AFRD FY15 Annual Report

1. City
Council
CITY OF ATLANTA FIRE
RESCUE DEPARTMENT
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Joel G. Baker
Fire Chief
HowToReachUs
Atlanta Fire Rescue Department
Public Safety Headquarters
226 Peachtree St. S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.546.7000
404.546.8761
afrd@atlantaga.gov
www.atlantaga.gov/fire
www.facebook.com/AtlantaFireRescue
@ATLfirerescue
Your Opinion Matters
www.atlantaga.gov/fire_surveyPresident: Ceasar Mitchell
District 1: Carla Smith
District 2: Kwanza Hall
District 3: Ivory Lee Young
District 4: Cleta Winslow
District 5: Natalyn Archibong
District 6: Alex Wan
District 7: Howard Shook
District 8: Yolanda Adrean
District 9: Felicia Moore
District 10: C.T. Martin
District 11: Keisha Lance Bottoms
District 12: Joyce Sheperd
Post 1 At Large: Michael Julian Bond
Post 2 At Large: Mary Norwood
Post 3 At Large: Andre Dickens
FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT
C I T Y O F A T L A N T A

2. Contents Budget Highlights
232
Executive Introductions
Community Voices
Organizational Structure
Who We Are
Who We Serve
What We Do: Fire Protection
What We Do: Emergency Medical Services
What We Do: All-Hazards Response
What We Do: Community Risk Reduction
What We Do: Community Outreach
What We Are Working On
Where We Are Going
How We Have Done?
How Do We Know?
What We Have Spent?
Budget Highlights
How To Reach Us
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
12
14
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Photo Credits
Cover: John Spink, Atlanta
Journal Constitution
Page 9: Duffie Dixon, WXIA
Ingrid Dixon
Business Manager
Replacing worn-out equipment, increasing paramedic coverage and focusing
regularly on performance has improved service delivery despite an increasing
numbers of calls and duties
This supervisory unit based at Station 30 in Southeast Atlanta increases our field
accountability and reduces command team response times for major emergencies.
AFRD invested over $2 million in improved IT and communications
infrastructure and civilianized our Assessment & Planning Section to ensure we
continue to provide industry-leading and publicly accountable emergency services.
Gained Insurance Service Office Top Rating of Class 1:
Maintained Staffing Levels of 4 Firefighters Per Fire Engine:
Acquired Funds For Further Apparatus Replacement:
AFRD has consistently developed annual
budgets that not only sustain the varied needs
of our customers and their safety, but also
include funding for infrastructure
enhancements, safety equipment, employee
health benefits, and professional development.
I’m honored to be a part of the
process that creates that reality
for our customers and employees.
Improved Fire & EMS Response Times:
Restored Staffing for Battalion 1 Field Supervisory Unit:
Regained Accreditation Through Technology Improvements and Support Staff:
Working with Atlanta E911 and the Department of Watershed Management, AFRD
was able to upgrade our record-keeping systems, equipment and processes for
better insurance rates.
National research has demonstrated that 4 firefighters per apparatus can
accomplish essential tasks faster to improve customer and firefighter safety.
Replaced 2 Fire Engines, 4 Ladder Trucks, and 12 other support vehicles as part of
comprehensive fleet replacement to replace worn-out vehicles, many of which
were years beyond their life cycle.

