APPENDIX A: MITIGATION RATES BASED ON PER HOUR
MITIGATION RATES BASED ON PER HOUR
MITIGATION RATES BASED ON PER HOUR
The mitigation rates below 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.
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 costs and not just a firefighter’s wage. These include wages, retirement, benefits, workers comp, etc.
   Motor Vehicle Incidents
Level 1 - $506.00
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 - $576.00
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 - $704.00
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.
   Add-On Services
Extrication - $1,520.00
Includes heavy rescue tools, ropes, airbags, cribbing etc. This charge will be added 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 the Fire Department is able to open the door to access the patient. This level is to be billed only if equipment is deployed.
Creating a Landing Zone - $465.00
 
Includes Air Care (multi-engine company response, mutual aid, helicopter). We will bill at this level any time a helicopter landing zone is created and/or is utilized to transport the patient(s).
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 - $816.00
Basic Response: Claim will include engine response, first responder assignment, perimeter establishment, evacuations, set-up and command.
Level 2 - $2,913.00
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 — $6,875.00
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. 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. Includes 3 hours of on scene time - each additional hour @ $336.00 per HAZMAT team.
   Fire Investigation
Fire Investigation Team - $321.00 per hour.
Includes:
• Scene Safety
• Investigation
• Source Identification
• K-9/Arson Dog Unit
• Identification Equipment
• Mobile Detection Unit
• Fire Report
The claim begins only when the Fire Investigator responds to the incident and is billed for logged time only.
   Fires
Assignment - $466.00 per hour, per engine/$582.00 per hour, per truck
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.
   Illegal Fires
Assignment - $466.00 per hour, per engine;$582.00 per hour, per truck
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 a fire and the permit was not obtained and the Fire Department is required to respond to contain the fire 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.
   Water Incidents
Level 1 - $466.00 plus $58.00 per hour, per rescue person
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 - $932.00 plus $58.00 per hour, per rescue person
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 - $2,3304.00 plus $58.00 per hour per rescue person, plus $117.00 per hour per HAZMAT team member
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 ususal, customary and reasonable (UCR). These incidents will be billed, itemized, per trained rescue person, plus rescue products used.
   Back Country or Special Rescue
Minimum - $466.00 for the first response vehicle plus $58.00 per rescue person. Additional rates of $466.00 per hour per response vehicle and $58.00 per hour per rescue person.
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.
   Chief Response
$291.00 per hour
This includes the set-up of Command, and providing direction of the incident. This could include operations, safety, and administration of the incident.
   Miscellaneous/Additional Time On-Scene
Additional time on-scene (for all levels of service)
Engine - $466.00 per hour
Truck - $582.00 per hour
Miscellaneous equipment - $350.00
 
   Mitigation Rate Notes
The mitigation rates above 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.
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. 2022-O-097, passed 12-6-22)