Understanding Governmental Roles in Fire and EMS

1. Understanding Governmental Roles in Fire and EMS Fall 2009

2. Seminar Overview • The primary roles of government at the federal, state, and local level in the provision of fire and EMS • How democratic ideals help to shape the way agencies work to fulfill those roles • Factors affecting the models for deploying fire and EMS assets in fulfillment of those roles

3. Understanding governmental roles • Broadly, roles are philosophical, strategic, and tactical • Philosophical roles • Strategic roles • Tactical roles • Proportion of time, funding, and energy devoted to these roles varies by jurisdiction • Federal • State • Local

4. Federal governmental roles in fire and EMS • Generally a philosophical (P) and strategic (S) focus, but can be tactical (T) • Financial redistribution programs (P, S) • Curriculum coordination (S) • Legislating equity (P, S) • Providing for common good (P, S) • Education and facilities (S, T) • Direct response activities (S, T) • Others?

5. State governmental roles in fire and EMS • Generally a philosophical (P) and strategic (S) focus, often more tactical (T) than federal programs • Financial redistribution programs (P,S) • Enabling legislation and fire/building codes (P, S) • Curriculum coordination (S) • Providing for common good (P, S) • Education and facilities (S, T) • Direct response activities (S,T) • Others?

6. Local governmental roles in fire and EMS • Generally strategic (S) and tactical (T) focus, less philosophical (P) • Direct response activities (S, T) • Ensuring competency (T) • Ensuring equity (T) • Ensuring compliance • Providing for common good (S, T) • Plan for grant handling (S) • Education and facilities (S, T) • Others?

7. The embodiment of democratic ideals • American fire and EMS systems embody the central tenets of our democracy • Provision of a common defense • Protection of Locke’s natural rights of life, liberty, and property • Provision of the common good is a primary function of local government, and as extensions of local government, fire and EMS agencies are shaped by those ideals

8. The social safety net • Socio-economic problems • Protection of the underdog (assurance of social equity)

9. What affects agency strategies for deployment to fill these roles? • Adherence to ideals • Legislative mandates • Insurance requirements • Degree of urbanization • Focus on response intervals and consensus standards • Static vs. Dynamic models

10. What affects agency strategies for deployment to fill these roles (continued)? • Fiscal vitality • Technological savvy • Tradition • Unity • Others?

11. Seminar Summary The role of government in the provision of fire and EMS is highly variable, based upon jurisdiction. In general, the central tenets of American democracy drive the roles and activity of governments and their response agencies. Specifically, fire and EMS providers assure the provision of services to all in need, generally without regard for their financial means. Agencies deploy resources to fulfill their assigned or assumed roles based on their available resources, community values, demographics, knowledge, and technical savvy. Though models of deploying may vary, almost all response agencies are united in a similar purpose.