Titusville Fire 2016 Annual Report

TITUSVILLE FIRE ANDEMERGENCY SERVICESDEPARTMENT 2016 annual report



TCoanbtleeonfts 4 Message from the Fire Chief 6 History 8 Vision, Mission, Guiding Principles, Motto10 Leadership Chart12 Incident Responses By the Numbers13 Front Line Apparatus14 Headquarters and Fire Stations16 Operations18 Emergency Response - EMS19 Emergency Response - Fire20 EMS21 Fire Prevention22 Training26 Community Outreach and Public Education28 2016 Budget29 Firefighter Equipment Cost30 2016 Award Recipients

PAGEFrom the Chief As the Fire Chief for Titusville Fire and Emergency Services Department, it gives me great pleasure to once again present our department’s Annual Report for the calendar year 2016. This comprehensive report provides an overview of our department’s activities and resulting statistical data from 2016 as well as from prior years. The annual report also gives a snapshot of the many services we provide within both the emergency and non-emergency settings, along with highlighting our community outreach programs which help to educate our public about the importance of fire, life safety and injury prevention. All of the data that is compiled in this report is analyzed continuously throughout the year to improve our processes and enhance our service delivery to the community we serve. 2016 was a very productive year for Titusville Fire and Emergency Services to say the least. We have updated our 5 Year Strategic Master Plan, which will help us to keep pace with the ever growing and changing demand of our community, until 2021. We kicked off the year with the grand opening of our new state of the art 4 story live fire capable training facility and jumped right into establishing crucial hands on training to our personnel. We purchased new bunker gear that incorporates a specialized pocket to hold the newly issued F4 Sterling Personal Escape Kit, which now gives all firefighting personnel the ability to “Bail Out” of multistory buildings safely to avoid injury from fire if they ever become trapped. We hosted a State of Florida Live Fire Training Instructor class and ultimately certified 11 of our department personnel as Live Fire Training Instructors who will be able to assist with providing in house live fire training to all personnel without the need to bring in outside instructors. We are hitting the road running with our “Back to the Basics” approach to training, implementing monthly basic skills of firefighting drills for all personnel. In addition to our training, we have purchased our first new engine since 2007, with an expected delivery in early fall 2017. We purchased phase 1 of our P25 Radio upgrade program, which will provide the firefighters with state of the art communications on scene of emergencies to improve the interoperability and safety of the personnel and the community. We purchased a new Bullex Digitial Fire Training Simulator that can be used in any building to enhance training to our personnel and also the community without exposing them to the dangers of actual fire. These are just a few of the significant accomplishments our department has made in 2016. As we work through 2017, I am confident that all of the men and women of the Titusville Fire and Emergency Services Department are up to the challenges we face within our community today and moving into the future. With the passion, hard work and dedication of all 62 members of our department, I look forward to working hard to continuously improve the outstanding service our department has provided to the citizens of Titusville for the past 103 years. Thanks and stay safe! Michael Woodward 4



Like many other small towns during the late 1800’s, Titusville citizens assembled together to protect their homes and businesses from fires. Socials were held and subscriptions were collected to help support basic fire protection for their town. In 1890, Titusville’s rapid population growth along with the number of wooden buildings increased the likelihood that a single fire could spread and send these buildings up in flames. Insurance coverage was nowhere to be found, and it was suggested the town purchase a steam engine and organize a volunteer fire department to remedy their insurance situation. Five years later on December 12, 1895, this became all too true for the citizens of Titusville as the majority of the business district of Titusville was destroyed by an arson fire. Forty-two buildings and out-structures were destroyed, several people seriously injured along with one fatality. The fire was eventually stopped through the heroic efforts of the citizens. An ordinance outlining the formation of the official Titusville Volunteer Fire Department was approved in December 1913 by the Town Council. This ordinance also established the town’s fire limits. One of the biggest leaps forward in firefighting capabilities was in 1925. With part of the proceeds from the town’s half million dollar municipal bond sale, the town purchased a new, fully-mechanized 1925 American LaFrance fire engine and constructed a combination fire station and city hall. By the end of the 1920’s, fire wards had been established, the fire bell had been replaced by a fire whistle, and additional fire ordinances were passed. Titusville’s expanding size resulted in the doubling of the paid workforce in the volunteer fire department inPAGE6 1959 to 2 full-time engineers and 2 assistant engineers, working a rotating schedule to provide 24/7/365 vehicle response from the fire station. This combat staffing continued to be provided by the members of the Titusville

