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ATF
accelerant detective canine, Jester, with handler Deputy
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Command
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Apartment
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Technical
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The FETN Family: Northwest Fire Rescue District, Tucson, AZ
As part of the FETN Family series, e-News recently interviewed
Division Chief – Logistics, Jayme Kahle of Northwest Fire
Rescue District in Tucson, Arizona. We asked Chief Kahle to tell
us about their department and the accomplishments and challenges
they face as a growing, urban fire department.
Provide a brief description of your department and the community
you serve.
Northwest Fire/Rescue District currently provides fire, emergency,
and community services to 120,000 residents and 2,200 commercial
occupancies over a 140-square-mile area to the north and west
of the city limits of Tucson, Arizona. Demographics vary widely:
the service area includes 'big box' commercial areas, industrial
facilities, residential neighborhoods, urban interface, older,
low income neighborhoods, and new high-end homes and resorts.
The District is funded through secondary assessed value property
taxes, and is governed by a five-member Board. As of March 2007,
the District employs 193 full-time suppression and 30 non-suppression
personnel, plus a 21-person seasonal brushfire crew. Twenty-one
volunteers serve in non-suppression roles, including CERT and
Fire Corps.
What
makes your department stand out in the community?
All
Northwest Fire Rescue's full-time firefighters are certified Paramedics
or Emergency Medical Technicians, in addition to being state-certified
fire fighters. Many members have advanced, specialized training
and also serve on Technical Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and SWAT
Medic teams.
Northwest's Community Assistance Program provides trained responders
at traumatic incidents (fire, assault, death/murder) to assist
patients/victims with both their immediate needs, such as food,
clothing, shelter, phones and emotional support, and their longer-term
needs as they get their lives back in order.
A District-wide fire safety and survival skills program for elementary
students teaches children the skills they need to react properly
to protect themselves and their families if faced with a life
safety situation. Monthly lessons include instruction in fire
and burn prevention, 911, electrical safety, hazard recognition
and home-alone skills. Other educational programs and community
services offered to District residents include:
CPR and first aid classes
Desert pest removal (rattlesnakes, gila monsters,
etc.)
Blood pressure checks
Juvenile firesetter intervention
Regularly scheduled prevention programs in
preschools
Infant & Child Safety Seat Inspections
Home inspections
Fire extinguisher demonstrations
Bike safety programs and rodeos
Drowning prevention programs
Educational station tours
Brush fire prevention programs
Smoke detector inspections
Monthly articles for association newsletters
How
long has your department been training with FETN? Describer your
department's training activities and the role FETN plays.
The
Northwest Fire District has enjoyed the national based training
opportunities since August 2005. The training partnership was
a result of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Act that enabled
the District to put the FETN satellites in each of our eight stations.
The District felt that the satellite service would provide more
opportunity for firefighters to use the training materials on
a more self directed basis. However, the District requires that
each member complete at least three of the monthly topics. One
topic is always EMS and it allows our paramedics to gain additional
state mandated CE credits. The fire related training topics allow
our department to see and try other firefighting techniques and
methods.
What
challenges/accomplishments has your department been faced with?
In
March 2007, Northwest Fire/Rescue became one of only 130 fire
departments in the United States, and the first in Southern Arizona,
to be internationally accredited by Commission on Fire Accreditation
International. The accreditation process is one in which fire
departments voluntarily undergo rigorous review by outside evaluators
to verify that they are meeting internationally recognized standards
of performance.
"This is a huge accomplishment for our organization,"
says Fire Chief Jeff Piechura. While we have always felt that
Northwest is a first-rate organization with talented and committed
personnel, receiving this independent confirmation is very gratifying."
A major challenge for the District has been, and will continue
to be, maintaining/enhancing service levels for a community that
is experiencing explosive growth. Our ninth station is scheduled
to open in the summer of 2007, which along with the relocation
of an existing station, will reduce response times in some of
our busiest areas. Other strategically placed stations are planned
to open over the next few years to meet projected growth. Recruiting
and training quality individuals to help serve our community will
continue to be a focus.
FETN salutes you - the Northwest Fire Rescue District -- We
welcome you as part of the FETN family!
Provide a brief description of your department and the community
you serve.
Northwest Fire/Rescue District currently provides fire, emergency,
and community services to 120,000 residents and 2,200 commercial
occupancies over a 140-square-mile area to the north and west
of the city limits of Tucson, Arizona. Demographics vary widely:
the service area includes 'big box' commercial areas, industrial
facilities, residential neighborhoods, urban interface, older,
low income neighborhoods, and new high-end homes and resorts.
The District is funded through secondary assessed value property
taxes, and is governed by a five-member Board. As of March 2007,
the District employs 193 full-time suppression and 30 non-suppression
personnel, plus a 21-person seasonal brushfire crew. Twenty-one
volunteers serve in non-suppression roles, including CERT and
Fire Corps.