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This, our second Strategic Plan document, represents countless hours of effort by members of the Leadership Team of Volusia County Fire Services (VCFS). There is strong desire on the part of each member that our organization becomes the best fire department of its kind anywhere in the world. This five (5) year plan is intended to focus our efforts and move us down the proper path in that direction.

The role of fire departments in the community is changing. While combating fires is still a key focal point for our organization, increasingly other issues are becoming part of the accepted role of our fire department. For example, nearly eighty percent (80%) of emergencies we respond to are for rescue or emergency medical services.

We see the mission of the fire department changing to protecting the community and its citizens through an all hazards approach. We believe we need to be just as prepared to deal with the effects of storms, hazardous materials accidents and domestic terrorism acts, for example, as we are for fires. We embrace the need to become all hazards emergency managers not just fire emergency managers.

The fire department needs to be more proactive in protecting its citizens through community risk reduction programs prior to an emergency occurring. This may be accomplished by the fire department with programs such as providing smoke detectors to our citizens. Or it may be accomplished by partnering with other organizations like we have with B.E.A.C.H. House and their Safe Place Program or with Healthy Start, a cooperative effort where car seat checks are conducted and, if necessary, car seats are provided to citizens so our children are adequately protected.

There is also recognition that a fire department cannot be prepared to meet every demand in every emergency. Some emergencies exceed our capability. We believe we have a responsibility to teach our citizens how to protect themselves in an emergency. Our Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training program was initiated in recognition of the fact that we cannot always arrive at an emergency quickly enough in cases of cardiac arrest. Teaching CPR to citizens saves lives. Additionally, we have taken a lead in developing Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). The citizen members of CERT are trained to provide basic emergency services in their communities during disasters until the fire department and other emergency responders are able to intervene.

Our vision for Volusia County Fire Services is to be the preferred provider of emergency services throughout the community we serve. We know that this vision can only be met by providing our citizens with the highest level of service possible each and every day. Preparation for any conceivable future emergency is necessary to ensure we are capable of adequately protecting our community. We will open the lines of communication with the people we work for - our citizens - so we always understand their wants and needs and they are aware of the outstanding group of people in Volusia County Fire Services who are committed to providing them with the best service possible.
This Executive Edition includes the basic elements of our Strategic Plan. Action Plan details, performance measures and benchmarks are not included. These elements are too dynamic for this printing but will be included in a working edition of our plan.

We believe this plan identifies a number of key steps towards our vision. You are invited to study our plan and we welcome your comments.

Sincerely,

James G. Tauber
Director of Fire Services