The Master Plan & Building the Game Book

Even college football teams or NASCAR Teams have a Master Game plan and a Game Book !

The best and worst of all sports teams have a master plan of attack. Some are better than others, but the common link is “they have a plan”. So what differentiates a good plan from an ordinary one? One team may win the Super Bowl or at least go to the big dance several times in a given time period. We have witnessed NASAR Teams win the title year after year or at least several times with-in a short time period. So how does this happen? You can guarantee it is not by luck. It is the result of a good game plan utilizing all of the team assets. How does this relate to the fire service? Believe it or not, we are the same as a sports team if you think about it.

If the fire service receives a structure fire call with entrapment, upon arrival we find a heavenly involved residence. Our firefighters kick into action performing rescue maneuvers and extinguishing the flames. You have multiple functions of the fire scene being completed in unison. Firefighters work on critical job task such as ventilation, the advancement of attack lines and completing search patterns. The critical ballet of fire suppression and rescue is completed and our team pulls out a survivor. The survivor lives on to cherish life. Translated we won, our patient won the super bowl! Our game plan worked! At least it did on this example. The difference between having a “once in a while save” versus very rarely losing a victim, shows evidence of a good solid game plan versus a fly by the “seat of the pants” game plan.

How do we go about setting up a first class Master Plan? Number one thing, keep it simple. You must realize the basics of what you are being graded against. ISO has invested thousands of hours researching and reviewing fire reports and fire losses. They know by keeping record and constantly reviewing these records what works and what does not. They also establish their equipment list by these statistics. The simple items are what count. Items such as, do you have the ISO recommended equipment? Do you have a solution for all of your water needs? Can you supplement your hydrant needs from pre-determined water sources? Have you ventured into your fire district and pre-planned all of your business structures? Here are some additional items to consider when you are structuring your master plan:

·        Determine the number of residential homes and average market value located from your station going out 5 miles. Utilize your county Assessors Office. (You will utilize this information later while doing your cost analysis.)

·        Determine the number of residential homes and average market value starting 5 miles from your station extending out to your fire district boundary. Again, utilizing your county Assessors Office for assistance.

·        Map all public meeting and commercial buildings on your fire map.

·        Basic Pre-plans of all public meeting and commercial building.

·        Mileage for each of public meeting and commercial building location from the station.

·        Distance of each water source to each public meeting and commercial building and housing developments.

·        Pre-plan your attack for residential response in each neighborhood

·        Identify all public water sources located in the fire district

·        Photograph and detail of all static water sources with SOP of how to draft or transfer from each water location.

·        Create a water supply point-map for the fire district.

·        Determine fire-flow for each business and housing development.

·        Establish a training schedule based on a 12 month cycle

·        Identify all distance and response times from Mutual Aid Departments.

·        Establish resource list of Mutual Aid Departments with inventory sheets

I would suggest that the Chief or the Officer coordinating the improvement project establish a notebook to hold the Master Plan. The notebook should be set up to contain all of the secondary documentation that supports the Play Book. Field notes from your work can be kept here.

Time to Build the Play Book !

Lets get serious with the special plays and paper work !

To get one step ahead of the game, you first need a play book. It has to be game book that is simple but very effective; it has to be a book and plan that ALL Officers and Firefighters understand 100%. I personally hate difficult procedures or instructions. Let’s face a basic item here, Paid firefighters work everyday or so on the job, they have the opportunity to stay fresh on all the items on a routine basis. Now let’s face reality. Most of our state (actually our nation if you are talking in terms of geographical percentages) is covered by Volunteer Fire Departments. Volunteers are volunteer’s, the individual typical has a full time job, plus raising a family. The fire service is tough enough without adding a bunch of redundant policies or procedures let alone placing “none value adding training” on them. SO let’s be smart here. Think about your new path forward. Build your book with an open mind, however keeping it user friendly and simple. As we progress through future columns, I will supply you with simple ideas to implement. Remember the old saying, “ KISS” (Keep It Simple Silly)

It is easiest to start with a nice size three ring binder. Set up main sections in the note book for the following; Fire Department, Water and Communications, these are your three main sections of the ISO audit. From your pre-audit survey questionnaire, copy the appropriate section and place it in the corresponding notebook section. In addition to the three main sections, you need to add sections for Fire Flows and Rural Water Supply. These two last sections will assist you later while addressing the three primary sections.

Laying out the “Play Book”:

1). Fire Department with sub sections:

Fire Department Roster and Mission Statement

Department By-Laws (more so if Volunteer or Combination Department)

Department SOG’s, SOP’s or written field policies

Automatic and Mutual Aid Agreements

Engine Companies

Reserve Engine

Pump Capacity

Ladder Service

Reserve Ladder Service

Distribution

Personnel

Training

2). Fire Flows with sub sections:

Business locations listed on the Batch Report

           All other Business Locations – i.e. Stores, Fast Food, Gas Stations, etc.

           Community Gathering Locations – i.e. Schools, Churches, Community Centers, etc

3). Water Supply with sub sections:

Community Water Supply - Storage Tanks, Reservoirs quantities, pump capacities, etc.

Hydrants – list of all hydrants, type, year installed, etc.

Inspections & Maintenance – Procedures and examples of records on file

Water Flow Test Records by Water Department (Flushing)

4). Rural Water Supply with sub sections:

            Primary Rural Water Sources – Draft locations, special fill locations, etc.

            Secondary Water Sources – Ponds, lakes, rivers, etc.

            Drafting Locations – Identify specific drafting locations for critical areas

            Procedures of Drafting and Water Movement

5). Communications with sub sections:

Telephone Service - Operators and Dispatch Circuits

Phone Book Listings

Operating Procedures of Dispatching Center

Emergency Back-up plans Dispatching Center

Place copies of the answer sheets, fire district maps and training records, written policies in each of the associated section or sub-section. You will find out, before long your note book is filling up. Then as you scan back through it, you now have a book with all of your audit questions and answers right there at your finger tips. Now you have a Master Plan with a Play Book!

A final thought on the master plan. ISO is looking for three basics in the fire service. One, they want to make sure you the right equipment (according to them). Second, that want to make sure you have the right amount of water to fight a fire. Third, they want to ensure your area has a sufficient dispatching system. If you back up and think about the three, this audit is not that difficult. Sure, we will come across some tough situations to overtake, but that is when it becomes fun, finding the right solution that matches the department and the community. As we work through the columns, and as you start thinking about your fire district, keep your solutions as simple as possible but yet accomplish the primary objective.

I invite you to send me your questions.

Feel free to contact me via email at:  ISOFireChief@yahoo.com

Till the next column,

The ISOFireChief

About the author:

Michael A. Cottrell, Fire Chief for General Motors Corporation, has over 22 years of Fire and Rescue service ranging from Volunteer to Paid from W.Va. to South Carolina, Nebraska and Ohio. In addition to residential fire protection the author has a solid background on high hazard industrial and manufacturing fire protection. More than 16 years experience as a Fire Chief or Chief Line Officer. Training and specialties include; Certified Fire/Rescue Instructor, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, Arson Investigation and former EMT and Medical 1st Responder

The author is the owner of I.F.I. (ISO Fire Improvement Consultants) Specializing in professional community fire protection, ISO pre-audits, master planning, analysis of your fire district planning, apparatus design and assisting with your actual ISO community audit. The author is available for private consultation for your department. If you are interested in obtaining additional consultation on a rapid pace, please contact the author at ISOFirechief@yahoo.com