FIRE PROTECTION

I.	PURPOSE
	This annex provides for the coordination of fire, rescue, and hazardous materials activities to ensure the safety of life and property within Washington County during emergency situations.
II.	SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
	A.	Fire Situation
		1.	Washington County is served by seven volunteer fire departments; all seven departments are private non-profit organizations serving all areas of the County. These departments have signed mutual aid agreements with each other. The stations and locations are:
			a.	Plymouth Volunteer Fire Department, Hwy. 64 East, Plymouth, NC
			b.	Roper Volunteer Fire Department, Hwy. 64 East, Roper, NC
			c.	Mid-County Volunteer Fire Department, Hwy. 32 North, Roper, NC
			d.	Creswell Volunteer Fire Department, Main Street, Creswell, NC
			e.	Lake Phelps Volunteer Fire Department, Newland Rd., Creswell, NC
			f.	Long Acre Volunteer Fire Department, Hwy. 32, Pinetown, NC
			g.	Pungo River Volunteer Fire Department, Hwy. 99, Pantego, NC
		2.	Local fire departments are first responders to any wildfire which threatens structures, but the NC Division of Forest Resources is the lead agency for forest and wildland fire control. In addition to the responsible volunteer fire departments, our local forestry service offers invaluable assistance.
		3.	The Division of Forest Resources utilizes written Division plans which address manpower, resources, response times, and mutual-aid; there is a specific Forest Service Plan which addresses fire control; the District Plan expands on resources available from other counties and Districts in the State.
		4.	Residential development in wooded areas known as urban interface has increased the hazard posed by forest fires, brush fires and grass fires.
		5.	As private non-profits, incorporated volunteer fire departments are eligible applicants for Public Assistance provided through a Presidential Declaration of Disaster.
	B.	Hazardous Materials Response Situation
		1.	Hazardous material emergencies may occur from any of the following sources:
			-	Fixed facility releases
			-	Transportation accidents
			-	Vandalism / Intentional releases
			-	Agricultural incidents
		2.	There is no formal hazardous materials response team in Washington County; firefighters are the primary responders to any hazardous materials event, although capabilities are generally limited to defensive actions. In accordance with State Law, the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety has formed Regional Response Teams. The Williamston Fire Department has contracted to be the Eastern Branch team. This team is intended to respond to incidents requiring HazMat technician level certification.
		3.	Emergency responders are represented on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC); the LEPC has been established at the County level by the State Emergency Response Commission to identify the magnitude of the local chemical hazard, assess the vulnerability of the community to the hazard, and provide planning guidance for emergency response to hazardous materials events.
		4.	A Facility Emergency Coordinator has been identified as a point of contact for each facility in the County which possesses threshold quantities of various chemicals defined as Extremely Hazardous Substances under SARA Title III, Section 302 of EPCRA.
		5.	The Emergency Management Coordinator serves as the Community Emergency Coordinator for the LEPC.
		6.	SARA facilities can report releases of extremely Hazardous Substances to the LEPC / Community Emergency Coordinator via notification to the 911 Communications Center.
		7.	Federal Law requires that all first responders to hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents be trained to minimum specified levels. Federal law also requires that all responders to HAZMAT incidents follow an Incident Command System (ICS).
		8.	Current SARA facility information is maintained in the Emergency Management Office and 911 Communications Center.
		9.	The Division of Emergency Management is the lead state agency for the utilization and coordination of state resources.
		10.	The Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Hampton Roads oversees and responds to pollution incidents threatening the waterways of Washington County. The Eastern Branch NCEM Coordinator co-chaired by CGMSO serves on the Northeastern Oil Spill Contingency Planning Task Force.
	C.	Assumptions
		1.	Planning and training prior to an incident will significantly reduce the risk to personnel.
		2.	Existing fire personnel and equipment will be able to cope with most emergency situations through the use of existing mutual aid agreements.
