FIRE PROTECTION
BERTIE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
Reviewed / Updated: August 25, 2015

Primary Agency: Fire Departments
 
Support Agencies: Emergency Management
  Fireman's Association
   
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Preparedness / Response Checklist
Also see:
Annex Hazmat / LEPC
  Terrorism
Checklists All
Guidance DOT Hazardous Materials Guidebook
Forms Incident Command
   
   
I. PURPOSE

 This section provides for the coordination of fire, rescue and hazardous materials activities during emergency situations in Bertie County.
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A. Situation:
  1. Fire prevention and control operations are daily problems faced by fire service personnel. Several hazards become more significant during emergency situations including civil disturbances and hazardous materials accidents. 
     

  2. Bertie County is served by twelve fire departments. Seven departments serve municipalities as well as unincorporated areas. Five departments serve only unincorporated areas.
     

  3. On occasion, fire stations have been used as public shelters.
     

  4. Only one department, Windsor, has a paid firefighter; all other firefighters in Bertie County are volunteers.
     

  5. The Bertie County Firefighters Association, composed of all fire departments, serves as an advocacy group for firefighters. The Bertie County Emergency Management Coordinator acts as the County's liaison to the Bertie County Firefighters Association.
     

  6. The NC Division of Forest Resources is the lead agency for forest and wildland fire control in Bertie County. Bertie County is in the Division's Elizabeth City District which maintains an equipment yard at Green's Cross. 
     

  7. Residential development in wooded areas known as urban interface has increased the hazard posed by forest fires.  
     

  8. All fire departments rely on the Bertie County 911 communications system for primary dispatching and communications.
     

  9. One fire department also operates an emergency medical unit.
     

  10. Mutual aid agreements exist among fire departments within Bertie County; some agreements exist with departments in neighboring counties.
     

  11. Hazardous material emergencies may occur from any of the following sources:

    • Fixed facility releases

    • Transportation accidents

    • Vandalism/Intentional releases

    • Agricultural incidents
       

  12. There is no formal hazardous materials response team in Bertie County.  Firefighters are the primary responders to any hazardous materials event, although capabilities are generally limited to defensive actions.
     

  13. The State of North Carolina, through the Division of Emergency Management, has established six hazardous materials regional response teams intended to assist localities with response to hazardous materials incidents. Bertie County is served by RRT-1.
     

  14. Emergency responders are represented on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).  The LEPC has been established at the County level by the State Emergency Response Commission to identify the magnitude of local chemical hazards, assess the vulnerability of the community to the hazards and provide planning guidance for emergency response to hazardous materials events.
     

  15. A Facility Emergency Coordinator has been identified as a point of contact for each facility in the County which possesses threshold quantities of various chemicals defined as Extremely Hazardous Substances under SARA Title III, Section 302 of EPCRA.
     

  16. The Bertie County Emergency Management Coordinator serves as the Community Emergency Coordinator for the LEPC.
     

  17. SARA facilities can report releases of Extremely Hazardous Substances to the LEPC/Community Emergency Coordinator via notification to the 911 Communications Center.
     

  18. Federal law requires that all first responders to hazardous materials incidents be trained to minimum specified levels.
     

  19. Current SARA facility information is maintained on the County computer system; this information is accessible to emergency responders through the 911 Communications Center.
     

  20. The Division of Emergency Management is the lead state agency for the utilization and coordination of state resources.

  B. Assumptions:
  1. Existing fire personnel and equipment will be able to cope with most emergency situations through the use of existing mutual aid agreements. When additional support is required, assistance can be obtained from state and federal agencies.
     

  2. Planning and training prior to an incident will significantly reduce the risk to personnel.
     

  3. When additional or specialized support is required, assistance can be obtained from state and federal agencies.
     

  4. Fire departments may be requested to perform tasks not associated with routine duties, such as search, emergency debris removal, alert and notification, evacuation, shelter staffing, etc. 
     

  5. Fire stations will become a community focal point where people seeking basic necessities and information may congregate following an emergency/disaster. It is expected that fire stations in affected areas will be manned during critical periods of an emergency/disaster.
     

  6. All SARA facilities have been identified.
     

  7. All applicable facilities have reported chemical inventories.
     

  8. Facility Coordinators will report the release of a hazardous substance to the LEPC/Community Emergency Coordinator in a timely manner.
     

