Five Principles of Notification - IAFF

ICHIEFS
LODD Response Plan
G.O. Number: 1-16 Effective Date: July 6, 1999
Section: Organization and Administration
Subject: Fire/EMS Department Funeral Procedures
By Order of the Fire Chief: Ronald J. Siarnicki
I. Purpose
To establish the departmental policies and procedures for conducting fire/EMS
department funerals. This General Order should serve as a guide to conducting
full fire/EMS department funerals. However, at no time will this General Order
take precedent over the wishes of the family. The level of involvement will be
predetermined based on the criteria set forth in this order and the desires of the
family.
II. Goal
The goal of this order is to establish a guideline and proper procedures for
conducting fire/EMS department funerals and to properly and reverently conduct
a service worthy of the service given by a member of the department. As stated
above, the wishes of family members will always take precedent over any policy
set forth by this order. This order should be used to set up a framework to
execute the events that must take place in order to properly conduct a funeral.
The coordination and development of a funeral service can be very difficult, both
physically and emotionally. There are many factors that should be considered
when preparing a funeral service. As all emergencies are uniquely different, the
framework with which we work in remains the same. With that in mind, the
Incident Command System should be utilized in the coordination and
development of a funeral service. Each service will be different, but the same
framework can be utilized in order to ensure a proper and efficient service.
III. Criteria
The department will recognize three levels of services when conducting funerals:
A. Line-of-Duty Death
A line-of-duty death will receive the full honors and respect befitting a member
who lost his/her life in the performance of his/her duties. A line-of-duty death will
generally include a fire/EMS department memorial service, a casket watch by the
honor guard, full dress uniforms for as many sworn personnel as possible,
uniformed fire/EMS personnel ushers, appropriate transportation of the casket,
coordination of transportation for family members, a graveside ceremony with
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