INTRODUCTION: GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY:

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This was developed to function as guidelines only, and have no legal status or bearing. We hope when the situation arises, that they are helpful.

GUIDELINES for CEREMONIAL PROCEDURES

INTRODUCTION:

The purpose of this paper is to set forth responsibility and procedures in the event of line-of-duty death or death of a member or retiree of the Fire Department.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY:

The department accepts the responsibility to show proper reverence and provide proper representational services for its deceased Firefighters. Each member should in turn realize and accept this responsibility and attend whenever possible, the Funeral Services of deceased Firefighters.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF NOTIFICATION

RESPONSIBILITIES OF NOTIFICATION
A. Line of Duty Death
1. Upon the death of a member in the line of duty, the Officer in Charge shall notify the Fire Chief or in his absence, the Acting Chief as well as the Assistant Chief, Department President and Department Chaplain.
2. The Chief and a Designated Representative, the Department Chaplain if available, shall notify the next of kin as soon as possible. No radio traffic should be aired concerning the death.
3. The Chief or a designated Representative should officially notify the County Board of Commissioners and other appropriate officials.
4. If possible and the scene allows, the Officer in Charge should relieve the immediate coworkers (those in immediate proximity or those responsible for attempted rescue and/or removal of the deceased) from the scene to return to station.
5. Defusing by the Chaplain or qualified person (OCRT member) to be done as soon as possible on the same shift. This to be followed by general information of how notification is being done, and what is to be expected in the next few hours.
6. Public Information Officer should be notified or a person designated to handle any public news as soon as possible so that factual information is disseminated promptly. A detail should be placed at family residence to prevent media interference with the family and should remain posted as long as necessary.
7. Within 72 hours of the death there should be a debriefing , Critical Incident Stress.
8. The Chief shall designate an Officer-in-Charge who shall be responsible for the department's involvement in the funeral procedures. The department's Chaplain could do this in conjunction with the Duty Officer for days which an activity is scheduled.
9. It is suggested that upon receipt of a notice of a member killed in the line of duty and following the proper notification of the next of kin, that the station flags be lowered to half mast and to fly half mast for seven days after the funeral. (In some jurisdictions the city/county
flags will also fly at half mast.)
B. Death Other Than in the Line of Duty
1. When any member of the department learns of the death of an active or retired member of the Department notification should be given to the Chief and the Chaplain.
2. As soon as possible, the Chief as well as the Chaplain, should make a personal visit to the immediate family offering any service the department can render.
3. The chief shall designate an Officer-in-Charge who shall be responsible for the Department's involvement in the funeral procedures.
4. It is suggested that the station flags fly at half-mast until the day after the funeral.
C. When the Scene Involves the Death of a Relative of a Member of the Department.
1. When on scene it is discovered that a death (or trauma) involves a relative of a department member the Officer-in-Charge should designate a department member, the Chaplain if available, to take another department member and make notification to the member and family.
2. The department should offer any help or services that may be applicable.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS:
A. In any case (A, B, or C, above) the person notifying next of kin should stay with the family member until support people can gather. Support people may be other family members, church members or fellow fire fighters or their wives.
B. Following initial notification it is often very helpful to make the first telephone contact of relatives. You should be prepared to explain the circumstances of the death and answer any questions. The general circumstances of death should be explained, however it is very important to not infer or draw any conclusions as to cause of death , explain that it is and will be under investigation for some time; for further guidance on your statements contact the Chief or his designee.
C. Meals may be provided by District members or families; this should be coordinated with the Chaplain or his designee.
D. It may be that the Chaplain or a secretary can arrange some of this.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE:
A. The Officer-in-Charge shall contact the family of the deceased member and, in coordination with the funeral director, establish the family's desires as to Fire District participation in the funeral. He/She shall assist the family in any way. He/She shall offer the fire district's services for the following situations:
1. A formal funeral at home, funeral home, church or cemetery, which may involve the use of an engine, active pallbearers, honorary pallbearers and Funeral detail, color guard (if available). A Color Guard and Bugler/Bagpiper shall be reserved for those how request them.
2. A semi-formal funeral at home, funeral home, church or cemetery, which may involve active pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, honor guard and Funeral Detail.
3. A non-formal funeral at home, funeral home, church or cemetery, which may not have fire department involvement, other than members attending in a passive roll either in the viewing and/or funeral service.
4. A private funeral at home, church or cemetery; respecting the family's wishers to have no outside participation at the funeral.
Note: At all times the desires of the family shall be paramount and shall be given the fullest respect.
B. Having established the wishes of the family, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) shall carry out any or all of the following in order to realize these wishes. The OIC shall continually be in communication with the Funeral Director as he arranges for the Fire Department's participation.
1. Normal Funeral Arrangements.
A. Arrange for an Honor Guard to stand duty during the viewing, minimum of four.
B. Arrange for Active Pallbearers; six (6) plus an officer.
C. Arrange for necessary equipment (clean, wash, and wax as needed.)
D. Arrange for Honorary Pallbearers (Family, Company Officers, Retirees, etc.)
E. Arrange for Funeral Detail (All uniformed members in attendance.)
F. Arrange for Bugler/Bagpiper (if one available.)
G. Arrange for Color Guard (practice ahead of time).
H. Obtain American flag for casket. Casket flags are longer than normal flags. (Funeral Director secures flag for veterans only.)
I. Provide members of the Fire Department with the information necessary to carry out their roles in the funeral.
J. Survey the area of the service and make provision for placement of all attending units and provide information and/or a map as necessary.
K. Designate an area of assembly for all attending (preferably in a building or nearby room). Be sure to include all areas being used (Funeral home or church and cemetery, etc.). Note: Such assembly areas could be a block or two away so as to arrange for participants parking that will not hinder any one else's parking; then march as a unit to place of assignment.
L. Black tape is to be used for a horizontal black band for the badges of all uniformed personnel have tape and small round tip scissors that can be available for use in the assembly area.
M. White gloves should be available for honor guard, color guard and pallbearers.
N. The OIC or his delegated representative will coordinate all commands during the movement of the casket and personnel.
2. Special Arrangement for Formal Funeral
A. A fire department engine designated by the Chief will be appropriately prepared with flowers and black bunting and stripped of hose for use to transport the casket
B. Arrange for the proper placement of all vehicles that will participate in the funeral procession.
C. A map of the areas involved should be prepared to expedite the proceedings and assist members, out-of-town guests and others that may need it.
Access that may be needed but consider the following:
1. Location of Fire Department.
2. Location of Funeral Home, church and cemetery as needed.
3. Location of assembly areas.
4. Location of parking areas.
5. Location of vehicles for funeral procession.
6. Route of procession.
7. Location of grave in cemetery.
8. Any other information deemed necessary.
D. On a map or a separate sheet provide diagrams of the vehicle placement at each location and the route of movement for personnel.
E. The OIC or a designated representative will coordinate all commands during the movement of the casket and personnel.
F. Proper arrangements should be made ahead of time with the police department for handling traffic and parking. Consider police escort to the cemetery also.
G. Photographic coverage should be considered and tactfully implemented if used. The family members will not be able to see the honors bestowed on there loved one.
H. Establish guidelines for the media and press considering placement and interviews. Note: Food service may be needed between morning and afternoon funeral service or following a service. Consider help from the district's ladies or wives or auxiliary or support groups such as churches, lodges etc.