Page 28 - THE FIRE STATION

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At an administrative level, similar to the police zones (introduced
some ten years earlier), the firefighting and rescue zone is man-
aged by a hierarchic structure, headed by a CEO and with a mid-
dle management layer responsible for logistics and administra-
tion (HRM, procurement, external relations, IT, accounts, etc.).
The operational side is headed by a Zone Commander with
decision-making assistance from a Technical Committee made
up of firefighting officers.
O.: “Looking back over time, this is the first time the Charleroi fire to make sure that all equipment is functioning properly (breath-
brigade is going to have a building tailored to its specific needs.”
BUT WHAT ACTUALLY IS A FIRE STATION?
O.: A fire station is a ‘high-speed factory’. The primary aim of the
building’s internal design is to minimise the time and distance
needed to get to the fire and rescue vehicles. Everything is de-
signed to make life and work as pleasant as possible for its occu-
pants. The concept of “call-out speed” has to be fully integrated
into the building’s layout.”
These days, a fire station has four distinct zones:
– the main hall with its mechanical workshops, garages,
storage rooms and special services;
– the living quarters for the firemen, paramedics and other
emergency staff;
­the outside training area;
­the administrative zone with its offices, meeting rooms
and classrooms.
The first three zones must all meet ‘high-speed factory’
requirements.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FIREMAN
O.: “We have to make a distinction between administrative and
operational staff. While the former work from 07:30 to 16:00,
the latter work in four companies (each divided up into three,
monthly rotating sections to allow responses from the Jumet
station), which gives them three rest days for each 24-hour shift
from 07:30 to 07:30 (officers have a different shift pattern as they
are only entitled to one rest day after a 24-hour shift and also
have other administrative tasks).”
On reporting for duty between 06:45 and 07:15, a fireman puts
on his uniform, takes note of his departure station for the next
twenty-four hours, and stows his personal protective equipment
(PPE) in the rack nearest to his station, before participating in the
07:30 roll call.
After a handover procedure between the incoming and outgoing
shift has been carried out, the 24-hour shift officially starts. It be-
gins with a systematic check of the vehicles concerned and tests
ing apparatus, measuring equipment, fuel-powered or electric
equipment and battery-run devices). If this is not the case, the
mechanical workshop is contacted to have the necessary main-
tenance or repairs carried out. The mechanics/drivers make sure
that all vehicles are working properly, checking engines, levels
and all lights, and carrying out any necessary repairs. Mobile
communication devices are assigned to the firemen concerned
and checked.
Various tasks are then assigned by the duty corporal.
From 08:00 to 08:30, the firemen breakfast together, with the ex-
ception of those manning the call centre and the officers partici-
pating in the management briefing and the distribution of tasks
to officers in an administrative role.
From 08:30 to 10:00, the assigned tasks are executed (cleaning
rooms, hoses, ropes, the stowage areas of fire and rescue vehi-
cles and ambulances, maintaining breathing apparatus, stowing
material); drivers wash their vehicles in the car-wash, perform
various maintenance and repair tasks and check the technical sta-
tus of their vehicles, while the sergeants deal with administrative
problems and the duty officers handle organisational, operational
and logistic problems.
At 10:00, a 10-minute break sees all staff coming together in the
canteen. This is followed by the time slot for staff training (use
of equipment, fire drill, throwing techniques, resuscitation drill,
practising evacuation techniques on the training tower or extrica-
tion techniques, theory, etc.).
From 12:00 to 14:00, the firemen have their lunch in the canteen
and then spend their free time on the premises (recreation room,