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Pickens County, Georgia Emergency Support Function Annex 2025 4 Firefighting ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 1 This Page Intentionally Left Blank This Page Intentionally Left Blank ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 2 Record of Changes Change # Date Part Affected Date Posted Who Posted 1 1/5/2025 New Annex 1/5/2025 Westbrook ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 3 Record of Distribution Plan # Office/Department Representative Signature 1 Pickens County Public Safety Director Elrod 2 Pickens County Fire Chief Prather 3 Pickens County Board of Commissioners Chairman Stancil 4 City of Jasper Fire Chief Sherrer 5 Bent Tree Fire Chief Arp 6 Big Canoe Fire Chief Jordan 7 Hinton Fire Chief Edwards 8 Bethany Salam Fire Chief Easterwood 9 Yellow Creek Fire Chief Smith 10 Pickens County Emergency Management Director Westbrook 11 Board of Commissioners 12 13 14 15 ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 4 Table of Contents Record of Changes 2 Record of Distribution 3 1.0 Approval and Implementation 5 2.0 ESF Coordinator and Support Agencies 6 3.0 Introduction 7 Purpose Scope 4.0 Concept of Operations 7 4.2 Pre-Event Phase 4.3 Response 4.4 Recovery Phase 4.5 Annex Activation 4.6 ESF Role Alignment to Core Capabilities 5.0 Coordination and Assignment of Responsibilities 10 5.1 ESF Coordinator 10 5.2 Responsibilities 11 Support Agency Assignment of Responsibilities 11 6.0 Direction, Control, and Coordination 13 Information Collection and Dissemination 13 Communications 13 Administration, Finance, and Logistics 13 7.0 ESF Annex Development and Maintenance 14 Development and Maintenance 14 8.0 Authorities and References 14 Legal Authority 14 References 14 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 6 2.0 ESF Coordinator and Support Agencies ESF COORDINATOR: Pickens County Fire Rescue SUPPORT AGENCIES: Bent Tree Fire-Rescue Bethany Salem Volunteer Fire Department Big Canoe Fire-Rescue City of Jasper Fire-Rescue Georgia Forestry Commission Hinton Volunteer Fire Department Pickens County Emergency Management Agency Yellow Creek Volunteer Fire Department EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION FIREFIGHTING 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 7 3.0 Introduction Purpose 1. To provide for the coordination and use of all county, city, public, private, and volunteer firefighting resources within Pickens County, Georgia during an emergency or a disaster situation. 2. To provide for the application of equipment, manpower and technical expertise to control and suppress urban, rural, and wildland fires and other assignments. Provisions of such services will be in accordance with the mutual aid compact agreements with local governments, private industry, other counties, and established recognized standard firefighting methods. 3. To provide a well-organized and equipped firefighting organization for fire suppression, and if required, provide radiological monitoring and decontamination as well as search and rescue operations during a disaster situation. 4. To coordinate and mobilize fire and emergency services resources, personnel, and equipment; and coordinate other county, city, and private resources to support Pickens County, Georgia with these resources to suppress urban, rural, wildland fires, and other fire protection issues. Scope ESF 4 Firefighting operations encompasses rural, wildland, and urban firefighting operations in an emergency or a disaster. Pickens County Fire-Rescue assumes primary responsibility for the coordination of firefighting resources. 4.0 Concept of Operations General During an emergency or disaster, the ESF 4 Firefighting Coordinator will serve as the principle point of contact for operations associated with ESF 4 Firefighting. The ESF Coordinator will oversee all ESF 4 Firefighting operations and report to the Emergency Management Agency (EMA). If a disaster warrants EOC activation, some or all of ESF 4 Firefighting personnel may be activated. The scope, scale, and magnitude of the threat/incident will dictate which support agencies that will be requested for operations in the EOC. ESF 4 Firefighting in coordination with ESF 10 Hazardous Materials will maintain radiological monitoring and decontamination capability and provide decision making advice on the hazards associated with hazardous materials. The ESF 4 Coordinator shall maintain liaison with the Pickens County Emergency Operations Center and coordinate emergency information for public release through ESF-15. ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 8 All ESF departments and agencies shall participate in planning meetings and exercises and when activated ensure that all team members and support agencies maintain appropriate records of costs incurred during the event. 4.2 Pre-Event Phase 1. Maintain normal day-to-day operations. 2. Develop a plan for manpower to sustain operations for multiple operational periods. 3. In coordination with the Pickens County Emergency Management Agency, develop plans and procedures, organize personnel, and maintain a readiness posture. 4. Develop procedures to implement this plan. 5. Identify, train, and assign personnel with firefighting functions. 6. Develop and be prepared to implement an accelerated training program for firefighting personnel. 7. Maintain agreements and working relationships with supporting agencies/departments. 8. Develop and maintain a fire service resource list to include personnel and equipment. 9. Develop Search and Rescue procedures for fire service personnel in support of a search and rescue incident. 10. Conduct fire prevention and educational activities for the public. 4.3 Response Phase 1. Activate ESF 4 at the request of the Pickens County EMA Director or designee. 2. Determine needs for disaster victims. 3. Assist in search and rescue duties as necessary and other areas when feasible. 4. Support county and municipal fire departments and the Georgia Forestry Commission with appropriate resources to include mobilizing and deploying firefighting teams and resources as needed. 5. Monitor status of firefighting resources committed to an incident. 6. Plan for and establish relief resources to replace or rotate with command resources for extended operations. 7. Support fire investigations and inspections. 8. Once resources are requested, provide for direct liaison with fire chiefs in affected areas to coordinate resource requests for specific assistance. 9. Document any lost or damaged equipment and any personnel or equipment accidents. 10. If radioactive material is involved, coordinate with the Pickens County Emergency ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 9 Operations Center ESF 10 Hazardous Materials for monitoring and decontamination activities. 4.4 Recovery Phase 1. Continue to provide firefighting capabilities within affected areas until conditions return to normal. 2. Conduct reviews of incident actions with teams involved to improve future operations. 3. Inventory any lost or damaged equipment and record any personnel injuries or equipment accidents. 4.5 Annex Activation When the ESF 4 Firefighting coordinator or a support agency is made aware of a threat or incident requiring the activation of this Annex, they will contact the Emergency Operations Center with all pertinent information. When activated, the Pickens County Fire Rescue, with assistance from supporting departments and agencies, assesses and responds to requests for assistance with management, maintenance, planning and technical support of firefighting operations. During activation, the ESF 4 Firefighting Coordinator serves as the point of contact for requests for ESF 4 Firefighting-related assistance that is received by the Pickens County Emergency Operations Center. The ESF 4 Firefighting Coordinator then ensures mission assignment completion through direct support or by delegation to the appropriate support agency. 4.6 ESF Role Alignment to Core Capabilities ESF Role Aligned to Core Capabilities Core Capability ESF-4 Firefighting Planning Conduct a systematic process engaging the whole community as appropriate in the development of executable strategic, operational, and/or tactical-level approaches to meet defined objectives. Operational Coordination Establish and maintain a unified and coordinated operational structure and process that appropriately integrates all critical stakeholders and supports the execution of core capabilities. Fire Management & Suppression Provide structural, wildland, and specialized firefighting capabilities to manage and suppress fires of all types, kinds, and complexities while protecting the lives, property, and the environment in the affected area. ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 10 5.0 Coordination and Assignment of Responsibilities 5.1 ESF Coordinator The ESF 4 Firefighting Coordinator is the Pickens County Fire Chief or designee. Within the County EOC, the ESF 4 Firefighting Coordinator will serve a dual role as the ESF 4 Firefighting Coordinator and the Primary Agency Emergency Coordinator for all rural and urban firefighting operations. 