City of Morgan Hill Public Safety Master Plan

the resources from neighboring jurisdictions through mutual aid and automatic response agreements to supplement on-duty resources. CAL FIRE also has access to other state resources in neighboring service units.

FIGURE 4-2: Moderate Risk Response-Interior Fire Attack

In addition to examining risks faced by the community at large, the department needs to examine internal risks in an effort to protect all assets, including personnel, resources, and property. This concept is not new to the fire service and can be an excellent tool for strengthening existing health and safety guidelines. The National Fire Protection Association’s Standard for a Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program (NFPA 1500) recommends the development of a separate risk management plan 6 for fire departments; that is, separate from those incorporated in a local government plan. The risk management plan establishes a standard of safety for the daily operations of the department. This standard of safety establishes the parameters in which the department should conduct all activities during emergency and nonemergency operations. The intent is for all members of the department to operate within this standard or plan of safety and not deviate from this process. CAL FIRE has compiled an extensive number of preplan documents for its high- and medium-risk occupancies. These preplans are readily available to responding personnel (in hard copy) and the department is very attentive in keeping these files up to date and familiar to responding personnel. This is a very good effort that is considered a Best Practice .

6 Robert C. Barr and John M. Eversole, eds., The Fire Chief’s Handbook , 6th edition (Tulsa, OK: PennWell Books), 270.

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