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Chief's Report
CHIEF'S REPORT
Concerned about the number of non-emergency calls coming into the 9-1-1 emergency lines and wanting to improve citizens' telephone access to City Hall, the City Manager set upon an aggressive plan to consolidate all city dispatching - both emergency and non-emergency - under the Fire Department's command to make city services more accessible for citizens. The consolidation began in June, 1994 and was completed in September, 1995. This eliminated the need for hundreds of telephone numbers, six dispatch centers, and frequent call transfers in order to make simple requests for non-emergency city services - a situation which proved frustrating for citizens. It became evident that as their frustration grew, so did the number of non-emergency calls being placed to 9-1-1; at times as much as 70 percent of those calls were not for emergency services. Because citizens depend upon 9-1-1 for response to emergency and crisis situations, we became increasingly concerned that the common use of 9-1-1 for non-emergency calls was impeding this service - our number one priority. Realizing the citizens wanted simple accessibility, a three-digit, non-emergency number was established to allow them a quicker and more accessible way to request those non-emergency city services, thereby alleviating the temptation to use 9-1-1 for these calls. The consolidation not only increased efficiency in meeting the citizens' needs, it also allowed the city to reduce the number of remote call taking and dispatching centers that existed among departments such as Street, Sanitation and Code Enforcement, Water Utilities, Transportation, Parking Enforcement, and Animal Control. These functions and facilities were combined with the existing 9-1-1 system to create the new consolidated communications center at City Hall. Today, the 9-1-1/3-1-1 Communications Center includes: emergency call taking, non-emergency call taking and non-emergency dispatching. Telecommunication Specialists, who are cross-trained and skilled in receiving both emergency and non-emergency calls, can quickly assist the public with answers to their most frequently asked questions. This has increased the overall available number of call takers and has provided more flexibility in the service the Department can offer. Technology has provided our telephone system with a "Smart Switch" which makes a distinction between emergency and non-emergency calls to ensure the emergency calls are processed first, then routed to the first available call taker. Through the technology made available to us, and the skill and commitment of our dispatchers and call takers, we can offer non-emergency service 24 hours a day without impacting our priority of ensuring prompt emergency response. Being a proactive force in the community we serve remains a top priority. Service district coordinators are appointed to meet with the community and ensure that citizens' needs and concerns are heard. Firefighters continue to conduct station tours to familiarize children and neighborhood groups with the role of firefighters and provide insight into the operation of the Department. Firefighters also play an instrumental part in keeping citizens safe in their own homes by installing - at no cost to the occupants - life-saving smoke detectors in single-family homes. One service our citizens have increasingly come to rely upon is EMS. The final year of our five-year plan for enhancing EMS was implemented to address the rising demand for this service. The Plan increases the number of mobile intensive care units (MICUs) in our fleet to 27 front-line and eight peak demand units. Firefighters' safety continues to be a top priority. The Department has completed a two-year phase-in of new bunker gear, helmets, coats, and pants. Additionally, as a safety initiative, an upgrade of all self-contained breathing apparatus was made to include a Personal Alert Safety System. This life-saving equipment provides immediate warning to others on the fireground if a firefighter is down and needs help. Our current Operation's staffing plan allows overtime support in order to provide the essential four firefighters per fire apparatus as a minimum staffing level. Both the Department and the community took great pride in the opening of Dallas' fifty-fifth fire station on February 4, 1997. The new facility - Fire Station No. 30 - is located at 11381 Zodiak Lane at Royal Lane and serves northwest Dallas. We purchased the site in July, 1976 with 1975 municipal bonds for $122,450. The new station is an 8,588 square-foot facility located on 1.2 acres. In addition to the standard dining and living quarters, full kitchen, and laundry area, this station is unique in that it is the first one in the city specifically designed to have a washer/extractor for cleaning firefighters' protective clothing. Fire Station No. 30 will provide medical first response, fire fighting, and rescue services to the community and help in reducing response time in the northwest Dallas area. The Department achieved a higher level of professionalism in fire protection and emergency rescue service through the expansion of the High Angle Rescue Team. In April of 1996, swift water rescue abilities were added to the expertise of this team, and it was renamed the Technical Rescue Team. As the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority continued to expand the mass transit system by installing light rail transportation, the Department met the unique challenge by developing and implementing new procedures and training firefighters to respond to emergencies occurring on the light rail system. Additionally, a curriculum for trench rescue was implemented, and a lesson for confined space rescue was developed. Also, with several airports in the Department's response area, we conducted aircraft rescue firefighting drills for all affected personnel. The responses firefighters are proudest of are the ones they don't have to make because of the positive role they play in fire prevention and public safety. Through enforcement of the fire code, fire prevention officers identify unsafe property such as open, vacant structures which are a danger to the community and firefighters. This action also provides an opportunity to educate business owners and managers on the necessity for fire prevention measures. Each year, thousands of people in schools, hospitals and businesses are educated in fire safety and prevention by our fire prevention officers, who provide entertaining and informative programs tailored to specific audiences. Through the dedicated efforts of our arson investigators, Dallas continues to lead the nation in overall arson crime clearance rates. The juvenile firesetter prevention program, which provides free counseling to youths suspected of setting fires, continues to exert a positive influence by minimizing repeat offenses. The program has seen only one repeat offender, out of 283 juveniles counseled, during the past six years. Our members' commitment to the citizens they serve while on duty is reflected in the many hours of services they provide while off duty. As an example of their commitment, during 1996-97, $60,722 was pledged for United Way charities and $110,000 collected for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Additional money was raised and time was donated by our firefighters' organization that went to support causes such as Denton State School Day at the Six Flags Over Texas, safety fairs and visits to Parkland Burn Center. Furthermore, Department members gave much of their own time to their communities, churches and schools, many times serving as much needed role models for young children. Our efforts in making our community safer through quality fire protection, emergency medical services, and time spent helping others is something of which we are all proud. Our chief responsibility as firefighters and members of this department is to serve those who live in, work in, and visit our city. This is a responsibility our members take seriously. By providing fire and emergency services as well as safety inspections and education programs in a professional and caring manner, we are able to maintain the high approval rating of our citizens - something upon which we place a high premium. We continue to strive for their approval using the principles of quality service and customer satisfaction at every opportunity.
