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The responsibilities of today's firefighter extends well beyond the job title. Austin of their time extinguishing fires. In fact, nearly 60 percent of AFD's call volume consists of medical emergencies. Firefighters usually arrive first at the emergency scene to assess and stabilize the patient. When not responding to alarms, firefighters have a variety of other duties including fire code inspections, hydrant flow testing, and community presentations on fire prevention and other public safety issues.

AT FIRES
Search and Rescue: The first priority at a fire scene is to search for and rescue any potential victims in the involved structure.

Fire Suppression: After confirming that human life is not endangered, firefighters work to extinguish the fire while stopping its spread. Before attacking the main body of the fire, "cut-off lines" are used to surround the fire so it will not spread to adjacent areas.

Salvage Operations: Firefighters attempt to minimize damage to personal property from fire, water and smoke by using tarps and removing valuable items if possible.

Ventilation: To reduce smoke and heat so that the fire may be located and extinguished more quickly, firefighters may ventilate the structure by cutting holes in the rook or breaking windows.

CSG: Members of AFD are assigned to the Community Services Group, which provides immediate direction to residents displaced by fire. CSG members help victims get their lives back to normal by advising them of appropriate services such as Red Cross, and helping them locate temporary housing, clothing, etc.

Mutual Aid: In addition to incidents within the city limits, AFD has "mutual aid" agreements with several volunteer fire departments in surrounding communities to help each other on major incidents.

OTHER INCIDENTS
Medical Call: AFD provides first response on medical calls, assessing and stabilizing patients.

Alarm Activation: A unit is dispatched to locations where a fire or water flow alarm is set off.

Carbon Monoxide: A unit is dispatched when a CO detector activates.

Broken Water Pipe: Usually residential; an AFD unit will secure an area where water from a broken pike could create a hazard until the Water Department arrives for repairs.

Wire Down/Arc: An AFD unit will secure an area where damaged wires could create a hazard until Austin Energy repair crew arrives. If necessary, firefighters may request that power be cut.

Rescue Alarm: AFD extricates victims in accidents that result in vehicle entrapment.

Water Rescue: One of two Swift Water Rescue Teams respond to incidents where a victim is in danger in a body of water (overturned boat, etc.).

Technical Rescue: The Technical Rescue Team will respond to incidents requiring high-angle or confined-space rescues.

Flooding: In times of flooding, firefighters may rescue any trapped flood victims or barricade dangerous low water crossings.

Spill: AFD cleans up small fuel spills that result from accidents or at gas stations.

Hazardous Condition: AFD helps monitor and/or mitigate situations that involve hazardous materials such as chemical spills or ruptured gas lines.

Investigate Odor: A unit will respond to a citizen concerned about an unusual or potentially dangerous odor and attempt to pinpoint its cause.

Lockout: A unit will be sent to vehicle lockouts when an individual is endangered due to the situation.

AT OTHER TIMES
Fire and Life Safety Presentations: Firefighters visit all elementary schools in the Austin Independent School District (as well as other area schools upon request) and make a three-part presentation directed at various grade levels.

Day Care Visits: Upon request, firefighters visit day care centers and explain the basics of fire safety to children.

Community Service: Some companies or stations independently arrange programs and develop relationships supporting youth groups, schools, or community organizations (Explorers, Big Brothers, etc.)

Station Tours: Firefighters at stations welcome visitors, which sometimes include informal guests and other times are scheduled visits by community organizations.

Special Appearances: Firefighters and apparatus often fill requests by communities or organizations to make appearances at special events such as parades, festivals, etc.

Inspections: Austin firefighters conduct more than 10,000 maintenance inspections annually of existing structures.

Hydrant Flow Tests: Firefighters check flow capacities of water mains for existing and new structures in the city.

Pre-Fire Plans: Firefighters often familiarize themselves with structures located in their territories to identify hazards and risks so they are better prepared for an emergency response.

Mandatory Physical Training: Firefighters are required to do physical training for a minimum of one hour per shift.

Daily Training: Firefighters must put in a minimum of two hours per shift training covering a variety topics such as territory familiarization, maps, or fire protection features in buildings.

Skills Improvement Training: Advanced training in a particular discipline that often involves multiple companies (i.e. propane fires, flashover training).

Annual Continuing Education: Minimum of 20 hours annually of set curriculum that applies to all Operations personnel delivered in modules.

Hazmat Training: Eight-hour continuing education component that is separate from the 20-hour annual requirement. All personnel must be at "Operations" level of hazmat certification; hazmat team members require 20 hours and are "Expert" level.

Specialty Training equirements: Specialty units such as technical rescue team, hazmat team and swift water rescue team have additional training requirements.

Professional Development: Firefighters at various ranks participate in professional development training to help prepare them for the next level of service.

Outside Training Opportunities: Many firefighters seek training opportunities outside of AFD, often presented by professional fire service organizations. Examples include the National Fire Academy, incident command seminars, driving courses, etc.

Medical Continuing Education: Firefighters are required to take 20 hours of continuing medical education in subjects designated by the Texas Department of Health.

Medical Refresher Training: Firefighters take two annual refresher courses -- Automatic External Defibrillator and Infectious Disease Precautions.

Certifications: Firefighters periodically must renew medical certifications each year as required by both the Texas Department of Health and the Austin/Travis County Medical Director. These processes involve skills assessments and written exams.

Apparatus Maintenance: Routine maintenance and restocking of apparatus in stations.

Upkeep of Station: Firefighters are responsible for general cleaning and routine maintenance of station building.

Smoke Detector Installation: AFD provides free smoke detectors to low-income families, which firefighters install upon request and in conjunction with scheduled "drives."