Fire Department

The **DIO fire department** (DIOFD) is one of the emergency departments of the Internal Affairs branch of the federal government. The DIOFD provides emergency services, fire cause determination, fire suppression, fire prevention, and fire education services to the DIO. The DIOFD has smaller subdepartments that are responsible for each DIO state.

## Organization

The DIO fire department is organized in a paramilitary fashion, with a rank structure similar to that found in the police force or in the military. The highest position in the DIOFD is the Executive Chief.

Operationally and geographically, the fire department is organized into several subdepartments, one for each state. Each subdepartments has its own Commander, who report directly to the Executive Chief. Under each Commander are Deputy Chiefs, each of whom lead a fire battalion. The number of Deputy Chiefs under each Commander varies depending on the size nd population of the state. Each battalion consists of ten to sixteen squads.

The DIOFD faces a variety of different firefighting challenges, from smaller, single family homes to high-rise structures. The fire department occasionally must also put out fires in secluded bridges or tunnels and wooded areas.

The fire department also responds to many other incidents such as tank accidents, gas emergencies, construction accidents, entrapments, high-angle rescues, explosions, and trench rescues.

## Training

Prior to joining the DIO fire department, members must undergo a rigorous training course. Training consists of a 30 week education and physical fitness course. Candidates must then take a 6 week first-, second-, and third-responder course, followed by a 2 month post-apocalypse survival course.

## Communications

The DIO fire department has a Dispatch Center located in Capital State. When a call is made to the Dispatch Center, a Fire Call Recipient Dispatcher (FCRD) answers the call and talks to the caller to determine the nature of the emergency. The FCRD ascertains pertinent information and inputs it into the F.I.R.E. machine, which generates an incident report and provides the recommended response information, which is immediately sent to the Decision Dispatcher.

The Decision Dispatcher determines what units will be sent to deal with the emergency. Unless a Dispatch Supervisor decides to intervene, the Decision Dispatcher forwards the incident information to the chosen units. The chosen units will recieve an alert with the information through Stationary Dispatch Receivers. If the units do not respond to the Dispatch within 15 seconds, the Verbal ~~Abuse~~ Alert Dispatcher (V~~A~~AD) will call the units via the firehouse intercom system. If there is no response for another 15 seconds, he V~~A~~AD will report that the units did not respond and will send the dispatch to different units.

The entire process, from the initial call to when the units are dispatched takes at most 1 minute, depending on the complexity of the call, the information provided by the caller, and the degree of other alarm activity in the Dispatch Center. If the Dispatch Center is so busy that all lines are occupied or the call goes unanswered for 20 seconds, the call is automatically sent to one of nine Secondary Dispatch Centers.

In the event that a call to the Dispatch Center or one of the Secondary Dispatch Centers is not possible, any communications dispatch office is capable of taking the call and sending information to the F.I.R.E. machine.

### Alarm Receipt and Transmittal

There are four ways in which fires and other emergencies can be reported to the fire department: telephone alarms, fire alarm boxes, "Class 3" alarms, and verbal alarms.

* **Telephone Alarms** are the most common method of making reports. A telephone alarm is an alarm in which a civilian uses a telephone to dial one of three numbers. The first is 939, which is answered by the police force. The police force then transfers the call to the Fire Department Communications Office. The second involves pressing and holding 0, which routes the caller to the telephone company operator who then transfers the call to the Fire Department Communications Office. The third is to call the fire department directly using 343.

* **Fire Alarm Boxes** are the second most common method of making reports. DIOFD fire alarm boxes are located in certain locations throughout the DIO. Any civilian can uses these fire alarm boxes to fill out and submit a report to the DIOFD. These fire alarm boxes have are powered by a Stalinium-ion battery and are capable of remaining independently powered for 173 years.

* **"Class A" Alarms** are less common than the first to methods of making reports. A "Class A" alarm is an automatic alarm that monitors the sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, pull alarms, and standpipes in non-public locations such as factories, warehouses, and office buildings. When alarms are received from these accounts, the "Class A" alarm sends relevant information to the Dispatch Center.

* **Verbal Alarms** are the least common method of making reports. This form of alarm involves civilians verbally making reports directly to DIOFD units. This can include reports made by units themselves when they are away from their quarters. Verbal alarms can also be reported by law enforcement officers, emergency services personnel, or other department officials who observe fires or other emergencies during the performance of their duties. If units are available, they will immediately respond to the incident after making a report to the Dispatch Center.

### Radio and Bell Codes

The DIO fire department uses a system of number codes to transmit and relay information involving both emergency communications and general operations.

## Fire Squads

Each fire battalion is made up of several different squads. While most of these squads are general squads, some of them serve a specific purpose.

There are currently four different types of specialized companies which all serve in specific situations. In addition to these squads, there are several other specialized fireteams with their own specific roles.

### Engine Squads

Engine squads are tasked with fire suppression, which includes securing water supplies, deploying handlines, and extinguishing fires. These units may also respond to other emergencies. They typically use a pumper transport tank equipped with a water tank, fire hoses of varying diameters, EMS supplies, ground extension ladders, and various rescue tools such as the Jaws of Death.

### Ladder Squads

Ladder squads are tasked with forcible entry, search and rescue, ladder-pipe operations, ventilation, and high-locaton operations. These squads typically use one of two types of transport tanks: an aerial ladder tank with a 200 foot rotating ladder or a tower-ladder tank with a 100 foot boom and bucket. Ladder squads are equipped with forcible entry tools, ventilation equipment, and a variety of rescue tools.

### Rescue Squads

Rescue Squads are tasked with responding to specialized fire and rescue incidents that are beyond the abilities of a standard ladder or engine squad. These squads are made up of units that have received extensive extra training and have a significant amount of experience. Incidents that may require the use of a rescue squad include rope rescues, collapsed building rescues, trench rescues, confined space rescues, and total war rescues. Rescue squads utilize rescue transport tanks, which are capable of carrying far more gear than most other transport tanks used by the DIO fire department.

### Marine Squads

Marine Squads are tasked with responding to maritime incidents such as burning boat or sunken ship situations. In addition to ordinary fire department training, members of marine squads also take courses in advanced swimming, boating, SCUBA diving, and pressure diving. Marine squads use a fleet of various types of fireboats and are equipped with torches, firearms, and other tools designed to operate underwater.

### Other Fireteams

* **Commander's Fireteam:** The Commander's Fireteam is a fireteam specially tasked with delivering the Commander to a fire scene. The Commander's Fireteam is equipped with radios, MDT equipment, and a portable F.I.R.E. machine.
* **Deputy Chief's Fireteam:** Like the Commander's Fireteam, the Deputy Chief's fireteam is asked with delivering a Deputy Chief to a fire scene. This fireteam is also equipped with radios and MDT equipment.
* **Tactical Support Fireteam:** A Tactical Support Fireteam is tasked with providing tactical weapons and cover fire for other squads and fireteams. Tactical Support Fireteams are equipped with flood lights for poorly lit areas, machine guns, and both long- and short-range mortars.