Facts

Fact #1
Fire fighters are responsible for a wide range of duties each day when not responding to emergencies. These responsibilites include; 

DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Shift exchange of information between outgoing and oncoming personnel.  
- Truck maintenance (fluids check, lights, fire pump, protective equipment check, etc…).
- Equipment maintenance (Check and sanitize all equipment on fire engine).
- Video conference with all stations and Battalion commander.
- Five minute video training is conducted before conclusion of video conference.
- Station daily maintenance. This includes; raising and lowering of the flags, sweep and mop floors, cleaning bathrooms, carpets, kitchen, garbage, etc…. Yes, we do our dishes!!!
- Computer activity. We log each person’s daily activities, emergency responses, training, inspections and program activities into a computer program.
- Two hours minimum of training every day. This training is selected from a variety of topics including; structural fire suppression, wildland fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, trench rescue, structural collapse, mountain rescue, ice water rescue, professional development, etc….  
- Physical fitness. We strive for 1 hour per day as schedule and emergency calls allow.  

Fact #2
Fire Fighters are responsible for a wide array of other duties, in addition to daily duties, when not responding to emergencies. These responsibilities includes; 

OTHER DUTIES:
- Station special maintenance. Special maintenance is scheduled at intervals other than every day. This special maintenance includes; dusting, windows, polish wood work, cleaning stove and refrigerator, apparatus room floor, furnace filters, lawn care, landscaping, etc....
- Business fire inspections of all Flagstaff businesses on a rotating schedule.
- Public education presentations both in the stations and in the community.
- Walk-in medical assists for blood pressure checks, etc….
- Multiple company training.
- Multiple agency training.   
- Ride along public education.

Fact #3
Fire Fighters are responsible for running and managing a wide array of “programs.” These programs support various services delivered to our citizens. It could be the maintenance of our ladders, writing the specification for our fire vehicles, etc…. Instead of contracting these services out or paying for additional chief officers to manage these programs, your fire fighters provide the service saving untold amounts of money. Most of this activity is conducted on-duty with some being handled off-duty. If handled off-duty, employees receive compensation time to be used at a later date when there is time off available. A partial list of the programs we are involved with or run include;

• The “Audio / Video Conferencing System” training.  
• Employee “Awards & Recognition” committee.
• Critical Incident and Stress Management for emergency responders.
• Fire Dispatch protocols.
• Driver training safety.
• Emergency Medical Services equipment and training.  
• Emergency Medical Services “Quality Improvement” plan.  
• Cardiac Monitors training and purchase.
• Infection Control program.
• CPR training for fire fighters and citizens.
• Exercise Equipment.
• Fire House Software computer design and training.
• Honor Guard program.  
• Hose Maintenance and Testing for all apparatus.  
• Hydrants Maintenance and Testing for all hydrants in city.
• Fire Investigation for city fires. We also handle out of city requests as needed.  
• Ladder maintenance for all apparatus.  
• Mobile Data Computers training and troubleshooting for all engines.
• Mutual Aid map books for all fire engines.  
• City map books for all fire engines.
• Fire Department Newsletter.
• Nozzles and small tools purchase and maintenance.
• Power tools and extrication equipment purchase and maintenance.  
• Personal Protective Equipment purchase, maintenance and inspection.
• Promotional Testing development and examination.  
• Public Education presentation. (Buzz, Bernie and company)
• Radios Communications training.
• Safety Committee program.
• SCBA (air packs) inspection, design and training.  
• Procedure and policy manuals management.
• Special Operations program management.  
• Thermal Imaging Cameras management and training.  
• Training Committee membership.  
• Technical Rescue program management.  
• Vehicle Specification program management.  
• Flagstaff Fire Department Website management.
• 911 locks program to allow fire truck access to parks, highways, etc….
• Bee response and equipment training and program management.
• High rise and fire fighter rescue bag program management.
• Fire Station supplies acquisition distribution.  
• Employee Advisory Committee membership.
• Operations group membership. Group decides operational policies.