Regional Specialty Teams

This week the commentary was submitted and written by Firefighter Tim Choate of the Sudbury Massachusetts Fire Department.

This was stirred by something a couple of weeks ago where we talked about whether or not an individual fire department can possibly be prepared for every eventuality.

The Article below is unedited and represents the opinions of Firefighter Choate.

"Questions AND Answers"

Yes the fire service is becoming the "Jack of All Trades". There is no other choice. What other public service agency is equipped, has a management structure, has the ability to call for other mutual aid resources, has logistical functions established and has legal authority to perform in these unique incidents?
Are we becoming over-burdened? The answer is YES. Departments who want the image that they can do it all are only showing symbolism over substance. Unless you're a large metro department with manpower, no one department is able to become the "Jack of All Trades."
What happens when these departments try to do it all is they stretch their resources way to thin. Training on issues that are dealt with on a daily basis are neglected to do the "in thing". Whatever "in" training is being performed, how thorough is it? Are they learning just enough to inflate their egos and just enough to kill themselves? The answer is Yes.
How do you stay in the game, achieve expert status, and most importantly stay alive and safe? The answer is regionalization. That one word sends shock waves across the fire service. No one Chief, Union, or Fire department wants their kingdoms tampered with. Arguments kick up where it makes no sense to combine the resources and lose autonomy.
Look at the U.S. military. Is it one organization? Damn right it is. It falls under the Department of Defense. Each branch serves its purpose. Do the Army and Air Force have ships to they can sail the seven seas? Does the Navy have tanks? Does the Army have long range bombers? Does the Air Force have submarines? The answer to all these questions is NO. Then why the hell are they so respected and feared? Simply because they mastered their skills and "regionalized".
The Fire Service has to recognize this or risk all the specialized tasks being covered by blue vehicles and flashing blue lights. Look at the State of Massachusetts Hazardous Materials Response Teams. They are perfectly positioned to cover large geographic areas for specialized incidents. But why stop there? As a result of 9-11, natural disasters, and construction accidents Fire Departments are buying into technical rescue. Some departments recognize they can't do it alone and have joined other departments in setting up successful regional teams on a limited basis.
Where is the State of Massachusetts going with this? The ground work is already established to create regional Technical Rescue Teams in association with the Haz-Mat teams. The administrative functions, logistical functions, and some of the required resources for tech.-rescue already exists with the Haz-Mat branch. The "Mother Ship" Incident Support Unit has the logistical connections already established.
Let's be real here. How many conflagrations occur on a daily basis? How many Haz-Mat, CNRB attacks do the Haz-Mat teams respond to? How many technical rescues/scuba incidents do the Fire Departments respond to? The answer to all the questions is not enough to become proficient.
The issue is not just for specialized hazards but for EMS also. Are Paramedics needed? Begrudgingly yes. But are they really needed in all Towns in all situations. The answer is no. Why is the Fire Service not in favor of regionalized Fire based Paramedic service to run intercepts between several co-joined towns? Tampa Fire Dept. has done just that. What a novel idea. Two SUV's equipped for ALS intercept covering an expanded geographic area, who would of thought it.
We read over and over again that the incident command system should be used on everyday incidents so when "the big one" hits we'll be more prepared for it. If we have to study this material why not apply it. With limited training, limited equipment how can any one agency react to "the big one" if they cannot perform safely at "the big one". What will end up is a newspaper report of how a heroic firefighter lost his life trying to rescue a body with out any training on how to rescue someone from a mudslide. Yes my friends it will make headlines. It will show how dedicated and selfless the Fire Service really is. It will create the "soup du jour" of training; until a new soup is served.
The big question is how does the fire service remain a strong, reliable and SAFE emergency responder? The answer my friends is regionalized/specialized teams.
Now that I've said it will somebody please call me a Paramedic unit as the cry heard around the service will be "Bite your tongue." Enough said.