Dodd Miller, Chief Return to the Table of Contents ADMINISTRATION REPORT Administration is under the direction of Assistant Chief Robert L. Bailey and consists of five functions: Financial Services, Safety and Development, Personnel, Training, and Maintenance. Financial Services is responsible for administering the Department's budget, payroll, accounts payable, and mail distribution. Safety and Development processes all claims for on-duty injuries and benefits. It administers the Department's limited-duty assignments, restricted-duty policy, and the development and monitoring of safety programs and statistics. It also coordinates with other City departments regarding our capital improvements program which includes remodeling, additions to, and construction of fire stations. The Personnel Unit recruits and continuously assists all members in their professional development. It provides a strong member support network and ensures equal employment opportunity. Additionally, Personnel is responsible for the Department's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Labor Standards Act. Also, this division provides chaplain services. The Training Division includes professional development in the following areas: Continuing Education for firefighters, Recruit Training, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Hazardous Materials Response, and Physical Fitness Training. The division provides recruits with the training and development needed to meet department and state requirements. Continuing education and drills are provided for all personnel on new equipment and procedures. In addition to basic fire suppression training, members are trained in specialized responses to hazardous materials spills, aircraft crashes, and mass casualty incidents. The Department has achieved a higher level of professionalism in emergency rescue service through the Technical Rescue Team, which includes training in high angle rescue, swift water and shore-based rescue, and trench and confined space rescue. The Maintenance Division includes Station Support, Equipment Maintenance, and Clothing and Supply. Maintenance provides full support for the emergency fleet, the facilities and fire stations, as well as protective gear and uniform clothing. The division provides preventive maintenance, mechanical services, inventory procurement, road call and state inspections. It also provides all essential supplies for employees and facilities. Return to the Table of Contents EMERGENCY OPERATIONS REPORT Emergency Operations is under the direction
of Assistant Chief Danny Millaway and is divided into two divisions:
Fire Suppression and Emergency Medical Service (EMS). Return to the Table of Contents FIRE PREVENTION REPORT Fire Prevention is under the direction of the Fire Marshal, Assistant Chief Robert E. Melton and consists of the divisions of Fire Prevention, Education and Inspection, and Arson and Fire Investigation. The Fire Prevention, Education and Inspection division provides for the prevention of fire through fire inspections and code enforcement activities. Emphasis is given to education during the code enforcement process so that the owner or manager is made aware of the necessity for fire prevention measures. Also, enforcement of the fire code allows for identification of unsafe property such as open, vacant structures which are a danger to the community and firefighters. This division provides fire prevention programs tailored to specific audiences from childrens puppet shows to industrial fire safety to programs that address the special concerns of the elderly. Fire Prevention Officers, with the assistance of various volunteer groups, respond to citizens’ needs by installing smoke detectors in the residences of elderly, disabled, or home-bound people who lack this protection. After each preventable fire death, Fire Prevention Officers go door-to-door in the neighborhood where the fire occurred and talk to neighbors about the importance of fire safety. This offers an opportunity to install smoke detectors where none exist or provide fresh batteries for existing detectors. Those tragedies that occur close to home can often be used to make people more aware of the dangers in their own home and give them an opportunity to prevent such an occurrence. The Arson and Fire Investigation division is responsible for determining the origin, cause, and circumstances of fires and filing charges. The division's 19 arson investigators are sworn peace officers and enforce the laws of the State of Texas pertaining to arson and malicious false alarms. They are specially trained in the discovery, preservation, and presentation of evidence in proving the crime of arson. Also, the division administers the Juvenile Fire Setters’ Program which provides free counseling to juveniles suspected of setting fires and to their families. Return to the Table of Contents COMMUNICATIONS REPORT The Communications Division is under the direction of Assistant Chief Kenneth Dorsett and includes Fire Dispatch, the 9-1-1/3-1-1 Communications Center, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and the Public Information Officer. Fire Dispatch is responsible for receiving calls and dispatching the closest emergency equipment to all fire, medical, rescue, and hazardous material-related requests for assistance. Global Positioning Satellite receivers, which are on all MICUs, engines, trucks, and battalion command vehicles, ensure the closest company is sent to each emergency. The 9-1-1/3-1-1 Communications Center is a nonuniformed division of the Fire Department. The primary function of the 9-1-1 system is to take incoming emergency requests for police, fire, and emergency medical service. The primary function of the 3-1-1 system is to take non-emergency service requests from citizens. By dialing 3-1-1, citizens can initiate service requests and access information about all City departments 24 hours a day. The Office of Emergency Preparedness is responsible for disaster planning, training, and public warning for the City of Dallas. It is also responsible for maintenance and operation of the City's Emergency Operations Center, for recovery operations following a disaster, and for coordinating public and private agencies engaged in any disaster emergency activity within the city. The Public Information Officer keeps the media informed of the Department's public education efforts, special programs, and special public interest issues such as large scale fires and medical emergencies. This person also produces the Department's newsletters and news releases, as well as exclusive articles for public awareness projects and campaigns. Return to the Table of Contents Principal Indicators
Return to the Table of Contents Fire Prevention, Education and Inspection
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