An Introduction toAn Introduction to

INCIDENT COMMANDINCIDENT COMMAND

1. Incident Management System (IMS) and the Incident commander

2. Risk management3. Fire confinement and extinguishment4. Size up5. Accountability and PAR’s6. PIAR’s – post incident analysis reviews

1. One person in command• IC’s may change, but always, only ONE person in

charge2. Ensures that a strong command is visible3. Establishes an effective organization4. Provides a system for processing information

• IC, even at a simple house fire, can be overloadedwith information

5. Allows for an orderly Transfer of Command6. Ensures the maximum level of firefighter safety

• accountability

What is the primary responsibility of the IC?

1. To ensure that the Tactical Priorities are met.

1. Rescue

2. Stabilize the scene i.e. extinguishment etc.

3. Property Conservation

4. Firefighter Safety – ongoing throughout the incident

What does the IC have to do on arrival & while on scene?

1. Assume command and announce it!!!2. Do a quick size-up3. Set up a Command Post and announce it!!!4. Initiate and control communications5. Determine strategy and develop the Action Plan

• assign companies6. Develop an effective Incident Management organization7. Provide the Tactical Priorities8. Provide continuity in Transfer and Termination of

Command

It is critical to understand the use and importance of “Benchmarks” in the Incident Management System. We may accomplish the tactical priorities out of order but that doesn’t change the way we rank their importance. As a result, the following benchmarks are always reported in the following order:

• Primary Search – All Clear

• Under Control (meaning, fire)

• Secondary Search – All Clear

• Loss Stopped (meaning, no more damage)

1. Strategic – the big plan

2. Tactical – operations

3. Task – performance

Whatever the incident, there are always 3 levels of command…

At the Strategic level, there are 3 terms that are indicative of the IC’s overall approach to the incident. They are…

Offensive – Aggressive, usually interior, fire attack that is intended to stop the fire at its current location

Defensive – Exterior fire attack with emphasis on exposure protection. The commitment of a fire department’s resources to protect exposures when the fire has progressed to a point where an offensive attack is not effective.

Marginal – Many times offensive/defensive conditions are clear cut and Command can quickly determine the appropriate strategy. In other cases, the situation is MARGINAL and Command must initiate an offensive interior attack, while setting up defensive positions on the exterior.

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D/Chief

Rescue 1Chief

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2 Story Detached Dwelling

Strategic Level – Incident Commander….Develop Action Plan: determine strategy & overall incident objectives; set priorities; obtain & assign resources; predict outcomes and planning; assign specific objectives to the Tactical Level

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Tactical Level – Captain….Direct activities toward specific objectives: responsible for geographic “areas” or functions; has responsibility & authority to meet strategic goals

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Task Level – firefighters….Individual companies – “where the rubber meets the road”: usually commanded by a company Officer; goal is to accomplish tactical objectives

Any Questions to this Point???

Geographical

Function

What does the term “sectoring” mean to you? Why would we use sectoring and what are the types?

Types:

Often used in conjunction with locations around a structure. Can be termed either:

Alfa – Bravo – Charlie – Delta

or

South – West – North – East

Your thoughts on which method is best?

C (3)

B (2)

A (1)

D (4)HOUSE GARAGE

STREET

Identities are assigned based on the task. Can be termed as follows:

Search & Rescue Team 1

Suppression Team 1

Ventilation 1

Water Supply

How does all of this look organizationally?

Should there not be differences between small, medium and large scale incidents?

“Span of Control” criterion: once over 3-5 FF’s

In fact, there are differences…but, some important similarities as well.

P1EXAMPLE #1

EXAMPLE #2 P1

P2 R1

ICEXAMPLE #3

VENTILATION SECTOR

R1 P2

FIRE CONTROL SECTOR

P3 A1

CO

CO

COCO

CHIEF

DISTRICT CHIEFDISTRICT CHIEF

CO’S CO’S

Usually the first arriving Officer stays in Command until a transfer or the scene is stabilized.

Question:The first on-scene Officer has been in control of an incident since the start. He/she is doing a good job. A more senior Officer arrives at the scene but chooses not to assume Command because the first Officer is doing well. Who is responsible for the fire?

What are your thoughts?

