- Location
- Britain
In response to the recent suggestion by @Insp Dean HastingsI think this may be a better solution to getting people into the fire service without going through the NHS.
Brief Summary:
Creation of a on call firefighter role allowing people to apply directly to the fire service rather then going through the NHS and giving them access to limited equipment when directed by full time firefighters.
Detailed Suggestion:
In many places around the UK communities will have on-call firefighters, they will either be supplementing full time fire stations or in some areas the entire local fire service may be on-call with one or two full time firefighters in command.
On-call firefighters are people who work full time jobs normally in non emergency service roles but are trained, often locally, as firefighters. On-call firefighters carry a pager depending on their duty rota and may be paged at any point during their duty period in order to respond to emergencies, they're then paid according to the time that they're responding to emergencies in addition to time spent training and payment for serving in the role. It offers a cheaper alternative to a full time fire service in quieter areas but allows for a quick response.
For implementing it on the server on-call firefighters would apply either to the fire service or NHS to serve in the role. They would then go through a vetting process to ensure they're a suitable candidate. They would complete training with the fire service whether that be single training session or multiple units over a longer period of time. Upon completing the training and becoming an on-call firefighters they would get access to a limited amount of fire service equipment to set the apart from the full time firefighters and given access to the callout system. This may consist of only response cars such as the X5 and Ford Ranger and the ability to pull out fire clothing from vehicles when they respond to emergencies as well as equipment like fire armour, extinguishers and hoses.
Depending on how Fire/NHS command want to restrict access to equipment and vehicles it could be varied such as on-call firefighters being expected to show up in personnel vehicles at emergencies and then changing into uniforms from the fire engine/cars or perhaps after longer service and more training some on-call firefighters can get access to larger vehicles. In the same way equipment could be restricted so only when on-call firefighters are requested do they get access to the equipment or they are only issued equipment on scene. This would again allow for more oversite from full time firefighters setting the roles apart.
On-call firefighters would only be utilised when requested by full time firefighter, this could be to respond to an emergency or to boost patrol numbers depending on what command want. On a basic level on-call firefighters could be paged by using an in-game group chat or a more complicated app/pager system could be implemented. On-call firefighters would then respond directly to the scene of the emergency or respond to the fire station where they would then change into appropriate clothing and pull out or be issued required equipment.
App/pager system:
One of the most important things to help the on-call firefighter role to be successful would be a messaging system/app specifically for it. This would provide an alert for on-call firefighters to respond to. It would be triggered by a full time firefighter of whatever rank is considered best and would send out an alert to all on-call firefighter detailing time, type of incident, response required and assemble point, it would then given an option for the to attend or not attend. This could also relay attendants back to the full time firefighters so they know who is responding.
E.g.
Bill is an on-call firefighter who is out doing mechanic work, he's clocked in as a mechanic towing vehicles. Meanwhile Jamie is on duty as a full time firefighter and receives a report that city hall is on fire. He doesn't think he can respond on his own, he goes to the fire app and selects 'Emergency alert (other options possibly; assemble or training) ---> on-call firefighters ---> structure fire (other options possibly; vehicle fire, technical rescue, HAZMAT incident) ---> Respond to fire station (other options possibly; Direct to scene (with addition of coordinates or summary))' and then sends the alert.
Bill receives an alert that looks like
"09-Mar-23 14:44:34 - LOS SANTOS - Emergency alert - Structure fire - Respond to scene - YES/NO"
Bill then either selects NO, at which point he carries on with his job or he selects YES and is automatically clocked in a firefighter. At this point he can access the emergency radio channels and dispatch menu as well as change into his clothing at the station or at fire vehicles and potentially pull out equipment/vehicles. Jamie can then see on the app the Bill has responded yes and is on the way and they respond to the fire along with any other on-call firefighters.
When the incident ends Jamie selects 'End incident' and Bill and other on-call firefighters are automatically clocked out from fire service.
The main area for development for this to be implemented would be the app/pager system, this would be the most complicated part to bring in but is really important as the whitelisting really needs to run through here to prevent it from being abused with people accessing emergency frequencies and looking at the dispatch menu or pulling out large amounts of equipment. The fire service assets already exist so sorting whitelisting shouldn't be a major problem.
The Pros:
Allows more people to be part of the fire service increasing the incidents they can respond to and the roleplay they can provide
Adds another unique opportunity on the server
Provides a simplified route into the fire service without being in the NHS
Still encourages people to go the route through the NHS to join the fire service as full-time firefighters
The Cons:
Potential abuse of equipment and radio access if not implemented properly
Does this suggestion change balance on the server ?
