SOP 511.02: Fire Services Operations

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|
|Policy Number: 511.02|Effective Date: 11/1/2022|Page Number: 1 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

I. Introduction and Summary: The Office of Fire Services and Life Safety Manager
shall provide technical assistance in establishing and overseeing a comprehensive
statewide fire protection program. This policy is applicable to all Fire Services
operations.

II. Authority:

A. O.C.G.A. Title 25 - Fire Protection and Safety; and

B. ACA Standards: 2-CO-2A-01, 1-CTA-2A-01, 5-ACI-3B-01, 5-ACI-3B-02, 5
ACI-7A-07, 4-ACRS-1C-08, 4-ACRS-1C-11, 4-ALDF-1A-06, 4-ALDF-1C-07,
4-ALDF-1C-08, and 4-ALDF-1C-09.

III. Definitions: None.

IV. Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:

A. The Fire Services and Life Safety Office will have overall administrative

responsibility for the Georgia Department of Corrections’ Fire and Life Safety
Program to include:

1. Promulgating standards which comply with all state fire codes relating to

correctional facilities and offices including Central Office and the Central
Training Academy;

2. Providing technical assistance in directing the establishment and certification

of all Georgia Department of Corrections Fire Stations;

3. Providing technical assistance in planning, coordinating, and providing fire

safety training for all staff and inmate firefighters;

4. Inspecting facilities for compliance with all applicable minimum fire safety

laws and standards and all applicable federal, state, and local building codes;

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|
|Policy Number: 511.02|Effective Date: 11/1/2022|Page Number: 2 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

5. Inspecting and providing technical assistance to all Georgia Department of

Corrections fire stations; and

6. Providing technical assistance in negotiating and reviewing mutual aid and

automatic aid agreements for fire protection for each facility and office.

B. The Fire Services and Life Safety Manager shall function as the Chief of all

Georgia Department of Corrections Fire Departments which includes:

1. Providing technical assistance with planning and coordinating the

establishment of fire stations at facilities under the jurisdiction of Georgia
Department of Corrections;

2. Establishing standards and operating procedures for all Georgia Department of

Corrections fire stations to insure compliance with National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) and Georgia Standard Fire Fighting and Training;

3. Providing technical assistance with training for fire station personnel (staff and

inmate firefighters) to maintain the certification of the station and Georgia
Department of Corrections firefighters; and

4. Directing unannounced monthly inspections of each fire station to include

buildings, grounds, equipment, and administrative records.

C. The Fire Services and Life Safety Manager shall ensure compliance with all

applicable fire codes during all new construction and renovation projects at all
Georgia Department of Corrections properties and/or offices:

1. The Fire Services and Life Safety Manager shall review all construction plans,

issuing construction permits when applicable;

2. The Fire Services and Life Safety Manager will issue or update all certificates

of occupancy as required; and

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|
|Policy Number: 511.02|Effective Date: 11/1/2022|Page Number: 3 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

3. Fire Services and Life Safety staff shall conduct inspections of every

construction project involving any Georgia Department of Corrections facility
when the project is eighty (80) percent complete and again when the project is
one-hundred (100) percent complete.

D. Responsibilities of District Chiefs Training Chief and Life Safety Compliance

Officers:

1. The Training Fire Chief shall conduct monthly inspections of each station in

their assigned area, for compliance with all applicable national, state and
departmental standards and policies.

2. The Training Fire Chief shall report all station inspection findings to the

Warden and the Fire Services and Life Safety Manager. Inspection reports shall
be left with the Warden or designee after each inspection. The Training Fire
Chief, Station Chief, and the Warden, Superintendent, or designee shall sign
each inspection document. Copies of each inspection shall be forwarded to the
appropriate regional office and the Regional Director.

3. The Training Fire Chief’s monthly inspection will give the Warden

information on the performance of each station chief which will be used to
assist the Warden with the management performance review of the station
chief.

4. The District Chief / Life Safety Compliance Officer shall conduct a thorough

inspection all facilities, to include work details and any area where inmates are
used, biannually. The District Chief/Life Safety Compliance Officer shall
complete a written report listing all discrepancies found and forward a copy to
the Warden or Superintendent. The Warden or Superintendent shall have thirty
(30) calendar days to submit a corrective action plan addressing all listed
discrepancies. This corrective action plan shall be submitted to the GDC Fire
Services and Life Safety Manager.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|
|Policy Number: 511.02|Effective Date: 11/1/2022|Page Number: 4 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

E. Staffing of Fire Stations and Firefighter Criteria:

1. Each Warden shall be responsible for assigning a minimum of eight (8) trained

firefighters to each facility fire station;

2. Each fire station shall provide 24-hour coverage to the institution and the

communities surrounding the facility;

3. All staff and inmate firefighters shall be required to pass an endurance test and

physical examination as required by the Georgia Firefighter Standards and
Training Council. Facility medical staff shall conduct all required physical
examinations using the standard Georgia Department of Corrections medical
form; and

4. Inmate firefighters assigned to Georgia Department of Corrections fire stations

shall meet the following minimum criteria:

a. Must be minimum security;

b. Have no physical limitations;

c. Have no less than eighteen (18) months remaining on sentence but no more

than thirteen (13) years. Inmates with life sentences may serve as inmate
firefighters only if approved by the Director of Facility Operations. See
SOP 220.03, Classification Committee for additional guidance;

d. Must have no arson convictions;

e. Must have no sexual offense convictions;

f. Must have no escape charges or attempts;

g. Must have or be actively working toward a high school diploma or GED;

and

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|Policy Name: Fire Services Operations|
|Policy Number: 511.02|Effective Date: 11/1/2022|Page Number: 5 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

h. Must be able to read at a 10th grade level.

5. A roster of assigned firefighters shall be forwarded to the Fire Services and

Life Safety Office by the 1st of each month.

6. All station fire chiefs, and any other GDC employees assigned to a fire station

with duties that include responding to calls with the inmate firefighters, shall
hold and maintain POST certification as correctional officers.

F. Fire Station Equipment Care and Maintenance:

1. The fire station and all firefighting equipment shall be maintained in a clean

and orderly condition at all times.

2. All fire stations shall maintain compliance with all applicable national, state

and departmental policies and standards directing the operation of a fire station.

3. All apparatus shall be checked daily using the fire apparatus check sheet.

4. All Class A pumping apparatus shall be tested annually as directed by the

Insurance Services Organization.

5. All fire hoses shall be inventoried and tested annually using the test
criteria outlined by the NFPA.

7. All fire hydrants on facility property shall be tested, painted, numbered, and

color-coded annually.

V. Attachments: None.

VI. Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy: None.