5.1.1 ESF Coordinator Responsibilities ESF 4 Coordinator will ensure the following: • Designate Primary and Alternate Emergency Coordinators. The designees shall represent the agency in an emergency or disaster and provide operational support in the EOC when requested. • Sustain operational readiness through regular contact with primary and support agencies. • Coordinates all planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities regarding firefighting and prevention. • Lead planning meetings and participate in exercises. • Develop Standard Operating Guides (SOGs) to support emergency and disaster operations. • Develop, maintain, and distribute this Annex. • Coordinate with EMA Director, or designee, for training of staff that support ESF 4 Firefighting. • Coordinate operational support for ESF 4 Firefighting support agencies. • Identify, procure, prioritize, and track firefighting resources that are requested to support or are utilized for emergency or disaster operations. • Provides updates on the status of ESF 4 Firefighting mission assignments to ESF 5 Emergency Management, Planning Section, and other entities external to ESF 4 Firefighting. • Coordinate with ESF 7 Resource Support in the provision of firefighting resources to impacted areas. • Acts as a liaison between ESF 4 Firefighting and ESF 15 External Affairs. • Generates information to be used in briefings, situation reports, and incident action plans. • Prepare Firefighting Plans and coordinates preparedness, response, recovery, and ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 11 mitigation activities. • Conducts regular ESF 4 Firefighting meetings and conference calls. • Maintains ongoing contact with ESF 4 Firefighting primary and support agencies. • Ensures that ESF 4 Firefighting Primary and Support Emergency Coordinators maintain operational readiness by taking required training courses. • Directs requests for assistance to the appropriate ESF 4 Firefighting support agencies. • Directs unmet requests for assistance to ESF 5 Emergency Management. 5.2 Responsibilities 5.2.1 Pickens County Fire-Rescue Pickens County Fire-Rescue is the lead agency responsible for all aspects of fire protection within the unincorporated areas of Pickens County, the City of Nelson inside Pickens County and the Town of Talking Rock. Pickens County Fire-Rescue is responsible for providing emergency medical services to all areas of Pickens County including unincorporated areas, the City of Jasper, City of Nelson inside Pickens County, and the Town of Talking Rock. The Pickens County Fire-Rescue provides support services to the City of Jasper Fire Department following established mutual and automatic aid agreements. 5.2.2 City of Jasper The City of Jasper Fire-Rescue is the lead agency responsible for all aspects of fire protection and emergency medical first response within the City of Jasper. The City of Jasper Fire-Rescue provides support services to Pickens County Fire – Rescue following established automatic and mutual aid agreements. 5.2.3 All Support Agencies Support Agency Assignment of Responsibilities Supporting Agencies Actions All Support Agencies • During normal day-to-day operations provide services to legal or assigned area of responsibility. • Attend ESF meetings to ensure planning and coordination functions are conducted to support this ESF. • Identify Agency staff representatives to support this ESF and other operational practices during emergency and disaster operations. • Ensure the presence of resources (human and physical) are in sufficient numbers to support the Agency’s responsibilities to this ESF. • Coordinate pertinent disaster recovery information with the Pickens County EOC ESF-15 position. • Identify damages and/or losses and prepare an action plan for recovery activities. ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 12 • Maintain records of expenditures and document resources utilized during response and recovery operations. • Identify damages and/or losses and prepare an action plan for recovery activities. • Develop appropriate Plans, Procedures, Mutual Aid Agreements, Checklists, Go-Kits and other supporting. documentation as needed to facilitate execution of the Agency’s responsibilities to this ESF. • Prepare to support the EOC, as necessary. • Participate in drills, exercises and other preparedness. events to evaluate the Agency’s readiness to support this ESF. • Ensure Agency staff maintain NIMS compliance and report compliance measurements annually as requested. Bent Tree Fire-Rescue • Provide support to fire suppression operations through the utilization of available resources and personnel to the affected jurisdiction. • Participate in Mutual Aid agreements to support County Firefighting operations and augment resources. Bethany Salem Volunteer Fire Department • Provide support to fire suppression operations through the utilization of available resources and personnel to the affected jurisdiction. • Participate