplain serves as the Department’s counselorin good times as well as in times of stress or difficulty offeringspiritual guidance and/or counseling appropriate to thesituation, always representing the goals and concerns of theMobile Fire-Rescue Department and the City of Mobile whileremaining sensitive to the needs of those whom he may beserving, be that members of the department, departmentmembers families, or victims of critical incidents. Thefollowing is a list of activities performed in 2006:

1. CHAPLAIN CONFERENCES 36 2. FUNERAL /WAKE SERVICES 50 3. SCHOOL VISIT 35 4. RED CROSS 55 5. MDA 14 6. HOSPITAL VISIT 65 7. RECRUITING 20 8. GGSF 10 9. DEVOTIONAL 5210. ANNUAL FF MASS 111. ASSIST CALL ETC. 4512. CHURCH VISIT 2513. FIRE STATION VISIT 700

Poor is the Nation who has

no Heroes

Shameful is the one who,

having them, forgets

Lest We Forget

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The link between the citizen and firefighters/firemedics is the Communications Division. The Communi-cations Division fields calls from citizens 24 hours a day,seven days a week year round and is responsible forreceiving and dispatching all emergency requests for fire,medical and other emergencies. Additionally, the divisionis responsible for providing emergency medical dispatchand pre-arrival medical instructions for medical calls.

The 911 Communications staff forwards most of theemergency calls to Mobile Fire-Rescue DepartmentCommunications Division. The 911 staff is employed by theMobile County Communications District, and is networked,either directly or indirectly, to all emergency agencies in thecounty.

Calls for service also are routed to theCommunications Division through non-emergency lines ofthe Fire-Rescue Department. These administrative linesrelay the majority of calls for service, which are processedeither by the dispatch of a fire or rescue unit or by referral tothe appropriate authority.

The Public Safety Dispatchers (PSD) work a 12hour shift and there is usually a Radio CommunicationsOfficer (RCO) on each shift that serves as the shift supervisor.Typically there are 3 total dispatchers on duty at a given timewho works round-the-clock to assure citizens that theirneeds are met promptly and properly. All of our dispatchersare trained and certified in Medical Priority Dispatching.

The Mobile Fire-Rescue DepartmentCommunications Division is presently staffed with 2 FireCaptains, 1 Administrative RCO, 4 Shift RCO’s, 4 PSD II’sand 5 PSD I’s.

In 2006 a shift RCO position was created andDianne McCants was promoted to that position. Thiscreated a vacancy for a PSD II in which Avery Robinson waspromoted. During the year the division was short staffed dueto 3 employee’s being out on medical leave. At this time,2 employees’ are still out. In addition the division has 5vacancies that it has been unable to fill.

In September, District Chief Bill Hunter wastransferred to the Training Division and Captain StanleyVinson was transferred to Communications.

In 2006, in addition to answering over 30 thousandcalls, the dispatchers maintained their continuing educationin both Emergency Medical and Fire Dispatching.

Despite answering and dispatching over 30 thousandcalls, the stress associated with some of these calls, andbeing extremely under staffed, the level of professionalismof these employees has remained high.

The Public Education Unit is charged with meetingthe departments’ public education objective by creating,implementing, and evaluating fire safety education programsthat cause positive behavioral changes in the community.The goal is to prevent the next preventable fire and to preventinjuries and deaths.

Life and fire safety education books and videos wereprovided for over 160 schools, day schools and librariesthroughout Mobile County. We were able to make largepresentations to the Southeastern Association of Fire ChiefsConference, Mobile County Health Department, SpringhillCollege, Mobile Library and U.S. Coast Guard.

Also this year a new program using a puppet by thename of Dusty the Dragon was implemented to teachchildren about safety and so far has been very successful.

Public Educator Kent Landsberg made a number ofpresentations throughout 2006 and the message was re-ceived by both adults and children.

Total number of Fire Safety presentations in 2006was 339.

Total number of children who received the fire safetymessage was 15,764.

Total number of adults who received a fire safetymessage was 3,971.

Bringing the total number of people in Mobile Countywho received potentially life saving and fire prevention infor-mation in 2006 to 19,735.

If you know of an adult or children's group, school,church, or community group that would benefit from a life andfire safety message contact the Public Education Office at208-2991.

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Training Officer, District Chief Bill Hunter and hisstaff of 3 Fire Service Captains, are responsible for planning,coordinating and directing all training activities for the MobileFire-Rescue Department. This is a massive effort, as itencompasses basic training for new recruits in the 15 weekrookie school, drivers training and testing, officer developmenttraining and various specialized training modules, such asthe handling of hazardous materials emergencies, and highangle, confined space rescue. The Training Academy alsoteaches the emergency medical technician courses andprovides required continuing education units to bothdepartment personnel and civilian for keeping Paramedicsand EMT licenses in tact. The Training Academy is also

responsible for the upkeep of training records, companyinspection reports, as well as, other important records.

