The city intends to hire a professional fire service consultant to conduct an examination and analysis of the administration, operations, training and deployment practices of the Fire Department.
The study will include a master plan for the Fire Department that will assess its internal operations and staffing, and provide a gap analysis of its current situation against national standards and best practices, according to City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr.
Simultaneous with that study, Augustus said, he will conduct a review of the Division of Inspectional Services, since it works with the Fire Department to ensure the safety of all buildings in the city.
The manager said a coordinated approach by both departments is critical to keeping residents and first responders safe.