in Mutual Aid agreements to support County Firefighting operations and augment resources. Big Canoe Fire Rescue • Provide support to fire suppression operations through the utilization of available resources and personnel to the affected jurisdiction. • Participate in Mutual Aid agreements to support County Firefighting operations and augment resources. City of Jasper Fire Rescue • Provide support to fire suppression operations through the utilization of available resources and personnel to the affected jurisdiction. • Participate in Mutual Aid agreements to support County Firefighting operations and augment resources. Georgia Forestry Commission • Serve as support entity of ESF-4 and assist with the coordination of state firefighting resources, as necessary. • Establish procedures for the incorporation of county and city assets to contribute to response and recovery following the incident action plan. Hinton Volunteer Fire Department • Provide support to fire suppression operations through the utilization of available resources and personnel to the affected jurisdiction. • Participate in Mutual Aid agreements to support County Firefighting operations and augment resources. Pickens County Emergency Management • Coordinate a situational assessment to determine incident priorities in support of all ESF-4 operations. • Support ESF 4 operations through activation of the EOC when needed. Yellow Creek Volunteer Fire Department • Provide support to fire suppression operations through the utilization of available resources and personnel to the affected jurisdiction. • Participate in Mutual Aid agreements to support County ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 13 Firefighting operations and augment resources. Table 2: Support Agency Responsibilities 6.0 Direction, Control, and Coordination Information Collection and Dissemination ESF 4 Firefighting will report all activities to the ESF 5 Emergency Management Situation Unit for inclusion in the development of incident action plans and situational reports. All public information reports regarding ESF 4 Firefighting activity will be coordinated with EOC ESF 15 External Affairs. In addition to the EOC, ESF 4 Firefighting may provide personnel to field operations established in Pickens County, Georgia including but not limited to: Joint Field Offices (JFO), Joint Information Centers (JIC), Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and any other incident facility established to meet operational demands for each particular incident requiring the activation of the EOP. Communications The ESF 5 Emergency Management will provide planning assistance to all ESFs listed in the EOP. All ESFs will strive to develop operationally ready SOGs for inclusion in the EOP. ESF 4 Firefighting will meet as necessary to develop, review and refine SOGs that discuss specific operational processes and procedures. Administration, Finance, and Logistics In conjunction with ESF 7 Resource Support, ESF 4 Firefighting will develop, review, refine and maintain lists of all resources currently available and under the control of the primary or support agencies listed in this plan. The development of these lists may be completed by several organizations and professional groups, which currently operate within this ESF. These resource lists should be compliant with the resource typing standards outlined in the National Incident Management System 207 (NIMS). Resource requirements will be primarily determined by Incident Commanders, working with the Emergency Operations Center. Resource requests flow from the Incident Commander to the EOC and may be forwarded to the State Operations Center (or through the GEMA/HS Field Coordinator) as required. Existing local resources, intrastate mutual aid, donations, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters and Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO) provide the initial source of personnel, vehicles, equipment, supplies, and services to fulfill resource requests. ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Support Function 4 Annex 14 7.0 ESF Annex Development and Maintenance Development and Maintenance ESF Annexes will be updated as required and when events or exercises identify a needed change. All other maintenance will be conducted in accordance with the base plan. 8.0 Authorities and References Legal Authority Code of Ordinances Pickens County, Georgia Chapter 22-32(3), 22-33. Code of Georgia TITLE 38, Article 2, Section 38-3-27. References Pickens County, Georgia Emergency Operations Plan. Georgia Emergency Operations Plan. National Response Framework. FEMA 2019. National Incident Management System. FEMA 2017. National Preparedness Goal. FEMA 2015.