HARDEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE

S.W.O.T ANALYSIS

Executive Summary

Today’s fire service is nothing in comparison to that of a decade ago which is in a

perpetual motion of change and shifting paradigms, presenting todays firefighter, EMT,

and Paramedics with new challenges and ever increasing concerns over life safety and the

ability to adequately provide for their families.

Hardee County Fire Rescue is comprised of dedicated men and women that

consistently serve their community with professional excellence, endeavoring to improve

upon their own physical, mental, and emotional state of well-being so as to be able to

provide the most excellent service to their community.

The utilization of the S.W.O.T analysis will be able to express those areas that

have been identified as factors directly relating to Hardee County Fire Rescue and the

community it serves as a whole.

The following analysis will endeavor to provide a detailed look at the influential

factors related to Hardee County Fire Rescue, and provide a summary of those same

factors and how they pertain to the fire and emergency service as a whole.

This analysis will delve into the public’s perception of Hardee County Fire

Rescue, and methodologies that may be utilized to improve upon that public perception,

thus cultivating an atmosphere of commonality and dedication to community in service.

S.W.O.TSTRENGTHS: INTERNAL FACTORS

WEAKNESSES: INTERNAL FACTORSOPPORTUNITIES: EXTERNAL FACTORS

THREATS: EXTERNAL FACTORS

Strengths: STAFF: Dedicated, Well trained. Dual certified personnel w/ FF &

EMS capabilities. Volunteer force. EQUIPMENT/ RESOURCES: Relatively new and up-dated

apparatus and technology. FIRE PREVENTION/ INSPECTION/ PUBLIC EDUCATION AND

RELATIONS: Dedicated, professional, and productive with a positive influence upon personnel.

TRAINING: Increased knowledge base providing a foundation for teamwork and increased productivity.

WORK ETHIC: Personnel overall have a strong work ethic to excel at what they do and to ensure that it is consistent.

STRENGTHSSTAFF

6 LIEUTENANTS FF/PM: Provide consistent, Professional, 24/7 leadership and Command

and Control 20 FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDICS: The

“Worker-Bees” that “Get the job done.”12 FIREFIGHTER/EMT’S: The ones that make the Paramedics and Lieutenants look good or

bad. The other level of “Worker-Bees.”10 VOLUNTEERS: Fire and Support Operations

STRENGTHSEQUIPMENT:

Newer apparatus capable of providing effective fire control and emergency scene mitigation, meeting 21st Century standards.

RESOURCES:Mutual Aid response from Fort Mead, Avon Park, Sebring, Desoto, Highlands, and Polk

Counties

STRENGTHSFIRE PREVENTION: 1-FIRE INSPECTOR

INSPECTION: BUILDINGS DO RECEIVE INSPECTIONSPUBLIC INFORMATION: WEEKLY COLUMN IN THE

PAPER EDUCATION: FIRE PREVENTION.

STRENGTHSTRAINING

MAJORITY OF EPRSONNEL ARE DUAL TRAINED AS FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS, PROVIDING THE BEST

PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARDEE COUNTY.

WORK ETHICPERSONNEL HAVE A STRONG WORK ETHIC, DEDICATED TO SERVING THE

COMMUNITY WITH PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE, MAINTAINING THE PUBLIC TRUST.

WEAKNESSESSTAFF:

Staffing shortages fall below the recommendations of NFPA 1710, The Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression

Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments (2010 ed.), which is particularly

important to HCFR as a Career department.

MINIMAL RECOMMENDED STAFFING LEVELSFollowing are minimal staffing levels recommended by standards and fire service and

related organizations.NFPA recommendations are based on data from actual fires and in-depth fire simulations wherein fire company effectiveness was critically and objectively

evaluated. These studies indicate significant reductions in performance and safety when crews responded with fewer members than recommended.

NFPA 450, Guide for Emergency Medical Services and Systems, 2009 edition, Chapter 5, Section 5.5.2.3.4: “Most experts agree that four responders [at least two trained in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and two trained in basic life support (BLS)] are the minimum required to provide ACLS to cardiac arrest victims.” As a side note, a

medical call requires just as many personnel as, if not more than, a fire call, so if we can meet the medical need, why can’t we meet the fire need?

NFPA 1710: Four on-duty personnel for fire companies whose primary functions are to pump and deliver water and perform basic firefighting at fires, including search and

rescue.

