Napa County Grand Jury • 2007-2008

Napa County Fire Department Photos of the Atlas Peak fire 2006

Published: May 02, 2008 46 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 18 findings

F1
Lack of Authority. a. the MOU between the County of Napa and Volunteer Departments does appear to give authority to the Napa County Fire Chief to establish and enforce volunteer department hiring, training/operating policies and procedures, however subsequent provisions within the MOU take that authority away. b. the County has not evaluated the operation of all Napa County fire departments.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
the County Board of Supervisors establish a commission to review the overall operation of all Napa County fire departments with respect to the establishment of a central Napa County Fire Department.
F2
Training Problems: a. Based on Federal, State, Cal OSHA, and County requirements, Napa County has not defined the minimum acceptable level of training for new 29 volunteer firefighters and continued training for all volunteer firefighters as County employees. b. procedural requirements impacting the safety of firefighters and the public alike, dating at least to 1996, have not been fully developed and enforced. c. the hiring and training policies of the nine Volunteer Fire Departments vary significantly and it is unclear whether specific hiring and training requirements exist. d. some Napa County Volunteer firefighters do not possess the basic EMT qualifications although 80-85% of fire department emergency calls are medical in nature. e. firefighter instructors assigned to Napa County volunteer firefighters have no specific experience qualifications in their job descriptions. f. the NCFD budget for current year includes $83,143 for one fulltime training fire captain.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
the County Board of Supervisors consider the hire of a dedicated Napa County employee whose primary responsibility would be to focus on the coordination and support of the County Volunteer firefighters.
F3
the Board of Supervisors has not insured that the provisions of the County/NCFD were fully implemented.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
the MOU between the County of Napa and Volunteer Departments be amended to grant the Napa County Fire Chief clear authority to establish and enforce volunteer department training and operating policies and procedures.
F4
the NCFD has apparently not always maintained the training certificates and other records that were submitted to it by the Volunteer Fire Departments.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
recognizing that volunteer firefighters are effectively county employees while engaged in fire department activities, Napa County establish a level of training that meets all applicable Federal, State, Cal OSHA and County requirements. Non-compliance with the law is not a viable option and places the County at risk.
F5
there is broad support among County firefighters for an integrated County fire department that includes all the fire departments in the County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
all Volunteer firefighters be trained and certified as Firefighter I/EMTs, and the training be provided and paid for by the County.
F6
of the authorized 250, there are now less than 200 Volunteer firefighters, a decline of 20% over the past five years. Napa County cannot afford to replace Volunteer firefighters with paid firefighters, nor would this be desirable.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
all training of volunteer firefighters be provided by fully qualified instructors meeting all applicable standards.
F7
the volunteer stipend system neither reflects the number of response calls which a volunteer makes nor rewards volunteers for advanced qualifications.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
the upgrading of the Napa County Fire Department Policies and Procedures Manual be addressed as a high priority with specific timeline goals established and monitored. Specific policies which must be implemented immediately are: a. A grievance procedure which provides a mechanism for the department personnel to raise and address issues which adversely affect their abilities to perform duties, personnel problems, and accusation of wrongdoing. b. Volunteer Firefighter Driver/Operator requirements be formally defined. Existing drivers should be given adequate time to complete the requirements, but not “grandfathered.” c. minimum emergency response driver training standards for AEV drivers be established. d. all new AEV drivers be required to complete the training prior to operating their vehicles in a Code 3 response. e. existing AEV drivers be given a reasonable time to complete the requisite training, but not be “grandfathered.” f. the County require that the owners of private vehicles operating as an AEV provide written evidence that they either have an appropriate AEV rider on their vehicle insurance or written documentation from their insurance company that the vehicle is covered while operating as an AEV. 32 g. the County establish a policy that details equal accommodations for Volunteer firefighters who are part of a County deployed strike team to that of their paid counterparts.
F8
NCFD Policies and Procedures: a. the upgrading of the NCFD Policies and Procedures Manual, which was to have been completed by 1998, has not been addressed, the Manual does not contain a grievance procedure, nor does it define volunteer Firefighter Driver/Operator requirements.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
the volunteer stipend be based on the number of emergency responses made by the volunteer while retaining the training requirement as an eligibility criteria. In addition, a tiered compensation system which rewards advanced qualifications be implemented.
F9
Strike Teams: a. Volunteer firefighters who are part of a County deployed strike team are not provided accommodations equal to their paid counterparts. b. it takes several months for Volunteer firefighters who were part of a County deployed strike team to be paid for their time. c. the NCFD has a fund to permit timely payment of strike team volunteer firefighters.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
