Q&A
Fire Marshal duties, workload, and operational structure
0:31:11
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139 sec
Council Member Ariola and Chief Fire Marshal Flynn discuss the extensive duties and high workload of Fire Marshals, including the number of fire investigations conducted annually and the various specialized units within the bureau.
- Fire Marshals investigate approximately 57,100 fires per year.
- The bureau has expanded its responsibilities to include various specialized tasks and units.
- Chief Flynn explains the minimum operational structure, with at least 6 Fire Marshals and 2 supervisors on duty at any given time.
Joann Ariola
0:31:11
57100 fires and a 112 marshals.
0:31:14
We we gotta figure out a way get more.
0:31:17
It's my understanding that UN Fire Marshal is doing fire investigation security personnel and property.
0:31:23
The commissioner's security detail assigned to the ATF task force, OEM liaison, youth fire, centers intervention, lithium ion task force, the CAT team, and much more.
0:31:36
So since they're all in different various positions throughout the departments, I'll ask a question again.
0:31:44
Do you think that the 112 is adequate?
Daniel Flynn
0:31:47
We could always use more staff.
0:31:48
And and like you said, we It's good.
Joann Ariola
0:31:50
Fight for you to have worse.
Daniel Flynn
0:31:51
I I appreciate that greatly.
0:31:53
As as you've mentioned, we've kind of expanded a lot of the things that we do But again, I don't believe that our services to the citizens have diminished in any way.
0:32:04
It's just really more workload on the individual marshal, which is unfortunate, but that's what we're facing.
Joann Ariola
0:32:10
Right?
0:32:11
And with this staffing, how many fire marshals do you have on duty per tour on a daily basis?
Daniel Flynn
0:32:17
That varies.
0:32:18
As you mentioned, we do have those specialized units.
0:32:21
As far as we call them catching marshals, marshals that actually work at the base and catch the day to day cases.
0:32:28
We try to operate with a minimum of 3 teams citywide, so that would be 6 fire marshals, and we are required to have a supervisor at each of our base locations.
0:32:37
So that would be a minimum of 6 fire marshals.
0:32:41
And 2 supervisors at any time.
0:32:43
Most times during the day, we are we have a greater number than that, but we try to that's our minimum that we try to operate at.
Joann Ariola
0:32:50
And if they need backup where they are, if they need an no member to come, that's not a problem.
0:32:55
You'll you'll reinforce.
0:32:56
Right?
Daniel Flynn
0:32:57
Yes.
0:32:57
We we would there was a city wide those those 3 teams, so they would be able to respond to old men and and support any mission that they have.
0:33:07
When we also those specialized units would all respond.
0:33:09
We have a fire scene unit that will come out to document scenes and to provide an area of refuge to the marshals if necessary with the desk there.
0:33:18
So they do respond to any multiple alarms.
0:33:20
They are operating 247 as well.
0:33:23
But the staff is generally higher than the 3 teams, but that's our minimum operational effectiveness.
