The Roswell Fire Department serves a population of 50,000 citizens living in the____ square miles that make up the City of Roswell. The 80 members of the department staff 6 fire stations, 5 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, and 5 administrative vehicles. All members of the Roswell Fire Department Combat division (75) are state certified Emergency Medical Technicians (E.M.T.). During 1994, the Roswell Fire Department responded to 3700 calls for help, of which 75% were for medical emergencies. The Department experiences approximately ____ structural fires annually.
The Roswell Fire Department, headed by Chief Homer Trujillo, prides itself for its progressive and professional approaches to service delivery and customer service.
The Department is organized in a typical "hierarchial" form of organization. The six levels of communication include:
Fire Chief
Deputy Chief
Battalion Chief
Captain
Company Officer
Fire Apparatus Operator (Driver) and Firefighter.
The Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Fire Marshal, Safety Officer and Secretary, work a typical 8 to 5 Monday through Friday work week. The Battalion Chief, Company Officer, Fire Apparatus Operator and Firefighter, work a shift schedule of 24 hours on duty with 48 hours off duty. This shift schedule comprises of three shifts, 25 personnel each.
The Fire Chief and Deputy Chief work on daily administrative duties including; fiscal planning & management, supervision of the Fire Marshal, IDC/Safety/Training Captain and personnel management through the Battalion Chiefs.
The Fire Marshal oversees the community fire prevention efforts including; fire inspections, fire and arson investigation, public fire safety education and fire code enforcement.
The Infectious Disease Control/Safety/Training Officer, (Captain) has the responsibility to ensure the Roswell Fire Department is in compliance with State and Federal regulations regarding infection control and firefighter safety. At the ‘95-’96 fiscal budget year he gained the added responsibility of training coordination.
The Battalion Chief manages the 24 shift personnel under his command. He is responsible for ensuring his personnel are prepared for emergency response and maintaining vehicles and buildings. The Battalion Chief is assigned specific administrative responsibilities and coordination of training.
Company Officers are responsible for activities at the six Roswell Fire Department fire stations. The Company Officers supervise the Fire Apparatus Operators and a Firefighter. This group of three personnel comprise an engine company for initial response to fire and medical emergencies within an assigned district.
The Fire Apparatus Operator performs medical treatment, drives fire apparatus to emergencies, pumps water on fire scenes and maintains fire department vehicles and facilities.
The Firefighter performs medical treatment, performs hands on fire control efforts and maintains fire department vehicles and facilities.
The Roswell Fire Department works under an incident management system designed to effectively and efficiently manage an emergency scene. The Incident Management System is designed to expand as an emergency expands to include hazardous materials, mass casualty, technical rescue and other related emergencies.
Organizational Chart
The Roswell Fire Department implemented a two tiered EMS program in 19___. The fire department response of an engine company provides a very cost effective approach to emergency medical services to both the City of Roswell and its citizens. Under the program, the nearest Engine Company within an assigned district responds to medical emergencies, usually within three minutes, to provide basic life support. Concurrently an ambulance from EmergiCare Ambulance is responding from their quarters where upon arrival provide any necessary advanced life support and transportation to the local medical facility.
In 1983 a department wide Emergency Medical Technician course qualified all 89 Roswell firefighters. Since that time, new firefighters are enrolled in the ENMU-Roswell EMT courses. EMT continuing education is conducted annually with EMT recertification conducted every two years.
As of July 2000, a higher trained level of service was begun for our citizens. 15 EMT Intermediates are assigned one to each fire truck and rescue unit. The Intermediates perform invasive care such as IV’s with fluids and drugs. The program is monitored by one paramedic on each shift who conducts quality assurance of treatment and reporting.
The Roswell Fire Department operates technical rescue teams in hazardous materials response, swift water rescue, and high angle rescue (ropes). A team specializing in trench rescue is to be implemented in the near future.
Fire protection for the Roswell Industrial Air Center (RIAC) is provided by the Roswell Fire Department. Roswell Fire Station #4 is located on the grounds of the RIAC, and is staffed by three crew members per shift. Station #4 responds to all fire and EMS emergencies on the airport in addition to all aircraft related emergencies. The ARFF crew responds to aircraft related emergencies with two specialized ARFF units backed up by four additional units and 8 personnel from other stations.
The Roswell Fire Department is alerted to emergencies from its 911 emergency communications dispatchers located at the Roswell Police Department. In 199___ the dispatch center implemented the new Enhanced 911 system. The dispatch center is staffed by two dispatchers 24 hours a day. They provide dispatch service for the Roswell Fire Department, Roswell Police Department, four Chaves County Volunteer Fire Departments and American Medical Response ambulance service. The Incident Management System described above is designed to fully integrate and support this mix of emergency services during incident operations.
The Roswell Fire Academy introduces new firefighters into the department with an 8 week training academy. Recruits are then enrolled in ENMU-Roswell’s EMT-Basic course where they attend classes on and off duty. Recruits participate in live structure fire drills, flammable liquid firefighting techniques, and liquified petroleum gas firefighting techniques. At the end of the 8 weeks, recruits receive certification at New Mexico Firefighter Level II, Certified Emergency Vehicle Operator, Hazmat Awareness and Operations, Wildland S-130 & S-190 (Red Card.)
Through the individuals career, training continues within each level of responsibility. Training includes: in-house department sponsored training, through self-study, attending training school away from Roswell such as: the New Mexico Firefighter’s Training Academy in Socorro, the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and other regionally sponsored courses in various cities.
The Roswell Fire Department manages a fleet of 25 emergency vehicles - including engines, ladders, rescues, crash fire rescue, and staff vehicles.
New vehicle Costs:
Firefighter safety equipment costs nearly $1100 each.
Fire Prevention efforts include annual fire safety education to elementary school age students, fire extinguisher training to various citizen groups, smoke detector installation in homes for elderly and under privileged citizens in the Roswell vicinity, fire inspections for existing occupancy and new construction to meet the City adopted Fire Codes, and determining cause of fires and investigation of arson/incendiary fires.