The Laredo Fire Department plans to significantly decrease the risks identified above with the implementation of an interactive, distance-learning project. Laredo Fire Dept. is proposing the placement of distance learning equipment at its main training center and at each fire station. This equipment would be compatible with existing equipment located at each of the elementary schools and higher education institutions in the area.

Distance learning equipment would allow the Laredo Fire Dept. to reach and deliver interactive training from the main training center to the elementary schools, outlying fire stations and higher education institutions. A multi-point control unit, located at the main training center, would provide the ability to connect multiple sites simultaneously. This would allow one instructor to instruct many, or all sites at once. These various educational sites will create a “virtual classroom” and allow firefighters to provide and receive prevention and safety education.

The Laredo Fire Department service area has a current student population of 32,179 students under the age of 14!. Travel time to each school is up to 30 minutes one way during heavy traffic. School scheduling conflicts do not generally allow for more than one class presentation at a time, reaching a mere 30 students. Due to existing equipment within the school districts, placement of distance learning equipment at the fire stations could provide prevention and safety education to the entire student population. Simultaneous, communication with numerous classrooms could occur. In-house developed curriculum would continue to be utilized.

Current arson investigators must maintain law enforcement credentialing. Annual updates are 40 hours in length, requiring travel out of the area and rotating scheduling. The addition of distance learning equipment at Laredo Fire Dept. would allow training to occur on-site via a higher education institution, Texas A&M International University.

The City of Laredo Charter states that each commercial building must be inspected on an annual basis, congruent with the National Fire Code recommendation. New construction sites must be inspected as well. On average, 55% of buildings within Laredo require an additional visit due to non-compliance issues. The projected number of fire inspections to be completed for the current fiscal year is 3,400. This current workload measure is simply unattainable without distance learning equipment to maximize personnel time.

Mandatory firefighter training within the department includes eight hours per year on fire prevention, arson, and crime scene awareness. The steady increase in fire calls for Laredo necessitates thorough fire suppression training as well as to ensure firefighter safety. Mandated fire suppression training is an additional 40 hours per year. Currently, all fire personnel must travel to a central facility for all training, equalling four sessions per quarter. Each session involves an eight-hour day for fourteen consecutive days. Outlying stations are up to 30 miles one-way from the central training facility, requiring up to a 50-minute drive during heavy traffic. The placement of distance learning equipment at each station would create an interactive, virtual training center at each station, thereby maintaining coverage and response times. Again, distance-learning equipment would result in the maximization of personnel time, allowing additional time for public education, building inspections, plan reviews and arson investigation.

 

 

Strategic risk assessments for the Laredo Fire Department included a formal assessment by Bound Tree Medical in 2004 and a risk assessment for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) by the City of Laredo in 2002. A Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis was also conducted by the fire department in August of 2005.

Identified risks from these assessments included a 17% increase, over the past four years, in the number of overall fire calls. The number of arson-classified fires rose by 56% over the past two years alone.

Children comprised the highest percentage of the general population at 36.2%, yet a decrease occurred in the number of children under the age of 14 being reached via public education.

Laredo’s population grew by 45% between the years 1990 and 2000, directly impacting department responsibilities. Over the past four years, the number of buildings to be inspected rose by 47%, while the number of plans to be reviewed increased by 362%.

An increase occurred in the number of mandated training hours required per firefighter. Response times were delayed by six to twelve minutes when firefighters left their primary response area for mandated training at a central training facility.

The documented risks outlined above are clearly placing the public and its firefighters at an increased risk.