UPDATED W/ Video Dothan Fire WAR ZONE This Morning - PLAN - BACK UP PLAN - BACK UP TO THE BACK UP PLAN

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jan 30 2014 3:59 PM

DOTHAN:     The Dothan Fire Department has a war room. The war room is an emergency communications center designed to manage multiple incidents and major incidents involving the Dothan Fire Department.

The Dothan Fire Department has a plan. From that plan, they have a back up plan. From the back up plan, they have a back up plan.

This morning, without warning, the war room was in action. And not really storm related.

Multiple fire and medical calls. Multiple fire calls that were real calls. Multiple medical emergency calls.

Dothan Fire Department administrative staff members were on the front line riding reserve and/or primary fire engines. The members of the administrative team which are active advanced life support trained were active in the field responding to calls.

In the war room, Chief Williams and Batallion Chiefs and support staff were actively managing incidents from the war room. With one keeping all the calls on a white marker board. What units are available for response, what skills are available on what fire engine.

Dothan Fire radio system is one primary channel. When dispatched to a working incident, they have three “TAC” channels. This morning, the primary and all three FIRE TAC channels were in operation.

The fire department emergency operations center, located at Central Fire Station, managed the fire TAC channels. The Dothan 911 Center, which was incredible this morning, rolled the units and Fire Command then took over the management of the call. What is the incident, is the equipment and resources in place to handle, how is the operation going?

That also leave the 911 Center ready for the next 911 call.

The fire department recalled staff today when business was booming. And when their business booms, that is not good for someone. Because their mission is to save lives and property. When business booms, someone is in jeopardy.

STRUCTURE WITHIN DOTHAN FIRE DEPARTMENT

Let me attempt to explain.

Structure Fire at 123 Main Street is called into the 911 Center. As the 911 operator ( call taker ) is taking the call, they are typing the information into the computer.  One required skill for 911 is speed typing.

As the information is entered a priority level appears in color on the computer screens of the 911 dispatchers. Another 911 dispatcher who is on the dispatch console, the call is dispatched.

Now the caller is still on the phone with the call taker, but all the information they are being asked is speed typed into the computer, and while they are talking the call is being dispatched.

The Dothan Fire Engines are assigned to specific addresses with a level of response through number 9.

EXAMPLE:  Westgate is primary, Napier Field is second in, Highlands third…

The fire engine, if available and not on another call, responds. The backup respond.

It is a working fire. You have three or four fire engines, Batallion Chief, ambulance, and other equipment on that call.

Dothan Fire plans come in action. Because, while those engines and manpower are on that fire, Dothan Fire, PILCHER’S and CARE have to be ready for other emergencies.

And emergencies do not make appointments.

The War Room then is shifting manpower and equipment, staffing other trucks, being prepared in the event other emergencies are called in.

Just because there is a working fire at 123 West Main, does not mean someone on 231 South does not wreck, and someone on 431 North does not stop breathing, and someone on 52 West does not fall off the roof and breaks their leg.

And that is what was happening this morning. Some real fires and real medical emergencies, all at one time.

The good thing is, not one victim, not one patient, even knew that all of the Dothan Fire Department was in active war zone mode making sure all emergencies and all presented in the future, Dothan Fire was prepared to respond.

And HATS OFF to Dothan 911 Center, PILCHER’S Ambulance and CARE Ambulance. Because they are staffed and ready. I mean Joey Pilcher is now the grandpa of EMS in Dothan.

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