1 Table Of Contents Chief’s Message………………………………………... 3 Department Overview………………………………….. 4 Vision and Promise…………………………………….. 7 Emergency Management Division…………………….. 11 EMS Division………………………………………….. 34 Fire Division…………………………………………… 56 Recruitment, Retention, & Marketing …………………. 82 Station Information……………………………………..104 2 I am pleased to present the 2007 Annual Report for Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue. This report will provide you with insight into the operations and functions and demonstrate that we strive to meet the needs and expectations of the people we protect. It’s ever important that we respond quickly, competently, and compassionately. As you review the pages of this annual report I trust that you will be impressed with the depth and degree of the fire, rescue, and emergency services available to the people of Bedford County at the lowest attainable cost. As is illustrated in our Bedford County Community Promise, we are committed to providing quality services to the Bedford County community. I am proud of the accomplishments of all fire and rescue providers within Bedford County and you should be also. The members of these agencies not only provide outstanding emergency service but contribute to the welfare of the community in numerous ways as you will see in this report. The pure gift of service in hours by our most dedicated and professional fire and rescue volunteers is phenomenal. The vast array of service areas that are provided are the nuts and bolts of the system; training, recruitment, retention, fire investigations and administration all come together as a cohesive program to build up and support the community safety net that is expected by our citizens. A true concept of our service delivery is the concept of neighbor helping neighbor in their most desperate moment of need. Most Warmly, 3 Department Overview Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue is currently lead by Chief Jack Jones, Jr. He has held this position for 6 years, and reports directly to the County Administrator. In this position he is responsible for all career members and over 750 volunteer members in all facets of Fire and EMS operations. The current organizational structure has a Deputy Chief for the Fire Suppression Division, EMS Coordinator for the EMS Division, Administration Manager and Administrative Assistant for the Administration Division, Fire Marshal, Chief Haz-Mat Officer and a Wild Land Fire Coordinator- Battalion Chief, as well as Recruitment–Retention and Marketing Specialist in administration; each of these people report directly to the Chief on a daily basis. The Emergency Management Division is responsible for overall coordination of non Law Enforcement Emergency Services for Bedford County. Emergency Services include volunteer fire services, volunteer rescue services, and other non governmental agencies such as the American Red Cross and Faith Based partners. In addition, this department coordinates countywide Fire and EMS training, pandemic planning, hazardous materials response and management, mass evacuation situations, nuclear biological & chemical emergency response and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) management. By county code it is designated the lead agency in response to all natural and man-made disasters in Bedford County. Other areas of responsibility include administration of the County volunteer Fire and EMS insurance policy, retention and recruitment of volunteers, performing fire scene investigations and liaison with other agencies and jurisdictions regarding emergency management. Bedford County is served by eleven land based fire companies and one marine based fire company. In addition, these agencies operate eight satellite stations to provide broader fire services coverage and an improved Insurance Service Office (ISO) fire protection rating. Bedford County provides funding for apparatus, equipment, operations, and training to ensure the highest level of readiness to the various communities of Bedford County. Property, vehicle, accident, health, and liability insurance are provided by a blanket policy sponsored by the County of Bedford for all agencies and members. Fire Apparatus is included in the capital improvement program (CIP). 4 Department Overview (continued) Bedford County has eleven rescue squads based in the County and is served by the Campbell County Rescue Squad, which provides primary EMS services to a portion of eastern Bedford County. These 12 squads provide basic and advanced life support to the citizens and are dispatched through the joint City/County E-911 Center which initiated Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) in February 2006. Bedford County provides funding for apparatus, equipment, operations, and training to ensure the highest level of readiness to the various communities of Bedford County. Property, vehicle, accident, health, and liability insurance are provided by a blanket policy sponsored by the County of Bedford for all agencies and members. A standardized ambulance replacement program is included in the capital improvement program (CIP). Bedford County Fire & Rescue is in it’s infancy in regards to development. Historically each of the 24 Fire & Rescue agencies worked independently of one another with little coordination or direction and control from the county government. Minimal standardization in training, equipment purchases or SOG existed. We now have standardization in major purchases such as apparatus, bunker gear and cardiac monitoring and equipment replacements are addressed in a master improvement plan. Annual fire academies are conducted and a system wide medical director is in place. A common communication system is in place and Standard Operating Guides are routinely developed and span the entire system. 5 Fire & Rescue Administration Jack Jones, Jr., Chief H. Lee Day, III., Deputy Chief Seth Mowles, FF/Paramedic - EMS Captain Janet Blankenship, FF/Paramedic - Recruitment & Retention Michelle Crumpacker, Administrative Manager Shelley Tillman, Administrative Assistant 6 Vision Statement To be leaders in our profession and serve as a role model for other Fire & Emergency Medical Services, and to be an organization that people are proud to be part of. BCoFR Community Promise WE SERVE WITH HONOR & INTEGRITY WE TREAT EVERYONE WITH FAIRNESS & RESPECT WE PROVIDE FRIENDLY & EFFICIENT SERVICE WE VALUE THE PUBLICS CONFIDENCE & TRUST WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS WE PURSUE EXCELLENCE WE WORK AS A TEAM WE MAKE BEDFORD COUNTY 7 A NICE PLACE TO LIVE NIMS Compliance In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5), the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Department of Homeland Security Grant Program has mandated that at the local level all government departments and agencies adopt as well as promote National Incident Management System (NIMS) Compliance. Bedford County is working to comply with these mandates. It is the goal of Bedford County to achieve 100% compliance with the mandates. Thus far, Bedford County has complied with a majority of the mandates. However, we are continuing to strive for 100% compliance. Bedford County’s 100% compliance plan is as follows: • The Bedford County Board of Supervisors adopted the NIMS on October 24, 2004. We are continuing to work toward increasing the awareness of the Private sector agencies / Nongovernmental agencies (NGA) to NIMS. • Bedford County has and will continue to manage all emergency incidents and preplanned events using the Incident Command System as defined by NIMS to include an Incident Action Plan and Common Communications Plans. • Bedford County currently coordinates and supports emergency incident and event management through the development and use of integrated multi-agency coordination systems. We have the appropriate facilities and equipment to coordinate with local command posts and Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), 911 Centers, and the State EOC. • Bedford County has a designated Public Information Officer that implements processes and procedures to communicate timely and accurate information through a Joint Information System. • Bedford County has established a community NIMS baseline and has coordinated and leveraged all federal preparedness funding to help implement the NIMS. 8 NIMS Compliance (continued) • Bedford County will continue to seek support in updating our mutual aid agreements with all of the necessary agencies and municipalities that will be needed to promote intrastate (via statewide mutual aid) and interagency agreements and cooperation. • Bedford County has and will continue to incorporate ICS 100 and 200, IS-700 and IS-800 in our training courses to ensure our personnel will be familiar with and have working knowledge of the NIMS. • Bedford County has and will continue to incorporate NIMS/ICS in all of our local, state and regional trainings and exercises, as well as having active participation in all-hazard exercise programs to include multiple discipline and multi- jurisdictional responders. • Bedford County has also incorporated corrective actions into our preparedness and response plans. • Bedford County will continue keeping an inventory of community response assets. • Bedford County will ensure that relevant national standards and guidance are utilized in equipment acquisitions; communication and data interoperability are all incorporated into local acquisition programs. • Bedford County also applies standardized and consistent terminology in our communication through the system by use of plain English communications