The Training Academy of the Mobile Fire-RescueDepartment is a multifaceted, multi-disciplinary team.Responsibilities include a comprehensive recruit trainingand certification program that lasts for over four (4) months.During this time, new employees are placed through arigorous course of practical and didactic education thatprepares them for the Alabama State Firefighter Certificationtest and a national board examination for EmergencyMedical Technician.

Additionally the training academy coordinatesParamedic Training, continuing education for EMT’s andParamedics, advanced Fire Suppression Certifications, andbasic and advanced technical rescue courses. All of theseprograms are in addition to on-going basic skills training infireground strategy, tactics and evaluations.

During 2006, several certification classes were

held for members of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Urban, Searchand Rescue Team, also named Alabama Task Force One.Most members have now been trained in water rescue,trench rescue, structural collapses, confined space rescue,high angle rescue, vehicle extrication, Task Force Leader,Safety Officer and other classes.

In September, District Chief Doug Cooper wasmoved to lead the newlyformed Homeland Security/Special Operations Divisionand Chief Bill Hunter wastransferred to take over theTraining Division. Along withCaptains Robert Thornton,LeAnn Tacon and RonnieMorgan several classes havetaken place since October1, 2006. Classes haveincluded EMT continuingeducation, ApparatusEVOC, Company Evolutions,Fire Inspector I, and

Hazardous Materials Technician. In addition, the TrainingManual was revised along with the Swing Drivers requirements.

A new recruit class was also started the later part ofOctober with 24 candidates for Mobile Fire-Rescue Depart-ment, one from Chickasaw Fire Department and two fromAtmore Fire Department in the class. Recruits spent the firstweek with Orientation, PPE and SCBA Training. EMTTraining started the second week.

STEVE HUFFMAN/Editor

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2006 Total Responses By UnitE01 - 1,738 T04 - 267E02 - 677 T05 549E03 - 1,855 T10 - 381E06 - 2,339 T17 - 246E07 - 1,757 T24 - 350E08 - 1,160 TR25 - 8E09 - 1,311E11 - 917E12 - 1,049E14 - 1,502E15 - 1,550E16 - 1,420E18 - 1,309E19 - 1,594E20 - 806E21 - 402E22 - 2,338E23 - 1,633

R01 - 1,266R03 - 1,794R04 - 12R05 - 23R06 - 1,681R07 - 1,015R08 - 25R10 - 26R14 - 1,567R18 - 1,386R22 - 40R23 - 2,000R24 - 1,736

For 2006 this office had approximately 3,604 re-quests and responses for information just from the media ascompared to 3,935 requests in 2005. The lower numbers for2006 can be easily explained due to a slow HurricaneSeason. Hurricanes tend to generate a large volume ofmedia requests. However these numbers also do not reflectrequests made directly to the Incident Commander or whenthe PIO was out of the office due to vacation or training.

Also several non-news related stories were ar-ranged and written by the Press-Register and LagniappeMobile.

Here is a breakdown of how it looked on a month tomonth basis:

Month # of RequestsJanuary 316February 417March 371April 243May 359June 302July 324August 213September 217October 300November 207December 335

Accomplishments for 2006 include:

1. Worked with Writer, Greta Sharp to have article publishedin Mobile Bay Monthly Magazine with the hope of futurearticles in National Trade Magazines.

2. Several WPMI "Here's Darwin" reports on public educa-tion.

3. Firefighter of Year selection and banquet by the InsuranceProffessionals of Mobile.

4. Firefighter of the Month program sponsored by thePleasant Valley Opportunity Club.

5. The Historical Room was opened at Central Fire Stationin the 2nd floor Old Alarm Room.

6. Assisted with hosting and transportation for the South-eastern Association of Fire Chiefs Conference.

7. Education booths at the Shrimp Festival, Greater GulfState Fair, and Fire Prevention Week.

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DATES TO REMEMBER

January 15th - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s BirthdayFebruary 19th & 20th - Mardi GrasMarch 11th - Daylight Saving Time BeginsMarch 17th - St. Patrick's Day

Mobile Fire-Rescue Department701 Saint Francis StreetMobile, Alabama 36602

The Trumpet is the official newsletter of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department.To submit articles, ideas, or photos for publication, please contact (251) 208-2857