Future Role of Fire Service in Homeland Security

Future Role of Fire Service in Homeland Security
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 141
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

As action-oriented organizations, fire departments have traditionally played a reactive role in public safety, responding to emergencies in progress to protect the lives, and property of their citizens. The problem is that the world has changed. Increasing terrorist threats against our homeland and the potential for pandemic or other natural disasters are shifting the mission and placing new unconventional demands on the fire department. Meeting these challenges will require strategies to identify and address the future role of the fire service in homeland security. This thesis used the Delphi method to explore what this future role might be. Information, responses, and recommendations from three groups of SMEs were examined, analyzed, and synthesized to determine key issues the fire service will face. The future role of the fire service in homeland security will demand the need for progressive leadership, effective collaboration, intelligence engagement, and the adoption of a shifting mission that supports preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery of terrorist attacks. Emerging issues and areas of responsibility to meet new asymmetrical threats require a response paradigm. This response paradigm in the fire department should include the ability to adjust service delivery to meet all hazard and homeland security demands.

The Fire Service's Role in Maritime Homeland Security

The Fire Service's Role in Maritime Homeland Security
Author: Paul S. Foerster
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre:
ISBN:

Since September 11, 2001, the fire service role as first responders has changed to include acts of terrorism. United States ports and areas in the marine domain provide terrorists with a wide variety of targets to attack. The marine domain presents many difficult and unique problems to homeland security. The open nature of ports with the high volume of goods and services, key infrastructures, and the large number of agencies with jurisdiction create a complex environment to protect. Many fire departments that protect and respond to incidents in the marine domain have little specialized equipment, special knowledge, or training needed to respond to terrorists attacks in this area. This document looks at the roles the fire service has in homeland security in the marine domain. Based on findings from maritime leaders, five roles emerged: Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8, intelligence and information sharing, area maritime security committee, interagency exercises and training and public/private partnerships. This document demonstrates the fire department's role in each of these areas, and provide a framework fire departments can use to enhance maritime homeland security.

Defining the Role and Responsibility of the Fire Service Within Homeland Security

Defining the Role and Responsibility of the Fire Service Within Homeland Security
Author: Dennis D. Jones
Publisher:
Total Pages: 75
Release: 2010
Genre:
ISBN:

Many fire service providers (FSPs) do not adequately address homeland security. While some FSPs in the United States have dedicated homeland security divisions or operational practices, the majority do not. The current roles and responsibilities of most FSPs appear to be broad and vague, as there are no overall adopted best practices for developing homeland security response procedures and/or practices. While the majority of FSPs deliver fire suppression and emergency medical services, the majority of FSPs have not broadened their service delivery models to address the preventative, emergent and recovery phases of service delivery within homeland security. While there are no widely accepted practices, regulations or standards addressing FSPs and their expectations within homeland security, it is possible to create a structure upon which FSPs may build. This document will demonstrate the importance of cultural acceptance of homeland security services, which will lead to effective planning and preparedness as well as appropriate resourcing and training practices. From these components FSPs, regardless of their size, jurisdiction served, geographic location, jurisdictional target threat assessments, budgetary resources and staffing matrixes will be able to create a structure that will allow them to provide effective and efficient homeland security services.

Terrorism Information Management Within the New York City Fire Department

Terrorism Information Management Within the New York City Fire Department
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 143
Release: 2007
Genre: Command and control systems
ISBN:

The New York City Fire Department, like the entire fire service, has been proven to be a primary stakeholder in Homeland Security. The mindset of firefighters is influenced by traditional and expected roles that are not fully considerate of the challenges accompanying the "new enemy" of terrorism. A fundamental deficiency is herein identified as the manner in which information is managed. The FDNY must adapt so as to recognize information as an entity that must be collected, saved and utilized holistically for greater preventative and response capabilities. It must adopt lessons learned by others in the pursuit of better information management. These needs also exist, to a great extent, within the national fire service. This thesis will use a detailed analysis of existing FDNY information systems, a review of the criticality of information to past events, and the perspectives of FDNY firefighters to identify common denominators of deficiency. It will examine the manner in which others have confronted the issue of information management with an eye toward extracting salient lessons. The operational and psychological ramifications of poor information management will be explored. Finally, concepts that hold promise for the underpinning of practical solutions to the information management problem are presented.

Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency Services

Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency Services
Author: Jason B. Loyd
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2010
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780131718357

Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency Services offers a range of information to enable the firefighter student to learn and grow in the fire science field. The career development model of the National Fire Academy and the model curriculum of the Fire Emergency Service Higher Education (FESHE) group served as a basis for this important text. With experience in a variety of positions and associations, Jason Loyd, an Instructor for the Private Sector Group of the Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI) Division of the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) with experience in the Department of Defense and as Director of the Fire Science Program at Weatherford College, and James Richardson, Assistant Professor of the Protective Service Department at San Antonio College and Interim Program Coordinator for the Emergency Management/Homeland Security Degree Program with over twenty years of service for the Houston Fire Department, provide information on introductory principles including the history of the fire service, career and education opportunities, fire prevention, and fire dynamics, along with planning and strategic skills. With a focus on the history of the fire service and eye on the future of the field, this book serves as an introductory tool for all firefighters who seek both the fundamentals and continued success in the field.

