Operations Division

Assistant Chief Stephen McInerny

	Division Chief (A Shift) Dennis Sheehan
	Division Chief (B Shift) Lois Bowman

Division Chief (C Shift) James Sheehan

Secretary II Della DiGiorgio

The Fire-Rescue Department, operating from 13 strategically located fire stations with more than 400 total employees, is ideally situated to deliver comprehensive emergency services to the citizens and visitors of the City of Fort Lauderdale and contract service areas. Operations Division services are provided through the 24/7 deployment of twelve Advance Life Support (ALS) engine companies, 12 rescue ambulance units, one Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) company, three 105-foot aerial ladder/quint companies, one Hazardous Materials Response Team (HazMat), one Fire-Rescue boat and one air and light support vehicle. Daily staffing provides one EMS supervisor, four battalion chiefs, one division chief and a minimum staffing level of 81 Fire-Rescue personnel.

The deployment of Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue resources is predicated upon achieving pre-established response time benchmarks. In order to measure our performance regarding identified goals and objectives, specific response time benchmarks have been established. Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue uses a 6-, 8- and 10-minute fractal percentage response time goal for all emergency responses citywide.

1. First Unit - dispatch to arrival - 6 minutes or less 90% of the time
2. First Paramedic Unit - dispatch to arrival - 8 minutes or less 95% of the time
3. First Medical Transport Unit - dispatch to arrival - 10 minutes or less 95% of the time

From a customer perspective, one of the most important benchmarks is the "First Unit Arrival" time. The "First Unit Arrival" benchmark established by the City of Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department is to provide the first unit (fire or EMS) in six minutes or less, 90% of the time. Presently, we accomplish this benchmark 87% of the time. Our average response time is 4 minutes and 15 seconds from dispatch to arrival at the incident scene. The 8-minute benchmark is accomplished 96% of the time with an average of 4 minutes and 17 seconds. The 10-minute benchmark is accomplished 93% of the time with an average of 5 minutes and 18 seconds.

The Operations Division also participates in the following community and business services in conjunction with the programs offered by other department bureaus:

• Testing and building life-safety systems and pre-planning building response
• Disaster preparedness, damage assessment and post-event recovery services
• Community relations with engine and rescue companies at homeowner association meetings and community events
• Assistance with Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training of community leaders
• Provision of off-duty detail units for special events and local sport activities