Fire and Emergency Services

A Model Assessment Tool for the Incident Command System: A Case Study of the San Antonio Fire Department

by Brian O'Neill

Action and information networks in disaster management

by Robert Skertich

Population and Building Factors That Impact Residential Fire Rates in Large U.S. Cities

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

Huang, Kai, "Population and Building Factors That Impact Residential Fire Rates in Large U.S. Cities" (2009). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 287.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/287

WINNER OF THE 2009 MCGREW AWARD (student paper category)

The purpose of this explanatory research is to evaluate the impacts of population and building characteristics on the... more The purpose of this explanatory research is to evaluate the impacts of population and building characteristics on the residential fire rates among large cities in the continental U.S. This study used existing aggregated data from 69 U.S cities in the continental U.S to explain the effect of population and building factors on cities' residential fire rates. Overall findings indicate that two building characteristics - vacancy rate and building age - significantly influence residential fire rates. None of the population and natural environment variables examined found to significantly impact residential fire rates. Therefore, during the economic downturn, fire prevention efforts should focus more on areas with high vacancy rates and old building structures.

Group Dynamics & Power Structures: Toward a Greater Understanding of the Line-Staff Relationship Within the Austin Fire Department

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

Baum, Kevin L., "Group Dynamics & Power Structures: Toward a Greater Understanding of the Line-Staff Relationship Within the Austin Fire Department" (1997). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 96.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/96


Winner of the Pi Alpha Alpha national award for the best masters student paper among students of public affairs and public administration (1998).

Alarmiertes Verstehen - Kommunikation in Feuerwehrnotrufen

by Jörg Bergmann

Fit to Fight Fires? An Assessment of Mandatory Participation in Exercise Programs and Mandatory Fitness Stan

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

Rose, Donna L., "Fit to Fight Fires? An Assessment of Mandatory Participation in Exercise Programs and Mandatory Fitness Stan" (1996). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 194.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/194

A Model Assessment Tool for the Incident Command System: A Case Study of the San Antonio Fire Department

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

O'Neill, Brian, "A Model Assessment Tool for the Incident Command System: A Case Study of the San Antonio Fire Department" (2008). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 270.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/270

Purpose: Fire department administrators and emergency professionals must be willing to recognize, identify and... more Purpose: Fire department administrators and emergency professionals must be willing to recognize, identify and administer an effective Incident Command System. The purpose of this applied research project is threefold. First, it describes the ideal components of an effective Incident Command System obtained from the literature. Second, it assesses the San Antonio Fire Departments Incident Command System using the ideal type components. Third, it provides recommendations for improving the San Antonio Fire Departments Incident Command System. A review of the literature identified five key components of an effective Incident Command System. The components include the responsibilities of the first arriving officer, responsibilities of the Incident Commander, overall scene safety, effective communications and professional development.

Methodology: The components of an effective Incident Command System identified in the literature are used to construct the conceptual framework. The framework is used to create a practical ideal model assessment tool for the Incident Command System. The assessment tool is used to gauge the effectiveness of the San Antonio Fire Departments Incident Command System. A case study consisting of document analysis, structured interviews, and direct observation (via radio transmissions) is utilized to perform the assessment.

Findings: The San Antonio Fire Departments Incident Command System is mostly consistent with the model assessment tool. However, Incident Command System training and officer development program need improvement. Hands on Incident Command System training is extremely limited and there appears to be no officer development program. These two elements should be addressed in order to improve the San Antonio Fire Department Incident Command System.

Firefighter Fatalities: An Analysis of the Role Detection and Suppression Systems in Line of Duty Deaths

by Brian Crisan

Written for a Fire Detection and Suppression Systems course, University of Akron, Fall 2011 semester

In this paper, three incidents involving firefighter fatalities are discussed and analyzed. In particular, this paper... more In this paper, three incidents involving firefighter fatalities are discussed and analyzed. In particular, this paper seeks to answer the question, "Could a detection and/or suppression system have saved responding firefighters?" All three incidents discussed were investigated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which tracks firefighter fatalities.

LUMCO/MARCO/OAPSB Emergency Services Steering Committee

by Shawn Sweeney

The Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC) is a joint committee of the municipalities of the Large Urban Mayors... more The Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC) is a joint committee of the municipalities of the Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO), the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO), and the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards (OAPSB). The ESSC was established in November 2005 to coordinate activities related to labour cost containment in emergency services (police, fire and emergency medical services/EMS)

"the disproportionate increase of costs in the emergency services sector is".not affected much by 255 fire departments: http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/en/Media%20Relations%20and%20Resources/Statistics/Number%20of%20Fire%20Departments.asp

Firesetting Firefighters: Reconsidering a Persistent Problem--Firefighter Arson Research

by Matt Hinds-Aldrich

Please cite as: Hinds-Aldrich, M. (2011) Firesetting Firefighters: Reconsidering a Persistent Problem. International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management, 5: 33-46

This article reconsiders the historical problem of firesetting firefighters. The research draws upon an original... more This article reconsiders the historical problem of firesetting firefighters. The research draws upon an original dataset of firefighters arrested (n = 1,213) for arson dating back to the early
nineteenth century. The quantitative analysis provides an empirical foundation upon which I base a theoretical argument that questions traditional understandings of the problem. In particular, I challenge the literature that suggests that firefighter arsonists exhibit a deviant and distinctive hero complex. I argue that the most striking feature of this problem is the fine line that separates enthusiastic young members who are always the first to help out from those who attempt to prove their meddle by creating opportunities to evidence their dedication and fire-
fighting prowess.

