Fiscal Year 1998-99 ended with predictable increases in activity from the prior year. Emergency Operations responded to 99,121 emergencies with a response time of 4.30 minutes.

Emergency Operations provides the residents of Dallas with fire suppression and protection, emergency rescue capabilities, and emergency medical first responder services. In addition, we provide specialized response to hazardous materials spills, aircraft crashes, technical rescue, and mass casualty incidents. A minimum of four firefighters respond on each fire engine and aerial ladder truck company. There are 55 fire stations located strategically throughout the city. These fire stations house 54 fire engines, 21 aerial ladder trucks, and three aircraft rescue firefighting apparatus. There are 1,536 uniformed firefighters assigned to Emergency Operations of whom 450 are paramedics, and provide Emergency Medical Service (EMS). The EMS Division responded to 134,880 emergencies with a response time of 5.20 minutes and transported 59,576 patients to area hospitals.

The City of Dallas was one of 27 cities identified to receive funds for the development of a specialized team that would respond to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. On July 31, 1999, the City of Dallas completed the development of a Medical Strike Team to respond to acts of domestic terrorism involving chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The Team, which is comprised of members of the Fire Department, the Police Department, and representatives from the medical community, has the capability of responding to an incident within 90 minutes with sufficient antidotes and medications to treat 1,000 victims and supplement decontamination efforts prior to transporting patients to area hospitals. The City has received funds in the amount of $350,000 from the U. S. Public Health Service to offset the costs of equipment and pharmaceuticals, team development, and program maintenance.

As a result of the Nunn-Lugar Domenici Act of 1996, the Fire Department received domestic terrorism training through the U. S. Department of Defense. Funds for specialized equipment and supplies in the amount of $300,000 were received from the U. S. Department of Defense to support the training of fire and police personnel and enhance the response to an incident involving weapons of mass destruction.

The 9-1-1/3-1-1 Communications Center completed its first full year of operation. The Communications Center receives initial emergency requests for fire, medical, rescue, hazardous materials, and police assistance from the public as well as nonemergency requests for city services. During fiscal year 1998-99, the Communications Center had received 2,699,899 calls. Of that number, 1,000,839 calls came in on 3-1-1, an encouraging sign that citizens found the system understandable, workable, and effective.

In our continuing efforts to improve residents’ home fire safety practices, Fire Prevention Officers, firefighters, and various volunteer groups responded to the needs of many Dallas citizens by installing smoke detectors in their homes. In January, 1999, corporate sponsors RadioShack and NBC5 combined resources to donate 20,000 smoke detectors to North Texas fire departments. In the past fiscal year, fire inspectors and firefighters installed 3,621 smoke detectors in Dallas residences, and replaced batteries in an additional 726 smoke detectors.

Design development is underway for two replacement fire stations, and site purchases were recently completed for two others. Remodeling of Fire Station 49, situated close to Red Bird Airport, began in March, 1999. The remodeling is intended to increase the capacity and efficiency of that station by adding equipment designed to respond to aircraft emergencies.

The Department remains committed to on-going efforts to enhance the safety, health, and fitness of our members. We continued to distribute timely and relevant safety and fitness information throughout the year, and provided blood pressure tests, electrocardiograms, tuberculosis screenings, and flu shots to all members of the Department. In addition, we again hosted an annual Health Fair offering a wide variety of health screenings and information to all members and retirees, and their families. All fire stations are equipped with physical fitness equipment, and our Training Academy has a well-equipped and professionally staffed fitness center.

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 1998-99, $60,065.37 was pledged for the Dallas Charitable Campaign and $227,866 was collected for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In addition, $9,317 was donated to Box 4 under the direction of The Salvation Army. The Dallas Firefighters Association Auxiliary members donate much of their time and talents to raise funds for such worthwhile causes as the American Diabetes Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the Parkland Hospital Burn Center.

We view all of our employees as contributors to the highest rated service in the city, and thus we refer to them as "members." As members of this department, our chief responsibility 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

Administration, under the command of Assistant Chief Robert L. Bailey, includes responsibility for Training, Maintenance, Safety and Development, Financial Services, and Personnel.

