Command Procedures Flashcards
Command Procedure are designed to?
- Fix the responsibility for Command on a certain individual through a standard identification system, depending on the arrival sequence of members, companies, and Command officers.
- Ensure that a strong, direct, and visible Command will be established from the onset of the incident.
- Establish an effective incident organization defining the activities and responsibilities assigned to the Incident Commander (IC) and the other individuals operating within the Incident Command System.
- Provide a system to process information to support incident management, planning, and decision‐making.
- Provide a system for the orderly transfer of Command to subsequent arriving officers.
- Ensure a seamless transition from a Type 5/4 incident to a Type 3/2/1 (NIMS
What are the roles and responsibilities of a Captain in the Incident Command System?
- Occupy the position of IC when appropriate.
- Occupy the position of Sector Officer when appropriate.
- Manage task level activities and supervise firefighter
What are the responsibilities of Command?
Completion of the tactical objectives
What are the Tactical Objectives?
Rescue
Fire control
Property conservation
Customer stabilization
What is the standard activities that are performed by the Incident Commander to achieve the Tactical Objectives?
Functions of command
How many functions of command are there?
8
List all the functions of command
- Assume and announce Command and establish an effective initial command position
(Command Post). - Rapidly evaluate the situation (size up).
- Initiate, maintain, and control effective incident communications.
- Provide and manage a steady, adequate, and timely stream of appropriate resources.
- Identify the incident strategy, develop an Incident Action Plan (IAP), and assign companies and personnel consistent with plans and standard operating procedures.
- Develop an effective incident organization using Sectors/Divisions/Groups to
decentralize and delegate geographic and functional responsibility. - Review, and revise (as needed) the strategy to keep the IAP current.
- Provide for the continuity, transfer, and termination of Command.
What is used to facilitate the completion of the Tactical Objectives?
The Incident Command System
What’s in the Strategic Decision Making Model?
1.First unit arrives
2. Size up of Critical Factors
3. Risk Management
4. Strategy
5. Incident Action Plan
6. Tactical Objectives
(Forecast all)
The standard Initial Radio Report includes:
On‐Scene Report
- Clear alarm.
- Unit designation/on the scene.
- Building/area description.
- Occupancy
- Size (large, medium, small)
- Height (assumed 1 story unless reported otherwise) - Obvious problem/conditions.
- Nothing showing (indicates checking)
- Smoke showing (amount and location)
- Fire showing (amount and location)
- Working fire
- Fully involved - Action taken.
- Assuming command
- Laying a line
- Attacking with…etc. - Declaration of Strategy.
- Offensive or defensive - Command confirmation with name
What are the four things you should address in your Follow-up Report?
- Any immediate safety concerns
- Accountability started (announce the initial accountability location)
- Disposition of resources (hold/add/return)
- Disposition of IRIC (only required if IRIC will not be present)
How many modes of command are there? What are they?
- 3
- Investigative Mode (nothing showing)
- Fast Attack Mode
- Command Mode- Stationary Command Post
What is investigative Mode?
Mobile IC on radio, moving around and evaluating conditions, while looking for incident problem
What is Fast Attack Mode?
- Visible working fire, direct participation in the attack to make a positive difference in the outcome.
- ## Gives on scene report assign attack team (2 engines and ladder) next units stage.IC #1 goes inside when offensive with radio supervising their crew in attack
What are examples of Fast Attack Modes?
- Visible working fire in a house or small commercial occupancy.
- Critical life safety situations (i.e. rescue that must be achieved in a compressed time.
- Any incident where the safety and welfare of fire fighters is a major concern.
- Obvious working incidents that require further investigation by the Company Officer.
- Combined crew experience level
What is Command Mode?
- Stationary Command Post
- Certain incidents by size, complexity or potential for rapid expansion, demand strong stationary command from onset.
- Out of the hazard zone in stationary exterior command position
When assuming command mode what are some options you can utilize your remaining crew?
- Move up an acting officer within company
2 Assign the crew members to perform staff functions to assist the IC
- Assign company personnel to another company
.
What are the benefits of an upgraded CP?