3. As Fire Chief for the City of Atlanta, I am
proud to present this Fiscal Year 2015 Annual
Report, which provides a concise look at the
operations of the Atlanta Fire Rescue
Department and its dedicated personnel. With
the support of Mayor Kasim Reed and the
Atlanta City Council, AFRD has had a number
of notable successes, including re-accreditation
by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and
the lowering of its Insurance Services Office
(ISO) rating to Class 1, making Atlanta one of
only 19 cities worldwide to enjoy both
designations.
We are proud of our Department and happy to
share this information with you!
What Have We Spent?
3
3%
22
Kasim Reed
Joel G. Baker
Mayor, City of Atlanta
Fire Chief
As Mayor of the City of Atlanta, I am proud to
present the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department
FY2015 Annual Report. In a combined effort with
Fire Chief Joel Baker, my Administration and the
hard-working men and women of the Atlanta Fire
Rescue Department, we continue to make the
safety of Atlanta a top priority, with
improvements that range from the acquisition of
state-of-the-art equipment and renovations to our
fire stations to improved response times and
reduction in fire deaths and property loss.
I encourage business leaders, important
stakeholders and residents to read the Atlanta Fire
Rescue Department Annual Report to view all that
we have planned to ensure the safety of the people
of our great city.
General Fund
(Downtown)
DOA - Enterprise Fund
(Airport)
98.8% 100%
5.7% 0.1%
243879
Percent of FY 15
Budget Expended
Percent of FY 15
Budget Expended
Budgeted Funding Increase
From Last FY
Budgeted Funding Increase
From Last FY
Approved Staffing Level FY 15 Approved Staffing Level FY 15
Personnel Supplies & Equipment Capital Outlays Other Funding AreasPurchased/Contracted
Services
6 %
.2%
5 %
86%

4. Community Voices
214
How Do We Know?
Internationally
Accredited
Agency
2014 -- 2019
"The CFAI has completed a comprehensive review and
appraisal of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. The
commission’s goals are to promote organizational self-
improvement and to award accreditation status in
recognition of good performance. The peer assessment
team recommends re-accredited agency status for the
Atlanta Fire Rescue Department from the Commission
on Fire Accreditation International."
C l a s s 1
"A community's investment in fire mitigation is a proven
and reliable predictor of future fire losses. Statistical
data on insurance losses bears out the relationship
between excellent fire protection--as measured by the
Public Protection Classification program--and low fire
losses. In general, the price of fire insurance in a
community, like Atlanta, with a good PPC is
substantially lower than in a community with a poor
PPC, assuming all other factors are equal."
"AFRD has emerged as an industry leader in the
utilization of emergency response and
administrative data to drive problem solving and
performance improvement, department-wide.
AFRStat is that vehicle."
My daughter was at
the concert. It’s very
obvious that Lt.
Gladden saved my
daughter's life along
with her friends and
all the others in
attendance. There
are heroes, and there
are angels and you,
sir, are both. Thank
you and God bless
you and the AFRD.
Recently, there was a house fire on Harwell
Road. The fire department responded in numbers
and quickly extinguished the fire, stayed on the
scene until the homeowner came home and was
very supportive in assisting him in retrieving
what personal items he could get. We in the
Harwell Heights Community would like to say
thank you for caring about and protecting us.My wife and I thank you
for coming to our
residence and checking
the smoke detector and
carbon monoxide
detectors... It is good
that the fire department
has this program to help
senior citizens.
Your level of genuine
hospitality is rare. You and
your training staff, without
much effort, generate an
infectious enthusiasm about
Fire Education.
Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! They took
blood pressures and gave
out coloring books, hats,
etc. The kids were over
the moon about this!
"The City of Atlanta leverages the Focus on
Results Atlanta performance management
program to help build a culture of results
focused accountability. We want to ensure
that Departments are delivering on the
critical programs and services that our
citizens expect from a first class City. "
The crews at Station 9
are a very loving and
caring group of
gentlemen. They are
faithful in attending
NPU meetings and
answer all questions
without being
judgmental. It is clear
they are committed to
this community and
its residents.
These men and women are not only
firefighters but friends of the
neighborhood. After being rescued
from a stuck elevator in a Midtown
high rise, I started a fundraiser to
show my support and appreciation. I
encourage everyone to give back to
the firefighters who risk their lives to
keep us safe. A huge thanks to Station
15 and Atlanta Fire Rescue.
AngieBrogdon
BaraondaCaffeItaliano
KathyCrawford
Chair,NPUH WillardNalls
La'ShaRobinson,EastLake
ShelteringArmsDayCare
Lenton&NormaPowell
TimMcCool
DorisBrownandMableReid
HarwellHeightsCommunity
Kudos to the AFRD team
that rescued two
construction workers near
Georgia Tech today... I am
always amazed by the role
changes that have evolved
for the typical firefighter.
MaryFrancisLemke
You work with a fine group of people. Our
local station was busy yesterday, and four
kind and gentle firefighters from the
Kirkwood station showed up to help when
Mom fell yesterday. I wish I'd had the
presence of mind to write down their names.
Their mothers must be so proud of them.
CandaceFowler

