(A) Mitigation rates based on per hour.
(1) Average costs. The mitigation rates in this section are average “billing levels” and are typical for the incident responses listed. However, when a claim is submitted, it may be itemized and based on the actual services provided.
(2) Actual costs. These rates are based on actual costs using amortized schedules for apparatus (including useful life, equipment, repairs and maintenance). Labor rates include an average department’s actual burdened labor cost and not just firefighters’ wages. These include wages, retirement benefits, workers’ compensation and the like.
(B) Motor vehicle incidents.
(1) Level 1 cost: $546. This provides hazardous materials assessment and scene stabilization. This is the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the Fire Department responds to an accident/incident.
(2) Level 2 cost: $623. This includes Level 1 services as well as cleanup and material used (sorbents) for hazardous fluid cleanup and disposal. This level is billed at if the Fire Department has to clean up any gasoline or other automobile fluids that are spilled as a result of the accident/incident.
(3) Level 3, car fire, cost: $760. This provides scene safety, fire suppression, breathing air, rescue tools, hand tools, hoses, tip use and foam, structure protection and cleanup of gasoline or other automotive fluids that are spilled as a result of the accident/incident.
(4) Add-on services.
(a) 1. Extraction cost: $1,641; and
2. Includes heavy rescue tools, ropes, airbags, cribbing and the like. This charge will be added if the Fire Department has to free/rescue anyone from the vehicle(s) using equipment. This level is not billed at if the patient is simply unconscious and the Fire Department is able to open the door to access the patient. This level is to be billed only if equipment is deployed.
(b) 1. Creating a landing zone cost: $502; and
2. Includes Air Care (multi-engine company response, mutual aid and helicopter). This level is billed at anytime a helicopter landing zone is created and/or is utilized to transport the patient(s).
(5) 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 and itemized per apparatus and personnel, plus products and equipment used.
(C) Hazmat.
(1) Level 1, basic response, cost: $881. This claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, perimeter establishment, evacuation, setup and command.
(2) Level 2, intermediate response, cost: $3,146. This claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, hazmat-certified team and appropriate equipment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder setup and command, Level A or B suit donning, breathing air and detection equipment and setup and removal of the decontamination center.
(3) Level 3, advanced response, cost: $7,426.
(a) This claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, hazmat-certified team and appropriate equipment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder setup and command, Level A or B suit donning, breathing air and detection equipment, robot deployment, setup and removal of the decontamination center, detection equipment and recovery and identification of material and contaminated equipment and material used at the scene.
(b) This includes three hours of on-scene time. Each additional hour is $356 per hazmat team.
(D) Fire investigation.
(1) Cost. A fire investigation team is $346 per hour.
(2) Includes.
(a) Scene safety;
(b) Investigation;
(c) Source identification;
(d) K-9 dog unit;
(e) Identification equipment;
(f) Mobile detection unit; and
(g) Fire report.
(3) Scope details. The claim begins when the fire investigators respond to the incident and is billed for logged time only.
(E) Fires.
(1) Assignment. The cost is $503 per hour per engine and $629 per hour per truck.
(2) Includes.
(a) Scene safety;
(b) Investigation; and
(c) Fire/hazard control.
(3) Response details. This is the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the Fire Department responds to an incident.
(4) 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 product use.
(F) Illegal fires.
(1) Assignment. The cost is $503 per hour per engine and $629 per hour per truck.
(2) Response details. When a fire is started by any person or persons that requires a Fire Department response during a time or season when fires are regulated or controlled by local or state rules, provisions or ordinances because of pollution or fire danger concerns, such person or persons will be liable for the Fire Department response at a cost not to exceed the actual expenses incurred by the Fire Department to respond and contain the fire. Similarly, if a fire is started where permits are required for such fire and the permit was not obtained, and the Fire Department is required to respond to contain the fire, then the responsible party will be liable for the response at a cost not to exceed the actual expenses incurred by the Fire Department. The actual expenses will include direct labor, equipment costs and any other costs that can be reasonably allocated to the cost of the response.
(G) Water incidents.
(1) Level 1, basic response.
(a) This is billed at $503, plus $62 per hour per rescue person.
(b) The claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, perimeter establishment, evacuation, first responder setup and command, scene safety and investigation (including possible patient contact and hazard control). This is the most common “billing level.” This occurs almost every time the Fire Department responds to a water incident.
(2) Level 2, intermediate response.
(a) This is billed at $1,006, plus $62 per hour per rescue person.
(b) This includes Level 1 services as well as cleanup and material used (sorbents) and minor hazardous cleanup and disposal. This level is billed at if the Fire Department has to clean up small amounts of gasoline or other fluids that are spilled as a result of the incident.
(3) Level 3, advanced response.
(a) This is billed at $2,489, plus $62 per hour per rescue person, plus $126 per hour per hazmat team member.
(b) This includes Levels 1 and 2 services as well as D.A.R.T. activation, donning breathing apparatus and detection equipment, setup and removal of the decontamination center, detection equipment, recovery and identification of material, disposal and environment cleanup. Includes the above in addition to any disposal rates of materials and contaminated equipment and material used at the scene.
(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 and itemized per trained rescue person, plus rescue products used.
(H) Back country of special rescue.
(1) Minimum billing. The cost is $503 for the first response vehicle, plus $62 per rescue person.
(2) Additional rates. The cost is $503 per hour per response vehicle and $62 per hour per rescue person.
(3) Itemized response. Each incident will be billed with custom mitigation rates deemed usual, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed and itemized per apparatus per hour, per trained rescue person per hour, plus rescue products used.
(I) Chief response.
(1) Billing. The cost is $315 per hour.
(2) Response details. This includes the setup of command and providing direction of the incident. This could include operations, safety and administration of the incident.
(J) Miscellaneous/additional time on-scene. Additional time on-scene for all levels of services:
(1) Engine. Billed at $503 per hour;
(2) Truck. Billed at $629 per hour; and
(3) Miscellaneous equipment. Billed at $378.
(K) Mitigation rate notes.
(1) Average costs. The mitigation rates are average “billing levels” for one hour of service and are typical for the incident responses listed. However, when a claim is submitted, it may be itemized and based on the actual services provided.
(2) Actual costs. These average mitigation rates were determined by itemizing the 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 cost using amortized schedules for apparatus (including useful life, equipment, repairs and maintenance) and labor rates (and an average department’s “actual personnel expense” and not just firefighters’ basic wages). The accrual personnel expense includes costs such as wages, retirement, benefits, workers’ compensation, insurance and the like.
(Ord. 22-01, passed 3-8-2022)