40-Hour to 54-Hour Firefighter Proposal

1
40-Hour to 54-Hour Firefighter Proposal
Portage Fire Department

• Ideas for Improved Efficiency Effectiveness

2
Goal

• Increase 24-hour operational firefighter
  staffing by one per shift utilizing current Fire
  Department staff by moving two current 40-hour
  firefighters to the 24-hour position and
  permanently retaining the current temporary
  firefighter

3
Objectives

• Reduce department overtime for Minimum Manning
• Retain current temporary firefighter and make
  position permanent
• Increase 24-hour shift strength by one on each
  shift (A, B, and C)
• Maintain Minimum Manning of 7 per shift, per
  day (same as today) with maximum of 2
  firefighters scheduled off per day for vacation,
  54-hour day, etc.

4
Background Todays Situation

• The City of Portage, like many cities has been
  facing an increasing population which has
  increased demands for quality service

Source U.S Census, Portage Valuation History
Portage, City on the Grow Fire Protection
Evaluation, 1987
5
Background Todays Situation, contd

• The Portage Fire Departments calls for service
  have increased significantly (272) in the past
  30 years

Source Firehouse Database
6
Background Todays Situation, contd

• In 1989, the city hired two 40-hour firefighters
  assigned to an 8am-4pm, Monday thru Friday
  schedule
• These positions were designed to supplement
  limited daytime response from paid on-call
  firefighters combined with the increasing demands
  for service
• The City of Portage continues to supplement
  career staffing for the fire department with a
  paid on-call system. The department has
  authorization to fill 36 paid on-call positions.
  Today, the department has 17, with 10 having less
  than 2 years experience
• From 1998 to 2005, the Portage Fire Department
  recruited and trained 85 paid on-call
  firefighters. Of those 85, only 16 (19) remain
  with the department

7
On-Call Retention 1998 - 2005
7
Since 1998, PFD has Hired 85 On Call 16 Remain
2
1
4
1
1
0
0
Note 1 paid on-call was hired prior to 1998 and
is still on staff
Source Firehouse Database
8
On-Call Experience Level
Average On-Call Experience 2.5 Years
Note 1 On-Call has 13 years experience, hired
pre-1998
Source Firehouse Database
9
Background Todays Situation

• Even the most dedicated and dependable
  on-call firefighters are available only part of
  the time and struggle to juggle family, work and
  fire department commitments.

This is not a local problem. It is reflective of
the nationwide trend where there has been a 10 to
12.5 decline over the past two decades.
Source Firehouse Database, U.S.A Today, 11/9/05
NVFC, 2000
10
On-Call Response to Incidents - 2004
Based upon OCFF response criteria
Source Firehouse Database
11
On-Call Response to Incidents - 2005
Based upon OCFF response criteria
Source Firehouse Database
12
Pros Cons of the 40-Hour Firefighter Position

• Pros
• Provides additional coverage from 8am 4pm,
  Monday Friday
• Ability to work with all three shifts (A, B and
  C)
• Evenings Weekends off

• Cons
• Leaves 2/3 of the shift without additional
  coverage as well as weekends
• Lack of unity with 54-hour firefighters due to
  not being assigned to specific shift
• No Unity of Command 54-hour firefighters
  report to one captain one BC while 40-hour
  firefighters report to a minimum of three
  captains three BCs
• Lack of mentorship for newer firefighters FTO
  (Field Training Officer) Concept
• Desire to work 24-Hour with the same people
  (common-place for fire service)
• Overtime paid at higher rate of pay

Source Portage 40 Hour Firefighter (Current
Former Employee) Survey
13
What Is The Better Value Per Tax Dollar?

• The 40-Hour Firefighter
• Starting Salary 36,525
• Hourly Rate - 17.56
• Overtime Rate - 26.34
• Hours Worked 8am 4pm
• Days Worked Mon thru Friday
• Annual Hours Worked 2080
• Hours per Week - 40
• Holiday Bonus 11.5 Days Off
• Uniform Bonus - 775
• Food Allowance - 750

• The 54-Hour Firefighter
• Starting Salary 36,525
• Hourly Rate - 13.01
• Overtime Rate - 19.51
• Hours Worked 8am 8am
• Days Worked Rotational
• Annual Hours Worked 2808
• Hours per Week 54 average
• Holiday Bonus 110 hours of base pay
• Uniform Bonus - 775
• Food Allowance - 750

54-Hour Firefighters provide the city with
728 additional hours of protection each year, at
the SAME salary as a 40-Hour Firefighter
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2005 Calls Based on Time of Day

• 40-Hour Firefighters work Monday through
  Friday, 8am to 4pm position. 55 of the calls
  for service were after 40-hour firefighters were
  off