National Volunteer Fire Council - Report on the Firefighter Arson Problem: Contexts, Considerations, and Best Practices

by Matt Hinds-Aldrich

This report was written and published under contract by the [US] National Volunteer Fire Council [NVFC]. The report was based on collaborative contributions by a members of the National Firefighter Arson Working Group convened by the NVFC.

The Theatre as a Self-Consuming Art

by Ellen MacKay

Argues the theatre has always meant to self-destruct. Argues the theatre has always meant to self-destruct.

Intelligent System for Quick Response to City-wide Emergency Calls

by Tarin Bansal

This paper proposes an efficient information dissemination approach for path planning related to first responders to... more This paper proposes an efficient information dissemination approach for path planning related to first responders to an emergency call. It involves practical application of Dijkstra’s algorithm for path planning, supplemented by live response through GPS routing. The paper aims at improving the existing methods for dispatching vehicles during times of emergency namely fire, police, and ambulance. In present conditions in India, there are a lot of factors which cause a lag in the response of these services like miscommunication, lack of information and traffic congestions.

The three emergency systems will be combined under a single contact number with each emergency service being differentiated by extension. This will direct the call to the appropriate operator who will note down the address of the emergency location. Upon entering the address in the processor, it will locate the closest base station and generate shortest route from the base to the emergency location. The major roads in the city will have a dedicated lane for emergency vehicles demarcated by LEDs. The emergency route will be illuminated by the LED during the time of emergency. The traffic on the emergency lane lightened with LED will be expected to vacate the lane (not the road).

Mitigation and Long-Term Recovery Efforts: Wildfire Disasters in California

by Brian Crisan

Written for a Disaster Relief and Recovery course, University of Akron, October 2007

Wildfires are naturally occurring events in the ecosystems of the Western United States. However, wildfires also... more Wildfires are naturally occurring events in the ecosystems of the Western United States. However, wildfires also present a continuous threat to individuals living along the urban-wildland interface in California. For decades, the prominent approach toward managing wildfire hazards in this region emphasized eliminating the threat posed by wildfire through fire suppression activities. The past has taught us that emphasis on suppression rather than mitigation is shortsighted. In this paper, it is argued that mitigation must receive greater emphasis in order to reduce the region’s vulnerability to wildfire incidents in the long-term future. The Oakland Firestorm of 1991 is used as a model of an incident that illustrated the need of public officials and residents to re-focus their priorities when faced with critical decisions about wildfire management.

Response to an Anthracite Coal Fire: A Centralia-Based Disaster in Akron

by Brian Crisan

Written for a Hazard Processes course, University of Akron, November 2010

The purpose of this assignment was to write about a disaster occurring in an area where the chosen hazard is unlikely... more The purpose of this assignment was to write about a disaster occurring in an area where the chosen hazard is unlikely to occur (such as a blizzard in Hawaii or tsunami in Ohio).  I used the coal fire that ignited in Centralia, Pennsylvania in 1962 (and still burns today) as a model for a similar disaster occurring in Akron, Ohio.

Verification & Validation Of An Agent-Based Forest Fire Simulation Model

by Muaz Niazi

Muaz Niazi, Qasim Siddique, Amir Hussain and Mario Kolberg, Verification & Validation Of An Agent-Based Forest Fire Simulation Model, Proceedings of the Agent Directed Simulation Symposium 2010, as part of the ACM SCS Spring Simulation Multiconference, pp142-149, Orlando, FL, April 11-15, 2010

In this paper, we present the verification and validation of an agent-based model of forest fires. We use a... more In this paper, we present the verification and validation of an agent-based model of forest fires. We use a combination of a Virtual Overlay Multi-Agent System (VOMAS) validation scheme with Fire Weather Index (FWI) to validate the forest fire Simulation. FWI is based on decades of real forest fire data and is now regarded as a standard index for fire probability with wide usage across Canada, New Zealand and Australia. VOMAS approach allows for flexible validation of agent-based simulation models. In the current work, it is used in the form of a simulation of a randomly deployed Wireless Sensor Network for forest monitoring. Here, each virtual "sensor" agent uses FWI to calculate fire probability and compares it with the simulation model. VOMAS verification and validation methodology for agent-based models allows for interactive design of Agent-Based Models involving both the Simulation Specialists as well as the Subject Matter Experts. The presented simulation model also uses weather parameters such as wind speed, rain, snow to calculate Indices such as Fire Weather Index (FWI), Build Up Index (BUI) and Initial Spread Index (ISI) in real time. We also study the effects of fires on the life of simulated VOMAS sensors. Using extensive simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness and ease of use of VOMAS based Validation.

Dynamic GIS Case Studies: Wildfire Evacuation and Volunteered Geographic Information

by Edward Pultar