Requires fire chiefs to annually report fire department resource inventory, personnel information and specialized capabilities

Section 2 sets forth gender neutral language and adds a new subdivision 2 to § 204-d of the general municipal law to require fire chiefs to annually report to the State Fire Administrator an inventory of equipment, personnel and specialized capabilities maintained by the fire department or company.

Section 3 amends § 209-e of the general municipal law to require the state fire mobilization and mutual aid plan to include an inventory of fire department resources and require regional fire administrators to review for completeness fire department resource inventory reports.

Section 4 sets forth an immediate effective date.

Existing law

Section § 209-e(1) of the general municipal law currently requires the State Fire Administrator to prepare a state fire mobilization and mutual aid plan, but does not require resource information to be reported to or kept by the office of fire prevention and control.

Prior legislative history

This is a new proposal.

Statement in support

The office of fire prevention and control presently maintains a basic listing of fire department resource information regarding equipment and personnel for purposes of the New York state fire mobilization and mutual aid plan established pursuant to general municipal law § 209-e. However, this section of law does not require the reporting of resource information or require such information to be kept in an updated fashion. Because the reporting requirements are inadequate, the office of fire prevention and control is unable to establish and maintain a comprehensive, current, statewide fire department resource inventory system.

Fire department resource inventory information (such as number and type of fire apparatus, number of firefighters and special capabilities, number and type of specialized emergency response units, including hazardous materials teams or technical rescue units) would assist emergency preparedness planning and fire service response to large incidents that exceed local capacity or capability. This information would also benefit the state's comprehensive emergency response plan. A single, statewide compilation of fire department resource information would facilitate identification and dispatching of resources to large-scale emergencies. An adequate compilation of fire department resource information would also assist state and local emergency planners in identifying resource gaps for emergency response scenarios, and assist in the detailed identification of nearby resources that may be available, by mutual aid, before an incident occurs. The information would also assist the office of fire prevention and control in assessing and planning for expected training needs of fire departments.

Additionally, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) calls for a systematic resource management system, including the categorization of resources. The NIMS is required in New York State pursuant to Governor's Executive Order No. 26.1 of 1996 (continued by Executive Order No. 9 of 2008), which incorporated NIMS as the Management System for Emergency Response, and by Homeland Security Presidential Directive No.5 of 2003. The fire department resource inventory system would meet the requirements of the NIMS.

Budget implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.