Command Procedures Flashcards
What is the Incident Commander responsible for?
The completion of tactical objectives.
What are the tactical objectives?
Rescue
Fire control
Property conservation
What do the Functions of Command include?
Assume and announce command and establish command post.
Size up the situation.
Initiate, maintain, and control effective communications.
Provide and manage steady, adequate, and timely stream of resources.
Identify strategy, develop IAP, and assign companies consistent with plans and SOPs.
Develop effective organization using Sectors/Divisions/Groups to decentralize and delegate geographic and functional responsibility.
Review and revise IAP as needed.
Provide for continuity, transfer, and termination of command.
Of the eight functions of command, which functions must be addressed immediately from the initial assumption of command?
The first six (6)
Who should assume command of an incident that requires multiple units to respond?
The first arriving fire department member or unit.
When is it NOT required to establish command?
On one or two company responses that will not escalate beyond the commitment of those companies.
What does a follow up report consist of?
- Any immediate safety concerns.
- Accountability started (location).
- Disposition of resources (hold/add/return).
- Disposition of IRIC (only when NOT addressed).
What is the top priority when a chief officer, member, or unit without tactical capabilities initiates command?
Establishment of a command post.
Fast-attack mobile command should not last more than a few minutes and will end with one of the following…
Situation is stabilized.
Command is transferred to a later arriving command officer.
Situation is NOT stabilized and the IC must move to an exterior (stationary) command position. (Company officer should decide whether or not to withdraw remainder of his/her crew).
What are the benefits of transferring command from a company officer to a later arriving command officer outside of the hazard zone?
Provides IC 2 with a support officer.
Establishes an ISO.
IC 2 has wider view of fireground.
Improves communication.
Creates a well lit, warm or cool, dry environment for IC 2 to operate in.
Who assumes the role of Senior Advisor to command on an incident?
Shift commander (West Deputy in Glendale)
Command should consider adding a command officer to any sector with how many operating companies?
Three or more.
Adding command officers to fill Sector, Division and Branch positions strengthens the command organization. What benefits does this add?
Improves safety.
Decreases the span of control.
Improves communication.
Improves accountability.
Improves management and supervision of the sector.
Who are the primary players in the Command Team?
IC
Support officer
Senior advisor
What are the roles and responsibilities of the Support Officer?
Define, evaluate, and recommend changes to the IAP.
Provide direction relating to the tactical objectives and specific critical fire ground factors.
Become the ISO.
Evaluate need for additional resources.
Assign logistics responsibilities.
Assist with tactical worksheet for control and accountability.
Evaluate fire ground organization and span of control.
Other duties as necessary.
What are the three levels of command?
Strategic - overall direction of the incident.
Tactical - objectives assigned to to Sectors.
Task - task objectives assigned to companies.
What does the strategic level of command consist of?
Designed around the IC and Command Team. Involves activities necessary for overall operational control and completion of tactical objectives. Completed most effectively through the strategic decision making model.
What are sectors, divisions and groups assigned by?
Sectors - assigned by geographic location
Divisions - geographic location
Groups - function
How does utilizing sectors benefit an incident?
Reduces IC’s span of control.
Creates more effective communications.
Provides standard and logical system to divide large geographical incidents into effectively sized units.
Provides an array of support functions.
Improves firefighter safety.
When establishing a sector, what does the IC assign each sector officer?
Tactical objectives.
Radio designation (ie North Sector, Roof Sector, etc.)
The identity of resources assigned to that sector.
Who becomes the Sector Safety Officer when a command officer is assigned Sector responsibilities?
Their FIT/ISO
What are the Sector designations for buildings with odd positioning (such as on Grand Ave)?
Front of the building will be “Sector A.” Continue alphabetically with designations going clockwise around building.
What is the Branch level of the command organization designed to provide?
COORDINATION: Branch officers supervise a number of sector officers and the report back to the IC.
Who in the command team has the responsibility to decide whether or not to expand and include branches?
The Senior Advisor
At what type of incidents should branch officers be utilized?
At incidents where the span of control with sectors is maximized.
Incidents that involve two or more distinctly different major management components (ie large fire with major evacuation, large fire with a number of patients).
In regards to radio communications, what does the IC do when implementing Branch officers?
They assign a separate radio channel (not the tactical channel) for communications within the Branch.
The fire departments involvement and needs can be divided into four sections. What are they?
Logistics
Planning
Operations
Administrative
What does the logistics section do?
Provides services and support systems to all of the organizational components involved in the incident.
What is the planning section responsible for?
Gathering, assimilating, analyzing, and processing information needed for effective decision-making.
Goal is to plan ahead of current events and identify the need for resources before they are needed.
What is the operations section responsible for?
Tactical priorities.
Accountability.
Safety and welfare of the personnel working within the operations section.
What is the operations section radio designation?
If working at the command post, it is “command.”
If working at a forward position outside of the command post, it is “operations.”
What does the administration section do?
Evaluate and manage the risk and financial requirements for the fire departments involvement in the incident.
Obtain any and all needed documentation for potential cost recovery efforts, or litigation, including criminal charges.
