Charleston Immediate Impact Recommendations

¶ … Charleston Fire Department

Immediate Impact Recommendations at Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina

Immediate Impact Recommendation

After reviewing the operation of the Charleston Fire Department and the subsequent circumstances surrounding nine Charleston firefighters who passed on in during incidences, some recommendations were made in Charleston fire department. The recommendations, in the fire department, were to enhance the operations in six key areas. These are the personnel, command, safety, training, response to communication and the water supply system. The recommendations were set to oversee that operations of the fire department were carried out in an efficient mannerism; and not to encounter loss of lives in the rescue operations as it happened on the 18th of June the year 2007. These recommendations were immediately effectuated. This article looks at the reviews, a critical analysis of the recommendations and suggestions on the revisions in areas that are redundant in outlining efficient objectives of the department from an incident officer viewpoint.

Personnel

The first recommendation in this area was to introduce assistance to the chief officer. The assistant chief officer should be qualified in merit and should be given a temporary assignment of six months. Other posts to be introduced in the personnel were deputy officer for safety and pubic information officer. The review recommended for two dispatchers to be on duty every time. All existing ladder and engine companies were to have at leas three firefighters on the task at all times. Suggestion of an incremental movement also came up. The existing time slot for this recommendation was two years so as to attain availability of at least four firefighters on duty for all companies.

Command

This area stipulated the functions of various officers in the department. The officer who is the first arrival at the scenario should be the one to provide directions to all the others. The first chief officer to arrive would assume command so as not to disrupt the process or cause confusion. This is a good approach because incidences that involve life risks like fire rescue missions do not need commands from the respective administration so as to partake an act of rescue in the field.

Safety

The appropriate use of protective clothes was addressed in these recommendations. The department in this case was to reinforce the use of personal protective suits during rescue missions in fire incidences. The uses of seat belts, as well as standard, emergency vehicles during incidence response are other safety measures that were to be endorsed according to the recommendations. Off-duty firefighters were seen to be of benefit during rescue missions thus the management procedure that would enhance their assistance in response to emergency was drafted.

Training

The recommendations stipulate the need for tactical training for officers so as to better their operation in the field. The new firefighters were to undergo training to meet the standards of South Carolina State. This should be ensured before they are assigned to emergency duties.

Communication

There were certain changes in communication methods during emergency duties. The changes included elimination of the use of ten codes and tactical radio channels for response. The second battalion chief is to act as a safety official except if the operational staff safety officer is present in the mission.

Water supply

There was a change in the standard operation procedures where the technique of near-term was abolished, and the use of large diameter hose was introduced. This was to help put out fire faster and with much ease. The fighters would not have to risks much by getting close to the fire as they put it out.

Personal opinion

As an incident officer, it is a great conviction in operational activities of the fire department that the recommendations and implementations were put into consideration. However, additional personnel with no clear roles in the organizational structure, in the fire department, trigger confusion. The recommendation only states that the person in charge will assist the chief officer on the many roles that he has but it does not specify which ones. All other recommendations, most importantly, training is necessary. Training the firefighters is a good tactical approach since it will reduce cases of deaths of firefighters while in the field. Training increases the skills in field operations and reduces the chances of accident occurrence.