CRIME SCENES
On calls where it appears a crime may have been committed, such as suspected arson fires, vehicle fires where no owner is present, assaults, and deaths that are not from obvious natural causes, notify the Sheriff Department.
DEATH BY OBVIOUS NATURAL CAUSES:
Notify the Coroner investigator. Preferably page from the victims home so the Coroner will call back there and talk directly to personnel on scene. Be prepared to explain why the death appears obviously a natural death. Request to be allowed to turn the body over to a private ambulance service such as Deans in Sebring. If the Coroner refuses to allow the request, then ask Coroner to respond immediately and notify the Sheriff Department to respond and the circumstances involved.
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS:
On public roadway notify the State Patrol. On private roadway notify the Sheriff Department.
OUT OF TOWNSHIP CALLS:
Always notify the proper Department for calls received that are known to be out of Deerfield Township and do not respond unless the responsible Department request assistance. If responding to a reported call in
Deerfield that is found to be out of our Township, notify the responsible Department and assume Command until the responsible Department arrives on scene.
DROWNING:
Notify the Sheriff Department. Remember that EMS personnel will handle victims found within one hour as cold water drowning and will attempt to resuscitate. Victims found after one hour will be handled by the
Sheriff and Coroners office.
NEWS MEDIA:
It is to our advantage in promoting our Fire Department to the public to cooperate fully with the news media in their reporting of incidents handled by the Deerfield Fire Department. When news media personnel are present or calling by phone, the Incident Commander should make every effort to cooperate as time permits with the media either personally, or through an information officer designated for the immediate incident. If we are not certain that a fire related call was from accidental causes then it is normally best to report that cause is still under investigation. Remember that EMS victim related information is private medical information. The news media is normally not interested in EMS calls unless a crime is involved. In
order to prevent the news media from calling every day on the fire phone or to the Chief's home, the Chief has agreed to fax information reference fire or rescue calls as they occur if the news media is not already aware of the call. On all calls except EMS with no rescue involved; if the Chief is not present at the call, the Officer or person in charge shall notify the Chief by personal pager. This should be done when units are back in station. Request the radio operator to make the contact sooner for incidents involving multiple mutual aid or calls of long duration such as searches and drownings.
Deerfield will be using a radio repeater and FireCom will hear their initial dispatch
repeated by the base radio at Deerfield station.
The first Deerfield Fire Department member responding to station on any call dispatched
by FireCom will confirm by radio or telephone that Deerfield is responding.
If no acknowledgment message is received by FireCom from Deerfield within 5 minutes
of FireCom initial dispatch, FireCom will call mutual aid for Deerfield. All EMS mutual
aid will be called to Rural-Metro in Alliance at 330-823-4357. If Rural-Metro is not
available, FireCom will call the closest Portage County Fire Department. All fire related
mutual aid will be called to closest Portage County department. NOTE: The Deerfield
Road Atlas has descriptions on each road with the wording, South on 14, or East on 224,
or West on 224 or North on 14. This may help FireCom in deciding which Department to
call. Example: Anything North on 14 call Edinburgh, North on Rt.. 225 call Palmyra,
anything else call Atwater.
When in doubt call us out. Deerfield is bordered by Mahoning and Stark Counties and
there is occasional confusion on addresses on county line roads and locations on and
around Berlin Reservoir. We get calls requiring immediate, but non emergency response to
fill air bottles for neighboring Departments. Occasionally someone will show up
unannounced to perform some contracted maintenance at our station and when they find
no one at the station they call the emergency number. It is the responsibility of each
Deerfield Fire Department Member to understand and respond within the guidelines of the
Deerfield Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures to any call dispatched by
FireCom.
Officers do not need to be the best firefighters or the most knowledgeable person on every piece of equipment or every procedure pertaining to the operation of the Department. Officers do need to be managers that can quickly establish and put in operation a plan of attack against hostile forces that create an emergency situation. Officers need to be aware of individual members skill levels and abilities so as to utilize each person as safely and efficiently as possible. Officers need a personal schedule that allows them
to be available to respond to a higher than average amount of emergency calls. Officers must have and demonstrate an above average interest in the success of the Department.
The command structure of the Deerfield Fire Department pertaining to emergency operations is, Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Driver of 1st pumper. The Officer in charge of an emergency call is responsible for the overall operations at that call with the understanding that victim medical care is always the responsibility of the senior trained medical personnel present.
CHIEF:
The Chief is appointed by the Township Trustees and is responsible for managing the overall operations of the Fire Department. The Chief has certain statutory requirements as dictated by Ohio Revised Code in reference to investigation and reporting of fires and control of emergency situations. The Chief is responsible for dictating and enforcing policy pertaining to the operation of equipment and conduct at emergency calls and at the Fire Station. When present at an emergency call the Chief is the highest command officer. The Chief will appoint officers with input from the Township Trustees and the Deerfield Fire Department Members.