5. How Have We Done?
520
Organizational Structure
Wilmond Meadows
First Deputy Chief
Chad Jones
Deputy Chief
Support Services
Michael Simmons
Deputy Chief
Technical Services
Randall Slaughter
Deputy Chief
Field Operations
Roderick Smith
Deputy Chief
Airport Operations
Emergency
Calls for
Service in
FY15
Were Medical
Emergency
Calls
93,725
76%
AFRD responded
to an emergency
call every
minutes
5:36
90th Percentile
Travel Time
90th Percentile
Travel Time
5:53
6:01
FY2015QuarterlyFire&EMS
TotalResponseTimes-90thPercentile
Were Fire
Emergency
Calls
15%
BusiestStations
From the moment you call 911, 90% of the time we will
be at your doorstep in less than the time shown above.
Trash Fires, 28%
Vehicle Fires, 24%
Building
Fires 20%
Grass
Fires
11%
Cooking Fires, 15% Other
2%
Medical Calls, 57%
Assist EMS Agency,
24%
OB/GYN,7%
Trauma,6%
Cardiac,3%
Accident,2%
Elevator
Station 1, Castleberry Hill
Station 15, Midtown
Station 11, Atlantic Station
Station 10, Grant Park
Station 21, Buckhead
Station 4, Old 4th Ward
Station 17, West End
Station 16, Vine City
Station 1, Castleberry Hill
Station 9, Adamsville
2,581
2,435
2,283
2,045
1,615
5,662
4,727
4,546
4,392
3,849
TypesofCalls

6. Who We Are
196
Where We Are Going
Sworn
Firefighters
Civilian
Staff
1,062
65
46
982
Certified
Paramedics
214
Sergeant
LaTia Posey
Station 15
Assistant Chief
Christopher Wessels
Division 1
Admin. Assistant
Sharon Pearson
AFRD Airport
Battalion Chief
Robert Foster
Battalion 6
Captain
Dwayne Johnson
Station 25
Firefighter
Mario Vieira
Station 24
Lieutenant
Bobby Stewart
Firefighter
Brian Carden
Station 2
Captain/Paramedic
Keith Schumacher
EMS Supervisor
Firefighter
Cortez Stafford
Station 11
Inspector
LaFawn Longino
Fire Inspections
Data Analyst, Sr.
Lechi Bui
Assessment & Planning
Upgrading
Our Facilities
Replacing
Our Fleet
Improving
Our Fitness
& Wellness
Enhancing
EMS Care
Ensuring
Competitive
Salaries
Improving
Community Risk
Reduction
Enhancing
Emergency
Preparedness
Enhancing
Administrative
Support
Increasing
Firefighter
Staffing
Enhancing
Special
Operations
Improving
Our TrainingFirefighter
Heather Grant
Station 32
African
American
Caucasian
Other
3%
37%
60%
Sworn
Sworn
ProfessionalStandards

