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Chief's Message Emergency Preparedness

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Chief's Message Emergency Preparedness Chief’s Message It has been another busy year for the San Marcos Fire Department. The Department was able to complete some significant projects while still experiencing an ever-increasing demand for service. Thanks to prudent fiscal planning by the City, the Department was able to continue to provide its usual high levels of service to the community during the current economic downturn. In 2009, the Department’s response times were some of the fastest in the region. This was achieved by a well-planned road Emergency Preparedness system, strategic station locations and the diligence of the responders. Emergency preparedness is a top priority of the San Marcos One of the most significant accomplishments in 2009 was being City Council. The Department has a dedicated emergency awarded the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Ambulance preparedness coordinator whose job it is to equip, plan and Transport contract for the City of San Marcos EMS Service Area. train City staff to manage major emergencies. This has been This will allow the Department to provide ambulance service in a busy year for the emergency preparedness program and the City for the next 10 years. significant strides have been made towards increasing Citywide preparedness. Emergency preparedness continued to be a priority. Training personnel in various emergency operations center positions One of the more notable accomplishments has been continued, thus improving the City’s preparedness for major designing a Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC) emergencies. The Department also ordered a mobile trailer. The MEOC will greatly enhance the ability of the City to emergency operations center, which will be operational by this sustain both emergency and non-emergency operations during summer. The Department also continued to offer Community significant events and emergencies within the City or region. Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to residents in the The MEOC was funded by a $550,000 grant from the U.S. community. There are now more than 100 San Marcos Department of Homeland Security. It will include some of the residents who are members of the City’s CERT team. most advanced technology available for managing and recovering from medium- to large-scale emergencies. The In 2010, the San Marcos Fire Department will continue to work MEOC will be completed and operational by July 2010. with property owners near wildland areas to promote appropriate defensible space, adequate access and evacuation The H1N1 flu pandemic provided a very real example of why routes when wildfires threaten their homes. Aggressive emergency preparedness is vitally important to San Marcos wildland fuel reduction will also continue where appropriate. residents. The City quickly put into action existing pandemic response plans, developed new procedures, increased infection Despite declining revenues in this bleak economic climate, the control supply levels and provided H1N1 vaccines for Department will continue to maximize its resources and find emergency workers. creative ways to provide residents with high levels of service. We will assure all of our personnel are highly prepared for all The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been emergency and non-emergency challenges that face our another important part of the City’s emergency preparedness community. planning. The CERT program trains and equips resident volunteers to prepare for and respond to large scale From all of us at the San Marcos Fire Department, thank you emergencies. The San Marcos CERT program has over 100 for your continued support and assistance in making 2009 a sworn volunteers who have completed the initial 24 hours of safe and successful year. CERT training and regularly attend bi-monthly drills. The CERT members stand ready to assist their families and neighbors in the event of a large-scale emergency. The continued training of City staff in the operation of the emergency operations center rounded out a very busy year for the San Marcos emergency preparedness program. This year will bring many exciting challenges to the emergency preparedness program, including a full scale exercise designed to test the region’s response to a major emergency. The City of San Marcos will play a significant role in this exercise and will thoroughly test its response and emergency management capabilities. Overview Rated as an ISO Class 2 department Responded to 7,043 emergencies in 2009 Mission Statement Consists of 77 full-time firefighters and support personnel Provides advanced life support (paramedics) on all apparatus The mission of the San Marcos Fire Department is to provide the highest level of customer service by protecting life, property, Response Times and the environment, through the delivery of innovative, fiscally responsible and ethical emergency services in our community. In 2009, the San Marcos Fire Department responded to 7,043 emergency calls, 70 percent of which were medical emergencies. Core Values The Department, on average, arrived on scene for medical and rescue emergencies 4 minutes 46 seconds after receiving Leadership notification from dispatch. The first fire apparatus arrived on lWe value the development and application of all personnel’s scene for structure fires within an average of 6 minutes 16 leadership skills. lWe believe that leadership occurs at all levels of the seconds. organization and is everyone’s responsibility. Take Action! Your Role in Public Safety Integrity lWe do the right thing, ethically, honestly and with integrity Defensible Space: Defensible space is the area around a —always. structure where vegetation and other fuels are treated, cleared lWe treat each other and the public with respect based on or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. Residents are mutual trust and open communication. encouraged to provide defensible space around their homes and properties. The creation of defensible space will increase the Safety chance of their home surviving a wildland fire. lWe recognize San Marcos Fire Department employees as our most valuable resource. CPR Classes: On the second Saturday of every other month from lWe believe our health and safety are essential to fulfilling the 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, the Fire Department offers an department’s mission. adult/child/infant CPR class for $20 at the Regional Training Facility, 184 Santar Place. In 2009, the Department trained 149 Competency people in CPR. lWe embrace accountability for the quality of services that the department provides to the community. CERT Program: The City of San Marcos sponsors spring and fall lWe take responsibility for developing and training each other semester CERT classes. The class occurs on nine consecutive and ourselves. Saturday mornings for two-three hours. Customer Service Senior Smoke Detector Program: The Department provides free lWe treat all customers with respect, dignity, fairness, and smoke detector inspections. To qualify for a free inspection, compassion. participants must be part of the San Marcos senior community lWe are responsive to the changing needs of our community. and need assistance in determining if their smoke detector is in good working condition. If a smoke detector needs to be replaced, one will be provided free of charge. For more information on any of these items, please contact (760) 744-1050, ext. 3405. Page 2 Recent Accomplishments Assistance to Firefighters Grant Training In 2009, the San Marcos Fire Department was awarded a The Department held a live fire training drill using an abandoned Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters house on Autumn Drive in May. This drill provided valuable Grant (AFG) totaling $60,150 to purchase wildland firefighting practice and experience for personnel. Several full-scale rescue safety equipment and VHF radios for firefighters. drills were also held to exercise the Department’s equipment and ability to rescue victims in a variety of situations. The purchase of this equipment ensures that all San Marcos firefighters have updated safety clothing including pants, shirts, Inspections Database face shrouds, boots and web gear essential for the safety of The Department performs approximately 2,000 business personnel while engaged in a wildland fire. In addition, the inspections each year. In 2009, the department developed a grant helped purchase 38 VHF portable radios that are used on database to more accurately manage the inspection program, wildfires where multiple agencies work together. These radios which ensures that all San Marcos businesses are current on ensure that personnel can communicate with adjoining forces their fire code requirements and business licenses. when fighting a wildfire in San Marcos or when assisting other communities. Open House The 2009 Fire Department Open House was held during National Mid-Rise Ordinance Fire Prevention Week in October. A record setting 2,000+ people As the Department prepares for future growth, considerations attended this free event where they had the opportunity to for future mid-rise buildings have been examined.. A mid-rise is dress up in firefighter clothing, practice “stop, drop and roll,” and defined as any building four stories or more in height. In 2009, use a fire hose and extinguisher on an actual fire. the City approved a mid-rise ordinance that will allow for safer buildings. This ordinance will require that all new mid-rise Fire Department Budget buildings include the following life and safety system enhancements: The Fiscal Year 2008-2009 budget for the San Marcos
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