• Vehicle designation – “P-1 Arrived”• Address – “20 Spruce St.”• Building type – “2-story residential brick structure”• Obvious conditions – “smoke showing at front”• Initial actions taken – “have established water

supply and beginning primary search”• Declaration of Strategy “commencing Offensive

Attack”• Obvious safety concerns – “heavy traffic, need police”• Assume command & give location – “Capt. Sparky

establishing Command, Alfa-Delta side”• Request or release resources – “Control, Spruce Command. Dispatch EMS to this location”

There are 3 possible Command Modes upon arrival:

1. Nothing Showing Mode

2. Fast Attack Mode

3. Command Mode

… also known as “Investigative Mode”

What are some features of this mode?

• Take crew, portable radio and check out the situation

• Stage additional arriving apparatus

“What you do in the first 5 minutes often determines what you will be doing for the next 5 hours.” - Brunacini

What are some features of this mode?

• Situations where immediate action is required

• Retain radio and maintain Command

• Should not last longer than a few minutes – you cannot maintain Command from inside a structure

What kind of incidents would require establishingCommand Mode immediately?

• Situations that are obviously large from the outset

• IC establishes a Command Post immediately

• A “Tactical Worksheet” is activated at this point!

Now let’s take a look atNow let’s take a look at

Risk ManagementRisk Management

There will always be risk in the job we do. However, needless risk is unacceptable as it both injures and kills firefighters.

Who is responsible for assessing risk at an emergency scene?

i. First arriving Officerii. All firefighters and Officersiii. Ultimately, the IC

Who determines the level of acceptable risk?

• The IC has to determine the level of acceptable risk based on an on-going size-up

• He must ensure that acceptable levels are NOT exceeded

What is an “acceptable” level of risk?

• Significant calculated risk to save a life

• Some risk to save property

• NO RISK to save something that can’t be saved

1. Does the size, location and size of the fire warrant an offensive fire attack?

2. Do I have enough resources to carry out an offensive plan of attack? (human, physical – i.e. equipment/apparatus)

3. Is there rescue to perform? (rescue risks higher acceptability than suppression risks)

4. Should attack be delayed pending additional manpower? (If the answer is yes then all activities must be limited to the exterior)

1. Conduct a thorough size-up. (What are some ways to do this?)

2. Determine strategic and tactical objectives. (What’s the difference between “strategy” and “tactics?”

3. Determine initial attack. (Offensive or defensive)

4. Develop an Action Plan.

• Driven by Risk Management• IC must weigh the danger or risks against the

expected results

• Contains Strategic and Tactical Objectives

• Must be flexible and changeable based on changing conditions

• Must have identifiable benchmarks or objectives

Fire Confinement and Fire Confinement and ExtinguishmentExtinguishment

The goal of the fire ground IC is ultimately to put the fire out. This is not always possible in the short term. Hose lines could be used in a “holding pattern.” There IS a difference between Confinement and Extinguishment.

Question: What IS this difference?

HOW?HOW?

WHAT?WHAT?

WHERE?WHERE?

1.1. CONFINE OR EXTINGUISH?CONFINE OR EXTINGUISH?

2.2. SIZE-UP CONSIDERATIONSSIZE-UP CONSIDERATIONS- WHERE IS IT GOING?WHERE IS IT GOING?- WHO OR WHAT IS IN THE WAY?WHO OR WHAT IS IN THE WAY?- TYPE OF CONSTRUCTIONTYPE OF CONSTRUCTION- REQUIRED FLOW? REQUIRED FLOW?

- UNDER CONTROLUNDER CONTROL- LOSS STOPPEDLOSS STOPPED

“BENCHMARKS”

• Depends on function… confinement or extinguishment

• Initial line between fire and victims

• Frontal assault only when no other option is possible

• Use with second line to push fire back to place of origin

Benchmarks

“Under Control”

“Loss Stopped”

Size Up and Exposure Size Up and Exposure ProtectionProtection

Initial size-ups must be viewed as just that: initial.

It must be an on-going process. Among the important decisions to be made relates to protection from exposures. More troops may be needed!

Question: When does size-up begin?

1. Time of day or night

2. Weather – wind conditions, humidity etc.

3. Type of occupancy

4. Nature of the emergency i.e. working fire?

5. Other apparatus responding

6. Reports from citizens

Begins on Receipt of Alarm

1. Pre-plan factors

• Size & type of building• Building construction including roof• Water supply• Company assignments• Fire protection system connections• Access points• Normal building population• Fire protection equipment i.e. standpipe etc.• Fire flow required

En Route

1. Fire Ground Situational Factors

• Location, stage and extent of fire• Colour of smoke• Obstructions to operations• Apparatus on scene• People trapped?

