This manual was created to provide procedures to follow for the Hillsboro Fire Department.
A. Definitions
1. “FIRE DEPARTMENT” shall mean the Fire Department of the City of Hillsboro, Kansas.
2. “MEMBER” shall mean all personnel of the Fire Department, regardless of their rank or duties, who have been employed or appointed by the Fire Chief or City Administrator.
3. “CHIEF OFFICER” shall mean those Officers of the Fire Department holding the rank of Chief or Assistant Chief.
4. “FIRE FIGHTER” shall mean any member of the firefighting personnel not holding the rank of an Officer.
5. “COMMANDING OFFICER” shall mean any Officer, or acting Officer, of the Fire Department who, being the ranking Officer present at any particular place and time, is the authority.
6. “RANKING FIRE FIGHTER” shall mean the Fire Fighter with the most seniority that may be present at any particular place and time.
7. “ACTING OFFICER” shall mean any Fire Fighter with the most seniority of those present, who in the absence of an Officer, is in command; or a Subordinate Officer duly designated by the Chief, City Administrator, or city ordinance to temporarily fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a higher rank.
8. “STATIONS” shall mean any buildings and grounds thereof used for the purpose of housing personnel, apparatus or any equipment of the Fire Department.
9. “RANKING PERSONNEL” shall be any Fire Fighter with five years or more on the Hillsboro Fire Department.
B. Rules & Regulations for the Hillsboro Fire Department
1. Courteous and gentlemanly bearing is indispensable to good discipline, and members of the department will be expected to act at all times, whether on duty or off, in a matter that will reflect credit upon themselves and the department.
2. Members shall perform their duties and assignments promptly and to the utmost of their ability. They shall be courageous, but not reckless. Fire Fighters are not to exceed the speed limit reporting to the fire station or the fire scene while in their private vehicle.
3. Members shall be courteous and respectful at all times.
4. Members shall be just and honorable in all of their relations with each other; they shall not make false reports or gossip concerning the department or to the discredit or injury of another member of the department or concerning department matters; nor shall they act in a manner calculated to create disturbance or dissension within the department.
5. Members shall refrain from altercations, disorderly conduct, and the use of profane, abusive, or improper language.
6. Members shall refrain from smoking, eating, or drinking on fire apparatus, while in motion, nor at the scene of an emergency until given permission by the Officer in charge.
7. Members shall not drink, bring or have brought, or keep beer or intoxicating liquor of any kind within the fire station or upon the premises thereof.
8. Members shall not report for duty when under the influence of liquor. Those suspected of violating this regulation will be subject to proper disciplinary action.
9. Furniture or equipment shall not be abused. Members will be held accountable for malicious or willfully damaged equipment or furniture.
10. All members are required to have a telephone of the local exchange in their residence.
11. Members are required to reside within the city limits of Hillsboro or within an adequate response time as determined by the fire chief.
12. All members are required to immediately notify the station officer of changes of address or telephone numbers.
13. Permission must be granted by the Chief prior to any equipment being removed from the station.
14. Members are responsible for equipment and gear assigned to them. If damaged or lost, other than in the line of duty, replacement is their personal responsibility.
15. Members are required to study and learn material assigned to them and shall perform to the best of their ability in drills and training.
16. When an alarm is received, members will respond to it in the safest, quickest, and most professional manner.
17. After returning from emergencies, apparatus and equipment will be placed back in service as soon as possible.
18. Notify the Chief or Officer in charge of any damaged or lost department equipment at the earliest possible instance.
19. Visitors are not permitted to ride on apparatus without permission from the Chief.
20. Parking is not permitted in front of the fire station at any time for any period of time.
21. Use of illegal non-prescription drugs or narcotics by members of the department will be cause for immediate dismissal.
22. Members shall not purchase goods for the department. Any unauthorized purchase will be charged to that member.
23. The station and premises will be kept neat and a clean appearance at all times. Litter and other trash will be placed in a waste receptacle.
