| Emerald City Fire Department | |
|---|---|
| Patch | 
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| Badge | 
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| Abbreviation | ECFD |
| Founded | 195 years prior to present day |
| Motto | "Service and Bravery" |
| Career firefighters/EMTs | 21,454 |
| Paramedics | 5,432 |
| Civilian employees | 8,008 |
| Annual budget (in Mobiums) | 3,200,000,000 |
| Annual call volume | 602,935 total calls Structure/vehicle fires: 57,072 Non-fire emergencies: 219,672 Medical emergencies: 326,191 |
| Jurisdiction | Emerald City, Kingdom of Mobius |
| General nature | Firefighting Local civilian fire department |
| Headquarters | 323 Grove Avenue |
| Commissioner | Kelsey Schroeder |
| Agency executive | Larry Larsen, Fire Chief |
| Divisions | 5 |
| Battalions | 80 |
| Fire engines | 343 |
| Fire trucks | 211 |
| Airport crash trucks | 39 |
| Rescue squads | 29 |
| Ambulances | 255 |
| HAZMAT units | 178 |
| Brush trucks | 15 |
| Mass Casualty Units | 6 |
| Fireboats | 11 |
| Helicopters | 9 |
The Emerald City Fire Department is the chief firefighting agency in Emerald City. It is the largest fire department in the world, surpassing the Tonichi Fire Department and the Hancock City Fire Department.
History[]
Prior to the ECFD's founding, firefighting in Emerald City was left up to a motley collection of volunteer departments. When the Great Emerald City Fire broke out, it became clear that a more organized force was needed. Nathan Lavallee, the chief of the Woodsbury Heights Fire Department, organized a meeting of several other chiefs, who agreed to unite into a common department. Lavallee became the first Chief of the ECFD.
Despite the increased efficiency, the ECFD – like the Emerald City Police Department – had problems with corruption. For example, moving up through the ranks was facilitated by political connections rather than actual merit. Perhaps the most notorious problem was the Insurance Plaques Scandal. For a long time, private citizens could purchase "insurance plaques" for their homes. Not only would they receive money from the insurance payouts, but the firefighters would collect a bonus for extinguishing the fire. However, this led to firefighters deliberately ignoring buildings that had no plaques. After mass protests, insurance plaques were discontinued. When Sylvester Crowley became chief, he eliminated the "good ol' boys" system, thereby giving every firefighter a shot at becoming Chief.
The ECFD would have a real trial by fire during the Great War. The entire department was split into two camps: those who joined the Crown Armed Forces in a firefighting or other capacity, and those who stayed behind to protect the city. Understaffed, the department had its hands full trying to extinguish fires started by Roseinian bombs. Despite the intense workload and loss of life, the ECFD stood tall and saved the city. The department and its personnel received many commendations for their efforts, and today the ECFD is recognized as one of the world's premier fire departments.
Organization[]
As with many fire departments, the ECFD is organized along paramilitary lines. Though overall agency operations are headed by a Fire Commissioner, it is the Fire Chief who commands the firefighters and paramedics themselves.
There are five Divisions: Division North, Division East, Division South, Division West and Division Center.
Division North has 12 Battalions, Division East has 15 Battalions, Division South has 19 Battalions, Division West has 17 Battalions, and Division Center has 17 Battalions.
Each Battalion varies in its composition, but each individual station is commanded by a Captain and a varying number of Lieutenants. If a firehouse contains more than one company, then the Captain of the engine company is in charge of the firehouse.
Bureaus[]
Additionally, the ECFD is broken up into different Bureaus:
- Fire Suppression & Rescue: This is the main Bureau, which is concerned with fighting fires and saving lives.
- Fire Prevention: This Bureau has the responsibility of inspecting buildings, granting permits, and educating the general public about fire safety.
- Training: This Bureau oversees the Training Academy and also keeps firefighters up-to-date on the latest firefighting techniques until their retirement.
- Administrative Services: This Bureau is responsible for assigning personnel, hearing grievances, holding disciplinary hearings, hearing appeals, communicating with other agencies, and running the Employee Assistance Program.
- Fire Police: This Bureau serves not only as a fire investigation Bureau, but they also assist the Emerald City Police in directing traffic. They also assist film production companies with technical expertise.