• U.S. Fire Administration (USFA): recommends that a minimum of four firefighters respond on or with each apparatus.5

• The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC): advocates a minimum of five persons on engine and ladder companies. Noting that the reduction of members per unit and that the number of units has reached dangerously low levels, the IAFC says it would be “inappropriate” to accept or support further reductions.6

• The International City Management Association (ICMA): states in “Managing Fire Services” that at least four and often eight or more firefighters, each under the supervision of an officer, “should respond to fire suppression operations.” Further, it says, “If about 16 trained firefighters are not operating at the scene of a working fire within the critical time period, then dollar loss and injuries are significantly increased, as is fire spread.” It has found five-person companies 100-percent effective, four-person companies 65-percent effective, and three-person companies 38-percent effective.7

Ventilationand Utilities

Search & Rescue

Attack LinesWater Supply

Incident Command

SafetyOfficer

RIT

Initial Effective Response Force – Moderate Risk Critical Tasks

16 Personnel Not Included:

• Exposure Protection• Medical Patient• Forcible Entry• Salvage

• NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 20th edition (2008)4: recommends the following minimum numbers of firefighters/officers to do the job safely. If this sounds like a lot, keep in mind that firefighters will always work in pairs, if not more, to complete the several tasks to get the job done as safely as possible. This includes such tasks as

water supply, search and rescue, ventilation, rapid intervention, and so on.Between 19 and 23 personnel typically constitute the first-alarm assignment to a

confirmed single-family dwelling fire, as observed by evaluation teams.

HARDEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE CONSISTENTLY OPERATES WITH 7 TO 11 PERSONNEL BELOW THE REQUIRED/RECOMMENDED STANDARD TO SAFELY, EFFICIENTLY, AND EFFECTIVELY FUNCTION AT A

RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE.

ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT:

1-FF/PARAMEDIC1-FF/EMT

SINGLE CASE NUMBER FOR EACH RESPONSE

ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT FIRE ENGINE:

1-LIEUTENANT FF/PARAMEDIC

1-FF/PARAMEDIC1-FIREFIGHTER/EMT

SINGLE CASE NUMBER FOR EACH RESPONSE

H.C.F.R. PERSONNEL ON A CARDIAC-ARREST1-Scene safety & assists with patient care

1-CHEST COMPRESSIONS1-VENTILATION/AIRWAY

1-I.V./ ADMINISTER MEDICATIONS/Heart Monitor/Shocks patient

1-Assists with patient care

HARDEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE CURRENTLY OPERATES AT 1 PERSONNEL MORE THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIRED/RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF PERSONNEL

FOR A CRITICAL-MEDICAL-RESPONSE.

WEAKNESSES:

EQUIPMENT/RESOURCES: Technology not able to advance beyond a slow crawl due to cost.

Integration of CAD and AVL would be invaluable but is limited due to cost of connecting the two.

More efficient computer program for tracking and accountability of personnel leave hours,

assignments, and scheduling would be invaluable.

WEAKNESSESSTATIONS: Station-2.

Personnel are housed within the City of Zolfo Springs Utilities building that have had issues with water leaks,

inability to effectively ventilate bunker gear/PPE, and past issues with mold within living areas.

Un-able to adequately provide security for fire apparatus as it is in a covered open parking area and needs to be

enclosed.

CURRENT STATUS:Consistently working with Hardee County Facilities and Zolfo to correct past and on-going issues. Progress is being made.H.C.F.R Lieutenants have been assigned projects to address

these and other issues.

WEAKNESSESSTATIONS

STATION-3 BOWLING GREEN Needs to be completely replaced with a new station with apparatus

bays and living quarters. Conditions have existed since hurricane Charley.

The FEMA trailer (Originally placed as a temporary structure) is in need of repairs, the covered open apparatus area is in a less than acceptable

condition for safe and efficient operations and cannot be secured.Apparatus are consistently open for the possibility of pilfering and are

exposed to the elements.The FEMA trailer is not a legitimate Fire/EMS station and does not adequately provide for the safest environment for the citizens of

Bowling Green and Hardee County as well as the personnel that serve in H.C.F.R.

CURRENT STATUSA Planning and Development Committee has been established to address

this and future fire station planning issues and is moving forward with the plan of building a new fire station in the area of Bowling Green.

WEAKNESSESDISPATCHING/COMMUNICATIONS: Lack of adequate number of dispatchers and call takers to effectively manage normal daily emergency operations and woefully inadequate in the event of

large scale emergencies/disasters. Organizational communications, methods of operations, response matrices are all being addressed.

CURRENT STATUSImprovements are being made in the area of dispatch. H.C.F.R is

working more collaboratively with HCSO and dispatch to address and improve areas of concern.

WEAKNESSESFIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION/PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC

RELATIONS: 1-Fire Prevention Officer is insufficient to adequately,

effectively, and efficiently function.There needs to be an annual Fire Safety Survey Program for businesses within Hardee County. No programs in place for

Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention, Child Safety Seat education.H.C.F.R needs to be more involved within the community.

