1.2 Ladder Companies in quarters with understaffed Engine Companies shall temporarily detail their 5th firefighter until arrival of ordered details.

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1 A.U.C. 287, ADDENDUM 1 February 1, 2011 STAFFING GUIDELINES AFTER THE START OF THE TOUR 1. INTRODUCTION The following criteria has been established for the detailing of firefighters when the Citywide staffing levels are reduced after the start of tour. 1.1 For any reduction below level C Citywide after the start of a tour, the following shall apply in priority order: 1. Rebreather 2 (if staffed) shall be placed OOS and their FF(s) shall be detailed to the unit(s) with a vacancy. 2. Hazardous Material Technician Units (HMTUs) shall detail their 5th FF to the unit with a vacancy. 3. Ladder Companies 5th firefighter shall be detailed to keep Engine and Ladder Companies staffing at 4 firefighters. a. Ladder Companies in quarters with understaffed Engine Companies shall be given preference in supplying detail. b. For details to other quarters, Rear Mount Ladder Companies shall supply their 5th firefighter before Tiller and Tower Ladder Companies. Note: Preference for detailing 5th firefighter from Ladder Companies shall be determined by the Borough Commander or Command Chief in consultation with the Deputy Chief. 1.2 Ladder Companies in quarters with understaffed Engine Companies shall temporarily detail their 5th firefighter until arrival of ordered details. 1.3 Upon receiving notification of an outgoing detail after the start of a tour, the officer on duty shall order a firefighter to report forthwith. The officer shall make an entry in the company journal indicating the time of notification. 1.4 Upon arrival of an incoming detail, the officer on duty will make an entry in the company journal indicating the time the detail arrived at that unit. 1

2 2. COMPANY OFFICER OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 2.1 Engine Companies staffed with 4 firefighters shall respond using the signal as per current policy. 2.2 Ladder Companies responding to alarms and staffed with 4 firefighters shall transmit to the dispatcher we are responding with 4 firefighters. 2.3 Companies responding to alarms and staffed with less than 4 firefighters shall transmit to the dispatcher we are responding understaffed and state the # of FF s responding. 2.4 Units staffed with an officer and minimum of 2 firefighters, while awaiting ordered detail(s), shall respond to all alarms. Units shall operate as per section 2.10 of this circular. 2.5 Units with only an officer and a chauffeur shall be placed OOS, however this unit, while still staffed with only a chauffeur and an officer, shall respond to any verbal alarms received while in quarters. These members may be detailed to fill vacancies occurring during the remainder of the tour. 2.6 Company officers shall ensure that the Battalion and Division are notified whenever there is a change in unit staffing levels. 2.7 Ladder Companies with 4 firefighters, when first to arrive, shall generally operate without the OVM. The officer shall inform the Incident Commander and the 2nd to arrive Ladder Company that they do not have an OVM. If possible, the first to arrive Ladder Company officer shall assign a member of the inside team to perform outside ventilation once forcible entry is accomplished. The 2nd to arrive Ladder Company officer shall designate a firefighter to provide the outside ventilation duties of the first arriving Ladder Company. 2.8 If there is only one member at this OVM position, they must team up with another member prior to entry. If a known life hazard is found and immediate action could prevent the loss of life, appropriate action (rescue activity) may be taken by an individual member. This applies only for a known life hazard, not for standard search and rescue activity. 2.9 If circumstances dictate that the first to arrive Ladder Company operates without a position other than the OVM, (i.e. no roof firefighter) the officer must inform the IC and the 2nd to arrive Ladder Company that this assignment has not been completed and must be picked up by the 2nd to arrive Ladder Company When an understaffed Engine or Ladder Company is the only unit on the scene, they shall take a defensive position. However, if a known life hazard is found and immediate action could prevent the loss of life, appropriate action (rescue activity) may be taken by an individual member. This applies only for a known life hazard, not for standard search and rescue activity. 2

