John Barrett

, Male

Texas

United States

Profile Information:

Lives in:

Winnsboro, TX

Department:

Plano (TX) Fire Rescue

Title/rank:

Lieutenant

Years of public service:

15 as firefighter, 5 as 911 operator / dispatcher

Agency structure:

Paid fire department

Top issues in your department:

Plano Fire Rescue is an all-hazards metro-sized fire department that provides protection for close to 300,000 residents within 72 square miles. 386 personnel respond to over 25,000 calls for service annually from 13 stations with 13 engines, 5 trucks, 8 MICUs, 1 (EMS) squad, 2 battalions and 1 utility (air/light) vehicle. Operations works 24/48 with 110+ firefighters assigned per shift and a minimum daily staffing of 97 personnel - engines and trucks are staffed with four personnel and battalions have drivers. The city will grow to over 300,000 by 2020.

Plano Fire has many challenges in the years ahead as we complete the transition from a growing suburban department to a metro-sized urban/suburban department. Some of these challenges include:
- developing a training division that has been historically undersupported (staffing/resources/facilities/budget)
- senior and company level leadership succession and development
- a changing built environment (as an example a nearly 200% increase in highrises in the next 2 years)
- huge personnel turnover (1/5 of department currently has less than 3 years on the job, over half the department will have less than 10 years by 2022)

Professional Qualifications:

FF2 (TX ADVANCED) / EMT / DRIVER OPERATOR / INSTRUCTOR II / HAZMAT TECH / OFFICER II / ISO

Topics you provide training for:

Firefighter I and II (Texas Basic Structural Firefighter)
Firefighter Safety
Engine Company Operations

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