Life Safety Initiative # 3

Life Safety Initiative # 3                                                                                                                                
The Galveston Fire Department adopted the 16 Life Safety Initiatives in 2010. Initiative # 3 has had the greatest impact on us to date. Shortly after adopting the initiatives, we revised our SOPs related to Incident Management with an emphasis on Risk Management.

We gathered all command Chiefs together and reviewed the SOP. We agreed on the importance of risk management and the need to incorporate the concept into our Incident Management SOP revisions. We then conducted training at the Houston Fire Department’s Command Training Simulator. The first day was spent with the Command staff participating in discussions with HFD Chief Officers regarding the importance of risk management and how to apply it to each situation we respond to. Then we participated in a number of simulations where we applied our new SOP to the scenarios and learned how it should work.

The next step was to conduct training with all personnel within the Department and begin using the SOP. After a few months, we held classes at the HFD Facility with each shift’s Officers. These classes were focused on the simulations and applying the SOP as we had developed/applied it to our responses. As we progress, we are preparing to take the newest Officers and all Drivers to the simulator for the same evolutions.

Since establishing the new Incident Management SOP, we have realized several improvements. The most notable is that our personnel are conducting better size-ups upon arrival and they are providing very informative radio reports that benefit the other responding units. In addition, our radio communications have become better in that personnel are remaining calm and their communications are easy to understand. The last significant improvement has been that all personnel are aware of and practice the Risk Management assessments. We are experiencing an increase in multiple alarm fires based on the fact that we are able to identify and forecast the need for additional resources earlier and we are taking defensive positions as soon as we realize the risks associated with rapidly changing fire conditions.

We have seen significant improvements in our incident management as well as a stronger emphasis on firefighter safety as a result of Life Safety Initiative #3. We have more work to do and as a department we are committed to this goal. 

Interim Fire Chief Mike Wisko

2517 Ball Suite 206 Galveston, TX. 77551 

www.galvestonfire.com                               

(409) 797-3850  Fax (409) 797-3855