  9. Hazardous materials incidents may require emergency evacuation or sheltering-in-place of the threatened population.
     

  10. Hazardous materials incidents for which a responsible party cannot be identified will be resolved at the expense of the jurisdiction in which the incidents occur.

III.

 CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
  A. During emergencies, the fire service must be prepared to support operations utilizing available expertise, equipment and manpower. 
 
  B. In an emergency which requires a number of emergency services (eg., fire, rescue, law enforcement ) to respond, all units, regardless of service, will be coordinated by an Incident Commander.
 
  C. If fire or threat of fire is involved, the Fire Chief or designee of the district in which the fire or threat has occurred, is the Incident Commander and will coordinate their activities with the Emergency Operations Center when activated. The exception to this is when a woodland fire is occurring and the N.C. Forest Service maintains Incident Command. Unified Command will take place when a woodland fire threatens structures. 
 
  D. If no fire or threat of fire exists, the Incident Commander will be determined by prior mutual consent of the chiefs of emergency services on the scene and will be dependent upon the agency with the most involvement.
 
  E. Under the North Carolina Hazardous Chemicals Right to Know Act, the Fire Chief should survey facilities within the jurisdiction to identify types and volumes of hazardous materials located within the County. They should consider this information when developing response plans for hazardous materials accidents within the district.

Coordination of facility emergency response plans with the local Emergency Operations Plan will be included in fire service planning. The Bertie County Local Emergency Planning Committee or the Emergency Management Coordinator has the responsibility for the development of the County response plan in addition to development of site specific plans for industries that pose a significant hazard to the community because of the materials on site. 
 
  F. When responding to a situation involving hazardous materials the fire departments will observe standard operating procedures set up by their individual department and dependent on their level of training.  
 
  G. Determining that a release of hazardous materials has occurred will be dependent on the information received by the Emergency Communications Center from a facility or transportation incident. Upon arrival of the emergency responders further determination will be made as to the extent of spread and amount of release as well as confirmation of the name of the product.
 
  H.

When two or more state agencies respond to an event, the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management's Area Coordinator or his designee will serve as the state lead for coordination of all state resources at the scene of the local emergency.
 
  I.

Training programs for emergency responders in the County will be a combination of in-service training, community college courses, LEPC workshops, and various specialized courses and workshops.
 
  J.

Fire/Rescue

  1. During the critical phases of an emergency/disaster, fire stations in the affected areas will be opened and continuously manned, as conditions permit, and volunteer firefighters will report for duty.  Communications will be established and maintained with the 911 Communications Center/EOC. 
     

  2. Fire stations should not be utilized as public shelters due to the following:

  • Interference with emergency operations

  • Liability associated with shelter openings

  • Possibility of long-term need for shelter space

  1. The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources is the lead agency for woodland and forest fire control. During forest fire events, the local fire department's role will be to augment fire control and the protection of structures threatened by the forest fire.
     

  2. Resources required by fire departments beyond those available through mutual aid will be requested through the Emergency Operations Center or the Emergency Management Coordinator.

  K.

Hazardous Materials

  1. Facility emergency plans and procedures will coordinate with the overall community plan utilized by the LEPC.
     

  2. The Bertie County and Municipalities Emergency Operations Plan will serve as the official LEPC plan for hazardous materials events.
     

  3. When a release of a hazardous substance occurs, timely notification by the Facility Coordinator to the Communications Center will result in the following:

    • Alerting of appropriate response agencies

    • Implementation of the Emergency Operations Plan as needed

    • Coordination with other potentially affected jurisdictions
       

  4. The Community Emergency Coordinator (EM Coordinator) will warn the public of the threat through established systems and procedures, as described in EOP Section, Notification and Warning.
     

  5. When a hazardous materials emergency exceeds County capabilities, the Incident Commander will request a response by the North Carolina Regional Response Team.  Requests will be made by one of these methods:

    • Through the Emergency Management Coordinator

    • Directly to the State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh
       

  6. During hazardous materials releases in populated areas, isolation and/or immediate evacuation of threatened individuals will be required. Evacuation will consist of removal to a safe area; if such movement is impossible or impractical under conditions, the threatened population will be instructed to "shelter-in-place".
     

