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Idaho Transportation
Department
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P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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Smith, Albright discuss ITD emergency program

Note: A number of ITD employees provide emergency services on a volunteer basis outside of their regular employment. We would like to highlight those efforts in a forthcoming Transporter article. If you volunteer as a firefighter, EMT, search and rescue member, or other similar activity, please e-mail the basic information to the Transporter. Thank you.

Bryan Smith, Manager of ITD’s Emergency Program, and colleague Louie Albright, emergency Program Coordinator, provided an overview of the department’s emergency procedures during the annual Idaho Fire Chief’s Association conference, May 4-5.

“One of the first items presented was how ITD is becoming more and more focused on developing an efficient highway system, which translates into partnering with all response agencies,” Smith explained. “We tried to introduce any information that fire chiefs would be interested in that relate to transportation.”

Among the topics covered were:

  • Transportation Incident Management plans at the state and local levels
  • CARS 511 (traveler information and services)
  • Dynamic Message Sign operations
  • Traffic monitoring on closed circuit television cameras
  • State highway fire response voids
  • Opticom units in construction
  • Pre-construction conference meetings and what to ask
  • The Treasure Valley joint Incident Response Operations Center (IROC)
  • Ride-along invitations for ITD personnel in fire trucks and reciprocal ride-alongs for fire personnel in snowplows
  • ITD's internal and external challenges as a first-responder agency

Following the 30-minute presentation, the state fire marshal expressed interest in partnering with ITD and other stakeholders to work on filling fire jurisdiction voids throughout the state.

“He also told me that the county sheriffs have legislative authority and/or responsibility to fight fires anywhere in the counties through the state fire marshal’s office.” Smith said. “I am excited to add this option to the several ideas we already have to get fire response coverage for all of our highway miles.”

Smith said he also was intrigued to discover how many ITD employees also work or volunteer for other emergency response agencies throughout Idaho. “I understand we have an officer of a search and rescue team, a regional hazardous materials response team member, the Stanley fire chief and other firefighters, emergency medical technicians and maybe even some law enforcement officers.”

Published 6-2-06