3 Examples of Defensive Positions, including but not limited to: Checking the serviceability of a hydrant Hooking up to a hydrant Charging the pumps Stretching a hoseline to outside the IDLH atmosphere Providing medical treatment to victims Positioning and raising a Tower/ Aerial/ Portable Ladder Conducting a size up of the scene Transmitting the appropriate radio signals 3. DEPUTY AND BATTALION CHIEFS RESPONSIBILITIES 3.1 Deputy and Battalion Chiefs shall continually monitor the staffing levels of units under their command. When the staffing in a Division is reduced below level C, the Deputy Chief shall contact the Office of Staffing Assignment (OSA) who will provide a detail from an Engine with 5 firefighters in another Division. When the Citywide staffing is below C level, OSA shall arrange for additional details of the FF s from Rebreather 2 (if staffed) and the 5th FF from the four HMTU s, in that order. If additional details are required, then OSA is out of the workflow, and the Deputy Chief must consult with a Staff Chief (Borough Command, Operations or Command Chief) who will determine which units, if any, will supply the details. Note: This is only a guide. Staff chiefs shall have the discretion of detailing the 5th firefighter from Ladder Companies at anytime based on Citywide staffing levels. In addition, the option of placing units out of service for the remainder of the tour may be considered. This decision shall be based on the time of day, fire activity in the Division, fire activity in the City, amount of previous reductions, and any other relevant information. 3.2 Divisions, after consultation with the Staff Chief, must notify the Fire Department Operations Center (FDOC) when the staffing in any unit will be reduced below the C level for the remainder of the tour. (This does not include units awaiting details to bring their staffing up to C level.) FDOC shall maintain a list of all these reduced units and the information to Boroughs, Divisions and Borough Communications offices at least every three hours. Divisions shall ensure that Battalions and units under their command are aware of the staffing levels of the units they will be responding with. 3.3 Deputy and Battalion Chiefs shall be cognizant of the units that have reduced staffing and use discretion in determining the need for additional units. 3.4 Deputy and Battalion Chiefs shall familiarize themselves with the provisions of AUC

4 4. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND 4.1 When a Special Operations Command (SOC) unit incurs reduced staffing after the start of a tour and Citywide staffing is at or below level C, the following shall apply: The SOC Battalion Chief shall maintain 4 trained members by details within SOC and consult with the Staff Chief who will determine which unit will supply a 5th firefighter. OSA shall affect such details. After the 5th firefighter in selected Ladder Companies is depleted and SOC units are reduced, the Staff Chief shall decide the status of any SOC units. 4.2 Staffing requirements for Hazardous Material Technician Units (1 Officer and 4 technicians) and SOC Support Ladder Companies (1 Officer and 3 trained firefighters) shall be considered when ordering details to keep special units in service. 5. LADDER COMPANY POSITIONS As a guideline, firefighter positions in Ladder Companies with reduced staffing shall be completed as follows: 1st Ladder Company 2nd Ladder Company 5 FF 4 FF Operates as per Firefighting No OVM Procedures 2nd due OVM duties shall be carried out by 2nd due roof FF or a member designated by the company officer 4 FF 5 FF No OVM 2nd due OVM performs 1st OVM If possible the officer assigns a duties member of the inside team after 2nd due roof FF or a member forcible entry is accomplished designated by the company officer shall perform 2nd due OVM duties 4 FF 4 FF No OVM No OVM If possible the officer assigns a 2nd due roof FF or a member member of the inside team after designated by the company officer forcible entry is accomplished performs 1st due OVM duties 5.1 The above contingency operations are in accordance with existing protocols for understaffed Ladder Companies. 4

5 6. RESPONSE POLICY The following guidelines for response policy are indicated below: 6.1 Ladder Companies with 4 Firefighter Staffing An additional Ladder Company (above the Fast Truck) shall be assigned to a when both of the two initially assigned Ladder Companies report responding in with 4 firefighters. The additional Ladder Company shall be the 3rd Ladder Company, and the 4th Ladder Company shall be designated as the Fast Truck. 6.2 Understaffed Units When notified that a company is responding understaffed (less than four firefighters), the dispatcher shall special call another unit (Engine for Engine, etc.) to respond in addition to the understaffed unit. Note: Under this response policy, the total First Alarm response shall not exceed a total response of: (4) Engine Companies and (4) Ladder Companies 5