The Essential Services of Fire Departments
Fire departments are a necessary part of our communities, but most people don’t know all the different ways that they are useful to us. They offer much more to our cities than just fire fighting services. Here are some of the ways fire departments serve our areas.
General Administration
There has to be organization and administration for any fire station to function efficiently. Fire departments must have the proper staff and infrastructure in order to respond quickly to incidents. Some administrations use fire dispatch software in order to communicate about different emergencies. Having plans and structures in place ensure that every emergency is handled as quickly and safely as possible.
The administrative part of fire departments is important for more than just emergencies. It is responsible for setting plans for long-range goals and training. Fire administrations manage education and preparedness programs for the community as well as making sure that existing plans and policies are meeting the needs of their city.
Fire and Emergency Training
Each fire department will also have a part of the organization that is dedicated to training. Training includes the education of firefighters, but it also provides training to the community. They offer different fire safety programs to schools and other organizations. Teaching fire safety and prevention is crucial for keeping any town or city safe, so a lot of effort is put into public education.
Many fire departments also offer CPR training courses. There are many different occupations that require having CPR training, so often the fire department is one location where that training can easily be obtained. From lifeguards to restaurant staff, CPR training is valuable to many citizens.
Fire departments are even there to help make sure car seats are installed properly in vehicles. Appointments can be made to ensure that each seat is absolutely safe and secure. Another training offered is severe weather preparedness. Whether it is tornadoes or ice storms, fire departments have been structured to educate on weather emergencies.
Fire Fighting
Each department is obviously dedicated to fire fighting. Normally the department will have several fire stations equipped with fire engines to respond to emergency fires. Many fire stations have professional firefighters on staff, while smaller operations may have a few staff but many volunteers available for potential fires.
Another part of the organization of fire departments is related to fire fighting but more focused on the aftermath. Fire departments are responsible for investigating the potential causes of fires. They often have parts of the department that are dedicated to supporting fire investigations of criminal and arson cases.
Other Emergency Situations
Another responsibility of fire departments is responding to other emergency medical situations. Many fire stations have trained emergency medical responders. There are many times that fire stations are closer to emergency incidents than hospital ambulances are. Dispatchers often will call on help from a local fire station for a medical emergency because time is so critical for the emergency.
Another emergency situation that fire departments deal with is rescue events. Fire departments have trained staff that are highly knowledgeable in terms of rescue situations. There are many times where a rescue is best provided by fire departments and not from medical or police agencies.
Hazardous Materials Removal
Hazardous materials removal is not something you would often consider when thinking about the structure of fire departments, but it is yet another item that fire units aid with. There are many accidents that could arise at any time that might result in hazardous substances becoming a public threat. Fire departments are trained to deal with keeping people safe as well as decontaminating any places disturbed by the materials.
Fire departments are so much more than just extinguishing the fires in your area. These departments serve local communities in countless ways, from administration, training, assisting with other emergencies, and also dealing with hazardous materials. As you can see, fire departments are truly indispensable to the cities they serve.
