The District Emergency Response Section is made up of three Divisions: Training, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Operations. Emergency Response is the responsibility of the Deputy Chief, who reports to the Fire Chief.
Operations Division
The Operations Division is comprised of emergency response personnel and equipment. The daily emergency response staffing for the entire fire district is 23 personnel. This staffing includes one Battalion Chief, five 3-Person Engine Companies, one 3-Person Truck Company and two 2- Person Paramedic Ambulances.
The District provides a full range of emergency responses services including but not limited to: structural fire suppression, wildland fire suppression, response to hazardous materials incidents, Urban Search and Rescue, water rescue, vehicle extrication, technical rescue as well as basic life support and advanced life support medical services.
Fire District emergency response personnel respond to almost 5,000 incidents annually, of which approximately 3,200 or 65% are medical in nature, ranging from motor vehicle accidents and elderly falls to childbirths and heart attacks.
All Novato Fire District emergency response personnel are either Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Paramedics. EMT's provide Basic Life Support (BLS). EMTs interpret signs and symptoms of injury and disease, and determine the appropriate course of treatment. EMTs are trained to provide Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, administer oxygen, control bleeding, perform spinal immobilization, splint fractures, as well as any rescue functions needed to free a trapped victim. Paramedics provide Advance Life Support (ALS). A Paramedic is an advanced level of EMT certification. Paramedics must complete an extensive training program to enable them to perform specialized skills and procedures. These skills include advanced airway management, intubations, intravenous therapy, pharmacology and drug administration, cardiac monitoring and defibrillation.
Most engine companies are staffed with at least one Firefighter/Paramedic, and thus have the ability to immediately administer advanced life support (ALS) pre-hospital emergency medical care upon their arrival. The two ambulances are staffed with two paramedics each and respond along with an engine company to all medical emergencies.
When a medical emergency is reported via 911, or a request for an ambulance is made, the closest engine company is dispatched in conjunction with one of the two District ambulances. The intent is to get the closest available resource to the patient as soon as possible so the appropriate medical treatment can be given. The District strives to provide Advanced Life Support care within 5 minutes of notification, 80% of the time. In addition to our ambulances, the District utilizes the services of private air ambulances (helicopters) to transport severely injured or burned patients to the appropriate Bay Area hospital.
The Operations Division often provides non-emergency customer service when there is no other public agency or private firm willing or available to assist. The Operations Division also assists the Fire Loss Management Division with public education and information programs designed to prepare the citizens of the District for disasters and other emergency incidents. The Operations Division also conducts routine fire inspections on apartment buildings in the District.
Training Division
The Training Division headed by the Director of Training who holds the rank of Battalion Chief. The Training Director reports to the Deputy Chief.
The training and education of the 67 emergency response personnel in the area of fire suppression and special operations is the responsibility of the Training Division. The Director of Training designs specific fire training and special operations exercises, and administers, coordinates and monitors the performance of training programs. The Director of Training also administers and oversees probationary academies, probationary testing, acting engineer and engineer testing and acting Captain testing.
The Director of Training chairs the Safety Committee and meets quarterly in a committee format with specific members of the District including members of the Novato Professional Firefighters' Association.
The Director of Training also chairs the Research and Development Committee, which continually reviews new equipment and methods of operation.
Emergency Medical Services
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division is headed by the Districts EMS Director who holds the rank of Battalion Chief. The EMS Director reports to the Deputy Chief.
The EMS Director oversees the District medical response system. In addition to the EMS Director, the Division utilizes the services of a local doctor as part-time medical director as well as a fulltime Continuous Quality Improvement Coordinator/EMS Educator.
To improve the performance and quality of our patient care, the EMS Division utilizes a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Program through the use of a Peer Review Committee process. The EMS Peer Review Committee is comprised of the EMS Director, the CQI/EMS Educator, the Medical Director and Paramedic/Firefighters. Together they provide a perspective on patient care issues raised by medical authorities and the District’s own CQI Program. The Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Program identifies weaknesses in the system and recommends changes in training, education and equipment so that all patients receive the highest quality patient care.
The EMS Division utilizes the Research and Development committee to examine new medical equipment and evaluate existing medical equipment in an effort to continually improve patient care and employee safety.
The EMS Division coordinates the Senior Access program. Emergency responders who notice barriers or situations in homes of the elderly, which negatively impact their quality of life, can be referred to the appropriate social agency. This partnership ensures that all emergency response personnel can assist with long term care issues for our elderly.
Living and Working Conditions
Firefighters work 24-consecutive-hour shifts on a 2 X 4 schedule from 07:30 am to 07:30 am. The Fire District is organized into three shifts: A shift, B shift and C shift. This rotating shift schedule repeats itself indefinitely. The firefighters shift schedule is not affected by holidays. If a firefighter’s shift falls on a holiday, they are expected to work.
Firefighters may also either volunteer for, or be required to work additional "overtime" shifts so that the District may meet its full staffing.
Firefighters may be called back to work during unusual and/or catastrophic events such as major fires, earthquakes, floods or other disasters. Novato Fire District personnel often respond to fires and other incidents throughout the State of California under one of the State Mutual Aid Plans. It is not unusual to send Novato Firefighters and equipment as far south as Los Angeles or as far north as Oregon.
Firefighting continues to be a dangerous occupation. On an average the United States loses 100 firefighters to line of duty deaths each year. This does not include retired firefighters who develop cancer and other diseases as a result of their occupation.
Firefighters pay for their meals on-duty. They also assist in food shopping, meal preparation and clean-up. You may see them at the local grocery store or market near their station shopping for their evening meal.
The Novato Fire Stations are our firefighters' home-away-from-home. Firefighters live and work together functioning as both a "family" and a TEAM! A typical day includes equipment maintenance, personal physical fitness, station maintenance, training, report writing, public education, fire prevention and emergency response. Sleep is allowed at night, however it can be frequently interrupted.
Being a firefighter is a wonderful occupation often filled with excitement, sorrow, and ultimately the reward of helping others in their time of need.