The District's Emergency Response Section is made up of three Divisions, Training, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Operations. Emergency Response is the responsibility of the Districts Deputy Chief, who reports directly to the Fire Chief.
Operations Division
The Operations Division is comprised of the Districts emergency response personnel and equipment. The daily emergency response staffing for the entire fire district is 20 personnel. This staffing includes 1 Battalion Chief, 4 – 3 Person Engine Companies, 1 – 3 Person Truck Company and 2 – 2 Person Paramedic Ambulances.
The District provides a full range of emergency responses services including but not limited to, structural fire suppression, wildland fire suppression, response to hazardous materials incidents, Urban Search and Rescue, water rescue, vehicle extrication, technical rescue as well as basic life support and advanced life support medical services.
Fire District emergency response personnel respond to over 4,700 incidents annually, of which approximately 3,000 or 68% are medical in nature, ranging from motor vehicle accidents and elderly falls to childbirths and heart attacks.
All Novato Fire District personnel are either Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Paramedics. EMT's provide Basic Life Support (BLS). EMTs interpret signs and symptoms of injury and disease, and determine the appropriate course of treatment. EMTs are trained to provide Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, administer oxygen, control bleeding, perform spinal immobilization, splint fractures, as well as any rescue functions needed to free a trapped victim. Paramedics provide Advance Life Support (ALS). A Paramedic is an advanced level of EMT certification. Paramedics must complete an extensive training program to enable them to perform specialized skills and procedures. These skills include advanced airway management, including intubations, intravenous therapy, pharmacology and drug administration, cardiac monitoring and defibrillation.
Most engine companies are staffed with at least one Firefighter/Paramedic, and thus have the ability to immediately administer advanced life support (ALS) pre-hospital emergency medical care upon their arrival. The Districts two ambulances are staffed with two paramedics each and respond along with an engine company to all medical emergencies.
When a medical emergency is reported via 911, or a request for an ambulance is made, the closest Engine Company is dispatched in conjunction with one of the two Novato Fire District Ambulances. The intent is to get the closest available resource to the patient as soon as possible, so the appropriate medical treatment can be given. The EMS Division has a goal of providing Advanced Life Support to the members of our District within 5 minutes of notification, 80% of the time.
In addition to our ambulances the District utilizes the services of private air ambulances (helicopters) to transport severely injured or burned patients to the appropriate Bay Area Hospital.
In addition to responding to emergencies the Operations Division responds to customer service calls. When there is no other public agency or private firm willing or available to assist our citizens the Novato Fire District is available to help. The Operations Division also assists the Fire Loss Management Division with public education and information programs designed to prepare the citizens of the District for disasters and other emergency incidents. The Operations Division also conducts routine fire inspections on apartment buildings in the District.
Training Division
The Training Division headed by the Director of Training who holds the rank of Battalion Chief. The Training Director reports to the Deputy Chief.
The training and education of the Districts 67 emergency response personnel in the area of fire suppression and special operations is the responsibility of the Training Division. The Director of Training designs specific fire training and special operations exercises, administers, coordinates and monitors the performance of training programs. The Director of Training also administers and oversees probationary academies, probationary testing, acting engineer and engineer testing and acting Captain testing.
The Director of Training Chairs the Districts Safety Committee and meets quarterly in a committee format with specific members of the District including the Novato Professional Firefighter’s Association.
The Director of Training also chairs Research and Development program continually reviewing new equipment and methods of operation.
Emergency Medical Services
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division is headed by the Districts EMS Director who holds the rank of Battalion Chief. The EMS Director reports directly to the Deputy Chief.
The EMS Director oversees the Districts medical response system. In addition to the EMS Director the Division utilizes the services of a local doctor as part-time medical director as well as a fulltime Continuous Quality Improvement Coordinator/EMS Educator.
To improve the performance and quality of our patient care, the EMS Division utilizes a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Program through the use of a Peer Review Committee process. The EMS Peer Review Committee is comprised of the EMS Director, the CQI/EMS Educator, the District Medical Director and the District Paramedic Firefighters. Together they provide a perspective on patient care issues raised by medical authorities and the District’s own CQI Program. The Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Program identifies weaknesses in the system and recommends changes in training, education and equipment so that all patients receive the highest quality patient care.
The EMS Division utilizes Research and Development committees to examine new medical equipment and evaluate existing medical equipment in an effort to continually improve patient care and employee safety.
The EMS Division coordinates the Senior Access program where emergency responders who notice barriers within the homes of the elderly that impact their quality of life can be referred to the appropriate social agency. This partnership ensures that all emergency response personnel can assist with long term care issues for our elderly.
Special Operations
Water Rescue Program - The Novato Fire District is subject to occasional flooding and has emergency response responsibility for several miles of the Petaluma River, San Pablo Bay, and the Bel Marin Keys lock system as well as the Stafford Lake Reservoir. In order to provide surface rescue capabilities the District maintains a 14’ Inflatable rubber boat and all related equipment and personnel needed to perform surface rescues and evacuations in these areas.