Over 100 Years Of History In The Making Serving Since 1913Volunteer Fire Department until the rapid size and development of Titusville required a full-time paid Fire Chief in 7 PAGEMay 1961.By 1984, Titusville’s growing land area and protection needs necessitated the increase in the number of firestations from three to four, the number currently in service today. This same year an emergency pre-hospitalresponse at the EMT (emergency medical technicians) level was added to the responsibilities of the firedepartment, along with hazardous materials responses by the early 1990’s. By 1998, the department wasproviding advanced life support services (paramedic) to its citizens. With the aftermath of 9/11, bio-terrorism wasalso incorporated into our response criteria.As the fire service grew and adapted over the years, the name of the department had changed as well. Beginningas Titusville Volunteer Fire Department, the name changed to Titusville Fire Department when it became a paidfire department. When specialized and first aid responses were added to its disciplines, the name was changedto the Titusville Fire Rescue Department. And in the last decade of the twentieth century when the departmentprovided all of the above-mentioned services and included full pre-hospital medical services and hazardousmaterial response, it was changed to its current and fully encompassing name – Titusville Fire and EmergencyServices Department.The fire service in Titusville has grown and adapted over the years to meet the challenges of our ever-changingcity and its residents. What has not changed is our commitment to providing whatever is required to meet theneeds of our community. The motto of Titusville Fire and Emergency Services Department: Service doesn’t comefrom a manual-it comes from the heart.

VISION We shall endeavor to become an accredited agency, improve our ISO rating and pursue expanding service levels to account for growth and development. To protect and promote the health, MISSION safety and overall well-being of the community we serve. Integrity Respect Professionalism GUIDING Open-mindedPRINCIPLES Customer focused Innovative Service excellence Communication Embrace diversity MOTTO Service doesn’t come from a manual—it comes from the heart. 8PAGE



Leadership 2016 Chart City Manager Fire Chief Senior Administrative Assistant Operations Chief Sr. Fire Inspector II Fire Inspector Administrative Asst. (2) Volunteers Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Emergency Response (3) Training Lieutenant (12) Driver-Operator (12) Firefighter (24)PAGE10

Fiscal Analyst 51 4 7 SWORN LINE SWORN STAFF SUPPORT 62 TOTAL PERSONNELFire Chaplain VolunteerBattalion Chief Logistics Coordinator Life Safety Specialist EMS 11PAGE

Incident Responses By the Numbers 9542 2016PAGE 2015 8836 2014 8502 2013 7742 2012 7536 12

Front Line Apparatus District 10Engine 10 Engine 11Engine 12 Brush 12Truck 13 Rescue 13 1313PAGE

HeadquartersFirAeNSDtations Headquarters 14

Station 10 Station 11Station 12 15PAGE Station 13

PAGE Operations The Titusville Fire and Emergency Services Department’s Operations Division is headed by Division Chief Chad A. Lindquist. The operations division is responsible for all of the department’s combat personnel, apparatus, staff vehicles, equipment, facilities, and emergency response services. These services include: resource management, fire suppression, emergency medical response, training, fire pre-planning, rope rescue operations, water rescue, public education and community outreach. The primary responsibility for the operations division is to provide emergency response services to a variety of call types including fire suppression, emergency medical services, motor vehicle collisions, vehicle extrication, water rescue, hazardous materials response and ARFF response and support operations. The operations division also provides a variety of non-emergency services such as a child passenger safety seat program, bicycle helmets, smoke detector program, slip and fall education, and a host of public education services to our local day cares, elementary, junior and senior high schools as well as local civic groups. To support these activities, the Operations Chief has a staff of personnel to include an Administrative Assistant, an EMS Battalion Chief, a Training Battalion Chief, 3 Shift Battalion Chiefs, a Logistics Coordinator and a Life Safety Specialist that support the operational services provided by the department and are outlined in greater detail within the annual report. The operations division shift personnel serve the community out of 4 stations strategically located throughout the city. Each of the Battalions (1, 2, and 3) work a 24 hour shift beginning at 8:00 a.m. each day. The shift rotation schedule is modified from the traditional 24/48 schedule allowing personnel to attend classes for personal and professional growth. The department continues to support and encourage all personnel to never stop learning. Operations personnel continuously participate in fire and EMS based training to maintain the highest level of service in the safest manner to the community we serve. Along with training, personnel are charged with maintaining equipment, tools and apparatus in a constant state of readiness as well as pre-fire planning of commercial occupancies. The Operations Division Chief is also tasked with long range operational planning to include equipment purchases and upgrades, apparatus purchases, facilities improvements and also provides budgetary reporting to the Fire Chief for capital 16 improvements within the division.