The Training Division provides the Department with recruit training and continuing education that complies with State standards for basic fire suppression and which maintains the readiness of all emergency responders on new equipment and procedures. The Training Division also coordinates specialized training needs for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) incidents, hazardous materials (HAZ-MAT) responses, mass casualty incidents, and technical rescues, including high angle rescue, swift water and shore-based rescue, and trench and confined space rescue. Another responsibility of the Training Division is coordination of the Department’s development of a Medical Strike Team to provide specialized emergency response to a terrorist incident involving nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons of mass destruction. The Training Division also maintains a physical fitness center for members of the Department and provides fitness education.

The Maintenance Division is responsible for preventive maintenance and mechanical services for emergency apparatus and equipment. Other support activities include Clothing and Supply, EMS Supply and Station Support. The Division warehouses 7,461 line items ranging from apparatus parts to clothing and pharmaceuticals. For FY 98/99, the Division developed specifications for and purchased: (10) pumpers, (2) aerial trucks, (15) Mobil Intensive Care Units (MICU), (12) field command vehicles, (2) ARFF apparatus, (1) HAZ-MAT unit and (1) gooseneck trailer for the Medical Strike Team.

Safety and Development processes all workers’ compensation claims for on-duty injuries and administers the Department’s limited duty program and the policies for reassigning members who sustain injuries that prevent their return to their former assignments. Safety also maintains injury and vehicle collision statistics and reviews injuries, collisions, current procedures, and information on safety from other sources to provide a resource to the Department regarding safety issues. The responsibility for coordinating with other City departments about fire station and support facility construction and remodeling is also assigned to Safety and Development.

Financial Services has responsibility for accurate budget development, including expenditure, performance, and variance analysis; quality uniformed and civilian payroll and leave administration; efficient accounts payable and purchasing; copy center and mail distribution functions.

The Personnel Unit performs the Department’s recruiting function, chaplain services, ensures equal employment opportunity and is available to assist all members with personnel development. The unit is also responsible for the Department’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act.

Emergency Operations is under the direction of Assistant Chief Danny L. Millaway and is divided into two divisions: Fire Suppression and Emergency Medical Service (EMS). All personnel assigned to Emergency Operations are State-certified firefighters and members assigned to Emergency Medical Service are State-certified firefighters and paramedics. There are currently 1468 firefighters assigned to Emergency Operations of which 450 are certified paramedics.

Fire Suppression provides the residents of Dallas with fire suppression and protection, emergency rescue capabilities, and emergency medical first responder services. In addition, this division provides specialized response to hazardous materials spills, aircraft crashes, technical rescue, and mass casualty incidents. Although fire suppression activities have grown, the major increase in service has been generated as a result of an increasing response to emergency medical service incidents. In addition, firefighters are involved in fire education and presentation activities through programs allowing school age children the opportunity to visit the fire stations and speak directly to the firefighters about their job. Also, firefighters perform low risk fire inspections and install smoke detectors upon request.

The division of Emergency Medical Service provides emergency medical treatment of the sick and injured, provides advanced life support measures for major trauma and cardiac arrest and, if determined to be an actual emergency, transport patients to medical facilities. Emergency Medical Service is provided by 27 front-line mobile intensive care units and eight peak demand units staffed by two paramedic/firefighters per unit. Increased quality improvement activities include involvement in the North Central Texas Regional Advisory Council’s development of a 19-county trauma assessment program. Frequent Quality Improvement meetings are held with the Medical Director and his assistants concerning protocol development, procedures, and field performance. Annual health fairs for all Department members are conducted, as well as immunizations, tuberculosis skin testing, blood pressure checks, and EKG screening programs.

Fire Prevention is under the direction of the Fire Marshal, Assistant Chief Debra K. Carlin and consists of the divisions of Fire Prevention Education and Inspection, Arson and Fire Investigation, and Internal Affairs.

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 children’s 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 for filing criminal 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.

The Internal Affairs Section is the primary investigative unit for the Department with respect to complaints and disciplinary action which involve Department personnel. The unit also manages the Department’s Random Drug and Alcohol Testing program.

The Communications Division is under the direction of Assistant Chief Roland R. Gamez 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 the 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.