Specialized/Technical Rescue Program - Specialized/Technical Rescue consists of High Angle, Confined Space or Trench rescue, all of which are performed under government regulation. Each of these rescues requires extremely high levels of training. The Novato Fire District truck company units have been equipped to meet the state standard of "medium rescue" capabilities. A specially designed Squad carries a cache of US&R equipment. All of the Novato Fire District Personnel have been trained to the level of “Rescue Systems 1."
Hazardous Materials Response (HazMat) - All Novato Fire District Personnel have been trained as Hazardous Materials First Responders. The District’s Chief Officers are certified Hazardous Materials Incident Commanders. In addition the District contracts with the Marin County Hazardous Materials Team via a Joint Powers Agreement that includes all departments in Marin County. The San Rafael Fire Department administers and manages the Marin County Hazardous Materials Response Team. This team is available to respond county wide to significant Hazardous Materials incidents that are beyond the scope and capability of our first responders. The Novato Fire District has members on the Marin County Hazardous Materials Team.
Urban Search and Rescue Program (US&R) - The Novato Fire District has several members on the Marin County Urban Search and Rescue Team. The County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR) is a specialized team composed of both Fire Department and Public Works Department employees. It is the only urban rescue unit in California with crew members from these two departments, trained to work as a single team. The team was created by action of the Board of Supervisors in September 1995 to act as a resource during natural or man-made disasters, including floods, earthquakes, transportation accidents, and collapse of structures including buildings, bridges, trenches and dams.
In addition the Novato Fire District owns one of only 58 USAR dogs, Hopi, in the Nation. Hopi is currently still in training and will soon be assigned not only to the Marin County USAR Team but also to one of the National USAR Teams in California.
Internal Disaster Preparedness - Natural and man-made disasters may strike the community, and the District must be adequately prepared to protect the community, District assets, and District personnel and their families. This has been accomplished by providing medical caches at each station, providing tools, equipment and supplies to make each station self-sufficient for 72 hours.
Living and Working Conditions - Firefighters work 24-consecutive-hour shifts on a 2 X 4 schedule from 07:30 am to 07:30 am. The Fire District is organized into three shifts... A shift, B shift and C shift. Firefighters report to work at their assigned station by 0730 hours and are released from duty at 0730 hours. This rotating shift schedule repeats itself indefinitely. The firefighters shift schedule is not affected by holidays. If a firefighter’s shift falls on a holiday, they are expected to work.
Firefighters may also either volunteer for, or be required to work additional "overtime" shifts so that the District may meet its full staffing. When working an additional shift(s), several consecutive shifts before returning home.
Firefighters may be called back to work during unusual and/or catastrophic events such as major fires, earthquakes, floods or other disasters. Novato Fire District personnel often respond to fires and other incidents through out the State of California under one of the State Mutual Aid Plans. It is not unusual to send Novato Firefighters and equipment as far south as Los Angles or as far north as Oregon.
Firefighting continues to be a dangerous occupation. On an average the United States looses 100 firefighters to line of duty deaths each year. This does not include retired firefighters who develop cancer and other diseases as a result of their occupation.
Firefighters pay for their meals on-duty. They also assist in food shopping, meal preparation and clean-up. You may see them at the local grocery store or market near their station shopping for their evening meal.
The Novato Fire Stations are our firefighter’s home-away-from-home. Firefighters live and work together functioning as both a "family" and a TEAM! A typical day includes equipment maintenance, personal physical fitness, station maintenance, training, report writing, public education, fire prevention and emergency response. Sleep is allowed at night, however it can be frequently interrupted.
Being a firefighter is a wonderful occupation often filled with excitement, sorrow, and ultimately the reward of helping others in their time of need.
History of the Maltese Cross
Novato Fire District personnel wear the Maltese Cross as a patch on their uniform.
From the days of the first crusade, the cross has been the symbol of the Christian warrior who pledged not only to fight in defense of the Holy Land, but also to protect the lives of his compatriots. The Maltese Cross now worn by modern firefighters is actually an adaptation of a particular crusader insignia, the cross of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem.
The Knights, one of the oldest orders of warrior monks that fought for Christendom, took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Also known as Hospitallers, the monks maintained a hospital for pilgrims in Jerusalem. Then that city became the centre of the crusade-embattled lands, the brothers militarized their order, but continued to protect pilgrims and extend their charity to the sick and poor.
Because of the extensive armor that covered their bodies and faces, the Knights were unable to distinguish friend from foe in battle, so the need for an identifiable emblem for the Knights became crucial. Since they fought their battles for a holy cause, they chose the Cross of Calvary, a white or silver cross on a dark background. After the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, the Knights of St. John moved to the island of Malta.
During the crusades, many Knights became firefighters out of necessity. Their enemies had resorted to throwing bombs and sailing war vessels containing naphtha.
Hundreds of Knights were burned alive. Others risked their lives to save their brothers in arms from dying painful fiery deaths. Thus these men became our first firefighters and the first of a long list of courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow Crusaders who awarded each hero a Badge of Honor ; a cross similar to the one firefighters wear today.
The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his/her life for you, just as Crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so may years ago.
The Maltese Cross is a Firefighter's badge of honor, signifying that he/she works in courage... a ladder-run away from death.