The Yuma Fire Department exists to instill a sense of safety, security, and pride in those we serve through professional, timely, response to Yuma's needs!
The purpose of this page is to present matters of public interest and safety concerning the Yuma Fire Department, the City of Yuma, Arizona, and it's citizens.
The Yuma Fire Department consists of 4 main divisions.
Fire Department Administration:
The Administration division is responsible for meeting funding needs of the department within budgetary guidelines and facilitating changes in personnel status and payroll. In addition, this division compiles and analyzes statistics from the department's operating divisions that include productivity, response times, and other quality measurement factors. Heavy involvement in short and long term planning is needed to achieve the highest level of effectiveness and efficiency in order to meet the goals of the Council and needs of the citizens. A major objective of Administration is to facilitate partnerships with other agencies that share similar interests or goals in specific areas. Together, reduction of costs is realized by each entity while still achieving the goals. The Fire Department’s Public Information, Public Education, and Emergency Management functions are also coordinated through this division.
Emergency Services:
The Emergency Services division provides the point of service for all risks in the community. These risks include: fire, emergency medical services, technical rescue, and hazardous materials releases. The division is comprised of three rotating shifts, each led by a battalion chief, along with fleet management for our emergency vehicles. There are currently 6 stations with 6 companies staffed with 7 emergency apparatus. In addition to emergency responses, this group of professionals is highly visible at block parties, Midnight at the Oasis, baseball games, schools, county fair, and a host of other events out in the community.
Professional Services:
The Professional Services division is responsible for department training, internal affairs, safety, succession planning, and accreditation. Training is provided in the areas of fire suppression and operational techniques, emergency medical re-certification and related continuing education for basic and paramedic delivery, training specific to the various special operations teams and providing mandated training. Internal affairs are the investigative portion of the department tasked with the review of accidents, injuries, personnel actions, and customer complaints. Succession planning includes recruitment, testing of entry level candidates, and internal promotional testing to meet the needs of the organization. The organization was originally accredited in August of 2003 and certified again as an accredited agency in 2008. Annual submittals are required to maintain this prestigious rating. Professional Services is responsible for the annual update and submittal for the reaccredidation.
Community Risk Reduction:
The Community Risk Reduction division is responsible for fire inspections, investigations, plans checks, and public education curriculum. The mission is to increase safety education and fire code compliance while reducing the number of injuries and deaths caused by fire. The division achieves this mission through distributing smoke detectors, providing car seat classes, and other risk reduction campaigns. This division is also actively involved in pre-development issues, to ensure public safety is incorporated before problems occur in construction phases. The Juvenile Fire Setter Program is nationally recognized, and provides training and education to juveniles that are petitioned by Juvenile Court.
The Yuma Fire Department exists to instill a sense of safety, security, and pride in those we serve through professional, timely, response to Yuma's needs!
The Essentials
Customer Service:
For the overwhelming majority of our calls for service our customers measure us against the following standards,
Did we get there quickly?
Did we care about their problem?
We measure each other and ourselves by asking,
Were we prepared?
Did we do our best?
Risk Management:
We do dangerous stuff. The question is not whether or not we take risks. The Question is; are we reasonable about what kind of risk we take and are we reasonable about what we will take a risk for? Risk should be calculated against two factors.
Is there a reasonable chance of success?
Is what we are trying to save worth the risk we are taking?
Responsibility:
Those given responsibility in our organization are required to serve the public and those they are given responsibility for. They must act in the public’s interest and work to develop their subordinates both for the jobs they are doing and for the jobs they will be promoted to. Decisions are made and problems solved at the lowest level appropriate.
Organizational Discipline:
Our organization has a structure. The structure is meant to create a team that can do dangerous complex tasks rapidly, often with very little notice, and insufficient information about what is really going on. In order for the structure to survive the challenges we are faced with, everyone must respect the position of those put in charge. It is understood that those in a position of authority will use that authority solely to protect the individuals in their charge.
Preparation:
The practice of our profession is in large part a physical struggle against the clock. Hard things must be done quickly. When we are too late others suffer. It makes a difference how long it takes us to put on our gear, how effectively we can stretch a hose line, and how well we can place a ladder. It matters that we have taken the time to learn about our City. We need to know the people, the buildings, the roads, and the hazards. Our success at emergencies depends on how practiced and ready we are.
Having Fun:
What we do is stressful. We understand more than anybody how important it is to enjoy the good times and the need to support each other. It is part of our job not to take ourselves too seriously and to help each other when we need to.
