OPERATIONS

Brad Hall
Chief of Operations
321-633-2056
brad.hall@brevardcounty.us

Hello and welcome to the Operations section of our website. Operations are the personnel who respond to the daily emergency calls throughout Brevard County.

Brevard County Fire Rescue provides fire protection, emergency medical services, hazardous materials intervention and technical and specialized rescue to the citizens of Brevard County. These services are performed by our highly trained field personnel, consisting of firefighters, firemedics and lieutenants. The field personnel are supervised by District Chiefs, which are the highest ranking officer on shift within the department. There are twelve District Chiefs which are on 24/48 hour shift. The duties of a District Chief encompasses many tasks. Some of these tasks include, but are not limited to, personnel staffing, equipment readiness and maintenance, personnel training and evaluations, budget preparation, departmental S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedures) development, and enforcement and emergency scene management. The District Chief is the nucleus of our field operations. Four District Chiefs are on duty each 24 hour period.

Operations consists of over 400 field personnel, serving a population of over 400,000 residents. In 2001, Operations responded to over 54,000 emergencies.

In 1999, Brevard County Fire Rescue underwent a major change in its day-to-day operations.
In a referendum passed by Brevard County voters, all of the Brevard County Fire Engines
added a paramedic to the engine crew which increased the level of care from BLS (Basic Life Support)
to ALS (Advanced Life Support).

Personnel

The Operations Division uses a standardized rank structure commonly used in the Fire Service.
Those under Operations are

• Fire and Rescue crews(including District Chiefs)
• Firefighter volunteers and reservist
• Beach Rescue (Ocean Lifeguards)

Fire and Rescue response crews

Fire engine crews and rescue (ambulance) crews are managed by a station Lieutenant. Each of our fire and rescue stations cover a certain response area throughout all of Brevard County including the city municipalities. The station crews are managed by 4 District Chiefs. The District Chiefs are stationed throughout Brevard County and are responsible for a number of stations. District Chiefs also respond to certain emergencies to help manage that emergency. District Chiefs, Fire crews, and rescue crews work a 24/48 shift schedule.

Firefighter reservist/volunteers

The Firefighter reservist/volunteer program is managed by John Gore. John is responsible for coordinating training activities and certification requirements with the volunteer fire departments in Brevard County. He also manages the reservist program for those who are interested in the Fire Service. If you have an interest in the fire service and would like to become a Firefighter reservist, contact John at 633-2056.

Field Personnel

All field personnel are required to obtain the Florida State Firefighter Standards certification.

This level of Florida State Certification allows the person to render aid with basic medical skills.
These skills include hemorrhage (bleeding) control, splinting of fractures, Basic Life Support (CPR),
basic airway management, childbirth, and many other skills.

This level of Florida State Certification allows the person to render aid with advanced medical skills.
These skills include the skills of the Emergency Medical Technician, plus, drug therapy, obtaining IV access,
ECG monitoring, and advanced airway management.

Both the EMT's and Paramedics learn, train, and practice medical skills from Neo-natal infants to the Adult.

The Communications Dispatch Center typically work three 8 hour shifts, and one 10 hour relief shift.
The EMS Office works a typical 8 hour day, Monday - Friday.

24/48 Shift

Field personnel work a 24/48 shift (one day on, two days off). Shifts are titled "A", "B", & "C".
Each shift and each station is manned on a 24 hr shift. Crews arrive for duty each morning,
they are advised of current duties and responsibilities from the off-going shift, then end their
shift 24 hrs later.

Brevard County Fire Rescue participates in a county wide numbering system for its fire stations
to differentiate between Brevard County units and Municipality units. Brevard County units use an even
numbering system (20's, 40's, 60's 80's), Municipality units use an odd numbering system
(10's, 30's 50's, 70's, 90's).

The numbering system can easily identify which apparatus belongs to what department in Brevard County.
Engine 10 would denote a municipality Fire Engine (Titusville), Rescue 66 would denote a Brevard County Rescue
unit.