Fire departments are great at promoting fire safety to the general public — smoke detectors, sprinklers, escape plans and more. Law enforcement does the same to prevent crime and injuries. But it is amazing how often we in the fire service don't take our own advice — and the advice of our fellow public servants — to make fire stations as safe and secure as possible.

Theft, burglary, vandalism, arson, larceny, assault and other crimes against the fire department occur in all communities and neighborhoods and detract from efficient operations. Naturally, occupied buildings are less vulnerable to these exposures; unfortunately, most fire department facilities are unoccupied more often than they are occupied. This increases the opportunity for security problems.

As a result, fire departments must approach these protection issues the same way businesses have — by providing the necessary elements to protect buildings and their contents, grounds, equipment and employees. Nothing will protect completely a fire department from an individual intent on causing damage; however, we can determine where and how we can implement cost-effective security to limit problems. More important, if and when this problem strikes, we need to be prepared to deal with it and keep operations functioning.

How to Handle It

We've all heard about situations like the following that were written off because “nothing could be done.” But is that always the truth?

One fire company participated in a public event. The department exhibited its pride and joy, an antique fire engine, which had several items displayed on the running board. The unit paraded and then went for refreshments, only to return to find the items missing. In another incident, equipment was stolen and damaged when visitors entered the apparatus bay of a station and had access to fire-department equipment. At $600 per nozzle, $1,500 per air pack and so on, losses such as these can affect your budget as well as your ability to provide service.

Of course, many, if not most, firehouses have experienced the physical removal of funds or valuables. Not only do these incidents create security and financial challenges, they present an unacceptable consequence of negative publicity and reputation.

These security issues are not new. We have experienced these problems since fire departments were first organized. How do we handle the problem today, though? Let's take a look at a few methods. But before we do, let's take a few minutes to analyze our security problems. To do this, identify and inventory your problem areas, and then try to assess the overall categories or trends that create your losses. These steps are similar to those you take in the incident investigation-and-analysis procedure. Once you have taken them, you have evaluated your security problems.

Identifying Security Problems

We generally can categorize security problems at fire stations as either management-oriented or operations-oriented. Managerial problem areas typically spring from six main issues.

Management's lack of involvement in security issues. Any indifference shown — or lack of action taken — when a significant security issue arises demonstrates that your leadership has little concern for these problems.

Insufficient emphasis on security. For security measures to succeed, everyone must contribute and continue to communicate. When a crime occurs or items are missing, let others know. Put them on the lookout as well.

Failure to implement an overall security program. Policies, rules and procedures must be created and enforced.

Not involving security issues in routine building inspections. Identifying how a security breach can occur and how to respond to it is critical to protecting your assets.

Lack of balance in security efforts. You must protect your stations, apparatus (both autos and fire apparatus), personal effects, and personnel. If stations are located in high-crime areas, you need to give them extra emphasis. Remember to expand security resources as necessary in high-risk areas. This can include police cruisers periodically passing by the stations during unoccupied times, creating a sense of omnipresence.

Inadequate planning. Security planning must be ongoing, and management must give its full support. For example, as you plan substations, are you considering security? Substations typically are located in remote or growing areas and often are occupied only when an alarm occurs, so you must look into monitoring systems that check for both fire and security. Consider using fire-detection and burglar-type alarms with digital-dialing systems. Remember, management's responsibility is to plan for and limit problems.

Operational problems typically arise from three areas. By far, the most prevalent is failure to abide by policies and rules. Whether firefighters or officers, if personnel don't abide by the rules, there will be problems. Therefore, you should ensure that all personnel are:

• Aware of security policies and rules.
• Trained as necessary to comply.
• Adequately supervised.
• Reprimanded for failure to comply.

This last item, failure to reprimand, is the second area. Without reprimand procedures your ability to maintain control is impaired, particularly regarding security, where a breach may mean assault, robbery, or worse, leading to true criminal problems. The final area concerns disloyalty — when department members themselves commit crimes (theft, extortion, embezzlement), misuse confidential information, are negligent in their duties, fail to perform their duties, or misrepresent themselves. Yes, believe it or not, it's not uncommon for non-ESO members to portray themselves as ranking officers when indeed they are not. With any of these issues, the operational problems then become managerial problems.

Preventing Crime

Preventing crime, fire, and accidental illness and injury should be management's goal — once a crime occurs, the battle is lost. Preventing crime requires the creation of an atmosphere of solid security and fire prevention and the cooperation of the entire department. If you can keep people separated from the elements of the crime triangle (means, motive and opportunity), there is a good chance that you can prevent crime or security breaches. To this end, security precautions can be divided into three categories.