2016 Operational Milestones: PAGE ÖÖ Completion of WHP Training Facility to include a live fire burn room. ÖÖ Purchased New Structural Bunker Gear to include an integrated escape belt for firefighter safety. ÖÖ Issued F4 Sterling Escape Kits to all combat certified personnel. ÖÖ Achieved State Certification of 11 Live Fire Training Instructors within the department. ÖÖ Purchased BullEX Digital Fire Training Simulator. ÖÖ Purchased 3 new FLIR Thermal Imaging Cameras. ÖÖ Installed New dispatching speaker systems in all 4 stations. ÖÖ Initiated radio replacement program upgrade to P-25 compatible mobile and portable radio equipment. ÖÖ Reorganized the administration to include the addition of a Training Chief position. ÖÖ Purchased an additional staff vehicle. ÖÖ Purchased 2017 Pierce Enforcer Fire Apparatus. 17

2EBMY0ETR1HG6EENNCUYMREBSEPROSNSE - EMS 320 389 2339 Respiratory Cardiac Related Other Medical 791 6660 2761 EMS Calls Illness Trauma 60 Cerebro-Vascular AccidentPAGE 15% CARDIAC RESUSCITATION RATE 18 10% NATIONAL AVERAGE

Emergency Response – Fire 203 Fire Calls61Rubbish 57 Structure 44Natural Vegetation 28 Vehicle13Special

PAGE Emergency Medical Services The EMS division of Titusville Fire and Emergency Services is responsible for providing quick and professional medical assistance to the citizens and visitors of The City of Titusville. Operationally, this encompasses: ÖÖ Medical training for personnel ÖÖ Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement ÖÖ State and Federal compliance ÖÖ Internal and external fire department relations ÖÖ Public Education Titusville Fire is a non-transport EMS agency, however, provides ALS (Advanced Life Support) services to the community. This standard of care is maintained through the Department’s initiative to ensure all personnel uphold the certification level of paramedic. Firefighters may be hired with the dual certification of firefighter/ EMT, but are required to become a Florida State certified paramedic within three years of their employment date. This is a rigorous, year long, department sponsored course in which students are subjected to long hours and intense education. Personnel are expected to maintain proficiency and certification in EMS through continuing education, both in the classroom and clinical setting. The objective in maintaining this standard is to ensure Titusville Fire is on the forefront of providing emergency medical care. The approximately 6600 medical calls that Titusville Fire ran in 2016 accounted for almost 70% of the department’s responses, highlighting the importance of the EMS division. 2016 brought on a new era for TFES with the implementation of a designated EMS supervisor, Battalion Chief John Hustoles. Previously, the EMS division was dually maintained, along with the training division, by Battalion Chief Greg Sutton. With separate training and EMS divisions, TFES has been afforded the opportunity to heighten standards in both disciplines. Chief Hustoles works alongside Dr. David Williams, Titusville Fire’s medical director, to ensure the EMS component continues on a path of success. 20

