Ventura County Grand Jury
• 2007-2008
Ventura Port District: Delivery of Fire Services
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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 39 findings
F01
The VCFD staffs six fire stations located throughout the City. These stations were built to serve existing demographic needs at the time of construction. [Att-01]
F02
Fire Station 6, the last station built, was constructed in East Ventura in 1988. The City’s population in 1988 was approximately 90,000 and VCFD responded to 5,765 calls for service.
F03
In 2007, the City population was approximately 107,000. The VCFD responded to 11,227 calls for service, 72% were for medical assistance. [Att-03]
F04
The published total response time goal for the VCFD is five minutes, 90% of the time, to any point within the City. Fire Services: Ventura Port District 3
F05
The VCFD achieves the total response time goals for approximately 57% of emergency responses throughout the City.
F06
In 2005, VCFD published the Fire Master Plan which examined station placement and response times for all areas of the City.
F07
The National Fire Protection Association recommends a maximum allowable time of 90 seconds or less to receive calls and dispatch fire personnel. [Ref-03]
F08
The National Fire Protection Association recommends a maximum allowable time of 60 seconds or less to don equipment and leave the station. [Ref-02]
F09
The Harbor Area is served by Fire Station 2 located at 41 S. Seaward Avenue near Main Street, and is staffed by a single engine company and one unmanned reserve fire engine. This station is 3.48 miles from the most distant addresses in the Harbor Area. (Note: MapQuest lists a drive time of 6 minutes to these locations.)
F10
Fire Station 2 received 2,255 calls for service in 2007, making it one of the busiest stations in the City. The Fire Master Plan establishes 3000 annual calls as an upper limit for efficient handling of fire emergency incidents.
F11
According to VCFD management, emergency responses to the Harbor Area have been recorded as eight to eleven minutes. [Att-02]
F12
In 2007, the VCFD responded to 572 calls for service in the Harbor Area.
F13
VCFD Management states total response time goals are met on about 10% of calls for services into the Harbor Area.
F14
In early 2007, the VCFD instituted a “roving” fire engine, staffed by three firefighter/paramedics, to address extended response times within the Harbor Area and the rest of the City. The roving engine also provides coverage during fire department training events.
F15
The roving engine company is normally staffed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and alternating Mondays and Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is in the Harbor Area an average of 5% to 10% of the time.
F16
According to VCFD Management the roving engine has improved citywide response times. Ventura Harbor Patrol
F17
The Port District employs Harbor Patrol Officers (HPOs) whose primary duties are to enforce harbor ordinances and the State of California Boating and Waterways Code.
F18
There are nine budgeted HPO positions, including the Harbor Master, with two to three officers on duty daily.
F19
HPOs are on duty from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Fire Services: Ventura Port District
F20
There are no HPOs on duty from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. An HPO is “On- Call” during these hours. (Note: The Port District discontinued 24-hour coverage in 1991.)
F21
HPO’s primary responsibility is for Port District-owned properties and occasional boat patrols of the Ventura Keys. If requested by another agency, they respond to ocean emergencies up to three miles outside the Harbor including the Ventura City Pier.
F22
HPOs devote 20% to 40% of their time patrolling on water and the remainder to various land-based activities.
F23
VCFD and HPOs are dispatched simultaneously to fire and medical aid calls for service on Port District properties and adjacent areas.
F24
HPOs assist the VCFD from the Harbor Patrol Office and from land- based activities. When engaged in patrol duties on water, HPOs may not be able to respond in a timely manner and therefore may choose not to respond.
F25
According to Port District management, HPO response times are estimated to be three to four minutes when dispatched while on land, eight to ten minutes when dispatched from water patrol, and ten to twenty-one minutes when called to respond after hours.
F26
The Port District owns three patrol boats; one is equipped for firefighting.
F27
HPOs are not certified California State Firefighters but assist the VCFD by transporting firefighters to emergencies on water and by providing waterside access to fires on land. (Note: VCFD and the Port District have a formalized Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing cooperative use of the fire boat.)
F28
HPOs are trained as Level-1 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and provide non-paramedic, first responder assistance to Port District- owned properties only.
F29
According to VCFD records, HPOs assisted with 164 fire calls and medical aid in 2007. Ventura Port District Development Plan
F30
The Port District has plans to develop 23 acres of District-owned land within the Harbor.
F31
The Port District selected a developer in May of 2000 to plan and develop this acreage.
F32
In 2004, the City suggested a reworking of these initial development plans.
F33
In the fall of 2006, the developer agreed to provide $3.25 million for the construction of a fire station to serve the Harbor and adjacent areas as part of the Fire Master Plan. The $3.25 million is contingent upon final approval of development plans. Fire Services: Ventura Port District 5
F34
The Port District and the City have agreed upon District-owned parcel 19-A as the probable location for future Fire Station 7.
F35
Terms of an MOU are being negotiated between the City and the District as to how this parcel will be developed for use as a fire station. City of Ventura
F36
City management and the City Council have identified public safety as a top priority for all areas of the City.
