Code 3 Responses—When you hear sirens and see red lights flashing, this is what emergency responders call a Code 3 (emergency) response. Code 3 responses are intended to expedite emergency response. Firefighters are alerted that there is an emergency through a variety of means (station alerting or radio or telephone). They receive a message, which provides basic information on the type of call they are responding to and its location. In addition to the vocal dispatch, firefighters receive a printout of all the information at the station responsible for the response.

Once on the road, firefighters have a new challenge: getting to the emergency scene safely. While Fire Department drivers, called Engineers, are specially trained and licensed, Code 3 responses are still dangerous. The driver has to take into consideration that some citizens might not hear the sirens, some might panic and make a dangerous move or others might fail to yield the right-of-way to responding vehicles. On top of this, there is road construction and traffic congestion to make emergency response even more difficult. Because of the dangers involved with Code 3 responses, an Incident Commander evaluates emergency situations to ensure that responders are using lights and sirens only when necessary.

Fire Responses R.E.C.E.O—If you have ever wondered what type of general plan is in place for fighting structure fires, here it is. Firefighters use the acronym R.E.C.E.O., which stands for Rescue, Exposure, Containment, Extinguishment and Overhaul.

Rescue
When firefighters respond to a fire scene, the first thing they need to determine is whether there is anyone in the structure who they may have to rescue. Life safety is always the Department's priority.

Exposure
Once the firefighters have determined that there is no risk to life, they want to ensure that the fire does not spread to neighboring structures, or in the case of an apartment or condominium, to the neighboring units.

Containment
Not only do firefighters want to keep the fire from exposing other buildings; their goal is to contain the fire to the area of its origin as much as possible. During the initial attack, firefighters will work to remove the smoke, heat and gases from the building by using a high power fan (positive pressure ventilation) or by cutting a hole in the roof. By doing this, it helps confine the fire, improves visibility, and may increase the chances of survival for a victim by reducing exposure to heat and toxic gases.

Extinguishment
Once firefighters have the fire confined, they can work to extinguish it.

Overhaul
A critical part of firefighting is making sure, after extinguishment, that all of the embers are out. This is a critical time for the person in charge of safety because the firefighters are tired and therefore accidents are more likely to occur (e.g. falling off of a ladder). During this stage, firefighters are also looking for the cause of the fire, so evidence preservation is vital.

During the stages mentioned above, firefighters will try to minimize the damage to the owner's property as much as possible. Called salvage operations, this might include covering furniture or electronic equipment to protect it from smoke and/or water damage. Firefighters will also move items out of harms way when possible.

Signal Pre-emption—To help offset the impact of increased call volume and traffic congestion on response times, the City has purchased and installed signal light preemption equipment. When the equipment on the emergency response vehicle signals the receiver on the traffic signal, a green light is given to the response vehicle. This green light permits drivers to safely drive through an intersection and move to the right, giving the emergency vehicle a clear path.

Medical Aid and Rescue—Medical calls constitute 55-60% of the Fire Department's call volume on any given year. The majority of the Department's emergency medical calls are for heart-related problems, seizures and people having trouble breathing. Minor and major slips or falls are also common emergency medical calls.

Paramedic Program—The Mountain View Fire Department has a long history of delivering first aid and emergency medical services with a number of enhancements implemented throughout the years. In the 1960s, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was taught to fire personnel. The 1970s saw the addition of advanced first aid, and by the early 1980s, firefighters were certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). By the early 1990s, skill levels were elevated to include cardiac defibrillation (EMT-D).

The Fire Department has been providing paramedic level services on each of its five engines since January 1, 2000.

The most recent advance in patient care was the addition of 12 lead cardiac monitors to the Department's inventory. Formerly, patients having a cardiac emergency were required to wait until delivery to an emergency room before this diagnostic tool was available. The new 12 lead provides paramedics with greater and more accurate information related to the condition of the patients heart. This information can then be faxed to the receiving hospital prior to the patients arrival. With this information in hand, the hospital can more quickly provide appropriate care to the patient. The reduction in time between onset and definitive treatment improves survivability and may reduce the amount of permanent cardiac tissue damage.

H.E.A.T—H.E.A.T stands for Hazardous Emergency Action Team. The response team includes a H.E.A.T. van and is cross-staffed by firefighters from Engine 5 and Station 1 who are trained at a minimum level of Hazardous Materials Technicians. When a hazardous materials incident occurs requiring their expertise, the H.E.A.T. van will be brought to the scene of the incident. This highly specialized vehicle carries chemical-resistant suits, monitoring equipment, plugging and patching materials and devices and specialized pumps. The vehicle has a small chemical laboratory which allows the team to perform chemical analysis of unknown substances.