Operations

The mission of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue is to protect the citizens and visitors of Sioux Falls and their property from fires and other emergencies through education, prevention, and emergency management.

In 2007 Sioux Falls Fire Rescue (SFFR) responded to 8,939 various emergency situations, up from 8,610 in the year 2006 (Included in this total were 294 incidents in the Wayne Township response area). Major responses and loss included Cleveland Heights Apartments at 221 North Cleveland Avenue ($505,000), Jergenson residence at 312 North Indiana Avenue ($125,186) and Arnolds Park Apartments at 1201 North Prairie Avenue ($120,000).

As the growth of the city continues, SFFR now provides services to 151,300 citizens and covers 70.10 square miles within the City of Sioux Falls and also to approximately 1,114 people within the 22.45 square mile coverage area of Wayne Township. The population of the city grows by an additional 25 percent during the daytime.

The operations division is tasked with training and emergency response, and is responsible for the management of day-to-day activities of the 175 assigned personnel. The division is divided into three battalions. They are the North battalion, South battalion and the training battalion. Other than the division chief and training staff, all personnel work a 24-hour schedule. Emergency response included responding to and mitigating medical calls, injury accidents, fire notifications and related incidents, technical rescue and hazardous materials incidents. In addition to standard mutual aid agreements, SFFR has agreements in place with counties for response to WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) and Hazardous Materials Incidents in the region. Talks are ongoing with the State of South Dakota to modify the WMD/Hazardous Materials agreement into an all hazards state-wide response agreement.

On October 15, 2007 the Regional Response Team from Sioux Falls Fire Rescue participated in “Operational Regional Response” along with other State of South Dakota Regional Response teams from (Aberdeen Fire and Rescue, Rapid City Department of Fire and Emergency Services, and Watertown Fire Department), and Brule/Buffalo County Emergency Management. Operation Regional Response was a functional field hazardous materials exercise conducted to assess the capabilities and coordination of local emergency responders, local emergency management, State of South Dakota dispatch (Duty Officer), and regional response teams. This was the first time all Regional Response Teams participated in a joint exercise and it was an overwhelming success. Plans are in the works to conduct another exercise involving all of the teams again in 2008.

SFFR has approximately 130 locations identified as Target Hazards. Our goal is to have all 130 structures pre-planned using a Target and Special Risk Pre-Plan form to gather important information that can be used if an emergency incident would arise at those locations. The pre-planning of the majority of those identified target hazards has been completed and the information entered into New World Information Systems. We are also using the Vision program to rate the community impact if an incident were to occur in the city’s commercial structures.

In December 2007, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and the City of Sioux Falls began working with ICMA and the Center for Performance Measurement (CPM) to compile data on core measurements. This will allow for a systematic approach to assessing effectiveness of programs and planning for the future.

The Training Center Staff is committed to providing the latest education, training, and certifications in support of the organization’s mission. This goal is met by the training officers attending training themselves through the National Fire Academy, Emergency Management Institute, or State sponsored classes. While training is focused on fire fighting and emergency medical skills, we also provide hazardous materials and urban search and rescue classes.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue utilizes a career development program based on the applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards to educate and prepare its personnel for all roles within the organization