INCIDENT COMMAND

UNION FIRE DISTRICT INCIDENT COMMAND STANDARD

S.O.G. No.: 01- Revision: April 2007 001

UNION FIRE DISTRICT Effective Date: Oct. 2005

1. PURPOSE

• 1.1 The purpose of this document is to provide members of the department with guidelines on the use of the district’s Incident Command System.

2. REFERENCES

• 2.1  Union Fire District Board of Wardens August, 2005.
• 2.2  Current edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s 1561 Standard on Fire Department Incident Management System.
• 2.3  Current edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s 473 Standard on Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials Incident
• 2.4  FEMA ICS classes 100, 200, 700, and 800

3.OSHA REQUIREMENTS

• 3.1  Emergency operations and other situations that pose similar hazards, including but not limited to training exercises, shall be conducted in a manner that recognizes hazards and prevents accidents and injuries.
  • 3.2  All members involved in emergency operations shall be familiar with the Incident Command System.
  • 3.3  The incident commander shall integrate risk management into the regular functions of incident command
  • 3.4  Operations shall be limited to those that can be safely performed by the personnel at the scene.
  • 3.5  The department shall provide personnel for the rescue of members operating at emergency incidents if the need arises.
  • 3.6  The incident commander shall consider the circumstances of each incident and make suitable provisions of rest and rehabilitation for members operating at the scene. These provisions shall be in accordance with Section 4-4 of NFPA 1561, Standard on Fire Department Incident Management System, and shall include medical evaluation and treatment, food and fluid replacement, and relief from extreme climatic conditions, according to the circumstances of the incident.
  • 3.7  The department shall establish requirements and standard operating guidelines for a standardized post incident critique of significant incidents or those that involved serious injury or death to members.

4. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

• 4.1  Department Standard Operating Guidelines on Incident Management.
• 4.2  Incident command board.

5. PROCEDURE

• 5.1  Upon arrival of the first unit on the scene, and upon completion of initial size up, command shall be established by the highest ranking fire officer on scene or his designee. Between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM the duty chief will assume command unless he chooses to delegate that charge to another fire ground officer.
• 5.2  The member that establishes command will notify communications and announce that command has been established, and also announce the location of command and who is in command. Announcement of command will be done in accordance with department Communication Guidelines.
• 5.3  The Incident Commander will:
  • 5.3.1  Assume and confirm command and take an effective command position;
  • 5.3.2  Perform situation evaluation that includes risk assessment;
  • 5.3.3  Initiate, maintain, and control incident communications;
  • 5.3.4  Develop and overall strategy and attack plan and assign units to operations;
  • 5.3.5  Develop an effective incident organization by managing resources, maintaining an effective span of control, and maintaining direct supervision over the entire incident by creating geographic and functional sectors;
  • 5.3.6  Review, evaluate, and revise the attack plan as required;
  • 5.3.7  Continue, transfer, or terminate command.
• 5.4  At an emergency incident, the Incident Commander will be responsible for the overall safety of all members and all activities occurring at the scene.
• 5.5  The Incident Commander will appoint a Safety Officer at the scene when he/she deems necessary.
• 5.6  The Incident Commander will appoint an Operations Officer when it is necessary to maintain the span of control at an incident scene.
• 5.7  The Operations Officer will have knowledge of the tactical activities of the incident.
• 5.8  The Operations Officer will be responsible for the direct management of all incident tactical activities and should have direct involvement in the preparation of the action plan for the period of responsibility.
• 5.9  The responsibilities of the Operations Officer will be:5.9.1  Manage incident tactical activities.
  • 5.9.2  Coordinate activities with the Incident Commander
  • 5.9.3  Implement the incident action plan.
  • 5.9.4  Assign resources to tactical level areas based on tactical objectives and priorities.
  • 5.9.5  Build an effective organizational structure through the use of Branches, and Divisions/Groups or Sectors.
  • 5.9.6  Provide tactical objectives for Divisions/Groups or Sectors.
  • 5.9.7  Consult with and inform other sections and the Incident Command Staff as needed.
  • 5.9.8 Keep the Incident Commander informed of the progress of the incident, and suggest changes in the incident action plan if necessary.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PLANNING OFFICER

• 6.1  The Incident Commander will, when necessary to maintain span of control appoint a Planning Officer for the incident.
• 6.2  The Planning Officers responsibilities will be:
  • 6.2.1  Evaluate current strategy and plan with the Incident Commander.
  • 6.2.2  Maintain resource status and personnel accountability
  • 6.2.3  Refine and recommend any needed changes to plan with operations input.
  • 6.2.4  Evaluate incident organization and span-of-control.
  • 6.2.5  Forecast possible outcome of the incident.
  • 6.2.6  Evaluate future resources requirements.
  • 6.2.7  Utilize technical assistance as needed.
  • 6.2.8  Evaluate tactical priorities, critical factors, and safety.
  • 6.2.9  Gather, update, improve, and manage situation status with a standard systematic approach.
  • 6.2.10  Coordinate with any needed outside agencies for planning needs.
  • 6.2.11  Plan for incident demobilization.
  • 6.2.12  Maintain incident records.