Question: What other factors could there be?

On Arrival

HOW?HOW?

WHAT?WHAT?

WHERE?

WHERE?

1. SIZE-UP 2. CALL FOR HELP 3. LIFE SAFETY - RESCUE 4. CONFINEMENT - EXPOSURES 5. EXTINGUISHMENT 6. VENTILATION 7. SALVAGE 8. OVERHAUL

1. SIZE-UP 2. CALL FOR HELP 3. LIFE SAFETY - RESCUE 4. CONFINEMENT - EXPOSURES 5. EXTINGUISHMENT 6. VENTILATION 7. SALVAGE 8. OVERHAUL

HOW?HOW?

WHAT?WHAT?

WHERE?WHERE?

1.1. IS SUPPORT NEEDED?IS SUPPORT NEEDED?

2.2. OUTSIDE COLLAPSE ZONE?OUTSIDE COLLAPSE ZONE?

3.3. FIRE FLOW AVAILABE?FIRE FLOW AVAILABE?

4.4. HOSE AND APPLIANCES REQUIRED?HOSE AND APPLIANCES REQUIRED?

5.5. WHAT COORDINATION WITH OTHER TACTICS IS WHAT COORDINATION WITH OTHER TACTICS IS NEEDED?NEEDED?

6.6. SAFETY CONCERNS?SAFETY CONCERNS?

Accountability and Accountability and Personnel Accountability Personnel Accountability

Reports (PAR’s)Reports (PAR’s)

Its primary purpose is FIREFIGHTER SAFETY! The IC is ultimately responsible for safety. Some departments have ISO’s and safety MUST be part of OG’s. All FF’s and Officers must comply with safety guidelines.

Accountability Officer• Keeps track of who is at the scene• Collect first Tag• Will sometimes be Entry Control

Officer as well

Entry Control Officer• Records when FF’s enter the danger

zone• Generally uses a pre-fabricated Entry

Control Board• Reports to the IC and gives updates or

notifies the IC of any unaccounted for FF’s

The purpose is to assist the IC in a person Inventory Control.

There are 8 appropriate times to call for a PAR…

“All Clear” and “Under Control” Easy reminder for IC Good delineation of the event

1. When “Benchmarks” have been achieved

30 and 60 minute bottles Some time to begin rescue if a

firefighter is missing

2. After twenty and forty minutes

Note: Some departments require the initial attack crew entering a building to radio to the IC or their Dispatch that they are “ON AIR” when they turn their cylinders on. This is to provide the IC and the Dispatch the reminder that the “clock is now ticking” in the countdown to a PAR.

This allows the new IC to be confident that all crews are accounted for

3. When command is Passed or Transferred

Building collapse Flashover Backdraft Rapid smoke build-up Any other important event

4. When there is a significant change

5. After an ordered evacuation

Activated PASS alarm From radio report From other source Prior to activating RIT

6. Anytime Personnel go Missing

This is a good time to “take stock”

7. After the rescue of a firefighter who was previously missing

It’s crucial to know everyone is out of the building prior to initiating significant defensive tactics that affect the internal environment

8. After a major change of strategy

PIAR’s PIAR’s

Post Incident Analysis Post Incident Analysis ReviewsReviews

““We need to learn from each We need to learn from each experience”experience”

The purpose is to improve performance and safety!

Let’s take a closer look at what P.I.A.R. is all about…

To give credit where credit is due To point out concerns to the team To analyze tactics – good and bad It’s a good place for “soft intervention” To obtain feedback from all those involved

Above all: TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE!

Why do you do Post Incident Analysis?

Chief IC Safety Officer Outside Facilitator

Who conducts a Post Incident Analysis?

As soon as possible after the incident

Time clouds the memory This is a good reason for all personnel to

take notes

When do you do a Post Incident Analysis?

This may include…

IC Firefighters Police EMS Dispatch etc…

Everyone involved in the incident, if possible…

People may be reluctant at first Remind participants that questions should

be posed in a non-accusational manner It may depend on the “culture” of the

department

As long as practicable to ensure performance is improved.(The first few PIAR’s a department does may take a little longer than subsequent PIAR’s.)

The purpose of a PIAR is to IMPROVE PERFORMANCE and NOTHING ELSE!

Incident Management System (IMS) and the Incident Commander

Risk Management Fire Confinement Size Up Accountability PIAR