24. Two weeks notice of pending resignations is desirable.
25. When a resident enters the station, the member is to inquire as to their needs and assist them in a friendly and courteous manner. Children must be supervised by an adult.
26. The Fire Department operates as a team. Everyone works together until the job is completed, both at fires and at the station.
27. All announcements over the intercom or radio system will be made in a businesslike and courteous manner.
28. Members of the Fire Department are expected to develop and maintain harmonious and cooperative relations within the department, and with other municipal departments and general public.
29. Members are required to know the nomenclature, use and position of all rescue, fire fighting and first-aid equipment assigned to the department.
30. The physical and mental conditions of members of the department must be kept at acceptable levels in order for the department to function efficiently. Members are subject to additional physical examination, if in the opinion of the Chief, there exists a question of a firefighter being able to perform his duty as a fireman. (At Fire Department expense)
31. All members must be at least eighteen years old in order to be on the department.
32. All members must possess a valid Kansas drivers license.
33. Any member who is absent from six drills in succession, unless being sick or injured, will be automatically dismissed from the department.
C. Hillsboro Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures
SOP-1. The Hillsboro Fire Department’s standard response on all city structure fires will be truck #4 with three men, truck #2 with three men aboard, and, truck #1 with minimum three men aboard.
SOP-2. The Hillsboro Fire Department’s standard response on any commercial building in the city limits will be pumper #1, #2 and #4 and a full crew if possible. Officer in charge or ranking personnel (five years or more on the Hillsboro Fire Department) will call for mutual-aid if necessary.
SOP-3. The Hillsboro Fire Department’s standard response on “Public Buildings” (college, nursing homes, hospital, schools and other places of assembly) will be trucks #1, #2 and #4 with a full crew. Officer in charge or ranking personnel will call for mutual-aid if necessary.
SOP-4. The Hillsboro Fire Department’s standard response on all rural fires within the fire district will be truck #4 with three men, tanker #3 with not less than two men, and truck #2 with three men aboard.
SOP-5. The Hillsboro Fire Department’s standard response to all mutual-aide calls will be one pumper with three men and one tanker with one man unless the chief or person in charge directs differently.
SOP-6. No Firemen will ride on the tailboard of any fire truck responding to or from a rural fire. Safety belts will be employed to and from fire scenes.
SOP-7. Headlights will be used in conjunction with emergency warning lights on all alarms.
SOP-8. Apparatus, when backed, shall be under the supervision of a back-up man in position to signal driver. Commands will be given by hand signal.
SOP-9. Liners will remain in bunkers the entire year. No exceptions permitted.
SOP-10. Structures equipped with sprinklers or standpipe systems will be supplied by first in unit and 150 lbs. pump pressure maintained under working fire conditions.
SOP-11. A request for “mutual aide” will be made by the Officer in charge at any time he deems it necessary. Officer shall specify what equipment is needed.
SOP-12. Fire Department pumpers (250 gal. per minute or more) will respond with a minimum of three people and tanker with a minimum of two unless Officer in charge directs differently.
SOP-13. Truck #1 shall remain in the city limits of Hillsboro unless the chief gives permission to do differently.
SOP-14. Officers of the department are the only authorized personnel to release department information. All others are not permitted, including while on the scene, other than if permission is given by person in charge or Chief.
SOP-15. Apparatus and equipment returned from alarms will be readied for service without delay and will be checked for lost, missing, or broken items, by the driver or operator.
SOP-16. Responding apparatus will take into consideration at all times, the safety of the public, road conditions, weather conditions, time of day, apparatus capabilities and the nature of the emergency and degree of urgency required.
SOP-17. Information pertaining to units out of service or station, etc. will be relayed to the Chief of his Assistant Chief at the earliest opportunity.
SOP-18. At all times, all units must have at least¾ tank of fuel, and shall be filled after each measurable run (ten miles or more) or (30 minutes or more).
SOP-19. CODE-1 response “indicates normal driving, posted speed, no lights, or siren”.
SOP-20. CODE-3 response “indicates driving safely, emergency lights, siren, headlights, all warning devices in use” (Ref. to SOP 17).
