Sacramento fire department Annual report 2009

CHIEF’S MESSAGERay S. JonesFire ChiefAs I look back over 2009 I am pleased and proud of the accomplishmentsof the Sacramento Fire Department. Ourchallenges were many and time and time again we rose to overcomethe challenge. This annual report will give the reader a sense of ourtriumphs and challenges but it will not provide anywhere near theinsight into the incredible men and women who work for this department.Truly, these are the people who deserve to be recognized fortheir outstanding contributions to this organization.In this day and age of shrinking budgets and an ever changing political terrain it is not good enough to be“good enough.” Today our fire departments must be innovative and nimble in order to embrace changeand then to implement that change. In 2009 we witnessed a maturing of our department in this regard.We began the process of using data, best practices and evidence based outcomes to move our departmentforward.For the second year in a row we were hit with significant budget reductions. Though we were requiredto lower our budget by over 3 million dollars we were able to accomplish this without laying off onefirefighter. For this to happen our elected officials, labor and fire management all had to pull together tofind mutually acceptable solutions. We had to “walk our talk” when it came to being nimble, using bestpractices and embracing the use of data. Going through this collaborative process turned out to be awin/win situation for all involved.For those who have an opportunity to read this report I hope it provides a glimpse into the daily operationsof our department. It is always an honor and privilege to open the doors of our organization toyou. I remain committed to leading this department with innovation and enthusiasm as we head into2010.MissionCommitment to excellencein enhancing andprotecting life, property,and the environment.VALUESINTEGRITYCUSTOMER SERVICETEAMWORKVisionTo be the recognizedleader in preserving andenriching our community’squality of life.Sacramento Fire Department 2009 Annual Report ~ Page 3