Fire Prevention PAGEThe Fire Prevention Division of the Titusville Fire Department plays a crucial role in maintaining the safety mission of the department as it applies best practices for fire prevention that in turn prevent serious loss of life and property.As the Authority Having Jurisdiction (the AHJ), the Office of the Fire Marshal is responsible for maintenance andenforcement of the adopted Fire Code, State Statutes and the Florida Administrative Code, as well as the local Codeof Ordinances and Land Development Regulations. Representatives attend pre-construction meetings with the designand construction community, and its stakeholders, to ensure building projects are designed and constructed to meetthe adopted codes and regulations.The initial step to safeguarding that a building will be safe for occupation is to ensure that all fire code requirementshave been applied which address fire department access, water supplies, and building life safety features such as firealarm and suppression systems, means of egress, and building materials/assemblies which meet industry standardsfor their applied use. The types of plans reviewed include concept review, site, building construction, fire suppressionsystems, fire alarm systems, underground fire line, and specialty plans, as well as plan revisions.Titusville has been experiencing a boom in commercial industry in the past few years and has seen a large additionof new commercial use in 2016, all of which needs to be closely inspected for safety. The Fire Prevention InspectionTeam performs inspections on newly constructed buildings for Certificates of Occupancy, Fire Systems testing andcommissioning, and general code compliance.The inspectors of the Fire Prevention Division are the trained professionals that interact with the commercial interestin Titusville. This is a direct result of commercial building and facility inspections making up the bulk of the FirePrevention Division’s work. These inspections are conducted for multiple reasons, some of which are: ÖÖ To ensure that the required maintenance for fire protection and life safety systems are conducted in a regular and timely manner, and are conducted by licensed professionals. These systems provide early warning notification and fire protection to both occupants as well as responding fire crews during an emergency. ÖÖ To ensure that activities conducted inside the building are in accordance with the designated occupancy classification of the facility, and to discover and ensure the mitigation of any noted fire hazards in a timely manner. ÖÖ To ensure that means of egress are accessible and meet code for orderly evacuation during an emergency event.A properly conducted fire safety inspection can alert the occupant/owner to any hazards, which could potentially leadto a fire. The results of a fire in a commercial facility often include injuries, the loss of life, the loss of company profits,temporary or permanent job loss that affects an entire community, as well as the neighborhood blight that may resultfrom a shuttered building. The data from incidents in the past support the efforts of the Fire Prevention Division byshowing that there is a decrease in commercial fires in TFES’ service area. This is in part due to the Division’s Inspectorsperforming over 1,800 inspections annually to ensure that fire code is being observed.The Fire Prevention Division also administers the departments Smoke Alarm Program, issues burn permits for landclearing and supervises the burning, issues permits for fireworks displays, and performs inspections at special eventsheld within the city limits.The Titusville Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division is committed to excellence in service both internallyand externally. The Division interacts with other agencies and departments related to buildings, permitting, andcommunity development, as well as with members of the community in a common vision as Titusville continuesto grow and improve. 21

Training The Training Division of Titusville Fire and Emergency Services is responsible for assuring our personnel maintain compliance according to State and Federal regulations. We do this through training, scheduled quarterly. Topics are varied throughout the year to ensure our personnel are keeping up with the most current standards and practices. Many instructional methods are utilized, allowing us to take full advantage of the time and resources we have. Recurrent hands on training is the preferred method as maintaining familiarity with tools, fire ground tasks and procedures can only be accomplished through repetitive hands-on training. Our personnel continuously participate in fire and EMS based training to maintain the highest level of service in the safest manner to the community we serve. With the Battalion Chief of Training reinstated and the position filled, we now can give both disciplines, Fire and EMS, the attention they deserve. 2016 saw the historic grand opening of our state of the art Fire Training Facility. This multi-story training tower affords our personnel the ability to train on topics as simple as ropes and knots, or as complex as live fire training. Since its opening in April of last year, we have been putting the training facility to great use. In line with our recent purchasing of new firefighting gear equipped with escape belts, our first training we held focused on firefighter safety and survival. We issued and trained our combat personnel in the use of the F4 Sterling Escape Kit. This new addition allows our personnel the opportunity to perform a bailout from an upper floor should they have to exit a building quickly due to an emergency. The safety of our personnel is of utmost importance. In 2016 we also hosted a Live Fire Training Instructor class that included personnel from 4 different agencies. We now have 11 state certified Live Fire Training Instructors, affording us the ability to conduct Live Fire Training at our facility 45% 9% Company Officer 13% 3% 14,506EMS Total Hours 2% Hazmat 28% ARFFPAGE22 Driver/Apparatus

without the need for outside instructors or agencies. With the constructionof our Fire Training Facility comes the first ever building engineered for LiveFire Training in Titusville. This allows us to conduct repetitive live fire training,exposing our crews to real live fire conditions while maintaining compliance withthe State and NFPA 1403 guidelines. This type of training is invaluable.Keeping in line with training divisions’ focus, “Back to the Basics”, our personnelare training monthly at the training facility working on basic tasks to the pointthose tasks become instinctual. Enhancing our performance of the basics willlead to smoother and more timelier operations on emergency scenes. Theaddition of the BullEx Digital Fire Training Simulator will further enhance thecapabilities we have to provide simulated fire training without having to devotethe time and additional instructors. We can utilize this prop anywhere in thetraining tower, acquired structure or outside for public demonstrations. We willcontinue to look for ways to become better and improve the manner in which wetrain as we strive for excellence through training! 2233 PAGE

