Procedure 345 Notification of Chief Officers

Notification of Chief Officers - COMM Fire Department

• The primary goal is to establish clear procedures for notifying Chief Officers about low frequency/high risk events.
• The Fire Chief holds ultimate authority and responsibility for all department operations.
• Chief Officers must be notified by phone for any line of duty injury that requires emergency transport and/or hospitalization.
• Immediate notification is required for any complaints of racial, ethnic, religious, or sexual harassment.
• Personnel issues that require immediate action must be reported to Chief Officers promptly.
• The death of a firefighter necessitates immediate notification to Chief Officers.
• Chief Officers should be informed of fire fatalities, while minor injuries resulting from fires don’t require notification.
• Serious explosions causing firefighter or civilian injuries require immediate notification.
• Serious motor vehicle accidents involving C-O-MM Fire Rescue apparatus necessitate notification; minor accidents do not.
• Any potential liability case or citizen complaint must be brought to the attention of Chief Officers immediately.
• The Shift Commander should seek guidance whenever needed, not just during emergencies.
• Notification is required when the dive team is activated for any water rescue incident.
• Incidents escalating to a 2nd alarm or higher in Town of Barnstable call for notification to Chief Officers.
• Major hazardous materials releases or hazmat team activations require immediate notification.
• Any technical rescue involving confined spaces, high angles, collapse, or trench rescues necessitates immediate communication with Chief Officers.
• Notifications are required for domestic terrorism threats specific to the C-O-MM Fire District.
• Mass casualty incidents must be reported immediately to the Chief Officers.
• Motor vehicle crashes that involve entrapment require alerting Chief Officers, while minor accidents do not.
• For mutual aid incidents, especially when C-O-MM Fire apparatus is involved, immediate notification to Chief Officers is essential.
• Coverage issues must be raised if the Shift Commander and company officers are unavailable for an incident.
• Chief Officers must be notified immediately if their mutual aid is requested for an incident.
• In Barnstable, fire incidents escalating to 2nd alarm or greater necessitate contact with Chief Officers.
• Major hazardous materials incidents necessitate immediate reporting, while minor spills do not require such urgency.
• Serious accidents (with injuries) involving department apparatus require notification; minor issues do not.
• Lack of officer coverage during an incident should prompt immediate notification to Chief Officers.