OPERATIONS
The Operations Division is the largest Division in the Department and provides a wide range of emergency and general public assistance services to the Region. Firefighters work 24 hours on , 72 hours off and change shifts at 0800 daily. In addition to responding to fires, EMS calls, technical rescue incidents, helicopter rescue incidents, hazardous materials incidents, and other emergencies, firefighters seek to create, implement, and support programs that reduce emergencies by developing pre-fire plans of businesses and apartment complexes, participate in continuing education and skills training, maintain their equipment and station, present education messages at community events as well as conduct station tours.
The Division consists of 164 paid full-time staff with a complement of relief firefighters. The number of personnel in Operations is as follows:
|
Personnel
|
Position #
|
|
Deputy Chief of Operations
|
1
|
|
Shift Superintendent
|
2
|
|
Fire Captain
|
25
|
|
Fire Lieutenant
|
24
|
|
Firefighter
|
115
|
|
Fire Equipment Technician
|
1
|
|
TOTAL
|
168
|
In addition to providing emergency services, the Operations Division also seeks to create, implement, and support programs that reduce emergencies. The Division proactively assists in the reduction of risk to persons, property, and the environment by regularly conducting pre-fire planning in buildings in the Region. Building floor plans with hazard information, emergency contacts, and hazardous material inventories, are very helpful in reducing damage and disruption and is readily available when responding to fire emergencies for use in evacuations and fire attack.