F37
A local sales tax over-ride for public safety titled, “Gang Prevention, 911 Emergency/Public Safety Improvement,” (known as P-6) was intended to expand fire and police staffing. It did not receive the required 2/3 majority in the November 2006 election.
F38
Public safety improvements in 2007 used greater than expected property tax revenues. City management projects a decrease in budgeted sales tax revenues of $2.0 million as part of a projected $4.0 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2008-2009.
F39
In January of 2008, Ventura City Council adopted an ordinance for the recovery of costs associated with staffing the police 911 Emergency Call Center. City management stated that it intends to hire police and firefighters with the new revenue. Fire Services: Ventura Port District Conclusions C-01. The VCFD bases the efficient delivery of fire services on a five-minute response time for 90% of calls for service. (F-01, F-04 through F-06,
Recommendations 7
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R01The City should follow the Fire Master Plan recommendation to build Fire Station 7. (C-01 through C-04, C-06)
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R02The City should reallocate money in existing budgets or find alternate funding sources to build, equip and staff Fire Station 7 on Port District property. (C-01 through C-04, C-06)
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R03The VCFD should expand the hours of the roving engine company and position it in the Harbor Area for a majority of the hours and extend coverage to the weekends. (C-01 through C-04)
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R04The District should continue the use of HPOs to deliver EMT services in the Harbor Area until Fire Station 7 is built and staffed. (C-01 through C-05)
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R05The District should reinstate Harbor Patrol staffing to a 24-hour seven days-a-week basis to enhance response times during those hours not covered by the City’s roving engine. (C-01 through C-05) Fire Services: Ventura Port District 7
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R06The VCFD, with the Ventura County Fire Protection District, should review dispatch technology and policies to reduce total response times. (C-03)
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R07The VCFD should review procedures and practices for ways to reduce the time needed for firefighters to don equipment and respond. (C-03) Responses Responses Required: City Council, City of Ventura (R-01 through R-03, R-06, R-07) Board of Port Commissioners, Ventura Port District (R-04, R-05) References Ref-01 Ventura City Fire Department Fire Facility and Equipment Master Plan Ref-02 National Fire Protection Association Standard 1710 Ref-03 National Fire Protection Association Standard 1221 Attachments Att-01 Map VCFD Fire Reporting Districts Att-02 VCFD Response Times Att-03 Graph Call History, Population 8 Fire Services: Ventura Port District Attachment-01 Ventura City Fire Department Fire Reporting Districts Fire Services: Ventura Port District 9 (This page intentionally blank) 10 Fire Services: Ventura Port District Fire Services: Ventura Port District 11 (This page intentionally blank) 12 Fire Services: Ventura Port District Attachment-02 Ventura City Fire Department Fire Response Times Fire Services: Ventura Port District 13 (This page intentionally blank) 14 Fire Services: Ventura Port District Fire Services: Ventura Port District 15 (This page intentionally blank) 16 Fire Services: Ventura Port District Attachment–03 Chart VCFD Total Calls Ventura City Population Number of Firefighters Fire Services: Ventura Port District 17 (This page intentionally blank) 18 Fire Services: Ventura Port District VVeennttuurraa CCoouunnttyy 22000077 –– 22000088 GGrraanndd JJuurryy FFiinnaall RReeppoorrtt FFiirree SSeerrvviicceess:: VVeennttuurraa PPoorrtt DDiissttrriicctt 1199 (This page intentionally blank) 20 Fire Services: Ventura Port District
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 7C-01. The VCFD bases the efficient delivery of fire services on a five-minute response time for 90% of calls for service. (F-01, F-04 through F-06, F-36) C-02. The VCFD does not meet stated response time goals for calls for service in or adjacent to the Ventura Harbor because of the location of responding fire stations to the areas being served. (F-02, F-03, F-06 through F-13) C-03. Residents of, and visitors to, the Harbor Area receive delayed fire services due to the time it takes to respond from the nearest fire station. This is not the case for most other areas of the City. Call volume, dispatch, and call reaction time may also contribute to extended response times. (F-05 through F-09, F-11, F-13) [Att-02] C-04. VCFD Station 2, the closest station to the Harbor Area, is at 75% of its capacity for answering calls for service. Proposed developments in the Harbor Area will likely result in increased demand for fire services affecting all the areas served by Fire Station 2 and other stations. (F-01 through F-03, F-06, F-10, F-12, F-30 through F-35) C-05. Emergency responses provided by the Harbor Patrol are limited by resources, staffing, and required level of training to fill an interim role in the delivery of medical services traditionally provided by the VCFD. (F-17 through F-29) C-06. Revenue for building and staffing proposed Fire Station 7 on Port District property remains unresolved because of the City’s current financial constraints. (F-33 through F-35, F-37 through F-39)
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
San Buenaventura
City
Ventura Port District
Port Authority