CURRENT STATUSH.C.F.R is currently conducting Public Relations details with Blood-

Pressure checks, Fire Prevention/Safety demonstrations/talks within the community. Also involved with more community exposure of personnel.H.C.F.R currently has a weekly column in the Herald Advocate called the

“Fire Side.”Plans for more open-houses as well as Fire/EMS educational opportunities

are being developed.

WEAKNESSESTRAINING: In-house training is lacking as well as provision

of training to external stakeholders.

CURRENT STATUSThis is being addressed through an increase of in-house training through collaborative efforts with South Florida

State College and other departments.For external stakeholders, we are developing a “Leadership Hardee” type program to get the leadership and business

owners of Hardee County involved with their Fire Department.

WEAKNESSESSELF PERCEPTION: Negative public perception and past

history of HCFR have been the impetus of a growing atmosphere of a negative self-perception.

CURRENT STATUSThis is the most difficult to overcome as no matter how

much effort is placed into the attempt to positively influence those that have been negative, you will still

have those that continue to perpetuate the negative past:“Those that insist on drawing their water from the

stagnant ponds-of-the-past, are attempting to contaminate the fountains-of-the-future.”James A. Stillwagon II. Fire Chief H.C.F.R.

Opportunities:State and County Agencies

Chamber of CommerceHome Owners Association

Kiwanis ClubLions Club

Rotary ClubAgricultural Organizations

Hospital relationships with administration and medical suppliersTraining and Organizational partnerships with state and local law

enforcement, Businesses, Community Organizations/Churches.

This is the direction we in Hardee County Fire Rescue are moving toward. We are determined to move in a positive, forward motion,

being actively seen within the community through direct involvement with the listed organizations and the community as a whole.

Threats:State and Local agencies with negative perceptions

Stagnant Community growthChanging demographics (Migrant populace, decreased

incomes)Potential/lack of potential for further development

Decreased revenue Increased arson fires due to economic factors and changing

demographicsAssumptions held by any person, agency, or organization

outside of the department that are of a negative perception.

IAFF/NFPA/Government mandated codes,

policies/procedures.

PROPOSED PROJECTS:HCFR WEB PAGE.

JUVENILE FIRE SETTERS INTERVENTION PROGRAM.CHILD SAFETY SEAT PROGRAM

CPR, AED, FIRST-AID CLASSES FOR THE COMMUNITYFIRE SAFETY INSTRUCTION FOR THE COMMUNITY

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS AT ALL H.C.B.O.C.C MEETINGSFREE B/P CHECKS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS

OPEN FOR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS! 

It has been made evident that due to the negative history of Hardee County Fire Rescue and Hardee County as a whole, that the negative

public perception has been the catalyst for acceptance of this perception as the current norm. Whether based upon factual

occurrences and/or by a perception of the same, is now history, and needs to be learned from, left behind and moving forward in a

positive, professional manner.This is a misconception and perception that we will endeavor to

overcome and improve upon through an aggressive, positive, consistent public-relations campaign wherein HCFR personnel as

individuals and as a whole will become involved within their community, consistently exhibiting the professional excellence that is

the foundation of the Fire Service as a whole.The men and women of Hardee County Fire Rescue are integral active participants within the community and will, via the following, but not limited to, avenues by which to begin to address the areas of concern

as threats and weaknesses.

Become members of the Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations.

Provide free Blood-Pressure checks at community organization meetings

Provide C.P.R, A.E.D, and First Aid instruction for the community.

Be involved with a Juvenile Fire Setters Prevention Program.Let the public know that “We handle anything and

everything.”Conduct open-house events wherein the public will be provided information and education pertinent to the

profession.Conduct community speaking engagements to relate the

Mission, Vision, and Values of HCFR in an effective, professional and consistent manner

In addition, it is my intention to cultivate and encourage an atmosphere of “Esprit De Corps” and to actively and consistently fan-into-flame the desire of the men and women of Hardee County Fire Rescue, to serve their

community with Compassion, Integrity, and Professional Excellence.

This will be accomplished through consistent professional leadership by the administrative staff and the intentional inclusion of the rank-and-file in developing, initiating, and

participating in the decisions that affect their quality of life within the HCFR department and the community as a

whole.

Hardee County Fire Rescue has already begun to transition from the negative public and self-perceptions

to a cohesive, community oriented organization. This can be noticed in the new motto and mission statement of

H.C.F.RHONOR: HONOR THE FALLEN.

COURAGE: COURAGE IN ADVERSITY. FORTITUDE: FORTITUDE OVER FEAR.

RESPECT: RESPECT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.