- Provides IC #2 with a Support Officer
- Establishes an Incident Safety Officer (FIT) (ISO)
- IC #2 has a wider view of the fireground
- Improves communication
- Creates a lighted, warm (or cool), and dry environment for IC #2 to operate in
What does adding a command officer to a sector do?
Improves safety
Decreases span of control
Improves communication
Improves accountability
Improves management and supervision of the sector
What does The Command Team consist of?
Commander (IC), Support Officer, and Senior Advisor
What is the responsibility of the IC?
To perform the Functions of Command to achieve the Tactical Objectives
What are the roles and responsibilities of the Support Officer?
- Define, evaluate, and recommend changes to the incident action plan.
- Provide direction relating to tactical objectives and specific critical fireground factors.
- Become the Incident Safety Officer
- Evaluate the need for additional resources.
- Assign logistics responsibilities.
- Assist with the tactical worksheet for control and accountability.
- Evaluate the fireground organization and span of control.
- Other duties as necessary.
What is the responsibility of Command?
Develop an organizational structure, using standard operating procedures, to effectively manage the incident scene.
Basic configuration of Command includes these three levels?
- StrategicLevel‐ Overall direction of the incident.
- TacticalLevel- Objectives assigned to Sectors(Divisions or groups)
- Task Level- task objectives assigned to Companies.
Strategic Level
involves the activities necessary for overall operational control and the completion of the tactical objectives, regardless of the size or complexity of the incident
What model do you use to come up with strategy?
Strategic Decision making Model
What is included in the Strategic decision making model?
- Provide initial and ongoing size‐up and the determination of the critical fireground factors.
- Based on the size‐up, define the incident position within the risk management plan
- Determining the appropriate strategy: OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE
- Establishing a strategic level incident action plan for the incident.
- Obtaining and allocating resources.
- Deployment of the appropriate resources.
- Predicting outcomes and planning.
- Assigning specific assignments and objectives to tactical level units.
Tactical
Accomplished by sector officers who are responsible for tactical deployment of assigned resourced, evaluation and communication.
Task
-Work performed by assigned companies. The strategic and Tactical levels support Task level.
- Supervised by company officers
-Task level activates accomplish Tactical Objectives
Tactical Objectives for Fires includes
Rescue
Fire control
Property Conservation
CUSTOMER STABILIZATION
How many levels of command structure do you need on small incidents
- Two levels
- Role of Command combines the strategic and tactical levels
- Company’s report directly to command and operate at the task level
Sector
Smaller more manageable unit of incident scene organization
Span of control
Max number of sectors and IC can effectively Manage
How many sectors in the span of control?
Five, should never exceed seven sectors
How are sectors assigned?
By geographic location or function
What should the IC do in the event the sectors exceed the span of control?
Divid into Branches
Sectors provide what advantages?
- Reduces the IC’s span of Control
- Creates more effective incident scene communications
- Provides standard and logical system to divide large geographical incidents into effectively sized units
- Provides an array major support functions
- improves FF ‘Safety
Command Should Assign Sectors Based on the Following Factors:
- Number assigned and operating companies threatens to overload IC.
- IC forecast major operation, soon exceeding span of control.
- Companies are involved in a complex operation (large interior or geographic area, hazardous materials, technical rescues, etc)
- When companies are operating in a tactical positions which command has little or no direct control over ie out of sight.
- Situations present special hazards and close control is required i.e. unstable structural conditions, hazardous materials, heavy fire load, marginal offensive situations.
- Name sector according to function or geographical location
When establishing a sector the IC will assign each Sector Officer?
- Tactical Objectives.
- A radio designation (Roof Sector, East Sector, etc.)
- The identity of resources assigned to the Sector.
Sectors will be regulated by what guidelines?
- It will be Ongoing responsibility of command to assign Sectors as required for effective emergency operations, assignments will relate to both geographic and functional sectors
- IC advise each sector officer specific Tactical Objectives.
- Number of companies assigned to a sector depends upon conditions within that sector. If the sector officer can not control they will notify IC to split or corrective action taken. During offensive fire 5 companies max control of sector officers. During defensive 7.