7. What We Are Working On
718
Who We Serve
450,000
Resident
Population
250,000 Daily
Airport Visitors
42Million
VisitorsAnnually685,000
Daytime
Population
Your Family
Your Neighbors
You!
Your Business
Historic Station 7 Renovation
AFRD’s Inspections
Section is currently
overhauling its processes
using the Infor Public
Sector system, a dynamic
wireless technology that
enables inspectors to
research, schedule,
complete and submit
inspection reports in the
field. The software and
equipment will improve
inspector productivity,
efficiency and
transparency. It is
expected to be operational
Winter 2015.
Telestaff SchedulingGrowing Explorer Program
Expanding Paramedic Training Fire Inspection Modernization
AFRD has procured
industry-leading public
safety scheduling software
to improve personnel
management and overtime
accountability. The project
is currently in its second
phase of implementation,
during which all
operational personnel and
work rules are incorporated
into the system.
Data-Driven Decision Making
AFRD has teamed with Georgia
Tech and Georgia State
University to use data science to
predict future fire risks for
targeted fire inspections.
AFRD’s Explorer Program is
designed to expose young
people living in the City of
Atlanta to careers in the fire
and emergency services.
AFRD is constantly
striving to improve its
paramedic training to
ensure the highest quality
emergency medical care.
The Department is
currently undergoing an
extensive review of
its emergency treatment
procedures and is seeking
CoAEMSP accreditation,
which will ensure that
AFRD paramedics remain
on the cutting edge of
EMS care and
practice.
AFRD will complete
renovations to historic
Station 7 this year. The
station, which has
overwhelming community
support, will be the oldest
active fire station in
Atlanta. It is intended to
improve EMS service
delivery to the West End
community.

8. What We Do:
178
Community Outreach
While fighting fires may represent a small
portion of what AFRD does on a daily basis, it
is still the Department’s most visible function.
Constant training, dedicated personnel and
cutting-edge equipment ensure the protection
of lives and property throughout the city. Our
firefighters are best thought of as industrial
athletes. Our successes come, not from
moments of individual accomplishment, but
from tireless preparation, selfless dedication
and coordinated teamwork. Whether the
situation calls for protecting the world's
busiest airport, your business or your home,
AFRD is ready and able to answer that alarm. Capt. Scott Seely
Station 9 - C Shift (Adamsville)
We live in this community every
third day. We don’t look at it as a
place we just visit; we look at it as
home. So we see the safety and
health of the people who live near
Station 9 the same way we see the
safety and health of our neighbors
and families. I think that closeness
to the community we serve is what
sets the Fire Department apart
from most municipal services.
Sgt. Marcus Van Dorn
Sgt Chris Batson
"Two buddies heading home
doing what's right."
AFRD by the Numbers
FireStations
FireStations
City of Atlanta
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport
30
5
FirefightersOnDuty24/7
FirefightersOnDuty24/7
159
55
FullyEquippedFireApparatus
FullyEquippedFireApparatus20
53
Off-Duty Firefighters Save
Woman From Burning House

9. What We Do:
916
Fire Protection
Atlanta’s firefighters don’t just work
in fire stations; they work in
communities. That means Atlanta
Fire Rescue has a special
relationship with its customers, who
are also its neighbors. The
Department’s community outreach
programs cement this relationship.
Firefighters attend community,
town hall and Neighborhood
Planning Unit meetings, and, with
their trucks and engines, are
regular visitors to schools, daycare
centers, community fairs and
festivals and senior facilities.
Firefighters also go door to door
installing smoke detectors for those
who do not have or cannot afford
them. Whether it is collecting
money for charity during the semi-
annual boot drives or handing out
roses on Valentines Day as a thank
you for community support, AFRDs
firefighters are committed to the
communities they serve.
Claudie Nash
Smoke Alarm
Program Coordinator
We provide fire
safety
education and
smoke alarms to
make sure those
we serve are as
safe as they
can be. For me,
it's all about
doing the work
of the people.
AFRD delivers full fire protection at
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport with five fire stations. AFRD provides
Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF)
protection for all runways, taxiways, and
ramps as well as fire suppression for all other
properties and structures within and adjacent
to the airport. The best training, equipment
and preparedness ensure the safety of the
passengers, employees and property at the
world's busiest passenger airport.

