Emergency Services

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Emergency Services

Asst. Chief
Richard Braun

Assistant Chief Richard Braun heads the Bureau of Emergency Services, what most people consider to be "The Fire Department." This Bureau is divided into three units, each working a 24 hour shift. Each unit is commanded by a Deputy Chief, who also works a 24 hour shift. The office staff is made up of the Assistant Chief, two firefighters, Theodore (Chip) Roberts, and Jeff Richards, Administrative Secretary Barbara Becker.

Administrative Liaison's

Firefighter
Chip Roberts

Firefighter
Jeff Richards

Administrative Secretary
Barbara Becker

Deputy Chiefs

Deputy Chief

Ron Butcher

Sam Cox

Dave Walton

Robert Coles

Special Operations

Unit

Unit

Unit

The City is geographically divided into seven battalions each of which is directed by a Battalion Chief who is responsible for the administration and direction of all activities within their battalion. Among these seven battalions there are thirty-one fire stations equipped with thirty-one engine/medic companies, two engine companies, sixteen ladder companies, thirty-two medic transport vehicles, five rescues, hazmat vehicle, bomb unit and seven EMS supervisors.

Click on Numbers to see Battalion Chief's

Emergency Services personnel are involved in many aspects of the Division outside of suppression activities, these include:

Emergency Medical Services
Conducting Fire Prevention inspections under the coordination of the Bureau of Fire Prevention
Instructing recruit firefighters under the direction of the Bureau of Training
Presenting Fire Safety education programs and fire extinguisher demonstrations
under the coordination of the Office of Community Relations
Juvenile Fire Setters Education
Fire Safe House programs
Teach CPR to Sophomores in High School
Bomb Disposal Unit
Hazardous Materials Response Team

Emergency Services personnel conduct the majority of Fire Prevention Inspections for the Division, including the quarterly High Rise Inspections conducted by company officers.

Over 20,000 city fire hydrants are flushed clear each spring , pumped dry each fall and inspected regularly by Emergency Services personnel. These inspections helped to detect 2,503 hydrants which needed to be repaired or replaced by the Water Shop.

Bomb Disposal Unit

The Columbus Division of Fire Bomb Disposal Unit is the largest Non Department of Defense Bomb Squad in the United States. All 16 technicians and 8 trainees are crossed trained as Hazardous Materials Technicians and have completed the Emergency Device School located in Huntsville, Alabama.

Hazardous Materials Response Team

The Hazardous Materials Response Team is made up of individuals assigned to Station 4. All personnel on both Engine 4 and Rescue 4 are provided with training to certify them to the Technician level as described by OSHA.

K_9 Unit

Canine teams are a supportive tool, used to assist Local, State and Federal law enforcement and Fire agencies in locating the presence of either ignitable liquids or explosives.

Special Operations Unit

The Special Operations Unit consists of the Heavy (technical) Rescue companies, the Bomb Squad, the Hazmat Team, and EMS. As the Special Operations Unit Deputy Chief, under the direction of the Emergency Services Bureau Head, Chief Coles is responsible for the administration of the Unit, which includes monitoring the various standard operating procedures, standardization of equipment, assuring consistent training routines, and maintaining a high degree of accountability.