I.  PURPOSE

To provide fire and rescue protection during disaster situations. To organize the capabilities of all fire and rescue services in the county when needed.

1. Carlsbad, Artesia, Loving, and Hope maintain their own fire departments. Eddy County equips 11 volunteer fire departments to serve the unincorporated parts of the county.
2. Artesia Fire Department operates its own 24-hour dispatch. The Carlsbad Fire Department is dispatched by the Carlsbad Police Department's 24-hour dispatch center. All other fire departments in Eddy County are dispatched through these two agencies.
3. Mutual Aid agreements between municipal and county fire departments specify automatic mutual response to structure fires outside incorporated jurisdictions.
4. Written agreements for mutual aid are maintained with N.M. State Forestry Division, U. S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management.

Fire and Rescue personnel perform a wide variety of duties, all of which are essential in a disaster situation. These tasks include fire suppression and prevention, rescue, extrication, emergency medical services, hazardous materials abatement, water shuttles, and more.

1. Each department/station maintains procedures for notification/recall of all personnel in event of an emergency or disaster situation.
2. The Fire and Rescue Coordinator reports to the jurisdiction's EOC during a major emergency to assist decision makers and coordinate fire and rescue.
3. Field units furnish information on casualties, damage, exposure levels and status of rescue operations to appropriate fire dispatch for relay to their EOC for plotting, analysis and reporting.

1. The CAO appoints a knowledgeable person to act as Fire and Rescue Coordinator for emergency operations. Operating from the EOC, he/she allocates equipment and personnel to the location(s) of greatest need.
2. The senior fire official at a disaster scene coordinates actions of firefighters (under the Incident Command System) to cope with the disaster. These activities include firefighting, rescue, emergency medical care, hazardous materials abatement, evacuation, and other similar duties.
3. The Fire and Rescue Coordinator establishes mutual aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions to maximize support available in a localized emergency.
4. Each fire department supports its own community but is ready to work with others to cope with a disaster.
5. Firefighters train in rescue operations and assist in search and rescue missions when directed by EOC.

1. EOC staff provides logistical support to departmental or station personnel during major emergencies. This includes water, food, fuel, communications and emergency power to fixed facilities.
2. During disasters, a work schedule must be implemented which provides personnel sufficient rest while maintaining operational capability.

1. Responsibility for maintaining and updating this annex rests with the jurisdiction's Fire and Rescue Coordinator.
2. Update and review this annex as needed but at least annually.
3. This annex will be exercised in accordance with the exercise schedule as presented in the preparedness section of this document.