Operations Support

Purchasing

Often, the unsung heroes of the department are our purchasing department. Last year purchasing created 1,910 purchase orders and made 3,470 credit card purchases totaling just over 10.5 million dollars to support Operations and the mission of the Fire Department.  

Supply

Coordinates through local, state, and even national contracts with suppliers and vendors on all procurement, receiving, warehousing, and issuance/delivery of consumables, from uniforms and personal protective equipment to office and janitorial supplies.  This includes medical supplies & heavy tools, and the equipment used on all our apparatus.  Purchasing also handles all P.O.’s (purchasing orders) for all large apparatus, including our fire boats.

• Cristina Santillan and Lt. Joshua Pfeiffer attended the Operative IQ

conference and training to gain a better understanding of the current

usage and future potential of the inventory management system.

• A detailed annual inventory was conducted to find out-of-date

overstock and appropriate par level updates for all supply stock. This

included reorganizing the supply cage area for more efficient

daily workflow.

• Two events were organized to supply Recruit Class 64 with their

training equipment and issue field items at the conclusion of

the recruit academy. The warehouse was then reorganized to host

Candidate physical ability test (CPAT) for the upcoming Recruit Class 65.

• A turnout gear wear trial of three manufacturers was conducted with

20 participants and concluded at the end of 2024. I outfitted RC64 & RC65 at Logistics with uniforms and PPE, hosted CPAT for RC66, and am preparing to issue their uniforms and PPE. 

Ground Support  

Coordinates all related planning, specifications, testing, inspections, and servicing for the department’s entire front-line and reserve fleets.  Additional responsibilities include the Equipment shop, which procures, repairs, and services all the equipment necessary to place the vehicle assets In-service to the public.  The current fleet is:

• 64 engines and pumper-tankers

• 17 trucks, quints, and towers

• 58 ambulances and medic units

• 8 rescue squads

• 9 tankers

• 16 brush trucks

• 8 specialty vehicles (mobile ambulance bus, mobile command and control unit, technical rescue pod hauler, dive unit, air wagon, coffee wagon)

• 8 fireboats and rescue boats

• 250+ support vehicles: vans, pickups, SUVs, sedans and trailers, etc.

New vehicles delivered in 2024:

• 10 Ford Explorers (QI-1, QI-2, FM-850, FM-2, OPS-5, PIO-1, Safety-1, Safety-2, Supply-1).

• Fire Boat 19.

• Dive Boat 8.

• 6 Freightliner/Horton Medic Units (MU-2, MU-10, MU-12, MU-19, MU-27, MU -33B).

• Special Unit 19 & 41, Ford F350 Utility Body.

• FM861 K-9 F250.

• 3 Ford Expeditions (Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, BC-3).

• 4 Ford Escapes (FM-10, FM-11, FM-23, FM-32).

• Ford Edge – FM-31.

• Ford F350 Box Truck – Mobile Air Shop (Air Maintenance 1).

• Ford F250 – Safety 5.

• 6x10 Cynergy Cargo Trailer – Special Events Podium Transport.

• Ford F150 Recruiter truck – PIO-6.

Vehicles currently under construction / On order:

• Fire Boat 41

• Tower Ladder 40

• Truck 1, Truck 31, Truck 29, Truck 30

• E-211, E-301, E-311, E-402

• 3 - Freightliner/Horton Medic Units 

• 6 - International/Horton Medic Units 

• 4 - Ford F-550/Horton BLS Units - (A-129, A-209, A-219, A-349).

• International / EVI Air Wagon

• 2 - Ford Expeditions - (BC-4 & EMS-2)

• 2 - Ford Explorers - FMO

• Ford F-150 - Fire Alarm 5

• Ford F-250 - Special Operations Chief

• Ford F-350 Utility Body - Ground Support 10

• 2 - Ford F-350's - Ground Support 1 & 2

Equipment Shop

Responsible for maintaining and repairing all firefighting equipment, including nozzles & valves, lighting equipment, rescue tools, powered saws, and positive-pressure ventilation fans.

• Continued upgrade of 6 Lucas devices to the Lucas 3.

• Upgraded 8 suction units to the new VX2

• Preparing for transition to LP35 monitors – 4 ordered and should arrive soon.

• Completed county-wide annual maintenance and repair of all biomedical equipment, including cardiac monitors, Lucas devices, stretchers, and Power-Load systems.

• Received two new battery-powered Holmatro equipment sets.

• Upgraded 10 Bullard QXT’s to QXT Pro and distributed to stations.

Facilities

Acts as a Liaison between the FD, FMD and County Contractors on Capital projects including full remodels of Kitchens, baths, and Engine Bays, etc.  Additional responsibilities include the Air shop 

• Repairs of HVAC systems throughout the summer in all the FD buildings

• Upgrade/replacement of the HVAC system at station 31

• Front ramp replacement at station 7

• Overhead door replacement at station 33

• Bay floor replacement at station 30

• Generator upgrade/replacement at station 21

• Bathroom renovations at stations 40, 41, 23, and 9

• Siding and window replacement at station 41

• Parking lot repair and restriping at station 41

• Kitchen renovation at station 40 

• Kitchen renovation at station 31

• Emergency generators serviced at all the firehouses

• Repairs to bay doors in all the firehouses

Repair requests and Non-Capital projects:

• Renovated the bunkroom at station 7 to accommodate the increase in career staffing.

• Installed a gravel pad and installed electricity to the office trailer at station 7 to accommodate the increase in career staffing.

• Trimmed and removed trees at many firehouses and FD-owned lots.

• Replaced the O2 shed at station 40.

• Approving specifications for all apparatus purchases (county and volunteer) and coordinating the purchase of all county-owned vehicles. 

• Added a Kitchenette to the office spaces at the Logistics warehouse.

Air shop

Maintenance and repair of breathing apparatus, breathing air compressors, and cascade systems, including air quality testing and filling of cylinders and cascades.

• Provided internal specifications for newly acquired Mobile Air Shop to be put in service

• Serviced and maintained the County's 7 Compressors ( quarterly air samples and every six month oil/ filter change)

• Calibration of Quantifit machines (3) as well as Posi Cheks (4)

• Provided support for Special Ops in arranging SCBA adapters for Air Cart and portable trench Air pack for better mobility

• Fit tested over 1300 career and volunteer personnel

• Maintenance and flow testing of 571 SCBA packs annually; also daily repairs to get frontline SCBA back in the field

• Service Tickets checked daily to promptly get SCBA back in service (over 1000 service tickets)

• Maintain and service Tango and Ventis monitors

• Revamped Training Academy SCBA prior to both Recruit Classes 

• Prior to Recruits release to the field rebuilt G1 facepieces as needed and flow tested for functionality.

• Continued to pilot (in conjunction with IMD) Bluetooth connection between MSA G1 facepiece and portable radio for clearer radio communications in IDLH.

• Maintained all county air cascade systems both in-station and on squads.