Defending the Budget Issues - Essay Example

? Defending the Budget Defending the Budget I am the fire chief at the Medford Fighting Department situated in the of Medford and the Medford Rural Fire District, in the Rogue Valley in South Oregon. This fire fighting department is dedicated to protecting life and property loss caused by fire through provision of emergency medical assistance, mitigation of harmful materials, fire education and most importantly fire prevention services to Medford residents. The department has proven to be practical in all areas of its responsibilities by responding to assistance requests and applying the most appropriate services within its ability. The fire department caters for over 90, 000 individuals from their five fire stations any time of the day or night. As at September 2011, the department had 88 firefighters, 42 officers, 6 engines and 2 ladders (Fire-Rescue 2012). Recently, there has been a study stating that the department is inactive and slow at responding to emergency calls. This claim has driven the city manager to propose a reduction of the department’s budget due to the cited inactivity in this fire department. As the fire chief in this institution, I would like to express that this assumption is not true. This is because my department has carried out all its responsibilities and emergency responses with required efficiency. The department has not only attended to many calls in the time of my service to the station but also successfully managed to put out major fires and rescue many people, property and pets from burning houses and buildings. However, contrary to the viewpoint of the city manager, the Medford fire department does not involve itself with fire emergencies only. There are several other activities that we are actively involved in every other day. They include, examining buildings for hazards, evaluating new constructions, setting up car seats for children, offering fire prevention services, heavy rescue, and providing fire station tours. For instance, in the month of March this year, there were regular inspections carried out by officials of the department on fire and life safety division (FLSD) where 92 hazards were noted and immediate action was taken to rectify the situation (Fire-Rescue, 2012). The current amount in the budget is sufficient to cater for the emergency responses and other off-emergency activities the department is responsible for. Currently, my department receives and attends an average of two incidents every week. We have always ensured that the emergencies are attended to in the shortest time possible as saving lives is our first priority. These responses also include fire scares where our department always solves the crisis restoring confidence in people. The firefighters are very co operative and will attend to their duties at any time of day or night. Their motivation and enthusiasm in their work has helped save lives. This kind of vigilance has been met with proper remuneration extended to all employees and supervisors of the department. In certain occasions, budgeted monetary rewards are also extended to firefighters who have performed best in their obligations. Therefore, in order to uphold the same levels of salaries and rewards, it is important to maintain the budget. Otherwise, a cut may demotivate the employees leading to underperformance. This would put many individuals and buildings in the danger of being consumed by fire. To successfully fight fire, collaboration between the general public and the fire fighters is essential. This collaboration can only be enabled by an effective communication process. The communication devices used by Medford fire fighters are up to date and are effective in accomplishing the objective of passing on information to its users. This has helped avoid many deaths that might have occurred during fire incidents. The firefighting team is always ready to take the emergency calls and attend to the fire rescues at any time of day. The maintenance of this efficient communication lines requires funds. Therefore, if the city manager cuts the budget, it would directly affect communication thus jeopardizing various required responses (Klaene & Sanders, 2007). The public requires civic education regarding firefighting where crucial fire fighting skills and techniques are offered to people. This training exercise incorporates the use of machinery used in case of fire, the use of general tactics to prevent fire disaster and an individual’s reactions in case of fire (Trigg, 2012). Simple tactics such as handling of fire extinguishers is a vital practice that would prevent the spreading of fires. The appropriate training is done by the department’s fire specialists and the society has taken it positively and in turn has helped reduce several fire incidences. This exercise has some allocated funds in the current budget. A cut in the budget would adversely affect this important training sessions that prove to be essential in saving lives. Strategic fire assembly points have been built in buildings and where people gather in order to verify the headcounts and check them against the present individuals in the event of a fire outbreak in a structure. This is done to determine whether there are any casualties (Fire-Rescue, 2012). This activity is always successful due to the funding allocated to the simulations done to cater for the new structures that are brought up or restructured. For instance, in the month of March this year, there were three plan reviews on site developments to enable this activity (Fire-Rescue, 2012). In the event that the budget is cut, this crucial activity may fail to take place. This would make individuals and corporate more susceptible to fires and injuries. Fire fighting facilities in this department have always been used effectively and have helped in the rescuing people and property over the years. Fire in top most floors usually destructive but we have always been successful in putting them out with the aid available equipment. The fire trucks and other machinery have been put in good working conditions over the years. We have a team that always makes sure that the equipments are ready to be used around the clock. The firefighting uniforms are a protective measure for the fire fighters. Air packs used by fighters when accessing burning buildings come in handy. In an event of burning buildings the team easily reacts within a very short time having done all that is required of them for the rescue purposes (Fire-Rescue, 2012). I have always made sure that the available fire fighting trucks are put in good working state. Under ordinary circumstances these equipment require maintenance and repair. The relevant sections of the department have been actively involved in this activity to ensure that we are never caught off guard. This part of the department equally requires a given amount of money to keep the activity going. Therefore, to ensure that the practice does not stop, the money allocated to the maintenance and repair should remain intact. Cutting the budget may leave the department with little equipment in case of wear and tear. Recruitment of additional employees into the workforce is another aspect that should be taken with the gravity it deserves. This is due to the elevated demand for fire services by individuals and corporate across the city. The current number of firefighters is being overwhelmed by this demand. Therefore, the department needs the current budget funds in order to carry out a successful recruitment procedure. Incase this is not done; the current firefighters may be overworked and eventually become inefficient. During fire fighting, there are requirements that are termed as vital in accomplishment of the task. Such requirements include bottled water to be taken by fighters during the task as the surroundings are hot therefore a coolant is vital to avoid suffocation from the heat (Albar Solutions 2012). The current budget provides for these requirements up to the recommended numbers. Thus, this current budget should be maintained to ensure that the department stays in line with all the requirements needed in case of a fire. In conclusion, in view of the above requirements in the fire sector, I would like to convince the City Manager to take part in the realization of the department’s goals. Medford fire department has responded to calls with the intensity it deserves and managing to put out many fires in the recent past in addition to other related activities. Some of our department’s objectives include meeting the increasing requirements not only in the field of fire suppression but also in providing basic medical services to the people affected by the fires or in the event of a collapse of a burning building, reviews of new constructions, installation of car seats for children, fire prevention services, heavy rescue, and providing fire station tours (Fire-Rescue, 2012). Having discussed all the above requirements, needs and activities, our department has proven that even without the fire rescue emergencies, we are still very active to maintain the required standards of firefighting and other related activities. Therefore, my department needs the current funding in order to continually save lives in the Oregon region while maintaining safety standards to guard lives. References Albar Solutions (2012). Fire Fighting techniques & Equipment. Retrieved from: http://www.abar solutions.com/viewFile.php?id=84 Fire-Rescue (2012). City of Medford Fire & Rescue. Retrieved from http://www.ci.medford.or.us/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=5 Klaene, B. J. & Sanders, R (2007). Structural Firefighting: Strategy and Tactics Canada: Jones & Bartlett Publishers International Trigg, D (2012). Challenges Facing our County Fire Departments. Retrieved from http://www.zoomvillage.com/newsStory.cfm/3142/CHALLENGES-FACING-OUR- COUNTY-FIRE-DEPARTMENTS Read More