How a Combination Fire Department in Turmoil Changed Course

How a Combination Fire Department
in Turmoil Changed Course
Fire Chief Chris Larmore
Ocean City, MD Fire Department
Volunteer & Career Officer’s Symposium
November 2010
Biography
• Personal Life
• Career
• Fire Service
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Ocean City
• Geography
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Ocean City
• Risks/Hazards
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Ocean City
• Demographics
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Ocean City
• Government
Citizens of Ocean City
Mayor & City Council
City Manager
25 City Departments
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Ocean City
• Government
Citizens of Ocean City
Mayor & City Council
City Manager
Fire Department
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Ocean City Fire Service
• Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company
(Established in 1905)
•EMS Roots
1942: Volunteer Ambulance Driver
1960: Ocean City Rescue Squad
organized within VFC
1966:Mayor and Council initiate
paid ambulance service from VFC
members
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Ocean City Fire Service
• 1973- Advanced Life Support was offered in Ocean City.
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Sauté Café Fire - 1983
• OC’s first LODD
– Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG’s)
– Training
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Beachcomer Fire - 1988
• Double Fatal
– High School/College
Visitors
• After Action Review
– Significant Fire Code
Violations
• Reinstatement of Fire
Marshals Office
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Workload Outpaces VFC Leaders
(Late ’90’s)
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Training
Budget Preparation and Implementation
Operations
Meetings
Career Management & Interaction
• VFC Chief Takes 3-year position with MD State
Fireman's Association
– Limited presence in city for day-to-day ops
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
VFC Completes 1st Strategic Long Range Plan
(Summer, 2002)
• Planning Representative of OC fire service
• Strategic Objectives
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Organizational Structure
Leadership
Written Policies & Procedures
Volunteers
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
IAFF Local 4269
• Created in 2003
– Followed hard-fought FOP collective bargaining, obtained through
citizen referendum
– Granted without resistance by City Council
– Response to failed attempts for change and general lack of support
by existing Fire/EMS management
• Negotiations/Contracts
– 2007-2010
– 2010-2013
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Growth of Emergency Services Dept
• 2004: ES Director resigns to take State Post
• 2005: ES hired after Council and VFC cannot
agree on combination details
• Expansion of ES influence w/ little resistance
from VFC Leadership
• November 2006
– ES Director requests fire engine in budget prep, then removes
based on negative VFC response
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Starting Out New (Dec, 2006)
• VFC Election: Larmore to Chief
• City Manager & newly elected VFC Leadership
meet to iron out problems
• After meeting, City Manager
and ES Director create
January “Talking Points”
memo
January “Talking Points” Memo
1.
Deptartment of Emergency Services growth
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2.
VFC Budget to be reviewed by ES Director
Fire Marshal transferred to Dept. of ES
New Division of ES: “Fire & Rescue Services”
OCVFC to assume 1st due to only West OC
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OCVFC answer to Division Chief of F&R Services
Town to purchase all assets from VFC for career FD
OCVFC to utilize funding to rebuild West OC Keyser Point Rd.
Station
City Manager “takes it off the table”
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
March 2007
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Budget Meetings
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Realization of deceit
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Council Work-Session Provides Direction
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Talking Points memo addressed
Mixed Messages from Council on
knowledge
Directions from Council
– Work Together
– Combination Fire Department
– Develop MOU (OCVFC and ES)
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Moving Forward In Good Faith (Summer ’07)
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Joint SOG’s
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Joint Apparatus Committee
– Engine Specifications
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VFC Training and Attendance Increases
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Strongest Duty Crew Season Ever
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
VFC Completes 2nd Strategic Long Range Plan
(Summer, 2007)
• Planning Session representative of VFC
Only
• Facilitator: Chief Eddie Buchanan, LWACS
• 3-Year Plan
(2007-2010)
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
2007 Strategic Long Range Plan
• Short Term Goals (< 1 year)
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Comprehensive data management system
Proactive staffing analysis & deployment
Unified training authority
Complete SOGs and related training
• Mid-Range Goals (1-3 years)
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Establish Stakeholder task force
Revise Officer Selection/Election Process
Combine rank structure of VFC & Fire/EMS
Establish Fire Board to provide organizational
oversight
– Hire Full Time “Paid” Fire Chief
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
December 2007
• Dec 3:
Union Declaration
• Dec 4:
Engine & Chief In ES Budget
VFC Re-elects Larmore as Chief
• Dec 5:
VFC Leadership Updated
Council Denies Request for Meeting
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
VFC on the Offensive
• Jan 2008: VFC formally requests issues to be
addressed at open Council meeting
– Denied Meeting
– “Personnel Matter”
• ES Director Drafts Memorandum “Overview &
Recommendations for the Fire Services”
– Forwarded to Council & City Manager during closed
Executive Session
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
IAFF Local Interests
• Agreement with proposal for VFC to leave
town
– Anticipated growth of career division
– Increase career promotional opportunities
– IAFF National Position
• Deteriorated volunteer-career relationship
ensues
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
February 2008
• 1st VFC Proposal Sent to Council
– VFC Chief Temporarily in charge
– Full Disclosure
• Council Votes down
4-3 to not support
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
February 2008
• VFC Meeting to Address the Council’s “No Vote”
– Record Attendance
• Vote is taken to move operations to West OC
• Press Release Drafted to update citizens:
“The OCVFC has no choice but to relocate to West
OC and turnover primary delivery of fire and
rescue services in corporate limits to Town of
Ocean City.”
