The Fleet Evaluation reviews the fire department’s apparatus, equipment, and maintenance provisions for each unit. EVR will inspect each individual apparatus and review available records on the apparatus and maintenance provisions. Each piece of apparatus will be thoroughly examined and evaluated with respect to operational capabilities, physical condition, mechanical condition, maintenance history, and repair history. EVR will also gain information on fire department programs, policies, and response patterns to alarms.
Emergency Vehicle Response personnel will conduct an overall review of the land area, development, and structural conditions within the response area with an emphasis on target hazards within the community to identify the apparatus and equipment requirements that would be appropriate for the area. This information will be utilized to evaluate the suitability of the present apparatus fleet for the mission of the fire department. The overall goal is to provide the Fire Department and stakeholders with a long-range plan to develop replacement strategies, financial planning, and an improvement plan to ensure safe operations and deployment practices to enhance fire protection within the community.
At the completion of the survey, EVR will tender a report to the fire department for distribution to all stakeholders. EVR will conduct a meeting to review the report with any stakeholders from the fire department and/or municipality. This meeting will ensure that the information in the report is understood and allows an open forum for all questions or clarifications to be addressed. EVR firmly believes in the work it does and will be available after the completion of the report for any questions or concerns that may arise, even after the supplied meeting.
The Fire Protection study analyzes each of the fire station facilities, staffing and response levels, deployment methodology, and the available water supply systems. Emergency Vehicle Response will perform several days of fieldwork to gather the necessary information. For each fire station, a thorough review of company Standard Operating Guidelines, response statistics and patterns, and an overall facility assessment will be conducted with emphasis on the future of the department.
Emergency Vehicle Response personnel will conduct an overall review of the land area, development, and structural conditions in the first-due response area in order to identify the resources that would be appropriate for the response area. This includes ensuring the department meets the effective response force (ERF) as referenced by NFPA. Response distances will be measured from stations to specific target locations in the first due and compared to ISO standards and requirements.
Staffing, whether career or volunteer, will be evaluated in accordance with the standards with reference to the response areas. Adequate staffing allows for safe fire ground operations and the ability to efficiently mitigate emergencies. In addition, mutual aid and automatic aid partners will be considered within the overall staffing and response model. The water supply system will thoroughly be evaluated by EVR to include the hydrant system, water main sizes, drafting locations, and needed fire flows as indicated by ISO.
This report provides the fire department and stakeholders with guidance and recommendations to enhance financial planning, deployment strategies, and daily operations of the organization to support the overall mission of the fire department.
At the completion of the survey, EVR will tender a report to the fire department for distribution to all stakeholders. EVR will conduct a meeting to review the report with any stakeholders from the fire department and/or municipality. This meeting will ensure that the information in the report is understood and allows an open forum for all questions or clarifications to be addressed. EVR firmly believes in the work it does and will be available after the completion of the report for any questions or concerns that may arise, even after the supplied meeting.
The apparatus needs assessment will look at the fire department’s response area, target hazards, staffing, and current resources to determine the needed apparatus to suit the mission of the fire department. Once the needed apparatus is identified, recommendations on vehicle specification will be provided to design a vehicle to best carry out the mission. This information can include ground ladder compliments for a ladder truck or tank size for a tanker apparatus. During the onsite survey, Emergency Vehicle Response will gather information relating to firehouse(s) size, staffing suitability, response patterns, land area survey, and identification of mutual aid resources to ensure the recommended apparatus will suit the first due area as well as supplement the surrounding mutual aid areas. After the on-site survey is completed, a report will be tendered including the findings and any recommendations for replacement, acquisition, or future purchases relating to the requested apparatus.
This assessment can be used to identify a current apparatus replacement or identify the possible need for a new resource. A common apparatus needs assessment is the aerial needs assessment. These assessments have guided departments through the formation and acquisition of a new aerial device. There have also been aerial needs assessments where the current aerial device was found to be inadequate or not suited for the response area. The report that was tendered paved a path to ensure the correct aerial device was acquired and placed into service. Emergency Vehicle response can also provide education and assistance for and through the specification process to ensure a safe and reliable vehicle that will meet the mission of the fire department.