Fire and Rescue Management - Case Study Example

Title: Fire and Rescue Management (Course Name) (Student Name) (Student Number) (Tutors' Name) Institution 9 May, 2008. Abstract. Fire and Rescue services are important in day to day activities. There are situations such as when a fire breaks out or a road accident occurs and that cannot be handled easily by the general people and may also require specialized equipments and trained personnel. The Fire and Rescue Department then comes handy. This paper will view the Forencia Fire and Rescue Department. It also shows how management and running of the operations are carried out in this organization. Table of Contents. 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 1 2 Operations By Individuals....................................................................................... 1 2.1 Individuals Work..........................................................................................1 2.2 Building of Teams.......................................................................................1 2.3 Training of Workers.....................................................................................1 2.4 Communication............................................................................................2 2.5 Motivation...................................................................................................2 2.6 Grading of the Management........................................................................3 2.7 Relationship Between Teams.......................................................................3 2.8 Civil Defiance..............................................................................................3 3 Roles...........................................................................................................................4 3.1 Charge..........................................................................................................4 3.2 Power...........................................................................................................4 3.3 Reason of Power..........................................................................................4 3.4 Use of Power................................................................................................5 3.5 Structure of Organization and Power..........................................................5 3.6 Structure of Organization and Communication..........................................5 3.7 Operation of the Team.................................................................................5 4 Management.............................................................................................................5 4.1 Organizational Strategy...............................................................................5 4.2 Decision Maker...........................................................................................5 4.3 Making Decisions........................................................................................5 4.4 Method of Decision Making........................................................................6 4.5 Political and Power Decisions.....................................................................7 5 Conclusion................................................................................................................ 7 6 References................................................................................................................. 9 1 1. Introduction. The organization is divide into three bureau; Operations Bureau, Personnel Services Bureau and the Business Service Bureau which each is headed by Assistant Chief. The organization has a total of 1350 career workers and 400 volunteer personnel which usually responds to about 23,000 suppression incidents and 64,000 emergency medical incidents annually. There are 40 stations that are fully equipped with ALS engines and supported by trained firefighters and paramedic. The Department covers a total area of 234,000 ha. 2. Operations by Individuals 2.1 Individuals Work. It is governed by the rules and regulations of the county. The workers who are associated with this organization are divided into two parts; career members and volunteer. There are 1350 career workers and 400 volunteer workers and the career staff are available at any time when an operation occurs. 2.2 Building of Teams The fire and rescue service is divided into three parts; Operations, Personnel and Business. The different type of experiences of the various volunteer workers are grouped in a certain way that they accommodate the three parts and also they choose where they are best suited. The career workers are grouped in terms of specialty and in each team there is a person who understands an issue or more on the specified sector or rescue mission. 2.3 Training of Workers Before being a member, the fire brigades are entitled to an extensive training. The fields that they will 2 go through include the basic firemen skills (extinguishing fire, first aid and the use of breathing apparatus) and fitness exercises. They also receive advanced training in operations such as car accidents, hazardous conditions and unit leading. All the personnel possess Emergency Medical Technicians certificates and a third of of the personnel have certificates in Advanced Life Support. The teams that concerns with hazardous materials, marine operations and technical rescue are highly trained. 2.4 Communication There is a communication divisions that maintains the transfer of information from the scene. This enables effective communication at the time of the emergency and leads to success on the activities of the fire and rescue service. The communication is equipped with personnel who operate in terms of shift for the 24 hours a day. They have a Chief and an Assistant Chief who operate this sector. They are also responsible for keeping on track all unit movements and equipments. They communicate risk information to the general public. To be effective in the management there should be a cooperation between the responders and the communication officers. There cooperation with the police EMS and fire communicating staff yields exemplary work. 2.5 Motivation The needs of the Fire Rescue staff and personnel are supervised by the Assistant Chief. This Division is responsible on the development and compliance to the procedures, recruitment and promotions of the staff. The division also maintains the payroll and checks all matters that area associated to the finances of the staff. The Assistant Chief directs and supervises activities, maintains fair and equitable treatment and he also supports the employees initiatives. The employees are allocated with allowances and 3 hardship renumeration. They are given paid holidays and fully covered insurance for the entire family. 2.6 Grading of Management The county people have positive regards towards the organization. The fast response to emergency and there good morale in doing there activities made it to be graded as among the best government institution in the area. There involvement in day to day activities in the development of the society and environment motivates many people who are then encouraged to volunteer there services to the organization. 2.7 Relationship Between the Teams Through their training sessions they are taught to cooperate with each other. There motivation officers also encourages the staff and volunteers to assist each other during the time of operation. The fire and rescue team cooperate and work together to enable the success of an operation. From there experiences they view and understand that a cooperated rescue yields more fruits and the safety of the rescuers and rescuees is advanced 2.8 Civil Defiance Civil Defiance is the act of the general public to refuse to follow instructions. During an emergency rescue, the rescuers faces a stiff opposition in emergencies that are associated with buildings and homes. The owners of the houses try to get inside and salvage some household and personal items contrary to the regulations of the supervisors. But, of late through community assistance the general public are being educated in the importance of their personal safety and the importance of insuring their properties. This as a result has drastically reduced the civil defiance. 4 3 Roles 3.1 Charge The Chief Director of Rescue and Fire services is in charge and was a former military personnel. Through his period in the military field he developed best initiatives that he applied in the fire and rescue department which so far has yielded positive results. There are three Assistant Chief. The Assistant Chief of Operations is in charge of leadership and directs the management of all aspects that are associated with the Operation Division. The Assistant chief further supervises five Deputy Chiefs. The Assistant Chief of Personnel Bureau is in charge of Training, Employment Opportunities, Women Program and Volunteer Liason Office and Personnel Services e.g. safety. The Assistant Chief of Business Service is mandated with directing the Fire Prevention, Support Services and the Fiscal Services (Inalcik, 2004). 3.2 Power The Chief Director holds the general power but also the Assistant Chiefs control some powers. Each team and specific duty has the team leaders or the operation leaders who at that time are responsible for the control of the operations. 3.3 Reason for Power The leaders and the administration have to have powers so that there is effective job operation. They use the power to equally treat the workers. If there were no laid down rules and the distribution of powers the duties that are responsible to be accomplished by the staff could be jeopardized. The powers that are accorded to the management team is to prevent conflict of interest and trespasses on other people roles and duties ((Inalcik, 2004)). 5 3.4 Use of Power The administrators have laid down steps that they have to taken to manage the department. There are rules that govern each point of power structure and the amount of power that they assert. There are different approaches to difficult ensues such has suspension of the workers or reprimanding them. Hence, the power come into these issues. With the rules set the staff in total with the help of powers that are accorded to each sector, completion of responsibilities is successful. 3.5 Structure of Organization and Power The structure of organization determines on how duties are allocated and distributed. A supervisor who is in minor level will not have the power to control his boss e.g. the Assistant Chief cannot control the Chief Director. But, the Chief Director has full autonomy to control all personnel that are below him. The transfer of information and orders is through a hierarchical structure. This means that if the information or orders are from above, the information will have to follow all the steps up to that level where the information should reach and also vice versa ((Inalcik, 2004)). 3.6 Structure of Organization and Communication. The communication in the organization is good. This means that one body cannot side line the other in terms of how powers are distributed. But, sometimes there is laxity by the administrators when exchanging the information. There is also some effect of personal jealousy which deters the transfer of information. But, in general the communication in terms of organization is excellent . 3.7 Operation of the Team In this organization the works are treated the same. They give each other respect and they assist each other in different times of problems or duties. This organization plays between an elite like 6 administration with a presence of military control. Each worker is accorded the right amount of respect. There is usually a get together party three times annually. 4 Management: 4.1 Organizational Strategy. The committee manages and control all plans that the organization are planning to do. Each plan or development must go through this committee before its implementation (Krugman, 1992). 4.2 Decision Maker. In any organizations there are decisions that are supposed to be made. The moving forward of the organization needs the right decisions to be made. The decisions to be made are governed by experience and the right collaboration since it cannot be accomplished in an isolate way. There is a committee of 20 members who decides the decisions that are made and how they should be carried out. The committee is usually chaired by the Chief Director and assisted by the Assistant Chief of Operations. The other members are from career and volunteer sector plus a small number of stakeholders. 4.3 Decision Making. The committee usually uses the idea of decision tree in making their decisions. With the help of the decision trees they are able to choose from various courses of action. The options are laid down and the committee members are given time to investigate the subject. The committee then gives each person a chance to say their view on the subject. If there is a specific direction that all the committee members take, then the decision is taken. But, when the committee is divided, they then secretively vote and 7 during the voting time there must be not less than fifteen members. The winning vote is then taken as the decision subject and then the decision is implemented (Friend, 2003). 4.4 Political and Power Decision. The decisions that concerns with power are tricky to make in this case. The issue of elevation or promotion of the lower level of powers is easily since it depends on the amount of contribution that one has offered to the organization. But, the tricky part is the four top positions. The removal of the Chief Director or its promotion and the Assistant Chief positions are dictated by the County Legislative. A motion should be passed and the cause of dismissing the person or promotion is tabled and discussed and the final decisions are then made. The organization business and day to day activities doesn't change. The powers that are stipulated to each sector of the organization are the same whether there is change of power or not. The only change that is evident is the operation and equipment power of the organization. Each time there is change of powers through promotion and transfers to other counties the business returns to normally and the new co-workers adapt fast and continue to operate in a team work model (Thompson, 2001). 5 Conclusion. The Fire and Rescue Department in Forencia has developed since its inception. Their services and administration capabilities have assisted a lot of people who are in distress. They have a lot of responsibilities as its is pictured in there large area of operations. The combination of both the career and volunteers makes the completion of their duties easy and successful. The rule and power sharing and the control of the organization structure ensures that there is respect that is equally accorded to all people. The decision making structure and committee so far has yielded 8 positive outcomes that are hand to measure. The development of team work also helps the workers to solve there personal problems and the annual parties motivates an raises the esteem of the workers since they be brought together. 9 6 References. Dijk, K. (2001). The Dynamics of Business. (Leiden: Kitlv Press). Friend, T. (2003). Managers Role and Administration. (New York: Harvard University Press). Inalcik, Halil (2004), “Fornecia County”, Rescue Operations, 1/1, 49 – 72. Humphrey,T.(1992), The Future of Administration, (New York, New York Press). Richard, P.(2005), Micro Economics. (New York, New York Publishers). Kibbe,M.(2007), Economics of Minimum Wage, (Washington, Washington Publishers). McDonald, H. (1980), Decision Making Plans. (Australia, Fontana Books). McGlynn, J. (2007), Decision Making Techniques. (Jakarta, Cambridge University Press). Ord,W.(1980), Economics of the World. (London, Oxford University Press). Ricklefs, M. (1991), The Development of Fornecia, (Stanford, Stanford University Press). Taylor, J. (2003), Plans and Developments in Fornecia, (New Haven, Yale University Press). Thompson, N. (2001), Bussiness Policy Implementation. (Basingstoke: Palgrave). Read More