SOP-21. Drivers of apparatus will remain in radio contact with dispatcher at all times, and if he must be away from contact, he will notify dispatch before leaving.
SOP-22. Drivers are responsible for reporting missing or damaged items from their units when returning from alarms or training exercises.
SOP-23. Self-contained breathing apparatus will be worn by personnel when working in smoke or contaminated environment.
D. Rules for Officers
REG. 1. Officers shall secure all departmental property from members who have terminated their services with the department, and shall turn such items of departmental property to the custody of the Chief.
REG. 2. Officers shall immediately report all injuries to personnel and/or see that appropriate injury reports are completed and forwarded to the Chief.
REG. 3. Officers are responsible to see that all accidents and wrecks with the apparatus or departmental vehicles being operated by departmental personnel are reported verbally to the Chief, and that proper forms are obtained, completed, and copies filed with the proper authorities, including one copy forwarded to the Chief.
REG. 4. Officers shall apply sincere attention and concern towards maintaining economy in departmental operations. They shall be observant to conditions or situations of unnecessary use and/or waste, and shall require compliance with procedure, methods or directives that support economy in the care and use of utilities, supplies, furnishings, and equipment.
E. Chief of Fire Department
REG. 1. The Chief shall have the executive supervision and direction of the Fire Department, subject to the laws, ordinances and rules governing the department. He shall be under the supervision of the City Administrator, and be directly and responsibly accountable to the City Administrator for proper management and operations of the Fire Department.
REG. 2. The Chief shall have full control over the department’s fire station, apparatus, equipment, supplies and property. He shall be responsible for their proper use and maintenance.
REG. 3. The Chief shall establish and enforce departmental rules and regulations, and periodically revise such rules and regulations as needed, subject to approval of the City Administrator and/or City Council.
REG. 4. The Chief shall insist upon rigid discipline throughout the department. He may suspend or dismiss any member of the department or take such other action as he may deem necessary to maintain discipline. Such actions shall be in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Fire Department and/or the provisions of the personnel manual of the City of Hillsboro.
REG. 5. A more specific job description is included in the City of Hillsboro’s personnel plan. The Fire Chief will be required to meet the requirements set in the personnel plan.
F. Assistant Fire Chief
REG. 1. The Assistant Fire Chief is second in command of the Fire Department, and shall perform the duties of his office under the direction and supervision of the Chief. In the absence or disability of the Chief, he shall assume command of the Fire Department and have all of the duties, responsibilities and powers vested in the Fire Chief.
REG. 2. The Assistant Fire Chief shall make a reasonable effort to respond to all fire alarms in the city involving buildings that present a high-risk potential to life, value or exposure.
REG. 3. Either an Assistant Chief or the Chief shall make a reasonable effort to respond to any fire alarm in the city reported as a structural fire, or such other fire or emergencies as in their judgment may require their presence.
REG. 4. The Assistant Chief shall have authority over the activities, operations, equipment and property of the Department, under the supervision of the Chief.
REG. 5. The Assistant Chief shall be held responsible for such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the Chief.
REG. 6. The Assistant Chief shall be appointed by the City Administrator with the recommendation by the Fire Chief.
G. Fire Fighters
REG. 1. The ranking Fire Fighter present shall, in the absence of an Officer, assume command of a company, both at station or on the scene of a fire emergency.
REG. 2. Fire fighters shall participate in all training and instruction activities, and perform the same to the best of their ability.
REG. 3. Fire fighters shall perform such other duties or work as may be prescribed by Officers.
REG. 4. Applicants for employment in the Fire Department must be a citizen of the United States, and must be able to speak, read, and write at least the English language clearly and understandably.
REG. 5. Applicants shall be not less than eighteen years old.
REG. 6. No member shall exercise or attempt to exercise any political influence to affect the business or operation of the Fire Department.
REG. 7. Members shall possess a valid Kansas driver’s license.
REG. 8. Members shall be in and maintain good, physical health.