Today, the International Association of Fire Chiefs released resources to help fire and EMS departments prepare for instances of civil unrest related to the 2024 election.
The IAFC emphasizes that the role of the fire and emergency service is to protect life and property. In terms of this election, it is important that we have plans to perform those duties during the post- election period. The most important action for fire and EMS chiefs is to have a coordination plan to work with their law enforcement partners to achieve our mission of protecting lives and property.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has developed resources to help public safety agencies inform themselves about potential risks:
The IAFC also developed a white paper on “Response Considerations: Incidents Involving Crowds During the 2024 Presidential Election Period” with a background on potential risks; operational considerations, and resources, such as the new IAFC Quick Incident Response Guidebook for Civil Unrest and Disturbance.
Chief Sam Greif is the Deputy City Manager for Plano, Texas, and chair of the IAFC’s Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee.