Chapter 13 The Incident Command System. Introduction Incidents come in all types and sizes As you...

Chapter 13

The Incident Command System

Introduction

• Incidents come in all types and sizes

• As you become more skilled in size-up and applying strategic priorities, you can better assist the person in command of the incident

• By learning ICS prior to an incident, resources from different agencies and disciplines can come together at the scene and operate in an effective, coordinated manner

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

• Primarily first-in fire officer

• Resources and control

INCIDENT PLANNING• Effective utilization of resources

• Resolve incident without further damage

Learning Objective 1

Need for a Plan at Every Incident

OFFENSIVE MODE

• Resources applied directly

• Risk versus benefit

DEFENSIVE MODE

• Fire is too large or well established

• Risk to personnel is too high


Offensive, Defensive, and Combination Attacks

COMBINATION MODE

• Both offensive and defensive modes

• Requires good communication

• Used on large wildland incidents

• Used to add structure protection

• Requires careful coordination


Offensive, Defensive, and Combination Attacks

LAYMAN’S SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• Rescue

• Exposure protection

• Confinement

• Extinguishment

• OverhaulCont.

Learning Objectives 3 and 4

Need for Organized Thought ProcessStrategic Priorities at an Incident

LAYMAN’S SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• Salvage operations

• Ventilation

ORDER OF SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• Not necessarily performed in order

• Acronym is “RECEO SV”


Need for Organized Thought ProcessStrategic Priorities at an Incident

STRATEGIES

• Plans to achieve a goal or objective

TACTICS

• Actions taken to achieve strategies

TASKS

• Pieces of work to achieve the tactics


Strategy, Tactics, and Tasks

COMMUNICATION

• Personnel should not need lengthy instruction Knowledge of priorities and tactics Participants should understand their

responsibilities

• Should be two-way Incident commanders Company officers


Strategy, Tactics, and Tasks

STEPS FOR SIZE-UP

• Determining facts

• Anticipating probabilities

• Assessing your own situation

• Making a decision

• Planning the operation


Need for Size-Up of an IncidentCondition Reports and Performing Size-Up

WILDLAND FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS

• Correct location

• Size

• Fuel type

• Slope and aspect

• Rate of spreadCont.



WILDLAND FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS

• Exposures

• Weather conditions

• Potential of the fire

• Additional resources needed

• Objectives



STRUCTURE FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS

• Correct location

• Height/stories

• Size

• Type of structure

• Location and area involved

Cont.



STRUCTURE FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS

• Level of involvement

• Exposures

• Potential of fire

• Additional resources needed

• Objectives

• Obtain an “all clear”



HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 5

• Issued in response to September 11, 2001, attacks

• Called for National Incident Management System

ESTABLISHMENT OF NIMS

• Incident Command System (ICS) as a key feature

• Announced in March 2004


National Incident Management System (NIMS)

INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS)

• Standardized all-hazard incident management concept

• Considerable internal flexibility

HISTORY OF ICS

• Developed in 1970s following catastrophic fires

• Response problems due to management of incidents


Components of Incident Command SystemUnified Command at Multijurisdictional Incident

ICS BUILT ON BEST PRACTICES

• Based on successful business practices

• Tested in 30 years of applications

WHAT ICS IS DESIGNED TO DO

• Meet the needs of incidents of any kind or size

• Avoid duplicating effort



SOME APPLICATIONS OF ICS

• Fire, both structural and wildland

• Human and animal disease outbreaks

• Hazardous material incidents

• Terrorist incidents

• National special security events

• Other planned events



ICS FEATURES

• Common terminology and clear text

• Modular organization

• Management of objectives

• Reliance on an Incident Action Plan (IAP)

• Management of span of controlCont.



ICS FEATURES

• Predesignated incident locations and facilities

• Resource management

• Integrated communications

• Chain of command and unity of commandCont.



ICS FEATURES

• Unified command

• Transfer of command

• Accountability

• Mobilization

• Information and intelligence management



PERFORMANCE OF MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS

• Incident Command

• Operations

• Planning

• Logistics

• Finance/Administration


Positions and Functions in ICS

INCIDENT COMMANDER

• Overall role Has overall responsibility for managing incident

• Responsibilities

• Selecting and changing Incident Commanders May change to meet needs of incident



EXPANDING THE ORGANIZATION

• Command staff

• General staff

• ICS Section Chiefs

and Deputies



OPERATIONS SECTION

• Operations Section Chief Greatest technical expertise of the problem

• Operations Section: Maintaining span of control

• Operations Section: Expanding and contracting



PLANNING SECTION

• Resources Unit

• Situation Unit

• Documentation Unit

• Demobilization Unit



LOGISTICS SECTION

• Logistics Section: Major activities

• Logistics Service Branch

• Logistics Support Branch



FINANCE ADMINISTRATION SECTION

• Finance Administration Section: Major activities

• Finance Administration Section: Units



Summary

• At any time at an incident, you should be able to answer three questions: What do you have? What do you need? What is your plan?

• For effective management of any type of incident, there must be an Incident Action Plan

• With the standardization of the ICS across the nation through NIMS, a management team or resources from another area can be brought in to assist with an incident if the need arises

• Management staff can adapt the structure of the organization to meet incident needs

Chapter 13 The Incident Command System. Introduction Incidents come in all types and sizes As you...

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