FOC 2 Establish, Confirm, & Position Command

Question 1

Who should establish command?

Answer 1

The first fire department member or unit to arrive on scene

Question 2

Command must be established on incidents involving how many units dispatched?

Answer 2

3 or more

Question 3

What does the mnemonic BIR stand for?

Answer 3

Brief Initial Report

Question 4

List the 7 elements of a BIR in order?

Answer 4

1. Clear Alarm (ensures proper Tac channel)
2. Building/Area description
3. Problem description
4. Incident action plan
5. Strategy declaration
6. Resource determination
7. Establish and name command

Question 5

What items may be given in a follow-up report?

Answer 5

1. Result of 360 (possible basement)
2. Any changes to the IAP
3. Immediate safety concerns
4. Confirm strategy
5. Identify the Alpha side (if not done in BIR)
6. Resource determination (if not done in BIR)

Question 6

Who confirms an established command and how?

Answer 6

Dispatch, by repeating the BIR back to all responding units

Question 7

Depending on the situation, what are the two command positions a company officer who is establishing command can operate in?

Answer 7

• Mobile Command Position (Investigating or Fast-Attack)
• Strategic Command Position (Stationary, inside of a Command Post)

Question 8

What are the 3 listed benefits of an IC in a Fast-Attack position?

Answer 8

• Enhances crew safety
• Gives the IC another set of critical factors to evaluate and base unit assignments on
• Usually solves the problem quickly

Question 9

What are the 4 listed disadvantages of an IC operating in the Fast-Attack mode?

Answer 9

• Combining action and command is difficult
• Difficult communication position (full PPE in a hazard zone)
  Limited field of vision
  Reduces strategic span of control

Question 10

What are the three ways a fast-attack command position should end?

Answer 10

• Situation is quickly stabilized
• Command is transferred to a subsequent arriving officer
• If the situation is not stabilized and there is a delay in the arrival of another officer, the fast-attacking officer must move to an exterior (stationary) position and operate in the command position

Question 11

If a fast-attacking IC has to transition to a command position what 3 options can he assign his crew to do?

Answer 11

1. Upgrade a crew member to act as a team leader and give them a task level assignment. Minimum of 2 persons
2. Assign your crew members to another company
3. Have crew exit with the IC and perform IC support roles

Question 12

Where does the most effective command position take place?

Answer 12

Inside a command post

Question 13

Within LVFR, is it ever acceptable for command to be passed to a unit who has not arrived on scene?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

When a chief officer and company officer arrive on scene at the same time who should establish command?

Answer 14

The chief officer

Question 15

Ideally, a command post should offer a view of how many sides of the scene?

Answer 15

Two

Question 16

True/False
Chief officers can only operate in the command position when they are the IC.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Ideally, how long should it take to conduct a command transfer report?

Answer 17

Less than 30 seconds

Question 18

When a second chief officer arrives on scene what should their initial assignment be? After they complete their initial assignment where should they go and what position(s) should they fill?

Answer 18

They should initially complete a 360/recon (if possible), then head to the command post and assume the role of Deputy IC & Incident Safety Officer

Question 19

On large scale incidents what role do senior level chief usually assume?

Answer 19

Senior advisors

Question 20

The parking of multiple response-chief vehicles in close proximity on scene forms a group known as what?

Answer 20

A “command village”

Question 21

With regards to being in command, what are the 3 distinct operational phases and what command will look like in each phase?

Answer 21

• Initial Operations- Fast-attacking Company Officer IC
• Reinforced Operations- Strategically positioned IC and Deputy IC
• Escalated Operations- IC, Deputy IC & Senior Advisor with required section positions

Question 22

True/False
Initial operations shouldn’t last longer than 1 bottle of air?

Answer 22

True

Question 23

How many company assignments can a fast-attacking IC effectively make generally?

Answer 23

2 to 3

Question 24

On greater alarms secondary arriving BC’s may be should be assigned as tactical supervisors (division/group sup.) of the most active/hazardous attack positions. When this occurs, what position can the company officer who originally filled the position now assume?

Answer 24

Assistant Safety Officer for the attack position

Question 25

What 3 positions make up the command team during escalated operations?

Answer 25

• IC
• Deputy IC
• Senior Advisor

Question 26

During escalated operations which member of the command team runs the command post and serves as the department’s tactical authority for the incident.

Answer 26

The senior advisor

Question 27

During escalated operations which member of the command team is responsible for implementing necessary section positions?

Answer 27

The senior advisor

Question 28

During escalated operations, if a second radio channel is needed, generally what is the second radio channel named and what two components will be utilized on the channel?

Answer 28

It will be known as the Logistics channel and it is where staging and rehab will be located

Question 29

During escalated operations where should the logistics supervisor be located?

Answer 29

In the command post

Question 30

True/False
During escalated operations the logistics supervisor may have the radio designation of “command”

If so, why?

Answer 30

True, because the logistics supervisor is operating on a separate channel from the IC so there will not be any confusion

Question 31

Nationally, what percent of incidents are resolved in the initial/reinforced operations phase?

Answer 31

80%

Question 32

During escalated incidents, who amongst the command team should be responsible for maintaining a tactical work sheet or tablet command?

Answer 32

The deputy IC