Case study Assignment
During each unit, you will prepare a well-organized narrative consisting of specific responses to a vexing problem or burden. Each assignment is designed to draw on your imagination to think creatively on potential concerns within the Washington Fire Department. You should look at fire administration in a holistic way. The holistic way of thinking is significantly different from thinking in isolation or just examining one part of a problem. Looking at something in a holistic way is seeing the big picture as the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Procedures
For this assignment, you will complete a response to the scenario-based case study. (see attachment) The assignment will be a three-page narrative focusing on arguments that support what the authors are discussing in this unit’s reading assignments as well as other research that you conducted.
As you review the material in the textbook, the background, and scenario-based case study, make sure you address the issues listed below.
§ Discuss leadership goals that must be accomplished to implement the conclusion from the a forementioned scenario-based case study concerning the importance of a good working relationship with others.
§ What cooperative leadership preference would help firefighters support the physical fitness program? How would this preference affect your actions necessary to complete the change process? Give several examples.
§ If you are stronger in one preference, describe how you would select and incorporate people with the other preference into your implementation process of a physical fitness program.
§ Discuss the importance of a policy supporting the fitness program and ensuring that it occurs as scheduled each shift for 1 hour.
§ Discuss why it would be important for fire and emergency services (FES) leaders to have a good working relationship with public officials, other agencies, and the community.
§ Describe the skills required for an effective FES leader to develop a cooperative relationship with fire and emergency management personnel as well as other agencies and the community.
§ Describe the leadership style that would most benefit the FES leader in the situation discussed.
§ Discuss how to gather feedback from staff members and peers as a part of the decision-making process.
§ Discuss how to engage political groups and individuals, unions, and the public to support your decision-making process.
§
You must include at least three sources, one of which can be from one of your textbooks and one of which should come from the Online Library to supplement your discussion and support your conclusions. Aside from the textbooks, all sources should be from reputable, reliable journal articles, case studies, scholarly papers, and other sources that you feel are pertinent. All sources used, including the textbooks, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in proper APA style.
Unit I Scenario-Based Case Study
Over the last decade, the Washington Fire Department (WFD) has had an increase in firefighter injuries and one death associated with a cardiac-related event. The Washington Fire Department has a physical fitness program requiring firefighters to complete one hour of physical fitness each shift and have an annual physical that meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The physical fitness program was the result of an on-duty cardiac event.
Firefighters fitness training
(Posey, A. Senior Airman, 2016)
After the emotional event, several firefighters realized the need to increase strength and endurance as related to a health fitness program and began researching different programs.
They reviewed NFPA Standard 1583, Standard for Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members, to establish the minimum requirements for the development, implementation, and management of a health-related fitness program for members of the fire department involved in emergency operations.
NFPA 1583
(NFPA, 2015)
The program presented to the fire chief was comprehensive and followed all NFPA standards. After multiple meetings with administration and the fire chief, the program was implemented; however, the administration did not support it. It was rumored that many of the administrative staff, including the fire chief, encouraged senior union firefighters not to participate in the program suggesting there was no need to participate and there would be no disciplinary action for violating the mandatory program.
Fire Chief reviewing plans
(Arne9001, 2012)
Even elected officials expressed their opinion to union firefighters that they did not back the program in order to gain support for reelection. They stated all the previous injuries were from carelessness and were not health related.
Fire Chief reviewing plans
(Arne9001, 2012)
While discussing the physical fitness program with the administrative staff, as part of a one-year written transition plan, multiple units were dispatched to a working warehouse fire.
The warehouse was in a remote area of the city. Two county fire stations were the closest units to the fire. You responded non-emergency to observe the capabilities of your department.
Warehouse fire
(Dezzor, 2015)
Upon your arrival, you overheard county fire officers complain about your personnel remaining in the fire for 10 minutes and then leaving after performing heavy aerobic activity. They reported to rehab and never returned to fire operations.
Additionally, county fire officers complained to their command staff about the unwillingness of WFD personnel accepting orders and following the procedures of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) even though the county was first on the scene and in command of the fire. While on the scene you learned from law enforcement officers that WFD has a reputation of being freelancers and not following orders.
Firefighters battling blaze
(Craig, n.d.)
REFERENCES
Arne9001. (2012). ID 31409217 [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-fire-brigade-deployment-planning-computer-squad-leader-gives-instructions-used-tablet-to-plan-image31409217
Craig, C. (n.d.). ID 3077939 [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-firefighters-structure-fire-image3077939
Dezzor. (2015). ID 88439466 [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-warehouse-building-strong-fire-warehouses-black-smoke-fire-image88439466
National Fire Protection Association. (2015). NFPA 1583: Standard on health-related fitness programs for fire department members. Retrieved from https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=1583
Posey, A. Senior Airman. (2016, October 14). Air commandos participate in the Fire Prevention Week fire muster challenge at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Oct. 14, 2016 [Photograph]. Retrieved from
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Commandos_fight_fire_with_prevention_education_161014-F-MT297-0227.jpg
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