2
RECOMMENDATIONS
CAL FIRE provides an excellent service to the citizens, local businesses, and visitors to the area.
The department is well respected in the community and by city and county leadership. CAL
FIRE’s line and command personnel continually make every effort to be a part of the community
and not be seen as outside contractors merely providing a service. The service agreement
between the City of Morgan Hill and CAL FIRE was initiated in 2013; SSCCFD has maintained its
relationship with CAL FIRE since 1980. The working relationship observed between the City,
District, and CAL FIRE is impressive and is one of the more proficient cooperative arrangements
for fire and prehospital emergency medical care that we have observed nationally.
Thirteen recommendations follow, and are also listed in the applicable sections within this report.
The recommendations are based on best practices derived from the NFPA, CPSM, ICMA, the
U.S. Fire Administration, the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), and the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Though these recommendations are
intended to provide insightful guidance, it is ultimately the decision of the local governing bodies
to choose those recommendations that are appropriate and ultimately how and when any
efforts towards implementation are considered.
These recommendations are listed in order in which they appear in the report.
1.
The City of Morgan Hill and the SSCCFD should continue the contractual relationship with CAL
FIRE for protecting their respective communities.
2.
CAL FIRE should continue in its effort to maintain the use of volunteers to provide assistance
during larger events or extended operations. In addition, other support functions as canteen
efforts, CERT, fire prevention duties, and assistance during community public events are
effective methods to utilize volunteer support.
3.
CAL FIRE should conduct a formal fire risk analysis that concentrates on strip commercial
establishments, big-box occupancies, high-rise structures, and processing and institutional
properties.
4.
CAL FIRE should work with County EMS in modifying CAL FIRE’s response protocols for Priority 2
call types (Alpha Designations) in an effort to alter unit response modes when calls are
determined to nonemergency or minor incidents.
5.
CAL FIRE should build its training regimens and tactical strategies around an exterior or
transitional attack when the fire scenario and the number of responding personnel warrant
this approach.
6.
Morgan Hill and SSCCFD should maintain the current ALS first responder services in their
respective response areas.
7.
CAL FIRE should improve the level of review of its incident reporting to ensure the complete
and accurate documentation of its response activities.
8.
CAL FIRE should undertake a concerted effort to expand its current performance measures in
order to incorporate a comprehensive performance management system that monitors a full
range of performance outcomes.
9.
Morgan Hill and SSCCFD should consider CPSE fire accreditation in the future.
10.
CAL FIRE should improve its fire hydrant inspection and flow testing process in SSCCFD.
11.
CAL FIRE should institute an in-service engine company fire inspection process in the SSCCFD.