Letter To The Mayor

Philadelphia Fire Officers Union 2500 Lefevre Street Philadelphia, PA 19137 Office 215-289-2890

Fax 215-289-2823

Honorable Michael Nutter Mayor’s Office, City Hall Philadelphia, PA 19107 July 10, 2009 Mayor Nutter: We are writing to ask that you do not implement the planned program to eliminate the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Battalion Chief’s Aides on night shifts. The Battalion Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs that belong to our organization, all dedicated to public safety and committed to the City of Philadelphia, believe that this reduction in staffing will adversely affect the safety of firefighters and the public we are sworn to serve and protect. (See attached Signatures.) Over the last 10 years, the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Fire Department invested millions of dollars in equipment and training to update and improve our communications system. The first-in Battalion Chief at an emergency scene, whether it is a house fire or a complex incident such as multiple-alarm fire and explosion at the refinery, needs the ability to quickly and accurately communicate with all responding units and to accurately report conditions to the Fire Communication Center. This sounds like an easy task but with today’s sophisticated communications systems, this involves operating on multiple radio frequencies while at the same time directing the activities of responding units. The Incident Commander cannot handle this task alone. The term Battalion Chief Aide is a misnomer. The Aide is actually a communications technician, the individual running the mobile communications center that is now a Battalion Chief’s car. In 2005, in an effort to improve fire scene communications, the Philadelphia Fire Department conducted National Incident Management System /Communications Training for all Captains, Battalion Chiefs, Battalion Chief Aides, Deputy Chiefs and Deputy Chief Aides. As part of this day long course, the Fire Department conceded that the position of Battalion Chief Aide, at an incident as common as a one-alarm fire, can be overwhelming. The policy now is that on a onealarm fire with all hands going into service, the first-in and second-in Battalion Chief’s Aides will work together in the first-in chief’s car to operate the two radios, monitor a third radio, answer the cell phone, record information about the incident, handle “face-to-face” interaction with the public, survey for hydrants, identify a staging area and a location for the field communications unit if needed, obtain the vital building information form from the first-in engine as well as any pre-fire plans or material safety data sheets and (if necessary) begin a Personnel Accountability Report . Recent improvements in technology give the Fire Battalion Chief and Fire Deputy Chief additional communications equipment in their vehicles: the Mobile Data Terminal. The mobile data terminal provides GPS and GIS technology, allowing the Chief to develop a strategy and tactics while responding to the scene. In certain areas of the City, the first-due in Battalion Chief may not only have to plan while in route, but he/she may be giving orders. There were two recent

fires, both in the upper Roxborough section of the City, where the first-in Chief, responding from the fire station at Chelten Avenue and Baynton Streets, directed the activities of the companies while responding. In both instances, the fire occurred at night and was confined to the area of origin. This would not have been possible without a Battalion Chief Aide driving. During the day shifts the Battalion Chief Aide is entrusted with numerous clerical duties that include quality control of Fire Reports and Fire Analysis Reports. In the night shift the Aides clerical responsibilities decrease but do not disappear. On the evening shift the Battalion Chief Aide surveys the battalion for incomplete or missing electronic (NFIRS) fire reports and prompts company officers to complete and close their reports. Even more importantly, the night shift is typically when fires tend to be the deadliest. By eliminating the Battalion Chief Aide on the night shift, you are removing a vital link in the emergency response chain, at a time when the public needs them the most. As managers in the Philadelphia Fire Department we understand the financial pressures you face, and we support you. But we are also citizens of Philadelphia who have a deep appreciation for how quickly life and property can be lost to fire. Our ability to protect life and property is reduced when our ability to communicate at a fire or any emergency scene is compromised. We ask that you consider other cost savings or revenue enhancing options, such as the SAFER grant, and do not eliminate the position of Battalion Chief Aide. The Executive Board of our organization would be willing to meet with you at your convenience to discuss this important issue. Best wishes and continued success.

Sincerely,

Gerald Boyle, President Philadelphia Fire Officers Union Cell 215-776-2367

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