10. What We Do:
1510
Community Risk Reduction
Atlanta Fire Rescue Department
is one of the primary providers
of Emergency Medical Services
for the City of Atlanta and
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport. People
may be surprised to see a big red
fire truck show up for a medical
emergency, but AFRD's presence
ensures the quickest, most
effective level of EMS care
possible to residents and visitors.
The number of medical
emergencies continues to grow
each year, and AFRD is prepared
to meet this demand with
Advanced Life Support
paramedics, Quick Intervention
Crews, and EMS bike teams.
AFRD works seamlessly with
Grady EMS, AMR/DeKalb EMS
and Rural/Metro EMS to ensure
that, if you have to call 911 for a
medical emergency, you receive
the best care possible.
Lieutenant Torrone Thomas
Fire Inspections (Downtown)
CommunityRiskReductionEMS Supervisor - Airport
We continue to
establish new
partnerships that
will make us more
efficient and
provide a road map
to a safer city
We make a difference in lives
every day by correcting unsafe
behaviors and conditions. The
work we do means that some
buildings that might otherwise
collapse or burn won’t. Fire
inspectors don’t run into burning
buildings with hoses, but there are
times when we know we have
probably saved lives.
It is a great honor to
serve at The World's
Busiest Airport. I
love the challenge
and the variety
working here.
Our goal is to make
sure it is The World's
Safest Airport, too.
Captain / Paramedic
Chris Collins
SectionChief
DavidRhodes

11. What We Do:
1114
EmergencyMedicalServices
The Atlanta Fire Rescue
Department is actively engaged in
Community Risk Reduction across
the city and at the airport. AFRD
has 31 dedicated fire inspectors
that work with commercial, high-
risk and high-occupancy
properties to ensure the safety of
people and property. It also has 10
fire investigators to determine the
cause of fires and arrest arsonists.
Two fire education specialists
work to inform children, seniors
and other vulnerable members of
the community about fire
prevention and safety. And
the Atlanta Community
Emergency Response Team and
Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program
work proactively to ensure the
health and safety of all Atlantans.
But reducing community risk is
not just the work of specialists; it
is an integral part of the
everything AFRD is and does.
Chief Marian McDaniel
Section Chief of EMS
(Downtown)
Howard Hemsley
Fire Inspections (Airport)
What started as a
"retirement job" has,
after almost 40 years in
the fire service, renewed
my passion for fire & life
safety, in no small part
due to the commitment
and professionalism of
my colleagues. For that,
I am truly grateful.
As a native Atlantan, I am
honored to serve the City
and its residents.I believe
the work I do every day
makes a difference to the
people and communities I
came from! I am able to
go home knowing that I
truly did something
meaningful and made
someone’s life better.
EMS
Data
Overview
AFRDbytheNumbers
AdvancedLife
SupportFireEngines
Hartsfield-
Jackson Airport
13
CertifiedFire
Inspectors
11
AdvancedLife
SupportQICUnits3
20
AFRDbythe
Numbers
AFRDRespondsto
amedical
emergencyevery
City of Atlanta
7:21minutes
10,467
CertifiedFire
Inspectors
JetFuelings
ObservedDaily
Inspections
Annually
Inspections
Annually
GallonsofJet
FuelPumped
Daily
Smoke
Detectors
Distributed
AdvancedLife
SupportAmbulances
4
2,959
5,243
32
3.4m

12. What We Do:
1312
All-Hazards Response
Tactical
Paramedics
Swift Water
Rescue
Extrication from
Vehicles
Confined Space
Rescue
Hazardous
Materials
Response
Georgia Search
& Rescue
High-angle
Rope Rescue
Captain Chip Newell
Squad 4
We train all the time for
technical rescues that happen
only occasionally. But if you're
stuck down a 20-foot manhole
or in fast-moving floodwaters,
you'll be really glad we know
what we're doing!