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2 <br />Orange County Chief's Associatior <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />The Orange County Chief's Association (OCCA), a 501(c)(3) organization, represents the united voice of <br />the volunteer and professional fire and rescue chiefs serving Orange County. This strategic plan, the first <br />one ever produced for emergency services in the county, introduces OCCA's vision for opportunities for <br />the future of the emergency services delivery system. As Orange County looks forward to smart growth, <br />the OCCA feels the time is right for a coordinated, long -range plan. We hope to use this plan to help us <br />work in partnership with Orange County and other key stakeholders to enhance life safety services. The <br />Orange County Chief's Association is dedicated to providing the most effective, efficient, and <br />compassionate emergency response services for the residents of and visitors to Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Since its formation in the late 1970s, the Orange County Chief's Association has fostered better <br />relationships among the fire and rescue services in Orange County by establishing a forum that <br />promotes a venue for airing shared concerns, developing mutual respect and familiarity, and fostering <br />cooperative relationships. The OCCA strives to provide for policy and resource planning and sharing of <br />best practices for safe, effective, and efficient response and mitigation of emergencies. The Orange <br />County Chief's Association is a member - supported cooperative group of the ten fire chiefs and one <br />rescue squad chief that provide service within Orange County. Two fire departments located outside of <br />Orange County that directly serve portions of the county also participate, but are not dues - paying <br />members. <br />Figure 1: OCCA Membership <br />Full Members <br />Adjunct Members <br />Caldwell Fire Department <br />Mebane Fire Department <br />Carrboro Fire - Rescue Department <br />North Chatham Fire Department <br />Cedar Grove Fire Department <br />Chapel Hill Fire Department <br />Efland Fire Department <br />Eno Fire Department <br />New Hope Fire Department <br />Orange Grove Fire Department <br />Orange Rural Fire Department <br />White Cross Fire Department <br />South Orange Rescue Squad (SORS) <br />Aside from Chapel Hill and Carrboro, every other department serving Orange County is either fully <br />volunteer or a mix of volunteer and paid staff. Volunteer fire and rescue departments have historically <br />been the norm in places like North Carolina, which only recently has begun to experience significant <br />urbanization. Volunteer emergency service personnel represent the best of our citizens, those friends <br />and neighbors who not only willingly answer calls during the middle of the night, but also risk their lives <br />to save life and limb. <br />2 <br />