Ranks[]
- Fire Commissioner
- Fire Chief
- Division Chief
- Battalion Chief
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Firefighter/Paramedic*
- Probationary Firefighter/Paramedic*
*Firefighters/EMTs and Paramedics are lumped into the same rank. Therefore, it is possible for either position to move up to Lieutenant rank.
The ECFD has one of the largest ambulance services in the Kingdom of Mobius, perhaps second to the Mobius State Hospital System.
Alarm codes[]
The ECFD utilizes a number of alarm codes and signals to designate company dispositions, incident types and other information about agency operations. Perhaps one of the most well-known is the alarm code "6-2-3", which signifies that a company has returned to quarters; this is also used at firefighters' funerals to show that firefighters have gone "to the great firehouse in the sky".
Apparatus[]
The primary firefighting apparatus of the ECFD is the Mack CF. Chevy Vans/GMC Vanduras are used as rescue vans and ambulances. Surplus Dodge CUCVs are used as utility vehicles. The ECFD also uses a few International school buses as Mass Casualty Units. The Super Pumper System consists of two Mack Cruiseliners plus five Mack CFs designated as "Satellite" units. For ARFF use (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting), the Oshkosh M1500 and Oshkosh M3000 are used.
Prior to the 1973 model year, apparatus were painted solid red and were equipped with a Federal Signal Model 28 mechanical siren plus a Federal Signal Model 174 "Super Beacon Ray" with red lens. Starting with the 1973 model year, apparatus were painted white over red and equipped with a Federal Signal Model 76 mechanical siren plus a Federal Signal CJ284 "speaker light" with red lens. Also added were dual Federal Signal Vitalites in the rear and an SVP SA-300 electronic siren, connected to the speaker in the CJ284. Crash trucks are painted yellow and equipped with dual CJ284s and an SVP SA-300 electronic siren, again connected to the speaker in the CJ284s.
Uniform[]
The standard uniform of an ECFD firefighter is a gray polyester/cotton shirt – short-sleeve in spring and summer, long-sleeve with clip-on necktie in fall and winter – with the Department badge over the left breast, the Mobian flag on the left sleeve and the Department logo on the right sleeve, plus navy blue dress pants and black leather dress shoes. Lieutenants on up wear white shirts, which are essentially the same, but with rank pins on the collar. Badges have the firefighter's rank, company, "ECFD" and apparatus position number, which varies depending on company and position on apparatus (e.g., Officer, Engineer, etc…)
Turnout gear consists of a Globe jacket, pants and boots with a Cairns N5A New Yorker "leatherhead" helmet with Bourkes eye shields. The patch on the front of the helmet shows the company number, company type and rank. Probationary firefighters and regular firefighters have a black patch with a black helmet. Paramedics also wear a black helmet, but with a green patch. Lieutenants wear a black helmet with a white patch. Captains wear a red helmet with a red patch. Battalion Chiefs on up wear a white helmet. Certain companies – especially but not always airport companies – also have Globe proximity suits for certain operations.
Uniform Gallery[]
COMING SOON
In popular culture[]
- One of the most notable portrayals of the ECFD is in the TV series Emerald City Red. Part of the Emerald City Trilogy, Emerald City Red explores different companies, primarily Engine 34, Ladder 23, HAZMAT 3 and Chopper 1. This series is also noted for the extensive cooperation and technical expertise provided by the ECFD.
- Firebombers is a novel by Jeremy Corden, which documents the efforts of the ECFD during the so-called "War Years", when many firefighters joined the Crown Armed Forces during the Great War. It was later turned into a movie starring Dennis Jameson.
- Brotherhood: The Engine 48 Story is a documentary about the men and women of Engine 48, including their on- and off-duty lives.
- The ECFD was featured in an episode of the documentary series This Is Man, titled "Flames on the West End". It focuses on firefighters working in Battalion 52 and the hazardous conditions that they are exposed to.
Appearances[]
- In Wir sind Menschen Shadow ducks into an alley to hide from an approaching ECFD engine. The next morning, an ECFD ambulance comes to take away Gilbert Adenauer's body. Later in the story, various ECFD units respond to the massacre at June Avenue.
- In Sonic, What Are You Doing?, Sonic pulls over to let some ECFD apparatus pass while he is in Emerald City during the Great War.