Management Team Committee

The management team committee purpose is to make decisions to better the department as a whole as well as bring up new ideas to work toward in the future.  This committee includes the fire chief, captains, training officer, one firefighter/EMT/paramedic personnel. 

Emergency Medical Services

The EMS Coordinator heads the EMS committee and has 6 members on the board.  This committee revises protocols and works on training for the department to better the emergency medical services. 

Training

The committee is made up of the training officer and six members.  The training committee helps schedule and make recommendations for training. 

Safety

This committee also makes recommendations to the training officer about certain training events such as driving emergency vehicles in hazardous weather.  They also discuss and advise on topics such as new or improved safety equipment for personnel as well as vehicles.

ISO

ISO is the Insurance Service Organization.  ISO studies and analyzes data and rates, products and organizations.  The Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) is the manual ISO uses in reviewing the fire-fighting capabilities of individual communities.  The schedule measures the major elements of a community's fire suppression system and develops a numerical grading called a Public Protection Classification (PPC™).  Ten percent of the rating is based on how well fire departments responds to emergency fire calls.  Fifty percent is based on how many engine companies and the amount of water a community needs to fight a fire.  The remaining forty percent is based on the community's water supply.

The committee forms to audit certain areas in the fire department.  A panel of 7 personnel forms to answer questions for example, are we meeting ISO requirements, what can we do to improve and city versus county fire response, since our response area goes beyond the City of Gatlinburg.

Fire Investigation Committee

The fire investigation committee is made up from members of the Fire Investigation Task Force.  This committee discusses research from other fire and arson investigations across the country, how to keep up with standards of collecting evidence and updates in court rulings and case studies.

Flood Committee

The fire department has a state of the art flood warning system.  Stream and rain gauges are set up at various locations in and out of the city that are monitored electronically by a computer system at Headquarters.  In the event that a citywide evacuation is needed there are massive speakers set up throughout the city that revolve and give siren tones.  We also have the capability to give a pre-recorded message or a real time voice message over those speakers.

This committee meets to go over upcoming tests that have to be performed and possibilities of new equipment that can be added to our existing flood warning system.  The chairperson also assesses streams inside the city monthly for debris anywhere near flood gauges or monitors, if found he cleans around the area to prevent false readings sent to the computer system at Headquarters.

Wildland Fire

The wildland committee discusses times of risk for wildland fires and the status of equipment that the department has.  Also, the committee brainstorms for new equipment and ideas that can benefit the department's response and effectiveness in fighting and preventing wildland fires.

SRT

The Specialized Rescue Team is a group of members at the fire department who are certified in rare or difficult rescue tactics.  For example, swift water rescue, repelling and confined space rescue are only some of the abilities of the SRT team.  This committee forms to discuss new procedures, upcoming classes and equipment used for specialized care.

Education

The education committee is made up of 6 personnel who discuss educational targets in the community and make plans to hold classes for public fire education.  A great part of the committee's responsibility is helping the Public Education Officer 

Wellness

The wellness committee puts together and organizes wellness and physical agility programs for the members of the fire department.  The Reagan Drive Firehouse has cardiovascular exercise and free weight training equipment.

Truck

The truck committee forms to discuss issues of maintenance and upkeep of all of the apparatus at the fire department.  They also discuss the specs for any new truck that the fire department plans on ordering.

Fire House Software

Fire House® is the computer program that the fire department uses for tracking, auditing and filing with the state all fire, rescue and EMS incidents, as well as training, inspection and hydrant maintenance.

The committee forms to bring ideas for operator friendly operations of the program as well as making sure compiled reports are accurate and ready to be submitted for audit.  They also look for updates to the software or other programs that might be available that are compatible with Fire House®™.