Chapter 8-14
FIRE DEPARTMENT MITIGATION RATES
Sections:
8-14-030 Rules and regulations.
Exhibit A Mitigation rates based on per hour.
8-14-010 Mitigation rates.
The Harvey fire department shall initiate mitigation rates for the delivery of emergency and nonemergency services by the fire department for personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of emergency and nonemergency incidents as listed in “Exhibit A.” The mitigation rates shall be based on actual costs of the services and that which is usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) as shown in “Exhibit A,” which may include any services, personnel, supplies, and equipment and with baselines established by addendum to this document. (Ord. 3251 § 1, 2011)
8-14-020 Claims.
A claim shall be filed to the responsible party through their insurance carrier. In some circumstances, the responsible party will be billed directly. (Ord. 3251 § 2, 2011)
8-14-030 Rules and regulations.
The fire department’s city council may make rules or regulations and from time to time may amend, revoke, or add rules and regulations, not consistent with. (Ord. 3251 § 3, 2011)
Exhibit A Mitigation Rates Based on Per Hour
*All fees are as laid out in Chapter 3-01, Fees, Fines, Insurance and Guarantee Requirements.
YEARLY INSPECTIONS
Level 1
Provide yearly business inspections for all commercial businesses and ensure that all fire safety regulations are being maintained.
MOTOR VEHICLE INCIDENTS
Level 1
Provide hazardous materials assessment and scene stabilization. This will be the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the fire department responds to an accident/incident.
Level 2
Includes Level 1 services as well as clean up and material used (sorbents) for hazardous fluid clean up and disposal. We will bill at this level if the fire department has to clean up any gasoline or other automotive fluids that are spilled as a result of the accident/incident.
Level 3 - CAR FIRE
Provide scene safety, fire suppression, breathing air, rescue tools, hand tools, hose, tip use, foam, structure protection, and clean up gasoline or other automotive fluids that are spilled as a result of the accident/incident.
Level 4
Includes Level 1 & 2 services as well as extrication (heavy rescue tools, ropes, airbags, cribbing etc.). We will bill at this level if the fire department has to free/remove anyone from the vehicle(s) using any equipment. We will not bill at this level if the patient is simply unconscious and fire department is able to open the door to access the patient. This level is to be billed only if equipment is deployed.
Level 5
Includes Levels 1, 2, & 4 services as well as Air Care (multi-engine company response, mutual aid, helicopter). We will bill at this level any time a helicopter is utilized to transport the patient(s).
Level 6
Itemized Response: You have the option to bill each incident as an independent event with custom mitigation rates, for each incident using itemized rates deemed usual, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed, itemized per apparatus, per personnel, plus products and equipment used.
HAZMAT
Level 1
Basic Response: Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, set-up and command.
Level 2
Intermediate Response: Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, hazmat certified team and appropriate equipment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, set-up and command, Level A or B suit donning, breathing air and detection equipment. Set-up and removal of decon center.
Level 3
Advanced Response: Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, hazmat certified team and appropriate equipment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder set-up and command, Level A or B suit donning, breathing air and detection equipment and robot deployment. Setup and removal of decon center, detection equipment, recovery and identification of material. Disposal and environment clean up. Includes above in addition to any disposal rates of material and contaminated equipment and material used at scene. Includes 3 hours of on scene time - each additional hour@ $300.00 per HAZMAT team.
PIPELINE INCIDENTS/POWER LINE INCIDENTS
(Includes, but not limited to: Gas, Sewer, Septic to Sewer, and Water Pipelines)
Level 1
Basic Response: Claim will include engine response and first responder assignment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder set-up and command. Includes inspection without damage or breakage.
Level 2
Intermediate Response: Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, and appropriate equipment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder set-up and command. May include HAZMAT team, Level A or B suit donning, breathing air and detection equipment. Supervise and/or assist pipeline repair.
Level 3
Advanced Response: Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, and appropriate equipment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder set-up and command. May include HAZMAT team, Level A or B suit donning, breathing air and detection equipment. Supervise and/or assist pipeline repair of intermediate to major pipeline damage. May include set-up and removal of decon center, detection, recovery and identification of material. Disposal and environment clean up.
FIRE INVESTIGATION
Fire Investigation Team
Includes:
• Scene Safety
• Investigation
• Source Identification
• K-9/Arson Dog Unit
• Identification Equipment
• Mobile Detection Unit
• Fire Report
The claim begins when the Fire Investigator responds to the incident and is billed for logged time only.
FIRES
Assignment
Includes:
• Scene Safety
• Investigation
• Fire/Hazard Control
This will be the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the fire department responds to an incident.
OPTIONAL: A fire department has the option to bill each fire as an independent event with custom mitigation rates, itemized, per person, at various pay levels and for itemized products use.
WATER INCIDENTS
Level 1
Basic Response: Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder set-up and command, scene safety and investigation (including possible patient contact, hazard control). This will be the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the fire department responds to a water incident.
Level 2
Intermediate Response: Includes Level 1 services as well as clean up and material used (sorbents), minor hazardous clean up and disposal. We will bill at this level if the fire department has to clean up small amounts of gasoline or other fluids that are spilled as a result of the incident.
Level 3
Advanced Response: Includes Level 1 and Level 2 services as well as D.A.R.T. activation, donning breathing apparatus and detection equipment. Set up and removal of decon center, detection equipment, recovery and identification of material. Disposal and environment clean up. Includes above in addition to any disposal rates of material and contaminated equipment and material used at scene.
Level 4
Itemized Response: You have the option to bill each incident as an independent event with custom mitigation rates for each incident using itemized rates deemed usual, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed, itemized, per trained rescue person, plus rescue products used.
BACK COUNTRY OR SPECIAL RESCUE
Itemized Response: Each incident will be billed with custom mitigation rates deemed usual, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed, itemized per apparatus per hour, per trained rescue person per hour, plus rescue products used.
CHIEF RESPONSE
This includes the set-up of Command, and providing direction of the incident. This could include operations, safety, and administration of the incident.
MISCELLANEOUS
MITIGATION RATE NOTES
The mitigation rates above are average “billing levels,” and are typical for the incident responses listed, however, when a claim is submitted, it will be itemized and based on the actual services provided.
These average mitigation rates were determined by itemizing costs for a typical run (from the time a fire apparatus leaves the station until it returns to the station) and are based on the actual costs, using amortized schedules for apparatus (including useful life, equipment, repairs, and maintenance) and labor rates (an average department's “actual personnel expense” and not just a firefighter's basic wage). The actual personnel expense includes costs such as wages, retirement, benefits, workers comp, insurance, etc.
(Ord. 3494 § 2(B), 2024; Ord. 3251 Exh. A, 2011)