Perimeter security. Perimeter security means controlling the entry and exit of personnel at the boundaries of the facility. This extends to checking the background of each new member. Limit access to the fire station to those authorized to enter and consider requiring identification. Control access with a physical barrier by maintaining an open space between the barrier and all buildings and materials. Brightly illuminate the open space, which will aid in the identification of trespassers. Consider supplementing these measures with a sign-in/sign-out procedure for members and visitors. In some cases, you may want to have a firefighter accompany visitors while they remain in the station. If appropriate, police can patrol on a periodic but unscheduled basis, paying particular attention to signs of unauthorized access. You also may want to use electronic alarms to protect all openings and closed-circuit television (CCTV) for high-crime areas.

Unoccupied buildings create special problems. If you have vacant buildings or new facilities under construction, 24-hour perimeter security becomes more critical. These areas easily can become residences for vagrants and must be kept secure at all times to prevent unauthorized entry and possible damage. To discourage potential criminals and help identify and apprehend them should they gain entry, use guards, automatic fire-detection and -suppression equipment, and burglar alarms.

Area security. Area security refers to control within a specified portion of a station. To accomplish this, encourage personnel to report suspicious activities, and install access-control systems in restricted areas. Include a check of security equipment in daily inspections. Protect critical areas with electronic devices such as ultrasonic, infrared, photoelectric, or microwave detectors, which sense any movement within the guarded areas, and alert guards or police patrol. You also can use CCTV to monitor specific areas continually for unauthorized access or unusual activity.

Spot security Crime can be controlled further by the use of spot-security techniques — monitoring and controlling specific points. For example, you can place alarms at the door to rooms containing records and on critical controls, as well as on any televisions and the department safe. You also can fit electronic devices on fire or security systems with alarms. When you use electronic protective devices, you assure proper notification and response in the event of unauthorized access, attempted tampering with a protective device or other problems.

Periodically monitoring community and police activities provides another means of protection. If crime is prevalent in your community, or if the police lack sufficient staff or expertise, your fire department may benefit by updating in-house protective programs. In addition, if vandalism or break-ins occur frequently, you may need to regularly consult with local police. Regardless of the types of crime, it's important to keep an open line of communication with the police.

Although by its nature all crime investigation is conducted after the fact, you should still have any crime investigated. This can help you identify trends and potential problem areas. As leaders in the fire service, it is important that you meet the crime threat by obtaining accurate information on the types of crimes that occur and assure that all feasible protection measures have been instituted.

Fire Protection

Similarly, the best way to prevent fires and injuries is by assuring that the facility and equipment are cleaned, well-maintained and in good operating condition; detection and alarm equipment are installed; and automatic sprinklers are provided.

Protect. Protection is the first step, so consider providing automatic fire-suppression/sprinkler systems. As new stations are built, automatic sprinklers are a must, but you need to include them in any station renovations as well. Set the example for the residential and industrial building owners in your community.

Detect. To begin with, detection systems can provide early warning in the event of a fire. A further step — connecting your detection system's alarm to a central monitoring station — can provide excellent early warning and also help save property and contents. Be sure to install both fire-protection and -detection systems according to applicable National Fire Protection Association Standards.

Inspect. Many station fires over the years have been caused by faulty electrical systems. That's why it is so important to regularly update your electrical system. Have a certified electrician periodically inspect the equipment and assure that installation is consistent with the National Electrical Code. Address overloaded circuits, temporary or faulty wiring, non-compliant splices and improper use of extension cords at your stations, as well as at properties where you respond. Periodically inspect and maintain heating systems since, like electrical systems, they also are a major cause of fires.

Separate. Store hazards such as flammable liquids separately, using cabinets or containers that are UL-approved.

Protecting your station and your assets should be a number-one priority. Remember to protect, detect, inspect, prevent and separate properly. It's the only way to ensure that you have properly protected the protectors.

A Second Assessment

As security and fire are not your primary concerns, you need to take a second look to make sure they are addressed properly. Make a secondary assessment of specific losses and then evaluate them according to a crime-prevention checklist. Once you have evaluated your facilities and operations, you will have identified the key areas that may be subject to crime loss — and you will be ready to develop a strategy to deal with it.

William F. Jenaway, Ph.D., CFPS, CFO, CPP, CSP, is the executive vice president of VFIS Education, Training and Consulting. He was FIRE CHIEF's 2001 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year.