Fire Department Leadership…A Critical Safety Issue By: Chief Dennis Compton ©

Fire Department Fire Department Leadership…A Leadership…A

Critical Safety Issue Critical Safety Issue

By: Chief Dennis ComptonBy: Chief Dennis Compton ©

Introspection

• 2004 Firefighter LODD Summit 2004 Firefighter LODD Summit in Tampa, Floridain Tampa, Florida

• 2007 follow-up meeting in 2007 follow-up meeting in Novato, CaliforniaNovato, California

(Both identified Fire Service leadership (Both identified Fire Service leadership and supervisory culture as a critical issue)and supervisory culture as a critical issue)

Culture:Culture: “the sum total of “the sum total of ways of living built up by a ways of living built up by a group of human beings and group of human beings and transmitted from one transmitted from one generation to another.” generation to another.”

Is there a single “fire service Is there a single “fire service culture” in the nation today? culture” in the nation today?

That’s debatableThat’s debatable

Consistent Fire Department Values:Consistent Fire Department Values:

• Focus on service…saving lives and Focus on service…saving lives and propertyproperty• Strong sense of identity as a firefighter Strong sense of identity as a firefighter • TeamworkTeamwork• CamaraderieCamaraderie• CompassionCompassion• CourageCourage• Acceptance of personal risk Acceptance of personal risk

These values are not defined These values are not defined or acted out in the same way in or acted out in the same way in all fire departments…and that all fire departments…and that influences the differences in influences the differences in

culture among fire culture among fire departments. departments.

Healthy DefinitionsHealthy Definitions

The focus on service…saving The focus on service…saving lives and propertylives and property is built on a is built on a

foundation of training and foundation of training and respect for the entire fire and respect for the entire fire and

life safety life safety systemsystem

Healthy DefinitionsHealthy Definitions

The strong sense of identity as a The strong sense of identity as a firefighterfirefighter includes maintaining a includes maintaining a positive, productive, and healthy positive, productive, and healthy attachment to the position…not a attachment to the position…not a

self-aggrandizing, arrogant, or self-aggrandizing, arrogant, or

infallible identity. infallible identity.

Healthy DefinitionsHealthy Definitions

Teamwork, camaraderie, and Teamwork, camaraderie, and compassioncompassion are complimented by are complimented by effective leadership, supervision, effective leadership, supervision,

and decision-making and decision-making

Healthy DefinitionsHealthy Definitions

Courage and acceptance of riskCourage and acceptance of risk are acted-out within a standard are acted-out within a standard risk profile, and potential gain is risk profile, and potential gain is factored into strategic, tactical, factored into strategic, tactical,

and task level decisions and task level decisions

Impact of leadership on firefighter safety

16 LODD Life Safety Initiatives

Five Focus Areas to Consider

1. Heart Attacks & Strokes

2. Vehicles

3. Strategy

4. Crew Integrity

5. Training

1. Heart Attacks and Strokes (Emphasize Rehab)

2. Vehicles

Please Wear Your Seat Belts

3. StrategyAvoid offensive positions on defensive fires.

4. Crew Integrity

Stay Together:

Voice or Vision or Touch

5. TrainingMust be a controlled situation and environment.

Five Focus Areas to Consider

1. Heart Attacks & Strokes

2. Vehicles

3. Strategy

4. Crew Integrity

5. Training

MAP is a performance improvementtool that integrates into any training curriculum.

It enhances command and control, leadership, decision-making, overall effectiveness, and safety.

Composure is

critical…and

so is analysis.

Assess Your Department Assess Your Department

• How does your department define and How does your department define and act-out the consistent FD values act-out the consistent FD values previously identified?previously identified?

• Do you have written SOP’s and Do you have written SOP’s and expectations for behavior and expectations for behavior and performance? Are they enforced?performance? Are they enforced?

• Does the culture embrace a structured Does the culture embrace a structured health, wellness, and fitness program?health, wellness, and fitness program?

Assess Your Department Assess Your Department

• Are there written guidelines and rules Are there written guidelines and rules for operating and riding in vehicles…for operating and riding in vehicles…including seatbelt use? Are they including seatbelt use? Are they enforced?enforced?

• Do you use a risk management profile Do you use a risk management profile to guide decision-making, strategy to guide decision-making, strategy development, and tactical development, and tactical commitments?commitments?

• Is teamwork valued within the culture Is teamwork valued within the culture and is free-lancing unacceptable?and is free-lancing unacceptable?

Assess Your Department Assess Your Department

• Is composure considered an important Is composure considered an important trait and is psychological and trait and is psychological and emotional fitness part of training?emotional fitness part of training?

• Are all members empowered to bring Are all members empowered to bring safety issues to the forefront?safety issues to the forefront?

• Are effective leadership and personal Are effective leadership and personal accountability viewed as important?accountability viewed as important?

Assess Your Department Assess Your Department

• Is there a process for infusing significant Is there a process for infusing significant change into the department? change into the department?

• Do incident reviews result in information Do incident reviews result in information exchange and positive change? exchange and positive change?

(Focusing on these organizational keys will have (Focusing on these organizational keys will have

a positive impact on the culture of your fire a positive impact on the culture of your fire department as it relates to firefighter safety)department as it relates to firefighter safety)

Introspection

Fire Department Fire Department Leadership…A Leadership…A

Critical Safety Issue Critical Safety Issue

By: Chief Dennis ComptonBy: Chief Dennis Compton