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
How Bad Can It Get?
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
How Bad Can It Get?
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
How Bad Can It Get?
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
How Bad Can It Get?
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
How Bad Can It Get?
“ The dreaded worst-case scenario
has now become a reality as far
as the future of fire service goes
in Ocean City.”
-The Dispatch, February 15, 2008
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
February 18, 2008 Council Meeting
• Community Response for VFC to Stay
• Unacceptable Proposal from Council
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
March 2008
• Radical Proposal from VFC
– VFC handle all Fire Service Response
– ES handle only EMS response
• No expectation of Council Acceptance
• Council requests meeting with VFC Leadership
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
April 2008
• Closed Meeting
– Council, VFC & Fire/EMS Division Leadership
– Combination Department concept agreed upon
– Unanimous Vote: Appoint Larmore Fire Chief
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
MOU
• Unified Command Under a Single Fire Chief
– Specifically Defined for Existing 3 Divisions
– ES Director to relinquish all authority
– “Full Administrative & Operational Authority”
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$1 per year/ Step Down as VFC Chief
Reports & Council Appearances
VFC Retains right to communicate with Council
Termination Clauses
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Becoming “One Fire Department”
• New Organizational Structure
OCFD Fire Chief
Deputy ChiefFire Marshals Office
Deputy ChiefVolunteer Division
Deputy ChiefFire/EMS Division
Assistant Chief
Assistant Chiefs
Assistant Chief
Deputy FM’s
Captains
Captains
Fire Safety Inspectors
Lieutenants
Lieutenants
Firefighters
2nd Lieutenants
FF/PM’s
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Becoming “One Fire Department”
• Equality of Rank across Divisions
• Merit-Based Promotions
– 1st Ever Line Officer Promotional Test & Interview
• Realistic Expectations
– VFC officers
– Firefighters
• Decision Time: On the Train, Or Left at the Station
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Becoming “One Fire Department”
• Branding
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Becoming “One Fire Department”
• Apparatus
Engines/Trucks
Medic Units
Utilities & FM
Chiefs
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Becoming “One Fire Department”
• Uniforms
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Becoming “One Fire Department”
• Minimum Training Requirements Phase-In
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Captain
Lieutenant
SCBA Firefighter
Driver/Pump Operator
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Becoming “One Fire Department”
• Unexpected advancement in volunteer
training
– Officer Training
– Senior Firefighter Advanced Training
– Expanding Basic Training
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Union Resistance
• Union President Cooperation
• August 2008: “Letter of No Confidence”
– To Council
– From Union Executive Board
• Council Backs Fire Chief
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Continued Integration of Volunteer and
Career Components
– Command Structure
– Training, Health & Safety
– Job Descriptions
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Live-in Project
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Recruitment and Retention
– Volunteer and Career
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Recruitment and Retention
– Cadets
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Community Outreach
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Mark-up System, Accountability
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Water Rescue Team
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Capital Improvements
– Predominantly volunteer station in West OC
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Capital Improvements
– Remodel of Headquarters station
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Future…
• Capital Improvements
– Future Expansion of Northern Station
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Lessons Learned
• Do what is right for the community
• Know the players strengths and weaknesses
– Admit yours openly
• Be calm and professional
• Seek the truth
• Understand the acceptance and timing of
change
• Follow your heart
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”
Thank You
Chief Chris Larmore
[email protected]
410-520-5427
Ocean City Fire Department “Volunteer & Career: United to Serve”