Public Affairs, Author at Landrum Area Fire and Rescue District

Accepting Applications: Fire Chief (Closing Date: 31 October 2015)

POSITION DESCRIPTION: FIRE CHIEF (Click HERE to download an application. Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2015.)

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under limited supervision, performs a variety of administrative and supervisory work in directing the operation of the Landrum Fire Rescue District. Work involves performing a variety of technical, administrative, and supervisory work in Planning, Organizing, Directing, and Implementing Fire Prevention, Suppression and other Medical / Emergency services to prevent or minimize the loss of life and property by fire and other hazardous conditions. The Chief reports to the Landrum Fire and Rescue Commissioners.

FIRE CHIEF RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure operational readiness of the department.
Ensure health and safety of department personnel.
Manage the community’s fire risk and provide supplemental medical services.
Administer the department’s human, financial and physical resources.
Ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations.
Create and maintain a strategic plan for the department.
Promote positive community relationships.
Foster positive relationships with other appointed and elected officials.
Maintain professional competence and credibility.
Supervises department staff, officers or volunteers directly.
Represents the department with other governmental agencies and other fire departments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises department employees and volunteers which involves such duties as instructing, assigning, and reviewing work, maintaining standards, acting on employee problems, selecting new employees, appraising employee performance, recommending promotions, discipline, termination, and salary increases.

Plans and implements Fire programs for the District in order to better carry out the policies and goals of the LFRD. Reviews Departmental performance/effectiveness and formulates programs or policies to alleviate deficiencies.

Manages and coordinates the preparation and presentation of an annual budget. Directs the implementation of the Department’s budgets while ensuring that expenditures are maintained to the budgeted appropriations. Plans for and reviews specifications for new or replaced assets.

Prepares and submits monthly reports to the District Commissioners regarding the Departments’ activities and prepares a variety of other reports as appropriate including the annual report of activities, events and financial status.

Develop Policies and Standard operating guidelines for the department to ensure that all employees and equipment meet the qualification and skills needed to support the objective of the Landrum Fire and Rescue Direct. This will require operation of departmental in-service training activities as well as state and national training.

Responds to alarms and participates in incidence response. Supervises that all records are up to date and maintained for the Fire District Assets. Over sees that all reports / responses are submitted on time to the various agencies.

Manages the inspection of buildings and other properties for fire hazards and enforces fire prevention ordinances. Plans departmental operation with respect to equipment, apparatus, and personnel to meet the need of the District. Oversees the implementation of such plans to ensure the best possible outcome.

Denotes Fire Department Standard Operation guidelines, National Fire Protection Association, Insurance Services Organization, computer software, policy and procedure manuals, codes / laws / regulations, publications and reference text, etc.

Meets with elected or appointed officials, other Fire officials, community and business representatives and the public on all aspects of the Departments’ activities.

Attends conferences and meetings to keep abreast of current trends in the field; represents the Landrum Fire and Rescue District in a variety of local, county, state and other meetings.

Performs the duties of command personnel as needed and fulfills obligations during duty days or duty weeks.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Associate’s degree in fire science, public administration or a closely related field preferred. NFPA 1021 Fire Officer II preferred.
Ten (10) years of experience in fire service work, four (4) years of which must have been equivalent to fire lieutenant or higher.
Completion of the SC Fire Training Academy, or Any equivalent combination of education and experience. Certificates required.
EMR/EMT certification trained preferred.
Fire Marshall certification preferred.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of modern fire suppression and prevention principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment; Approved Skills by Certification EMR and resuscitation techniques and their application; Considerable knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, departmental standard operating procedures and regulations.
Skill in the operation of the related tools and equipment.
Ability to train and supervise subordinate personnel; Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition; Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions; Ability to effectively give and receive verbal and written instructions; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, supervisors and the public; and
Ability to meet the special requirements listed below.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must reside within close proximity to the Landrum Fire Rescue District.
Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid Class E Driver’s License. Commercial Driver’s License endorsement preferred.
Ability to meet Departmental physical standards.
No felony convictions or disqualifying criminal histories.
May be subjected to random drug testing.
Ability to read and write the English language.
Must pass physical exams and drug test.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Emergency medical aid unit, fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses, and other standard firefighting equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer, phone.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; talk or hear; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed primarily in office, vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations. Individual is exposed to hearing alarms and hazards associated with fighting fires and rendering emergency medical assistance, including smoke, noxious odors, fumes, chemicals, liquid chemicals, solvents and oils.

The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings, and loud at an emergency scene.

(Click HERE to download an application. Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2015.)

NOTE: The examples of duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

NOTE: The job description does not constitute an offer of employment or an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Fire Prevention Week 2015

“Hear the beep where you sleep.” That was the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2015, and firefighters from the Landrum Area Fire and Rescue District visited with students at Landrum’s O.P. Earle Elementary School to talk about fire safety, provide hands-on time with fire fighting gear and equipment, and promote the importance of working smoke detectors throughout the house.

