Fire Agencies
SUPPORT:
Emergency Management
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose
To provide an organizational framework that will effectively utilize all available fire fighting apparatus and personnel within Thurston County, control the dispatching of such equipment and manpower to locations where needed, and provide for effective operations at the scene during an emergency/disaster.
B. Scope
This ESF addresses all firefighting activities including the detection and suppression of wildland, rural, and urban fires occurring separately or coincidentally with a significant natural or technological disaster. The scope of this section will not attempt to address details regarding mutual aid and regional fire mobilization responsibilities and procedures that are contained in other documents.
II. RELATED POLICIES
A. During emergency situations, local fire agencies mobilize all available apparatus and personnel required to cope with the situation. Mutual Aid Agreements are activated when initial resources are inadequate. When mutual aid and organic resources are exhausted, then the provisions for regional/state fire mobilization apply.
B. Each local, state or federal agency will assume the full cost of protection of the lands within its respective boundaries unless other arrangements are made. Fire protection agencies should not incur costs in jurisdictions outside their area without reimbursement unless there is a local mutual aid agreement between those jurisdictions. It is essential that the issue of financial limitation be clarified through proper official channels for efficient execution of fire support.
C. Priority shall be given to saving lives and protecting property, in that order.
III. PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS
A. Urban, rural, and wildland fires will occur within Thurston County. In the event of an earthquake or other significant event, large, damaging fires could be common.
B. In a disaster some firefighting resources will become scarce or damaged.
C. Wheeled-vehicle access may be hampered by bridge failures, landslides, etc., making conventional travel to the fire locations extremely difficult or impossible. Aerial attack by air tankers, helicopters, and smoke jumpers may be needed in these situations. Helicopters will be scarce resources and usable airports congested.
D. State and other resources may be called upon.
E. Efficient and effective mutual aid among the various local, county, state, and federal fire agencies requires the use of the Incident Command System (ICS) together with compatible firefighting equipment and communications.
F. Many first responders in Thurston County are volunteers. Although they are dedicated in a major disaster, they are not obliged to leave a family crisis or their workplace to assist emergency efforts.
IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. Fire suppression is divided into two distinct response categories:
1. Urban/Rural Fires
a. Local fire protection districts and municipal fire departments have the primary responsibility for the suppression and control of fires within their respective fire protection jurisdictions. For those incidents requiring additional support, mutual aid agreements may be executed.
b. In 1992, the State Legislature directed the creation of a State Fire Services Mobilization Plan to deal with the growing problem of urban/wildland interface fires. This action also called for the establishment of the State Fire Defense Board, made up of representatives from nine fire defense regions throughout the state. As part of the Central Region Fire Defense area, Thurston County has developed a companion plan to the regional and state documents that address situations exceeding mutual aid agreements. (See References D and E.)
c. Fire suppression and control assistance may, in some instances, be provided on a limited basis by federal agencies and the military by pre-established mutual aid agreements. (Reference Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.)
d. If an urban fire threatens or is likely to become a fire of major magnitude, assistance may be available from the Federal Government under an emergency declaration by the President. Requests for such assistance are handled through normal Emergency Management channels.
2. Forest Fires
a. The State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and supporting agencies, per the Washington State Fire Plan, take action on wildfires, regardless of land ownership, which jeopardize DNR protected lands outside incorporated cities and towns and on adjacent U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior protected areas.
b. In those instances when a fire or fires threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster, federal fire suppression assistance may be made available under PL 93-288, Section 417, as defined in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
c. A fire protection district that takes immediate action on DNR (State) protected lands outside of its jurisdictional boundaries, if such response could prevent the spread of the fire onto lands protected by the district, shall be reimbursed by the state agency for its reasonable fire suppression costs that are incurred until the responsible agency takes charge (not to exceed a 24-hour period).B. Fire agencies, in addition to having 24-hour operational capability, have two-way radio communication links between their respective mobile units and the county EOC. (See Attachment 1 - Thurston County Radio Communications.)
C. Fire units, with the use of their sirens and public address systems, are a valuable resource for disseminating warning and emergency information, and will do so when requested by the EOC unless otherwise involved.
D. All fire agencies within Thurston County operate response vehicles which have the capability of Advanced Life Support (ALS) and/or Basic Life Support (BLS). In addition, all areas are supplemented by private ambulance service which provides Basic Life Support transport.
E. Incident Command System (ICS)
The ICS is used by many first responders and local jurisdictions in the State of Washington to manage an emergency incident. The purpose of ICS is to establish command and control with a system recognized by all responders, using the same organization and nomenclature. The ranking member of the first arriving response unit assumes command until relieved. An Incident Command Post (ICP) is established as the focal point for all emergency operations. The ICS will be used in Thurston County by first responders. In a disaster, several ICS units may be established to manage the significant areas of need.
F. The Fire Chief's Association will provide a fire representative to fulfill fire coordination responsibilities within the EOC during an emergency/disaster.
G. Fire agencies may request activation of the Communications Van (Com Van). The Com Van will be available providing not committed in an alternate or forward emergency operations center role.
H. Fire agencies may request activation of other local agency resources, such as Search and Rescue units or dive teams. These resources will be made available if not otherwise occupied. All non-traditional resource requests should be made to the County EOC.
V. RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Local
1. Fire Agencies Available
District #
Name FD #1
Rochester FD #2
Yelm FD #3
Lacey FD #4
Rainier FD #5
Black Lake FD #6
East Olympia FD #7
North Olympia FD #8
South Bay FD #9
McLane FD #11
Littlerock FD #12
Tenino FD #13
Griffin FD #14
Grand Mound FD #15
Munn Lake/Tumwater FD #16
Gibson Valley FD #17
Bald Hills City Fire Departments Olympia, Tumwater & Bucoda 2. Fire Agency Authority
If an emergency occurs within the County limits, the Fire Agency in which the emergency occurs will exercise overall authority for fire services activities and responsibilities.
3. Fire Agency Duties
a. Provide suppression and control of fires within their respective fire protection jurisdictions (including those DNR or government lands that are contracted with the local district), and support other fire protection agencies if signatories to a mutual aid agreement, and support the provisions of both the Thurston County and Central Region Fire Resource Plans.
b. Provide Incident Command for rescue operations.
c. Support warning and evacuation efforts.
d. Provide medical response which includes Advanced and Basic Life Support.
e. Provide limited mobile radiological monitoring, as appropriate. (Limitation: Not all fire agencies have this capability. This service is dependent upon individual agency capabilities.)
f. Provide hazardous materials response, as appropriate, upon acceptance of and within the boundaries of the incident command structure and agency training and capability. Washington State Patrol acts as Incident Commander in non-designated fire agency areas.
4. Emergency Management
a. Provide for alert and warning of persons located in the affected area.
b. Serve as liaison between local jurisdictions and response agencies and the State for requesting resources when the capabilities of local response agencies are exceeded.
c. Provide training to fire response personnel, as appropriate.
d. Provide for information and resource management.
B. Central Region Fire Defense Board
Coordinate resource assistance to regional jurisdictions per the State Mobilization Plan and the Regional Fire Defense Plan (See References D and E).
C. State
1. State Emergency Management
Coordinate assistance to local government for fire activities and mobilization resources per the provisions of the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Procedures.
2. Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
a. Coordinates fire suppression efforts and provides resources to control wildland fires in the state on DNR protected lands. May provide resources for non-DNR protected lands, if available, at reasonable cost.
b. Assesses damage as a member of the Federal Agency Support Team (FAST).
3. Department of Corrections
Provide trained minimum security inmate firefighters to supplement the efforts of the Department of Natural Resources in suppressing and controlling forest fires and provide personnel for other activities.
D. Federal
1. Limited fire suppression and control assistance is available from federal agencies and the military by pre-established agreement.
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
a. Administers fire suppression assistance to the state pursuant to PL 93-288 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, Section 417, when a fire destruction threat would constitute a major disaster.
b. Provides training for fire suppression and hazardous materials control to local fire jurisdictions through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
3. U. S. Department of Agriculture, U. S. Forest Service (USDA-USFS)
a. Acts as the Principal Advisor to the FEMA Regional Director to assist in the administration of the terms of the Federal/State Agreement for Fire Suppression.
b. Provides protection in National Forests and assists in control of fires that threaten to spread from nearby lands into National Forests.
VI. OPERATIONS BY TIME PHASE
A. Before the Disaster
1. Emergency Management
To minimize the effects of an emergency/disaster and facilitate recovery efforts, Thurston County Emergency Management organizes and coordinates the preparation of plans, develops and maintains the Emergency Operations Center and alternates, identifies equipment resources, and provides training opportunities to fire personnel.
2. Fire Agencies and Municipal Fire Departments
a. Write, maintain, and review procedures for emergency operations during an emergency/disaster.
b. Assess equipment and training needs.
c. Establish procedures for coordinating all public information releases through the Thurston County Public Information and/or City Public Information Officer.
d. Make provisions for relocating fire operations in the event present facilities must be evacuated.
e. Establish communication links with law enforcement agencies for coordination of warning and evacuation confirmation functions. (See ESF #3)
f. Establish mutual aid agreements to maximize utilization of resources.
g. Through the Fire Chief's Association, appoint a fire representative to serve as fire coordinator in the County EOC.
B. During the Disaster
1. Emergency Management
Activates EOC or alternates and issues emergency warning(s). Coordinates with appropriate agencies, including government, public service, private and volunteer organizations.
2. Fire Agencies
a. Notify key staff based on information received from Communications Center and/or the EOC.
b. Activate emergency operating procedures.
c. Respond to calls for fire, rescue/extrication, emergency medical assistance, hazardous material response, and evacuation.
d. Provide temporary power and emergency lighting at emergency scenes when needed.
e. Assist in warning the public of evacuations, traffic routing, and/or traffic control, when possible.
f. Initiate mutual aid contingency plan, when needed.
g. Relocate fire apparatus as conditions warrant.
h. Support emergency operations as defined in agency emergency operating procedures or as requested by the EOC, such as damage assessment.
3. Public Information
Coordinate all public information and instructions and media relations as defined in ESF #31 Public Information.
C. After the Disaster
1. Emergency Management
a. Continues EOC operations until it is determined that EOC coordination is no longer necessary.
b. Updates plans and procedures based on critiques and lessons learned during an actual event.
2. Fire Agencies
a. Reactivate stations for normal operations.
b. Return apparatus and equipment to regularly assigned locations.
c. Assist the public in recovery operations as resources allow.
d. Support other recovery efforts as requested by the EOC.
e. Provide critical payroll and other financial information to the Thurston County Auditor's Office/Financial Services.
VII. REFERENCES
A. The Federal Response Plan.
B. Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
C. Revised Code of Washington, 39.34.030, 38.54, 76.04, 43.63A, 38.52; and Title 52 and 35 RCW
D. Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan
E. Central Region Fire Defense Mobilization Plan