the family. An additional honor often utilized in the procession of a fire service funeral is the crossed aerial ladders from which an American flag hangs. This is another area that the officer will coordinate to ensure everything is properly set up for the procession. The protocol normally used in the procession for a Line of Duty Death in the fire service is as follows: lead car (funeral home, law enforcement, or fire service), flower caisson or vehicle, hearse or fire engine caisson, immediate family, pallbearers or honor guard, fire chief’s car, other department vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, dignitaries, visiting vehicles and apparatuses, municipal vehicles, and personal vehicles (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The service officer is primarily tasked with the coordination of the service in the church or other place of service. This officer will act as the liaison to the church and the other officers coordinating elements of the service that will involve the church. This will include staging for the procession, seating for family and other groups, musicians, and all other parts of the service that is being planned (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The cemetery officer is responsible for the coordination of all the services and events that will take place at the cemetery. This will include arranging for and overseeing all the elements of the service, from the time the vehicles enter the cemetery until the services are concluded and everyone in attendance leaves the cemetery. Some of the elements included are the honor guard, committal service, “Taps,” bagpipers, and/or drummers (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The transportation officer arranges for the transportation needs of out-of-town or visiting guests. This will include ensuring transportation from airports and hotel arrangements. There may also be a need for transportation arrangements for dignitaries that will be in attendance of the services (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). At the request of the family and with the permission of the department, many members of the fire service will be transported atop a fire apparatus or fire truck. When used in this manner, the apparatus is known as a “fire engine caisson.” Typically used as a caisson is a pumper engine that has had the fire hose removed from the deck. The deck where the casket will be placed is considerably higher than the deck of a funeral coach, therefore requiring some planning and preparation. This presents a challenge when considering the weight of the casket combined with the weight of the deceased. Placing the casket upon the deck of the apparatus can be a difficult task to accomplish for an honor guard that has never done so or been trained to do so. However, this can be accomplished in a smooth and respectful manner when all involved are properly prepared and trained (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The casket will likely be draped with an American flag or a fire service flag. The flag must be well secured so it does not come off of the casket. The most common method for this is by a stretch band made for this purpose. If a band such as this is not available, a black ribbon or something of this nature can be used in its place. Regardless of what is used, the flag must be secured to keep it from flying off the casket during the procession. If there is absolutely any chance of inclement weather conditions, the flag must be protected. The casket and flag can be covered with plastic sheeting sufficiently thick to protect it from the weather. When this method is observed, the ability of the pallbearers to safely handle the casket must be considered. An alternative option is for the flag to be placed on the casket after arriving to the place of the service. With this option, the casket should still be protected from the elements while exposed to the elements during the procession. The procession of the casket atop the apparatus may be from the funeral home to the place of the service, from the service to the place of final disposition, or both. The truck that will transport the casket will need to be parked with ample room to the rear for risers to be properly staged. These risers are normally three pairs of platforms at differing heights. The
bell ringing, and honors. Just as with all Line of Duty Deaths, the funeral director and staff must be vigilant in coordination and communication with the family and everyone that will be involved. As with law enforcement agencies, most fire departments will have pre-designated positions for those to be involved in funeral planning and the services. The positions may include a chaplain, survivor action officer, family liaison officer, funeral officer, the funeral detail officer, procession officer, service officer, cemetery officer, and transportation officer. The titles of the positions and the description of these positions may vary between departments (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). It may be found with many departments that one person will serve in more than one position. The chaplain may be an active member of the department or may be a community member that serves in that capacity for the department, such as a local minister. The level of involvement of the chaplain throughout a Line of Duty Death service will depend upon the wishes of the family and/or any religious beliefs of the family. It is common for the department’s chaplain to work with the family’s minister to honor the deceased while comforting the family. Some of the duties in which the department’s chaplain may serve are in the initial notification of the next of kin, comfort and counseling of the family, prayer service with family, participation in funeral services, and interment service (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The survivor action officer is a position that is often assumed by the chief of the department or is delegated by the chief. The chief, or other person serving in this role, will oversee and be the liaison between department, the next of kin, and the funeral home. The person that serves in this position will need to work closely with the funeral director and will require the full support and cooperation of the entire department. This officer will be coordinating the various honors and the personnel assigned to handle specific aspects of the service arrangements. It will be his or her responsibility to ensure the resources needed are available (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The family liaison officer will report directly to the survivor action officer while being responsible for maintaining a line of communication between the family and the department. This officer will provide and coordinate all logistical support to the family throughout the planning and actual funeral services. It will be common for the family liaison officer to accompany the family in making arrangements with the funeral home and assist the family with determining the level of involvement the family would like for the department to have with the services. This will include explaining the traditions and honors that are available so the family can decide their wishes (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The funeral officer will be assigned responsibilities that include the formation of the order of services and events the day of the service. This person will ensure any special request the family makes is prepared to be honored. The funeral officer will be responsible for making sure every element of the service is prepared and the schedule is properly communicated to the appropriate people and groups (Federation of Fire Chaplains, 2004). The procession officer bears the responsibility of coordinating the elements of the procession. The procession will typically include going from the funeral home to the church or place of funeral service, and then to the cemetery or other place of final disposition. This officer will plan and coordinate the staging areas for the fire apparatuses and other vehicles that will participate in the service. For a traditional service at a church, this may include three different areas: one at the funeral home, one at the church, and then finally at the cemetery. Many times, in the services for fire service personnel, the procession will pass by the deceased’s home, their home fire station, or other locations. The procession officer will plan for and coordinate the passing of any of these locations that have been requested by
Book Code: FTX1624
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