ASSISTANT CHIEF, CAPTAIN, LIEUTENANT:
The Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, and Lieutenant, will constitute an officers committee. This officers committee will, with input from the Deerfield Fire Department members, formulate plans and take necessary actions to assure the readiness of the department to respond to the emergency needs of the Community. Individual specialized assignments of duties to officers will be made as needed, based on the individual officers area of interest, abilities, and needs of the Department.
We are all governed by Local , State and Federal Laws as well as common sense rules of courtesy which dictate our conduct in our personal lives as well as our behavior at the Deerfield Fire Department property and operations. A persons in-ability to live by these rules of conduct shall be a valid indication that they are not responsible enough to be a member of the Deerfield Fire Department.
Long distance phone calls must not be billed to the Township unless it is Fire Department business.
Members that do not attend enough emergency calls and or training drills to stay current on the Departments equipment and procedures may become a safety liability to themselves and others. A flexible but equally enforced policy will be posted at the Deerfield Fire Department station detailing attendance requirements.
New members are not authorized to use any equipment until their proficiency is documented by a Fire Officer. Fire Officers will be responsible in documenting that existing members have trained in the use of
new equipment that is acquired by the Department.
At all emergencies personnel must report to the officer or person in charge for assignments. If personal obligations require that a member leave prior to the conclusion of the emergency operation they must make the officer or person in charge aware that they are leaving.
All firefighters are expected to maintain the station and equipment when applicable, i.e. car washing, turn-out gear washing, T.V. watching, etc.
Fire Department property is not to be used or borrowed in non-emergency situations without the knowledge and approval of one of the Fire Officers.
Members must act in a professional manner at all times while performing their duties and while in the public view. At no time will Fire Department personnel be disrespectful or argue with patients, family members, landowners, law officers, etc. when responding to a call. If a problem arises during a call, the problem will be resolved at the station after the call.
In an effort to look like a professional organized group we have in the past agreed to wear navy blue jump suit coveralls to emergency calls where turn out gear is not worn. The Township Trustees will reimburse new members $30.00 for coveralls after six months membership on the Department. The following will be standard location for Department and training certification patches on coveralls worn to emergency calls:
Left shoulder arm: Deerfield Fire Department patch
Right shoulder arm: Fire training patch and up to one other training patch of your choice
Right over chest pocket area: any medical certification or a Rescue Squad patch
Members must have a valid Ohio Drivers License to drive Department vehicles. Any suspension of a member's Ohio Driver's License must be reported immediately to the Fire Chief. Any driving restriction(s) must be report to the Fire Chief.
Members are responsible for making sure that the unit they have driven is ready for the next call. This does not mean that they are responsible for all work needed to ready the equipment for its next use as all members should share in clean up duties.
On E.M.S. calls where no rescue equipment is needed, Non-EMT personnel will respond to the station. If they are not needed as a driver or First Responder, they will wait at the station for further assignment.
New members are not authorized to use red lights and or sirens on their personal vehicles until they are granted this privilege by a Fire Officer.
No personnel will pass the circle in route to an incident without stopping at the station and determining if they are needed or if additional equipment is needed, unless otherwise directed by an officer.
Personal vehicles at the scene of an incident must be placed in such a manner so they do not interfere in the operation of the incident. Other than first responder situations, personal vehicles are not encouraged at the
scene.
No personnel shall create or contribute to an unclean or unsanitary condition.
There will be no alcohol or illegal substance abuse allowed or tolerated while on duty at the station or at an emergency call. Furthermore, if alcohol has been used within one hour prior to an emergency call, or if illegal substances have been used within twenty-four hours prior to an emergency call, you are prohibited from responding to the emergency call.
Deerfield Fire Department S.O.P. states: "Members that do not attend enough emergency calls and or training drills to stay current on the Departments equipment and procedures may become a safety liability to themselves and others. A flexible but equally enforced policy will be posted at the Deerfield Fire Department station detailing attendance requirements."
As a guideline a point system will be utilized to help determine adequate involvement to maintain skill levels needed for membership. An accumulation of less than ten points in a year will be an indication of no enough involvement to maintain membership. Members falling below this guideline will be so advised and given a six month period to improve their standing.
Points are accumulated as follows.
