Amended: 02/07/2011 Policy No: 67

Amended: 02/07/2011 Policy No: 67

Amendment Approved: 02/09/211

Submitted: 03/09/2011

Approved: 03/09/2011

Amended: 7/10/2012

Minimum Member Requirements

Policy

Orcas Island Fire and Rescue provides emergency services through the labor of volunteer and career personnel. OIFR will endeavor to maintain volunteer personnel staffing levels appropriate to our demand for service. Volunteer members shall maintain certain levels of training and participation as prescribed in this policy.

Rationale

Our policies must consider all Federal and State regulations, our customers, citizens and member’s needs, in order to meet our Mission of “All Hazard Response”.

In addition, it is essential that our members have a clear and defined understanding of Orcas Island Fire and Rescue’s minimum expectations to remain safe, certified and proficient in the skills required to perform of our Mission.

Responsibility

Establishing the training and participation requirements for volunteer membership shall be the responsibility of the fire chief.

Definitions

Emergency Response Discipline: Indicates proficiency in one of the following “All Hazard Response” skills recognized by Orcas Island Fire and Rescue:

1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
2. Structural Fire Fighter (SFF)
3. Technical Rescue Technician (TRT)
4. Wildland Fire Fighter (WFF)

Duty Hours:A minimum of two (2) consecutive hours at Station 21 dedicated to response, support or training.

Duty Shift: Eight (8) or more consecutive Duty Hours at Station 21 dedicated for response, support and training

Incident Credit: Credit given towards meeting minimum requirements for Incident Response in a year. Incident Credits are earned in the following:

•Responding to an Incident

•Earning Duty Hours (not eligible for stipends)

•Earning Night Rider Hours (not eligible for stipends)

Incident Response: Physical response to a page or a call-out for any Incident. A response applies even if canceled or sufficient help is called

Night Rider Hours: Documented hours a member has committed to responding on an incident when paged from home or close to home.

Volunteer Categories

•Emergency Response Volunteer- An emergency response volunteer must be trained and demonstrate the skills of structural interior firefighting or be a Washington State Certified Emergency Medical Technician. Emergency response volunteers are eligible to participate in the OIFR medical reimbursement program.

•Support Services Volunteer- Support volunteer members and the associated training and participation requirements shall be determined by the fire chief and may vary depending on the volunteer’s responsibilities. Support volunteers are not eligible to participate in the OIFR medical reimbursement program.

Policy - 67

•Each member of Orcas Island Fire & Rescue will obtain the minimum number of Incidents Credits required in a calendar year.

oAt the end of the calendar year, members who have met this requirement will receive one-year credit and the accompanying pension payment, to the State Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers.

•Volunteers will receive a cash stipend per actual incident response.

•As of January 1, 2005, all new members will sign up for an average of two Duty Shifts a month at Station 21.

oPresent Members of Orcas Island Fire and Rescue who joined the department prior to January 1, 2005 are exempt from the Duty Shift sign-up requirements.

•Volunteers will receive a meal stipend for a Duty Shift’s.

•Members will attend a minimum of sixty (60) hours of Orcas Island Fire and Rescue approved training in a single discipline (15 hours of training per quarter).

oWashington State EMT Certification is mandatory of all volunteers who join after January 1, 2005.

•Members will attend a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of Orcas Island Fire and Rescue approved training if cross trained in two of the four recognized department disciplines (25 hours of training per quarter).

•Volunteers who met the annual and/or quarterly training requirements will be eligible for an annual medical reimbursement of $1200 for single discipline and $2400 for two or more disciplines.

•Members must have a valid Washington State Drivers License

Enforcement:

•Incident Credit Requirement:

oEach volunteer will be monitored quarterly.

oA volunteer that is out of compliance will be cautioned.

oAt the end of the year a volunteer out of compliance will have a reviewed and if the infraction is confirmed;

The volunteer will not be receiving retirement credit or payment for the year.

Will be placed on probation for the first half of the present year.

Will meet the 50% of the annual response requirements or be asked to resign or be terminated.

•Duty Shifts:

oEvery eligible volunteer will be monitored monthly (Hired after January 1, 2005)

oA volunteer that is out of compliance will be cautioned

oEach volunteer out of compliance at the end of the quarter will have a review. If the infraction is confirmed the volunteer;

Will be placed on probation for a quarter

Will be required to make up the missing Duty Shifts and keep current or be asked to resign or be terminated.

•Training:

oEach volunteer will be monitored quarterly for the 15 or 25 hours of training as required

oA volunteer that is out of compliance for the quarter;

Will be cautioned and advised to stay current

Will make arrangements with the Training Division to make up missed training

Will not receive the quarter’s Medical Reimbursement

oIf the volunteer is still out of training compliance for a 2nd quarter, he or she will receive a review. If the infraction is confirmed;

The volunteer will be placed on probation for the 3rd quarter

Will be monitored closely and supported

Will make arrangements with the Training Division to make up missed training

Will not receive the 2nd quarter’s Medical Reimbursement

oIf the volunteer is still out of training compliance for a 3rd quarter, he or she will receive a review. If the infraction is confirmed the volunteer will be asked to resign or be terminated.

•Valid Driver’s License:

oA member without a valid driver’s license will notify his supervisors as soon as possible

oWill not drive any motorized vehicle while on or off calls

oWill be allowed a reasonable Leave of Absence dependent on circumstances

oWill be terminated with due process for failure to notify the department or just cause for the circumstances surrounding the loss of license.