		3.	When additional or specialized support is required, assistance can be obtained from state and federal agencies.
		4.	Incidents may require response by multiple local, state and even federal agencies.
		5.	Fire departments may be requested to perform tasks not associated with routine duties, such as search, emergency debris removal, alert and notification, evacuation, shelter staffing, etc.
		6.	Fire stations will become a community focal point where people seeking basic necessities and information may congregate following an emergency / disaster. It is expected that fire stations in affected areas will be manned during critical periods of an emergency / disaster.
		7.	All SARA facilities have been identified.
		8.	All applicable facilities have reported chemical inventories.
		9.	Facility Coordinators will report the release of a hazardous substance to the LEPC / Community Emergency Coordinator in a timely manner.
		10.	Hazardous materials incidents may require emergency evacuation or sheltering-in-place of the threatened population.
		11.	Hazardous materials incidents for which a responsible party cannot be identified will be resolved at the expense of the County.
III.	CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
	A.	General
		1.	Incident Command will be implemented on an appropriate scale at the scene of every fire / rescue / hazardous material event in Washington County. If fire, threat of fire, or hazardous materials are involved, the Fire Chief of the district or his designated representative will be the Incident Commander. Since the Fire Chief or his designated representative will be the Incident Commander at HAZMAT incidents, all Fire Departments will establish HAZMAT Operations level as the minimum standard.
		2.	When a disaster event appears likely, as in the case of a hurricane, the County Manager will notify all departments to initiate record-keeping in anticipation of a Presidential Disaster Declaration; see the Recovery Section of this Plan for more explanation.
		3.	When two or more state agencies respond to an event, the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management's Eastern Branch Manager or his designee will serve as the state lead for coordination of all state resources at the scene of the local emergency.
		4.	The Fire Chiefs of the Fire Departments and Fire Marshal serving Washington County will serve on the County Support Group. The primary function will be liaison between the EOC and the affected fire departments.
	B.	Fire / Rescue
		1.	During the critical phases of an emergency / disaster, fire stations in the affected areas will be opened and continuously manned as safety and conditions permit, and volunteer firefighters will be alerted. Communications will be established and maintained with the 9-1-1 Communications Center. All departments should develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for strategic evacuation of Fire equipment if threatened by a Category 3 or higher hurricane.
		2.	Fire stations will not be utilized as public shelters due to the following:
			a.	Interference with emergency operations.
			b.	Liability associated with shelter openings.
			c.	Possibility of long-term need for shelter space.
			d.	Structural and design limitations.
		3.	The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources is the lead agency for wildland and forest fire control. During forest fire events, the local fire department's role will be to augment fire control and the protection of structures threatened by the forest fire.
		4.	Resources required by fire departments beyond those available through mutual aid will be requested through the Emergency Operations Center or the Emergency Management Coordinator.
	C.	Hazardous Materials
		1.	As prescribed by Federal and State Right-to-Know laws, the Fire Chief will survey facilities within his district to identify types and volume of hazardous materials located within the district. The Chief will consider this information when developing response procedures for hazardous materials incidents within his district.
		2.	Facility emergency plans and procedures will coordinate with the overall community plan utilized by the LEPC.
		3.	The Washington County Emergency Operations Plan will serve as the official LEPC plan for hazardous materials events.
		4.	When a release of a hazardous substance occurs, timely notification by the Facility Coordinator to the Communications Center will result in the following:
			a.	Alerting of appropriate response agencies.
			b.	Implementation of the Emergency Operations as needed.
			c.	Coordination with other potentially affected jurisdictions.
		5.	The Community Emergency Coordinator will warn the public of the threat through established systems and procedures, as described in Notification and Warning annex.
		6.	Emergency responders will access hazardous materials facility information through the 9-1-1 Communications Center.
		7.	The current US-DOT Guidebook will be utilized by first responders to a hazardous materials incident.
	D.	Training programs
		Training for emergency responders in the County will be a combination of in-service training, community college courses, workshops, and specialized courses made available through Emergency Management.