Percentage of emergency calls attended:
6% - 10% 1 point --- 11% - 15% 2 points --- 16% - 20% 3 points
21% - 25% 4 points --- 26% - 30% 5 points --- 31% - 35% 6 points
36% - 40% 7 points --- 41% - 45% 8 points --- 46% - 50% 9 points
51% or more 10 points
Volunteer Fire certification or enroled in class 3 points
Advanced Fire certification or enroled in class 2 points
Fire Safety Inspector certification or enroled in class 2 points
Arson Investigator certification or enroled in class 2 points
each regular or special drill 1 point
Each Deerfield Fire Department business meeting one half point
EMT Basic certification or enroled in class 5 points
EMT Advanced certification or enroled in class 2 points
Seminars or training not required to maintain any certification 1 point per 4 hour session.
It is not desirable that 2 persons attempt to attack a fire situation with no other help. The following
guideline will be SOP for a 2 person attack team with the understanding that additional present or
arriving firefighters will be placed in this process by the officer in charge as they become available.
The driver of the first pumper will report on arrival at the scene by radio that pumper is on scene and a
brief statement of what is seen. Example: FireCom from 381, we are on scene establishing Command
with smoke showing from the second floor.
The driver will secure the vehicle in a location that is a safe
enough distance from the structure so that no damage will be done to pumper should fire load extend to
maximum conditions. Driver will locate vehicle allowing service from other vehicles arriving such as
tanker.
Driver will immediately call for mutual aid if driver determines that conditions warrant mutual
aid or if driver determines that no other help is responding.
Unless the driver is reasonably certain there is no fire, driver will assign passenger to pull out a
designated hose lay and prepare hose for fire attack. As passenger is pulling hose, driver will engage the
pump, exit the vehicle, close all drains, open tank to pump valve and open tank fill valve to allow water
circulation.
The driver of the first in pumper, or first firefighter arriving directly at the scene prior to the first
pumper, will get information from occupants or bystanders, determine search and rescue needs, and
perform a 360 degree size-up of the structure, determine the buildings construction including whether
there is basement. The most likely location of the fire and the best area to ventilate and enter for fire
attack will also be determined. Attention will be given to utility shutoffs and hazards such as electrical
wires.
After pulling out the designated attack line, passenger will put on SCBA, mask ready but not in place
unless needed. Driver and passenger will place positive pressure fan in place at the entry point and start
and let run at idle until an exhaust opening is made and attack line can be advanced.
Driver will instruct passenger where to make a ventilation hole, attempting to designate a location that
can be accessed from the ground with a pike pole, specifically a window glass. Passenger will get in
place to make ventilation hole but will not actually make ventilation hole until driver charges line, sets
pressure relief valve, puts on SCBA and returns to the attack nozzle.
After passenger makes ventilation hole, passenger and driver accelerate PPV fan in proper location, and
begin fire attack with charged hose line.Fire attack should be made with an attempt to push the fire out of the building rather than from the
outside pushing fire back into the structure. Immediate rescue requirements may dictate that this
process be deviated from to the point of abandoning fire attack in favor of a possible immediate rescue
or an attack made through a window in an attempt to separate a room with victims from advancing fire.
An outside attack may also be advisable in fully, or nearly fully involved conditions, or when personnel
availability is so limited that the danger to firefighters would not justify an aggressive interior fire
attack.
When an interior fire attack is in progress, top priority should be given to having two firefighters with
SCBA on and ready to relieve or rescue the initial attack team.
When any victims are being cared for and fire is controlled, attention should be given to salvage of
property. Move salvageable property to central areas and cover with tarps. Handle the victims property
in the same way you would want someone to care for your property.
The second arriving vehicle at a structure fire will be the Tanker. The Tanker driver will listen while in
route for any reported fire conditions and any instructions from Command in reference to placement and
set up of the Tanker. In the absence of other instructions, driver will place the vehicle in a location that
will allow connection to the pumper or dropping of the portable drop tank. If dump tank operation will
be used, passenger will assist driver in setting up dump tank. When water load is dropped into dump
tank, passenger will assist as needed in pumper to drop tank connections or as otherwise instructed.
After water is dumped, driver will search out the closest available water source to fill at and return to
fire scene. Driver and any passenger(s) may be required to abandon tanker operations and assist in
immediate needed rescue operations.
The third and fourth arriving vehicles at a structure fire will be the Mini-pumper and the Ambulance.
The vehicle drivers will listen while in route for any reported fire conditions and any instructions from
Command in reference to placement and set up of their vehicle. In the absence of other instructions,
driver will place the vehicle in a location that will be secure without blocking exit of tanker. Driver and
passenger(s) will report to Command for assignments.
Firefighters arriving on scene after Command is established should report to Command for assignments.
In limited personnel situations where the officer or person in charge is involved in immediate needed
rescue or fire attack, incoming firefighters may not receive instructions on arrival. Each firefighter
should be familiar with Structural Fire Attack SOP so that they may place themselves into the operation
where needed.
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