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PAGE Community Outreach and Public Education Our department prides itself on being proactive towards improving the safety of our citizens by providing injury prevention and life safety programs to educate the members of our community. Our safety programs focus on a variety of life safety initiatives including Files of Life, bicycle safety, child passenger safety, fire prevention, cooking safety, drowning prevention, disaster preparedness, slip and fall prevention, personal medical and injury prevention and treatment. We continue to be an active presence at community events, public and private schools and daycares. We provide and distribute safety information via various venues, and participate in nationally recognized events: EMS Week and Fire Prevention Month. 26

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Titusville Fire Department 2016 Budget $6,116,728 $698,491 Operating Costs $5,418,237 Wages and Benefits $158,185 Operation Supplies Total Budget $296,384 $78,268 Communications Repairs & Maintenance $65,000 Training $35,864 Professional Services Operations Budget $698,491 $19,407 $8,152 Travel & Per Diem Office Supplies $15,801 $6,734 Insurance - Automobile Rental & Leases $95,250 Fire Inspections $10,540 $2,415 Books/Pubs/Subs/Mems Printing & Binding $12,500 $1,741 Fire, Hazardous Material Standby Freight & Postage $3,450 $1,680H.S. Track and Field Standby Medical - Shuttle Launch, Festivals Revenue – External Service Fees $112,880PAGE Community Volunteer Program Since 1996, our volunteers have donated 24,808 hours. The total value of these volunteered hours has reached $440,136.73. Our volunteers perform such varied tasks as receptionist, data entry, filing and other clerical functions. Our Volunteer Chaplain serves the emergency needs of our community and also 2288those of the members of our department.

Do You Know How Much It Costs To Outfit One Firefighter?$1T5ota,5l P2ric5e $354 $7100 Helmet Air Pack w/Bottle $42 Hood $707 wS/BVCoAiceMmaisttker$1040 Coat$300 $48Bail-Out Kit Gloves $345 $1105 Boots Pants Other Items Included in Cost: PAGE Duty Uniforms - $543 Wildland Gear - $241 Traffic Gear - $145 Bedding - $55 29Portable Radio - $3500

Promotions 2016 Award New Hire Firefighters in 2016 Lucas LaMothe William Martin Lieutenant Adam Vaknin Jelani Mendiola Fernando SerranoDriver/Operator Zachary Boone Driver/Operator Ben Lees Kevin Karpiak Matthew Baker EMS Chief John Hustoles Retirements: Lt. Brian Marfitt – 21 years of service Sr. Admin Asst. Kathy Mosley – 43 years of servicePAGE Senior Administrative Assistant Gloria Wilson 30

Recipients P. King S. Holbrook PAGE L. Lamothe T. Hammond PAGE Awards J. Lengefeld A. Johnson C. Lindquist P. Hervochon Educational Achievement W. Martin G. Ford J. McKoy M. Johnson A. Vaknin A. Melancon R. Lane J. Hustoles D. Neeld M. Woodward D. Russo Award of Tenure F. Serrano Exceptional Duty M. Schettino 10 Years L. Senger B. Webber B. Smith L. Park M. Abernathy B. Strong D. Neeld G. Sutton Honorable Service M. Johnson C. Threlkeld C. Lindquist J. Trafton G. Morrison (PST Supervisor) A. Vaknin A. Vaknin L. Senger W. Wiegert Armed Forces B. Crocker G. Wilson M. Whorton M. Woodward L. Lamothe 15 Years I-95 MVC Chief’s Award D. Ellis T. Callahan M. Abernathy T. Callahan L. Park R. Birge D. Ellis T. Callahan City Wide Award D. Cody Rookie of the Year T. Duncan C. Threlkeld D. Ellis L. Lamothe D. Higginbotham S. Gaenicke B. Wiegert P. Hervochon Meritorious Service A. Johnson Masters Educational C. McBride J. Trafton Achievement J. McKoy T. Duncan A. Vaknin M. Woodward Employee of the Year Unit Citation Critical Incident Action P. Hervochon A. Vaknin Hurricane Matthew O. Harper Firefighter of the Year C. McBride M. Abernathy D. Chamberlain B. Smith R. Birge B. Lees Z. Boone D. Hersey 3311 T. Callahan F. Canada B. Crocker G. Sutton D. Ellis C. Lindquist L. Ford S. Gaenicke J. Hall J. Harris S. Hartselle D. Higginbotham J. Hustoles A. Jolly