- Will be designated by directions. North south east west. When odd geographic boundaries. A,b,c,d
Sector Officers will be responsible for what basic functions?
- Directly supervise work in the sector.
- Monitor personnel safety, accountability, and welfare.
- Develop a sector IAP that integrates with the overall IAP.
- Monitor work progress.
- Redirect activities as necessary.
- Coordinate actions with related activities, and adjacent Sectors.
- Monitor welfare of Sector personnel.
- Request additional resources as needed (on‐deck crews etc.).
- Manage Maydays within the Sector.
- Advise the IC of situation status, changing conditions, progress, completion, and
exception reports. - Re‐allocate resources within the Sector
- Provide information for both formal and informal After‐Action Reviews (critiques).
- De‐commit companies as operations are completed.
What is the role of a FIT/ISO/BSO as a Safety Officer?
- Perform Sector Safety Officer function/role
- Assess safety concerns within sector
- Assist the BC with managing the sector (stay together)
- Manage accountability within the sector (hose tags too)
- Provide air management within the sector
- Manage work/rest cycles within the sector
- Manage the sector’s On‐Deck crews recycle and rehab
- Establish communications with Safety Section (you will call them ‘Command’) once the IC has established the position and assigned a Safety Channel
- Coordinate with other sector safety officers
What is the primary function of a Company Officer working within a Sector?
To direct the operations of their crews performing assigned tasks.
Company Officers with advise what chain of command of their progress when working in a sector?
Sector Officer
What is the preferred way a company officer advises their sector officer of work progress?
Face to face
Command must be advised immediately of significant changes, particularly those involving?
ability or inability to complete an objective, hazardous conditions, accidents, structural collapse, etc.
Sectors will be designated by floor number (Sector 6 indicates the 6th floor). In some cases the floor division identification may be subdivided into geographic areas such as?
“Sector 6 West” or “Sector 2 North” depending on stairwell and floor access. When operating in levels below grade such as basements the use of Sector is appropriate. Such as subsector 1 subsector 2
The Branch level of the organization is designed to?
- provide COORDINATION between the Sectors and Command.
-Decreases the communication load on the IC
- Branch officers manage a number of sector officers and report to the IC
Who has the responsibility to decide whether or not to expand the organization to include branches?
Senior Advisor
What are the level of responsibilities when an incident expand the organization to include Branches?
- Strategic Level ‐ Incident Commander
- Coordination Level ‐ Branch Officers
- Tactical Level ‐ Sector Officers
- Task Level ‐ Companiess
Branch Officers should be utilized at incidents where?
The span of control with Sectors is maximized or incidents involving two or more distinctly different major management components (i.e. a large fire with a major evacuation, a large fire with a large number of patients).
What are some examples of where Branch Officers should be utilized?
- A Haz mat incident that requires a major evacuation.
- A large‐scale incident spread over a wide geographic area.
- An incident with mass casualties and a significant hazard (for example: fire, Haz mat, plane crash, floods, etc.)
- Campaign high‐rise fires
- Any incident where the number of Sectors exceed the span of control that can be effectively managed by the incident commander.
Radio designation of branch officers should reflect?
Function or geographic area of Branch
(for example: Fire Control Branch, Medical Branch, West Branch, etc.).
Sector Officers should be notified by Command of their new supervisor. This information should include:
- What Branch the Sector is now assigned to?
- The radio channel the branch (and Sector) is operating on.
Branch officers positions should be assigned to?
Chief Officers
The Fire Department’s involvement and needs at the incident scene can be divided into four sections. They are:
LOGISTICS SECTION
PLANNING SECTION
OPERATIONS SECTION
ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION
Logistics Section is?
The supports mechanism from the organization
Logistics roles and responsibilities are?
- Provide rehab.
- Manage staging
- Provide and manage any needed supplies or equipment.
- Forecast and obtain future resource needs (coordinate with the Planning Section).
- Provide any needed communications equipment.
- Provide fuel and needed repairs for equipment.
- Obtain specialized equipment or expertise per Command.