7. LOGISTICS OFFICER

• 7.1  The Incident Commander will, when necessary to maintain the span of control appoint a Logistic Officer for the incident.
• 7.2  The responsibilities of the Logistic Officer will be:
  • 7.2.1  Provide for medical aid for incident personnel and manage Responder Rehab.
  • 7.2.2  Coordinate immediate critical incident stress debriefing function.
  • 7.2.3  Provide and manage any needed supplies or equipment.
  • 7.2.4  Forecast and obtain future resource needs (coordinate with the Planning Section).
  • 7.2.5  Provide for communications plan and any needed communications equipment.
  • 7.2.6  Provide fuel and needed repairs for equipment.
  • 7.2.7  Obtain specialized equipment or expertise per Command.
  • 7.2.8  Provide food and associated supplies.
  • 7.2.9  Secure any needed fixed or portable facilities.
  • 7.2.10  Provide any other logistical needs as required by Command.
  • 7.2.11  Supervise assigned personnel.

8. FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

• 8.1 The Incident Commander will, when necessary to maintain the span of control appoint a Finance/Administration Officer for the incident.

• 8.2 The responsibilities of the Finance/Administration Officer will be:
  • 8.2.1  Procuring of services and/or supplies from sources within and outside the department as requested by Command (coordinates with Logistics).
  • 8.2.2  Document all financial costs of the incident.
  • 8.2.3  Keep documentation for possible cost recovery for services and/or supplies.
  • 8.2.4  Analyze and manage legal risk for incidents (i.e. hazardous materials clean up).
  • 8.2.5  Keep documentation for compensation and claims for injury.

9. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

• 9.1  The Incident Commander will, when necessary to maintain the span of control appoint a Public Information Officer for the incident.
• 9.2  The Public Information Officer will be a part of the Command Staff and will report directly to the Incident Commander.
• 9.3  The Public Information Officer will develop accurate and complete information regarding incident cause, size, current situation, resources committed, and other matters of general interest.
• 9.4  The Public Information Officer will be the point of contact for the media and other governmental agencies which desire information directly from the incident.
• 9.5  The Public Information Officer will only release information that has been approved by the Incident Commander.

10. SAFETY OFFICER

• 10.1  The Incident Commander will, when necessary to maintain span of control appoint a Safety Officer for the incident.
• 10.2  The Safety Officer will be a part of the Command Staff and shall report directly to the Incident Commander.

• 10.3  The Safety Officer will have knowledge and experience in all aspects of the incident.

• 10.4  The Safety Officer will assess hazardous and unsafe situations at the incident, and develop measures for assuring personnel safety.
• 10.5  The Safety Officer will have emergency authority to stop and/or prevent unsafe acts.
• 10.6  The Safety Officer will ensure that all personnel involved in the operation at a incident, be dressed in the proper protective clothing for the operation.
• 10.7  The Safety Officer will investigate all injuries or death(s) of a member(s) that occur at the incident and file the proper reports with the proper authorities, the Safety Officer will report the findings of the investigation to the Board of Wardens.
• 10.8  If necessary the Incident Commander may appoint additional Safety Officers for the incident.

11. LIAISON OFFICER

• 11.1  The Incident Commander, will when necessary to maintain span of control, appoint a Liaison Officer for the incident.
• 11.2  The Liaison Officer will be a part of the command staff and report directly to the Incident Commander.
• 11.3  The Liaison Officer will be a point of contact for representatives from other agencies.
• 11.4  The Liaison Officer will report to the Incident Commander the resources available from other agencies, and keep the IC informed of any special needs, or need for additional resources.

12. STAGING/MANPOWERPOOL

• 12.1  The Incident Commander, will when necessary to maintain span of control, appoint an incident Staging Officer.
• 12.2  The Staging Officer will report directly to the Incident Commander until an Operations Chief is appointed, the Staging Officer will then report to the Operations Chief.
• 12.3  If a staging area has not be designated the Staging Officer will be responsible for the scouting and locating a suitable area to be used.
• 12.4  Once staging has been established, the Staging Officer will notify Command or Operations of location.
• 12.5  Once staging has been established and announced all units responding to the scene unless assigned, report to staging and check in with Staging Officer.
• 12.6  All members responding to the scene in private vehicles, will park vehicles far enough away from the scene to prevent congestion, don protective gear and report directly to staging officer located with the manpower pool.
• 12.7  All members assigned to staging unless assigned to perform a task, or released from scene, will remain in staging.
• 12.8  All crew leaders assigned to perform a task, will, after task is completed, unless reassigned make sure that they and their crew reports to staging.
• 12.9  The Staging Officer will be responsible for notifying Command or Operations of the resources available in staging at all times during the incident and requesting additional resources for staging area if necessary.
• 12.10  The Staging Officer will be responsible for the logging in and out of all members and equipment in the staging area.

13. WATER SUPPLY

• 13.1  The Incident Commander, will when necessary to maintain span of control, appoint a Water Supply Officer.
• 13.2  The Water Supply Officer will report directly to the Incident Commander until an Operations Chief is appointed, the Water Supply Officer will then report to the Operations Chief.
• 13.3  If a water supply has not be established the Water Supply Officer will be responsible for the scouting and locating a suitable area to be used.
• 13.4  Once water supply has been established, the Water Supply Officer will notify Command or Operations of location.
• 13.5  The Water Supply Officer will be responsible for notifying Command or Operations of the water supply operation at all times during the incident and requesting additional resources for water supply if necessary.

UNION FIRE DISTRICT INCIDENT COMMAND STANDARD