Lending a Hand

With the devastation caused by the unprecedented flooding in South Carolina’s Midlands and Lowcountry, the Landrum Area Fire and Rescue District collected bottled water, baby wipes, diapers, non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, and personal care items and delivered them to fellow South Carolinians so deeply impacted by the effects of spurs from Hurricane Joaquin.

We’re all neighbors. When it comes to something like this, county lines don’t matter.

Welcome to LandrumFire.com

LandrumFire.com is the digital headquarters of the Landrum Area Fire and Rescue District and is an evolving project of the LAF&RD Commission.

At its soft launch, the site contains information about the District’s establishment, its governing board and administrative personnel, its equipment, its services, its schedule, and news relating to the District.

Please continue checking back as the site evolves, and let us know what other items you want to see.

Remember, you can always contact us HERE.

TRYON DAILY BULLETIN: “Newly Created Landrum Fire and Rescue District Hopes to Decrease Response Times, Increase Quality”

Originally Published 10:00pm Wednesday, June 17, 2015

In an effort to update the Landrum Fire Department and improve its level of service, Chief Warren Ashmore began a push to create a special purpose district in late 2014. The bill passed the South Carolina General Assembly May 26, and was signed into law June 3 by Governor Nikki Haley.

The newly-created Landrum Fire and Rescue special purpose district’s coverage area includes Landrum Fire Department’s current coverage area surrounding the city of Landrum, and crosses the county line into Greenville County into an estimated two square mile area south of Lake Lanier that includes portions of the 29356 zip code. Previously, that area had been covered by the Landrum Fire Department under a contract with Greenville County.

The SPD also removed its budget of $205,701 from the City of Landrum, and is now free to create its own beginning August 1, according to Ashmore.

“The fire service is no longer just fire,” said Ashmore. “It’s so broad now.”

In fact, the majority of calls answered by the Landrum Fire Department have little to do with fire. According to Ashmore, more than half of all calls are medical and motor vehicle accident related.

While the fire department has assumed more and more responsibility, their tax has remained the same for more than 20 years. The Landrum Fire Department has operated at a rate of 10.3 mills since the early 1990s.

“Back then it was fine,” said Ashmore on the millage rate. “We were able to run the department and pay for our trucks.”

The increase in call volume is putting growing pressure on a staff of mostly volunteers, and accelerated wear on the trucks which near 20 years old. The cost of new fire trucks is in excess of $400,000.

“We ran into road blocks trying to raise our millage,” Ashmore explained. “The special purpose district was the solution to that.”

The change to a special purpose district allows the fire department to hire a paid staff to be on call at all times. This will lead to reduced response times, and increased availability.

“You can never put a price on a volunteer. They’re instrumental,” praised Ashmore, “but it’s at a point now where we need a paid staff.”

Volunteers will continue to be important, but the biggest change will be immediate response.

Response times play a large role in how fire departments are rated by the Insurance Service Office. The ISO rating, in turn, has an effect on insurance premiums. Despite operating at a millage rate much lower than the state average of 23 mills, the Landrum Fire Department has recently managed to drop from four to three on the ISO’s scale of 10, with one being the best and 10 being the worst.

If the fire department continued along the same route, equipment would deteriorate, and the level of care would drop with it, according to Ashmore.

“The special purpose district will increase the millage, but insurance premiums will continue to drop,” said Ashmore. “Increased insurance premiums means your level of protection has dropped.”

Ashmore predicts the millage to at least double.

With the increased funding, the Landrum Fire Department also plans to create community programs such as CPR, first aid and fire extinguisher training.

“We have a lot of good things already going on,” said Ashmore, “but we can do even more being here full time. It opens up a lot of avenues.”

The special purpose district will be governed by a board of five appointed commissioners.

Bart Winkler and Scott Owens were selected by Spartanburg County. JR Jackson and Christopher Chestnutt were appointed by Landrum’s Town Council on June 15, and Pam Hilsman will represent the former Foothills Fire Service Area.

“This will make a huge impact on the fire service,” said Hilsman. “It will allow us to respond to medical calls and grow our fire service exponentially.”

These commissioners, in their initial two year term, will decide the amount the millage will be increased and choose a paid fire chief, who will then select a staff of six paid fire fighters, according to Ashmore.

Ashmore stated that a chief selected from out of Landrum’s immediate area may bring a staff with him.

“This is the best way I could thank the people of Landrum who have been instrumental to my life, and provide the best care for them,” said Ashmore.

Accepting Applications: Fire Chief (Closing Date: 31 October 2015)

Fire Prevention Week 2015

Lending a Hand

Welcome to LandrumFire.com

TRYON DAILY BULLETIN: “Newly Created Landrum Fire and Rescue District Hopes to Decrease Response Times, Increase Quality”

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