Operational Support
The
Operational Support Branch provides financial and business services to the HCFMO agency. By providing these services HCFMOAD adds value to the critical function mission areas of, Fire Prevention, Fire Investigation, and Emergency Operations. We support the mission of the HCFMO by providing operational support services providing professional, “best administrative practice” models, and provide a dynamic work environment.
Our approach involves the following elements:
- To understand our business environment we must use imagination and creativity to
discover new business opportunities for improvement that will keep us on the cutting
edge while striving for improved efficiency and proficiency in all administrative
duties.
- We have an obligation to be in tune with today’s market environment and
be future focused toward administrative opportunities.
- We must be committed to
understanding the administrative needs of our staff personnel while developing responsive
solutions.
Specifically, the Operational Support branch will:
- Research requests for purchases, makes recommendations based on “best value” and
processes the required documentation for Commissioner’s Court approval.
- Conduct audits to ensure accuracy and accountability of county
equipment issued to all branches and their personnel.
- Provide statistical/logistical support to other branches, other
county departments as well as Commissioner’s Court by providing timely and accurate
reports along with continual website information.
- Process payroll and petty cash authorizations for departmental
employees and handles all Human Resource matters.
- Ensures compliance with federal, state and local licensing agencies
and county policies
Investigations
The
Fire Investigation Branch is staffed by Fire/Arson Investigators who are responsible
for investigating fires and explosions in the unincorporated area of Harris County.
This group maintains fire records and juvenile intervention service activities.
It responds to scenes when requested by fire departments, police departments and
the general public and examines the fire scene to determine the origin and cause
of the fire.
Fire investigators obtain evidence, submit it for analysis, pursue leads in criminal
cases and present probable cause to the district attorney for arrest and testify
in court. They also train fire departments, the general public and law enforcement
regarding fire investigation and the responsibility of first responders.
The
Juvenile FireStoppers Group is a specialized unit within the Investigation Branch.
It provides education and intervention for children from 2-17 years old who have
played with, thought about or actually set a fire. This unit evaluates juveniles
to determine the motivation behind firesetting behavior, refers children and families
to other agencies for assistance and educates the juvenile and the family to the
consequences of firesetting.
Prevention
The
Fire Prevention Branch is staffed by Fire Inspectors. They are responsible for
preventing fires through periodic inspection of commercial or public buildings,
licensed facilities/operations and other buildings in the unincorporated county.
They inspect for fire/life safety hazards in all existing commercial, multi-family
dwelling and state-licensed facilities, i.e. daycares, foster homes, nursing homes,
schools and hospitals.
Inspectors investigate complaints of illegal burning, overcrowding,
locked or blocked exits and ensure burned buildings are secured. If warranted, they
issue Fire Marshal Orders to ensure code compliance. The prevention branch also
educates and trains the public and emergency responders with a wide variety of fire/life
safety programs.
Emergency Operations Branch
The
Emergency Operations Branch, also known as the HazMat group, is responsible
for planning, mitigation and recovery from emergencies and disasters, whether natural,
accidental or deliberate act.
The branch is staffed by
Hazardous Materials Technicians. They respond to incidents
for identification and control of hazardous materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction,
support local fire and law enforcement in hazardous spills and releases, and perform
safety inspections of facilities that store, sell or use hazardous materials. They
also assists in investigative efforts where hazardous materials and WMDs are involved.
Technicians also train local first responders on how to deal with hazardous materials
and WMD situations.