- Provide food and associated supplies.
- Secure any needed fixed or portable facilities.
- Provide any other logistical needs as requested by Command.
- Collect and provide information for an After‐Action Review.
- Supervise assigned personnel
Planning Section is responsible for?
gathering, assimilating, analyzing, and processing information needed for effective decision‐making.
Planning Sections roles and responsibilities are?
Evaluate current strategy and plan with the Incident Commander.
- Refine and recommend any needed changes to plan.
- Evaluate Incident Organization and span of control.
- Forecast possible outcome(s).
- Evaluate future resource requirements.
- Utilize technical assistance as needed.
- Evaluate tactical priorities, specific critical factors, and safety.
- Gather, update, improve, and manage information with a standard systematic approach.
- Facilitate an After‐Action Review and After‐Action Report.
- Liaison with any needed outside agencies for planning needs.
Planning Sections roles and responsibilities are?
Evaluate current strategy and plan with the Incident Commander.
- Refine and recommend any needed changes to plan.
- Evaluate Incident Organization and span of control.
- Forecast possible outcome(s).
- Evaluate future resource requirements.
- Utilize technical assistance as needed.
- Evaluate tactical priorities, specific critical factors, and safety.
- Gather, update, improve, and manage information with a standard systematic approach.
- Facilitate an After‐Action Review and After‐Action Report.
- Liaison with any needed outside agencies for planning needs.
Operation Section is responsible for?
the tactical priorities, accountability, safety and welfare of the personnel working in the Operations Section.
Operation Section is responsible for?
the tactical priorities, accountability, safety and welfare of the personnel working in the Operations Section.
Roles and responsibilities of Operations Section are?
Coordinate activities with the Incident Commander.
- Implement the Incident Management Plan.
- Assign units to Sectors/Branches based on Tactical Objectives.
- Build an effective organizational structure through the use of Branches and Sectors.
- Provide Branches and Sectors Tactical Objectives.
- Manage Operation Section activities.
- Personnel Accountability.
- Provide for life safety.
- Determine needs and request additional resources.
- Consult with and inform other sections and the Incident Command Staff as needed.
- Collect and provide information for an After‐Action Review.
Operation Officer is located at?
Command post.
Should use designation of Command unless at a forward position I.e. high rise then use designation Operations
All Sector Officers and/or Branch Officers must then direct their communications to the ?
Operations Officer
What should Incident Commander Role a responsibilities after activation of operation officer?
Incident Commander’s focus should be on the strategic issues, overall strategic planning and other components of the incident.
What are the roles and responsibilities for IC
- Review and evaluate the plan and initiate any needed changes.
- Provide on‐going review of the overall incident (THE BIG PICTURE).
- Select priorities.
- Provide direction to the Operations Officer.
- Review the organizational structure, initiate change or expansion to meet incident needs.
- Initiate Section and Branch functions as required.
- Establish liaison with other city agencies and officials, outside agencies, property owners
and/or tenants. - Collect and provide information for an After‐Action Review.
- Other duties as necessary.
What does Administration do?
evaluates and manages the risk and financial requirements for the Fire Department’s involvement in the incident.
What are the Roles and Responsibilities for Administration?
- Procurement of services and/or supplies from sources within and outside the Fire Department or City as requested by Command (coordinates with Logistics).
- Documenting all financial costs of the incident.
- Documenting for possible cost recovery for services and/or supplies.
- Analyzing and managing legal risk for incidents such as, hazardous materials clean up.
- Serves as the Incident Commander’s liaison with: City officials, Litigators (and other
lawyer types). Regulatory agencies (EPA, OSHA, DOT, FBI, etc.). - Monitors and coordinates emergency service delivery to the rest of the community
during major incidents to ensure adequate coverage. - Serves as the E.O.C. representative in the Command Post and provides briefings to the
E.O.C. staff. - Manage investigations (arson, etc.).
- Collect and provide information for an After‐Action Review.
Administration is responsible for?
obtaining any and all needed incident documentation for potential cost recovery efforts, or litigation, including criminal charges.