This wouldn't effect the balance of the server
Brief Summary:
Creation of a on call firefighter role allowing people to apply directly to the fire service rather then going through the NHS and giving them access to limited equipment when directed by full time firefighters.
Detailed Suggestion:
In many places around the UK communities will have on-call firefighters, they will either be supplementing full time fire stations or in some areas the entire local fire service may be on-call with one or two full time firefighters in command.
On-call firefighters are people who work full time jobs normally in non emergency service roles but are trained, often locally, as firefighters. On-call firefighters carry a pager depending on their duty rota and may be paged at any point during their duty period in order to respond to emergencies, they're then paid according to the time that they're responding to emergencies in addition to time spent training and payment for serving in the role. It offers a cheaper alternative to a full time fire service in quieter areas but allows for a quick response.
For implementing it on the server on-call firefighters would apply either to the fire service or NHS to serve in the role. They would then go through a vetting process to ensure they're a suitable candidate. They would complete training with the fire service whether that be single training session or multiple units over a longer period of time. Upon completing the training and becoming an on-call firefighters they would get access to a limited amount of fire service equipment to set the apart from the full time firefighters and given access to the callout system. This may consist of only response cars such as the X5 and Ford Ranger and the ability to pull out fire clothing from vehicles when they respond to emergencies as well as equipment like fire armour, extinguishers and hoses.
Depending on how Fire/NHS command want to restrict access to equipment and vehicles it could be varied such as on-call firefighters being expected to show up in personnel vehicles at emergencies and then changing into uniforms from the fire engine/cars or perhaps after longer service and more training some on-call firefighters can get access to larger vehicles. In the same way equipment could be restricted so only when on-call firefighters are requested do they get access to the equipment or they are only issued equipment on scene. This would again allow for more oversite from full time firefighters setting the roles apart.
On-call firefighters would only be utilised when requested by full time firefighter, this could be to respond to an emergency or to boost patrol numbers depending on what command want. On a basic level on-call firefighters could be paged by using an in-game group chat or a more complicated app/pager system could be implemented. On-call firefighters would then respond directly to the scene of the emergency or respond to the fire station where they would then change into appropriate clothing and pull out or be issued required equipment.
App/pager system:
One of the most important things to help the on-call firefighter role to be successful would be a messaging system/app specifically for it. This would provide an alert for on-call firefighters to respond to. It would be triggered by a full time firefighter of whatever rank is considered best and would send out an alert to all on-call firefighter detailing time, type of incident, response required and assemble point, it would then given an option for the to attend or not attend. This could also relay attendants back to the full time firefighters so they know who is responding.
E.g.
Bill is an on-call firefighter who is out doing mechanic work, he's clocked in as a mechanic towing vehicles. Meanwhile Jamie is on duty as a full time firefighter and receives a report that city hall is on fire. He doesn't think he can respond on his own, he goes to the fire app and selects 'Emergency alert (other options possibly; assemble or training) ---> on-call firefighters ---> structure fire (other options possibly; vehicle fire, technical rescue, HAZMAT incident) ---> Respond to fire station (other options possibly; Direct to scene (with addition of coordinates or summary))' and then sends the alert.
Bill receives an alert that looks like
"09-Mar-23 14:44:34 - LOS SANTOS - Emergency alert - Structure fire - Respond to scene - YES/NO"
Bill then either selects NO, at which point he carries on with his job or he selects YES and is automatically clocked in a firefighter. At this point he can access the emergency radio channels and dispatch menu as well as change into his clothing at the station or at fire vehicles and potentially pull out equipment/vehicles. Jamie can then see on the app the Bill has responded yes and is on the way and they respond to the fire along with any other on-call firefighters.
When the incident ends Jamie selects 'End incident' and Bill and other on-call firefighters are automatically clocked out from fire service.
The main area for development for this to be implemented would be the app/pager system, this would be the most complicated part to bring in but is really important as the whitelisting really needs to run through here to prevent it from being abused with people accessing emergency frequencies and looking at the dispatch menu or pulling out large amounts of equipment. The fire service assets already exist so sorting whitelisting shouldn't be a major problem.
The Pros:
Allows more people to be part of the fire service increasing the incidents they can respond to and the roleplay they can provide
Adds another unique opportunity on the server
Provides a simplified route into the fire service without being in the NHS
Still encourages people to go the route through the NHS to join the fire service as full-time firefighters
The Cons:
Potential abuse of equipment and radio access if not implemented properly
Does this suggestion change balance on the server ?
This wouldn't effect the balance of the server