3071 Total Calls
40-Hr Firefighter On Duty
No 40-Hr Firefighter Coverage!!!
Source Firehouse Database
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2005 Calls That Require Manpower

• 40-Hour Firefighters work Monday through Friday,
  8am to 4pm position. 55 of the calls for service
  were when 40-hour firefighters were not scheduled
  to work..
• Cannot predict when the manpower intensive
  calls will come in

Source Firehouse Database
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How 24-Hour Staffing Is Used Today
Fire Station 2
Fire Station 1
Fire Station 3
Captain
Captain
Captain
Battalion Chief
Firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighter
Proposed
Position
Proposed position would include the retention of
current temporary firefighter
Full Staffing 9 Total Staff 2004
2005 Average 7.8
17
Number of Days with 9, 8 and 7 Staff On Duty
47
47
33
27
26
20
Source Portage Fire Department Payroll Sheets
18
International City Management Association (ICMA)
Reports
Various controlled and statistically based
experiments by some cities universities reveal
that if about 16 trained firefighters are not
operating at the scene of a working fire within
the critical time period of 5 minutes, dollar
loss and injuries significantly increase as fire
grows.
Firefighting tactics were conducted for
comparative purposes, fire suppression companies
were judged for their task performance and rated
for their effectiveness. A two firefighter
engine is, at minimum, 50 understaffed
increases the work effort of the two firefighters
by a factor of three
Source ICMA Report NIOSH, 1999
19
Fire Department Overtime in Hours 2004 2005
Source Portage Fire Department Payroll Sheets
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What Creates The Overtime?

• The average Portage career firefighter is 49
  years old.
• Research shows that the older the firefighters
  get, the greater risk to injury they have. Also,
  the recovery time is greater than when they were
  younger. This has been true in Portage
• When manning falls below 9 (8am until 4pm) or
  below 7 after 4pm, it creates the need for
  overtime
• Because the majority of firefighters work on a
  24-hour basis, overtime adds up quickly. Also,
  every weekend (when 40-hour firefighters are
  off), 8 to 16 hours of overtime are filled
  whenever staffing is below 9

Source U.S Fire Administration FEMA
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Estimated Hours/Cost for Overtime by Position
2004
50,037
32,064
15,381
17,049
4213 hours
Source Portage Fire Department Payroll Records
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Estimated Hours/Cost for Overtime by Position
2005
50,157
21,559
24,042
13,275
4074 hours
Source Portage Fire Department Payroll Records
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What If 40-Hour Firefighters Were Working 24-Hour
Shifts?

• Reviewing overtime data for 2004 and 2005,
  the question was posed, what amount of overtime
  could have been saved if 40-Hour firefighters
  were on 24-hour shifts?

A Reduction of 81 90
Source Portage Fire Department Payroll Records
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Moving 40-Hour Firefighters to 24-Hour Shift
With OT Savings, move Temp Firefighter to
Permanent 24-Hour Shift / position
Add 40-Hour Firefighter to 24-Hour Shift
Add 40-Hour Firefighter to 24-Hour Shift
C
A
B
By adding a firefighter to each shift and
maintaining Minimum Manning of 7 before OT is
utilized, the savings in overtime will more than
pay for the salary benefits to retain the
temporary position.. 2 people could be scheduled
off on vacation or 54 hour day and still allow
for one person to be off sick before OT is
needed.
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Benefits of Having 40-Hour Firefighters On Shift

• More firefighters on duty for a 24-hour period,
  not just during the hours of 8am to 4pm (Monday
  Friday), providing increased protection for the
  citizens of Portage
• Opportunity to have 3 firefighters on duty at
  Station 3 instead of just 2. This station is the
  first-due company for Pfizer , the new Stryker
  plant as well as initial aid (under the new
  agreement) to the City of Kalamazoo
• Improved effectiveness by having another
  firefighter stepping off of the engine during the
  critical time period when an emergency has
  occurred
• Increased efficiency - 728 extra hours of
  protection with no increased cost. 2808 hours of
  coverage instead of 2080 hours. 35 more
  coverage for the same salary!
• Increase average coverage per shift, enhancing
  safety of firefighters
• Reduction in overtime by keeping minimum
  manning at 7

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Recommendation

• The Portage Fire Department with the support of
  the Portage Professional Firefighters Union,
  Local 1467 recommends the following
• Move current 40-Hour firefighters to 54-Hour
  shift
• Retain the temporary firefighter position
  permanently
• Assign the three current 40-Hour positions to a
  shift (A, B and C shift) creating an equal amount
  of staffing on each
• Maintain a Minimum Manning level of 7 (on duty)
  before overtime is utilized