the County fund the required emergency response driver training for volunteer firefighters.
F10
AEV: a. no training/qualifications requirements exist for AEV drivers. b. there is no system to verify if AEV drivers have their vehicles properly insured. c. the County does not reimburse individual volunteer firefighters for any additional insurance premium costs incurred for the operation of authorized AEVs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
the County reimburse individual volunteer firefighters for any additional insurance premium costs incurred for the operation of properly authorized AEVs.
F11
Fire Stations: 30 a. the current location of Station #10 imposes significant travel requirements for responding volunteers. b. there is no sign or street light on the road to indicate the entrance to the Capell Valley Volunteer Fire Department. c. the Carneros Volunteer Fire Department, Milton Road station is old, sits in the flood plain and is in need of upgrading. d. the Carneros satellite building leaks profusely when it rains and paved parking is limited for responding Volunteer firefighters. e. the Dry Creek-Lokoya Volunteer Fire Department station needs running water, a septic system, a flush toilet and an exhaust system. f. the Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire station needs potable water and a water system upgrade. g. the Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire station has no usable apparatus at this fire station, so responds from the Monticello Fire station. Response time has been extended to an unacceptable 30+ minutes to some areas within the Soda Canyon service area. h. the Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire station driveway/volunteer parking is currently restricted by new neighbor entrance/gate in noncompliance with Napa County Code, Title 18.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
the funds to pay a Volunteer firefighter who was part of a County deployed strike team be made available on a routine basis and in a timely manner to insure that they are promptly compensated for their time.
F12
Apparatus: a. three NCFD engines and one water tender predate 1985, and eleven engines and one rescue vehicle predate 1991. b. the above stated vehicles do not meet current NCFD 1901 safety standards for fire apparatus. c. the Gordon Valley Volunteer Fire Department needs a water tender. d. the Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire Department needs a smaller Type IV unit (suitable for the smaller country roads, dirt roads, smaller driveways and bridges characteristic of the area) to be housed at the Soda Canyon station. e. the Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire Department needs a rescue truck with defibrillator housed at the Soda Canyon station.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Fire Stations: a. relocate the Station #10 to a combined Napa City/County fire station in Browns Valley. b. the County install a road sign and light on the road at the entrance to the Capell Valley Volunteer Fire Station. c. the County rectify the restricted access/parking issue at the Soda Canyon Fire Station regarding new neighbor entrance gate.
F13
Fundraising: a. many of the nine Volunteer Fire Departments do annual fundraising for capital improvements and other department needs. b. proceeds from the Carneros Run 2008, are to benefit the Carneros Volunteer Fire Department new building fund. c. proceeds from the Winemakers Classic are to benefit the Dry Creek- Lokoya capital campaign for expanded station construction.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
Apparatus: a. the County replace as soon as possible, all firefighting vehicles that predate 1991, with vehicles that are appropriate for the individual service area requirements. b. the County provide as soon as possible, a water tender to Gordon Valley Volunteer Fire Department. c. the County provide as soon as possible, a Type IV unit and a rescue vehicle with defibrillator that will fit into and be housed at Soda Canyon station.
F14
the Soda Canyon Volunteer Fire Department service area has the second highest number of emergency incidents in Napa County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
the NCFD continue the policy of consulting the Volunteer Chief or appointed representative from a given volunteer fire department when equipment is being selected for their use.
F15
the NCFD has modified the makeup of the selection committee charged with specifying the purchase of “appropriate sized emergency response vehicles” to the area of service.
Related Recommendations (1)
R15
all fire departments within Napa County have the same rapid entry system locks with a “universal” Key.
F16
California Fire Code requires that an approved rapid emergency entry gate switch or padlock be installed where access to or within a structure or area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life- saving or fire-fighting purposes. 31
Related Recommendations (1)
R16
Volunteer fire departments receive greater support from the County and in return, relinquish some of their long held independence. REQUEST FOR RESPONSES The 2007-2008 Grand Jury requests responses from: o The Napa County Board of Supervisors to all the above. o The Napa County Fire Chief to all of the above, except #12. o Chiefs: City of Napa, and Calistoga Fire Departments to Recommendation #15 33 o All Volunteer Napa County Fire Chiefs (optional response as per discretion of each)
F17
much of Napa County is considered a high fire hazard environment.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
Napa County residents who live in rural areas can expect an emergency response time of 14 minutes; Napa County residents who live in remote (travel distance of > 8 miles) can expect emergency response time of 14+ minutes or more.
No recommendations for this finding

Commendations 1

Agency Responses 4

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.