The Distributed Functions of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

The Distributed Functions of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Author: David A. McEntire
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 374
Release: 2023-07-19
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1000890287

The Distributed Functions of Emergency Management and Homeland Security outlines the roles and responsibilities of various individuals and agencies involved in homeland security and all aspects of emergency management. Each chapter focuses on the practical and applied aspects of a range of public servants in various departments and the organizations that they represent. Rather than presenting a theoretical exploration alone, the book examines the practical knowledge and hands-on skills related to various functions and how their decisions and actions play into the larger framework of safety and security —in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Every professional has a unique and integral part to play in fulfilling their roles and obligations, whether it be in relation to prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response or recovery operations. Personnel that frequently come to mind in such scenarios include emergency managers, geographers and land-use planners, EMTs and paramedics, fire fighters, police officers, public health officials, nurses, public administrators, and public information officers. And while these individuals are integral to homeland security and emergency management, there are other professionals that also perform essential duties that—while they aren’t first-to-mind—are vital to efforts relating to terrorism and disasters; this includes pilots in the aviation sector, the military, attorneys, psychologists, and forensic professionals serving in pathology, DNA, and dentistry roles. Chapters provide a holistic rendering of the homeland security and emergency management landscape to present all these various professional capabilities and contributions. This includes how current functions are coordinated as well as how future efforts might change relative to a more proactive, all-hazards and holistic approach. As such, the book will be a useful resource for students and practitioners to understand the dynamic professions—and various disciplines and fields—that impact disaster and terrorism preparedness and response capabilities.

Introduction to Homeland Security, Second Edition

Introduction to Homeland Security, Second Edition
Author: David H. McElreath
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 412
Release: 2013-12-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1439887527

Since the attacks of 9/11, billions of dollars and countless resources have been committed and expended in the attempt to make the nation more secure. Introduction to Homeland Security: Second Edition is written by a team of homeland security and justice professionals on the cutting edge of the field. The text is a comprehensive examination of current and future challenges and explores how the United States has chosen to confront these threats with both its military and civilian agencies. Topics include: A history of homeland security in the United States The mission of the various agencies in the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense The foundations of emergency management: mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery Inter-agency planning and cooperation and private partnership A survey of the most significant natural disasters and accidents, explored through case studies International and domestic terrorism and threat groups The impact of transportation and border security issues and the violence occurring in the Southwest Globalization and the role of intelligence in homeland security Future challenges in the field of homeland security Each chapter begins with objectives and ends with a summary, key terms, and discussion questions. Ample references encourage further study and research. The book is a premier text for criminal justice, homeland security, national security, and intelligence programs in universities and an ideal reference for professionals as well as policy and research institutes.

The Significance of Fire Service Culture as an Impediment to Effective Leadership in the Homeland Security Environment

The Significance of Fire Service Culture as an Impediment to Effective Leadership in the Homeland Security Environment
Author: Alan Thomas Cox
Publisher:
Total Pages: 139
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:

The tragic loss of 343 firefighters on 9/11 monumentally illustrates that firefighters now stand on the front line in the war against terror. The ramifications of 9/11 forced fire service leaders to incorporate newly recognized strategies of terrorism management and mitigation into traditional firefighting roles. Blue-collared manual laborers are no longer the archetype of modern firefighters. Instead, firefighters now command with expanded leadership roles within society and the desire to achieve increased levels of local, regional and national preparedness. This thesis explores the various aspects of fire service culture that negatively impacts organizational leadership, cultural transformation and the fire services current mission within the homeland security domain. This thesis starts by providing a detailed description of the elements epitomized by fire service culture. It then examines how both internal and external sociological factors contribute to the perpetuation of fire service culture. Finally, this thesis provides an implementation strategy leaders might utilized when attempting to administer organizational change processes. This author concludes that while leaders might provide a guiding organizational vision, they are but one factor influencing organizational culture. Changes occur when both formal and informal leaders agree upon reasonable organizational goals and orchestrate small cultural shifts when attempting to achieve those goals.

Your Role in Fire-adapted Communities

Your Role in Fire-adapted Communities
Author: Department of Homeland Security. Federal Emergency Management Agency. United States Fire Administration
Publisher:
Total Pages: 11
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:

They are called grass fires, forest fires, wildland fires, or by a variety of names. Yet, no matter the name, they pose an evolving threat to lives and property in an increasing number of communities across the United States. Homes near natural areas, the wildland/urban interface (WUI), are beautiful places to live. These pristine environments add to the quality of life of residents and are valued by community leaders seeking to develop new areas of opportunity and local tax revenue, but these areas are not without risk. Fires are a part of the natural ecology, living adjacent to the wilderness means living with a constant threat of fires. Fire, by nature, is an unpredictable and often uncontrollable force. Recent fires in 2011, like those seen in Texas, the West, and even the Mid-Atlantic States, serve as a reminder to the fire service, emergency managers, local decisionmakers, and the public of the need to better understand the environment we live in and the positive role each group can collaboratively play in a wildland fire solution. The concept of fire-adapted communities (FACs) holds that, with proper community-wide preparation, human populations and infrastructure can withstand the devastating effects of a wildland fire, reducing loss of life and property. This goal depends on strong and collaborative partnerships between agencies and the public at the State, Federal, and local levels, with each accepting responsibility for their part. This guide will frame the FAC concept and current efforts to define its scope, explain the roles that groups can adopt to improve their fire safety, and provide guidance on future steps. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) believes that by reviewing the roles and responsibilities each group can adopt now, communities will become better prepared to realize the FAC goal in the future.

Protecting the Protectors

Protecting the Protectors
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
Publisher:
Total Pages: 88
Release: 2009
Genre: Environmentally induced diseases
ISBN: