Strategic Planning for Fire Station Placement in Medford - Case Study Example

ESSAY: MANAGEMENT By This paper delves in analyzing the Strategic Planning for Fire Station Placement in Medford. Medford is a city in Oregon. The paper has been sub divided in different sections to enhance clarity. The introduction section has given an overview of the research that has included background of the study, aims of the study and hypotheses. It is important to note that this paper has also highlighted the fact that the fire department of Medford decided to relocate one of its smallest fire stations to a street along the West Stewart Avenue (Arthur 2003). The methodology used in the study has included the designs, the participants, and the instruments. It is also important to highlight that this paper has specified coherently the various measures that were taken to come out with the findings and the outcomes of the study. The study has as well been loaded with the various approaches that were taken by the council to develop the fire department in the city. The study has been therefore summarized with a clear conclusion. The strategy development plan for the Medford fire department has there conducted the assessment and proper examination of the community as a whole. This has therefore made it easier for the proper budgeting for the future plans (Janice, 2009) Introduction In the introduction of the paper, it is very vital to note that Medford is a city in a Middlesex county in the United States of America. This is just a few miles from Boston on the Mystic River. It is worth highlighting that the core reason for the setting up of the department was to assist and help in the emergency cases during the outbreak of fire at different locations, conducting fire investigations as well as developing better ways of preventing the fire. The paper delves so much on the strategies that were laid down in the placement of the fire department in Medford. In the planning stages, the report clearly gives the methods that were used in the grouping and the allocation of the various resources. The resources here ranged from the physical resources, human resources, financial resources as well as the technological resources. In the resources allocation, the strategic planning shows it quite clear that the minimum staffing is 11 while the maximum staffing is 17. The paper has also acknowledged the use of maps in the report to clearly show the various locations where the services are provided. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Background and Significance The Medford city fire department was initiated to assist in the fire operations as well as other medical services that were urgent and emergency rescue missions were therefore ideal in the community. According to the census that was conducted in the year 2010, it was found that the population of the city (Medford) was seventy four thousand nine hundred and seven (74907). It is worth noting that the out of this population, the population of people who were and reside at the Medford fire protection district number two was found to be eleven thousand three hundred and twenty six (11386).it is important to highlight that the study is quite important of much significance as it clearly reviews the financial strengths of the Medford Master Plan in then given financial years that are shown in the report. As an example to the highlighted point, the figure 1 that is shown in page 19 of the report clearly shows the generated revenue of the plan. According to the table, the monetary value that is given by the table is two million, two hundred and thirteen thousand nine hundred and forty five United States dollars (Circulation, Volume 47, Part 2009, 2008). The table as well outlines the various sources of the revenue and these include the service contract, the service fees, fire permit fees and the public safety fund. These are very vital information that can easily raise conflicts and disputes. The study is therefore quite significant as the details are well illustrated and tabulated. The information has therefore been disseminated to the public and all can see through the study. The Medford Fire Rescue services area has helped in the improvement of the education in the area. It can be clearly seen that the area has led to the development of the various educational facilities in the area with the number translating to about eighty five educational facilities (United States. Forest Service,2004). It is also important to acknowledge the significance of the city in terms of the medical care. The city is said to be a home and a habitat to many medical facilities and other nursing care services. The areas where these are provided are well shown in the maps. It is important to note that the Strategic plan is the guideline to the Medford Fire Rescue and therefore the information that are provided are thus quite important for the project. The plan lays out the goals, objectives as well as the necessary measures that need to be taken into account for the plan to be realized as desired. Still on the significance of the Medford Fire Department, it cannot go without highlighting that the department has created many jobs to various citizens in the city. The people employed earn income and this they use in the provision of the basic necessities to their families. They as well improve their living standards through the income that they earn (Mark, 2006). Research Questions In every research study, it is very important to have better guide lines in the form of research questions. During the study, the following were the research questions that were formulated and that were expected and highly anticipated to be answered by the end of the research study. It is important to highlight that the research questions that were formulated put into consideration various aspects of the project. What are the sources of revenue or the project? Which place is best suitable for the location of the fire station? What size of land will the project take in the set up process? How many employees will be needed in the firm for the proper operation in terms of fire and other medical emergencies? Which method will be best suitable to be applied in the collection of information and what category of people will be used in the collection of the information? What rescue measures should be put in place to cater for various emergency services? Research Methodology In every research study, there must always be a method that has been implied in the collection of the vital information that answers the various research questions that were formulated in the earlier preparation stages of the research study. In the study, the method of data collection that was used was the interviewing method. This is a primary method of data collection method that gives first hand information to the researcher. The method is as well important and suitable because the respondent can make clarification on the spot especially for the case of the oral interviewing. The respondent can as well express themselves fully making the researcher to obtain as much information as they can. It can as well be seen that some bit of secondary soliciting of information was done based on the fact that literature review was conducted (Mark, 2006). Literature Review This research field of research has been explored by other researchers as well. There is a good number of literatures that has been done by researchers on the master planning of the fire department in the city. The works that were done by several scholars have therefore been acknowledged in the study and areas that they never conducted well have thereby been put into consideration. It can be clearly seen that in the preparation of this report, the report that contains the emergency services master plan, it is important to highlight that the Emergency Services International Consultations also did thorough review and a reflection on the previous works that had been earlier done and highlighted by the other departments on the Medford Fire Placement Station (Circulation, Volume 47, Part 2009, 2008). The literature review was very vital as it helped the department in avoiding the mistakes that had been done by the others and also in the identification of the correct procedures and the measures that could be initiated in the proper placement of the fire station for the better of the city and the residents of the city. The previous studies that were earlier done include the Urban Planning Associates that was accomplished in the year 1995. This study was later reiterated and vindicated by a follow up research education or study that was conducted by the Cascade Management Services in the year 1996. The Master Plan of fire department in the city of Medford thereby gives quite conspicuous and different information that was not earlier given prior to the plan (Circulation, Volume 47, Part 2009, 2008). . Results, Findings and Implications of the study From the study it can be vividly seen that many cases of fire outbreak are realized in the urban areas in Medford. This has been clearly illustrated in the graphical presentations that have been given in the report. This therefore implies that most of the fire outbreak and emergency precautionary measures be highly put in place in the fire prone areas (urban centers). The areas with the least fire outbreak cases are the rural areas (Circulation, Volume 47, Part 2009, 2008). . From the study of the report, it can be vividly seen that the Medford Fire Station operates by the five cities managed and owned fire stations that are well distributed in the city. This is shown in the map on the page 24 of the report. The department as well has well trained firefighters that are also provided with the emergency response vehicles that help them save time when the need for the rescue mission arises (Janice, 2009). The various apparatus that the Medford Fire Department had various parts to play and on was kind of greater than the other in terms of the service that is needed to be provided during the emergency situation. The department’s gadgets or apparatus are properly maintained and regularly checked for their efficiency during their use. The department has also made arrangements with the council of the city to develop various ways of transportation so as to enable the quicker rescue operations. These should be the development of roads, railways as well as the airports to enhance quick accessibility by the rescue mission staff together with their response vehicles that they use during the operation. By this, there will be faster rescue services in the areas of concern (United States. Forest Service, 2004). Discussion In the city, there is the fire chief who is appointed by the manager of the city. The chief is in charge with the execution of the various roles and duties that involve the life of the people. These are those that are majorly triggered as a result of fire or any other emergency that is within the proximity of the city as well as the district. It is also important to highlight that the Medford Fire Rescue has strategized in the development of the various ways of alerting the people through various alarming mechanisms (US Fire Administration). The Medford fire department has as well arranged and put in place other emergency devices. The department has ladder trucks, brush engines as well as other special type of vehicles that are just designed specifically for the rescue mission. These assist in the quicker saving of the people or rather the victims who might be in any case of emergency situation (US Fire Administration). Conclusion In conclusion, it is important to note that the Medford Fire Department is well set and ready for any form of rescue mission. This is because if the various strategies that the department has put and also put in place initially. The various advancements in their preparation for the rescue mission in cases of emergency have therefore boosted the trust of the people in Medford city, Oregon (US Fire Administration). References Arthur, E. (2003), organizing for fire and rescue services, Jones publishers. Circulation, Volume 47, Part 2009, (2008), Standard Rate & Data Service, Standard Rate & Data Service publishers, Cornell University. Janice W. (2009) Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory, Volume 2; Volume 33, Part 2, Gale Research Company Mark, W. (2006), Fire Department Strategic Planning, Creating Future Excellence, Northwestern University. United States. Forest Service,(2004), Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (N.F.), The Biscuit Fire Recovery Project, Josephine and Curry Counties: Environmental Impact Statement, Northwestern University US Fire Administration, A Basic Guide for fire prevention and control master planning, London. US Fire Administration, An Assessment of the Transferability of the community Master fire planning, London. US Fire Administration, Introductory summary, Fire Prevention and Control Master Planning, London. Read More