  7. The current US-DOT Guidebook will be utilized by first responders to a hazardous materials incident.

  L.

Marine Emergencies
 
   

  1. In the event of a major oil spill, the County will respond in accordance with the Northeastern Area Oil Spill Contingency Plan and coordinate with the United States Coast Guard's On-Scene Commander.

  M. Within the National Response Framework, all fire fighting functions are considered an emergency support function (ESF 4).
 
IV. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
 
  A. Direction and Control of local fire departments is exercised by the executive branch of government under the supervision of the respective Fire Chief. Each fire department exercises control over its personnel through a board of directors who uses an officer system for management. 
 
  B. Coordination of fire service in an emergency is accomplished by the Chief, utilizing mutual aid agreements developed with local units; and statewide, through the State Emergency Response Team.
 
  C. When the EOC is activated, the representative of the Fireman's Association will normally be located in the Emergency Operations Center to support the coordination of fire fighting forces. 
 

V.

 CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
 
 

The line of succession for fire is:

  1. Fire Department Chief

  2. Assistant Fire Department Chief

  3. President - Bertie County Fireman's Association

Attachment 1
Fire Service Disaster Preparedness/Response Checklist
 
     
  Fire Chief
 
  When notified, report to the Emergency Operations Center and serve in the Support group, until relieved or the incident is terminated.
 
  Receive a situational briefing. Ask questions and address concerns.
 
  Advise the EOC of the availability of fire fighting and fire service response resources, including the number of personnel and apparatus that may be available.
 
  Advise the EOC of any special apparatus or personnel needs that are immediately known.
 
  Review mutual aid agreements to ensure such agreements are formalized.
 
  Implement mutual aid as necessary, requested or required.
 
  Be familiar with the process to request RRTs (Regional Response Team) and make such requests as needed.
 
  Ensure Incident Command is implemented at each incident. If appropriate, fire service Incident Commanders should report their situations and special requests for assistance to the Fire Marshal who is also the county fire service liaison in the Emergency Operations Center. "Normal" requests for assistance (i.e. additional personnel, additional equipment, etc.) will be made through the Communications Center.
 
  Establish and maintain communications with fire service Incident Commanders.
     
  Incident Commander
 
  Receive a situational briefing from the Fire Marshal or Fire Service Emergency Operations Center liaison . Ask questions and address concerns.
 
  Advise the Fire Marshal of the availability of department response resources, including the number of personnel and apparatus that may be available.
 
  Advise the Fire Marshal of any special apparatus or personnel needs that are immediately known.
 
  Hold a situational briefing with all response personnel and include in the briefing:
   
Ensure the primary functions of the department are carried out (i.e. fire suppression, protection of lives and property, etc.).
Overall situation (i.e. impending hurricane, severe weather, damages, power lines down, roads blocked, etc.).
Maps of area as necessary.
Specific mission assignments (i.e. damage assessment, search operations assistance, debris clearance, etc.).
Current weather and forecast weather reports.
Safety.
Specific personnel assignments (who will serve as incident commander, communications, safety, liaison, etc.).
Location of staging areas, check points, fuel supplies, food, etc.
Advise personnel to log mileage of all vehicles used and the amount of time (in hours) that all equipment was used, including but not limited to all apparatus, chainsaws, fuel, hose, pumps, lighting equipment, etc.
If department is a "paid" department, advise personnel to track and record all overtime and report this to their supervisor in writing at the end of each shift.
 
  Be prepared to conduct damage assessment of the area and report findings to the Emergency Operations Center.
 
  Request, as necessary, assistance through the EOC.
 
  If first on the scene and incident command has not been established, establish incident command and utilize the appropriate incident command forms to assist you. Assume the role of Incident Commander until relieved.
 
  Establish and maintain communications with:
   
Personnel on the scene
Communications Center
Emergency Operations Center
Staging area
 
  See Hazard Specific Checklists that are attachments to the County Emergency Operations Plan, for assistance in determining potential/necessary actions for your department.
 
  File reports with the Fire Marshal and/or designated EOC representative when requested or required.
 
 

Bertie County Emergency Management - PO Box 530 - Windsor, NC 27983-0530