Emergency Incident Accountability Procedure

Accountability Procedure

• The accountability system is crucial for maintaining firefighter safety and tracking the location and function of personnel on the scene.
• The system applies to any area that requires the use of an SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus).

Accountability Responsibilities

• Command/Strategic Level:
  • Tracks all crews and sectors/divisions/groups by location and function on a tactical worksheet.
  • Considers air supply when making tactical assignments.
  • Obtains Personal Accountability Reports (PAR) from Sector Officers/Division/Group Supervisors and crews.
• Sector Officer/Division/Group Supervisor/Tactical Level:
  • Tracks crews assigned to their sector.
  • Maintains close supervision of assigned crews.
  • Obtains PARs from all crew members of all companies assigned to their sector/division/group.
• Company Officer/Task Level:
  • Maintains a current PASSPORT ( Personnel Accountability System ) of personnel responding on the apparatus.
  • Ensures all crew members have proper helmet company ID and nametags.
  • Obtains PARs for their crew.
• Engineer:
  • Acts as an accountability officer, tracking crews and crew members who take handlines from their apparatus.
  • Collects passports from crews prior to entering the hot zone.

Accountability Equipment

• Passport System:
  • Consists of a passport with a pouch, small company ID tag, helmet ID stickers, and hose ID tag.
  • Passports are bright yellow tags with company identification and shift.
  • Nametags of crew members are affixed to the passport.
• Accountability Hardware Use:
  • Each Company Officer ensures the passport and MCT roster reflect only the members presently assigned to the company.
  • Passports are updated when entering the hot zone with a partial crew.

Implementation of Accountability System

• Command:
  • The first arriving company gives an on-scene report by radio and assumes command.
  • Command assigns accountability unit identification and geographic location to staged units.
• Crews:
  • Deliver their passports to the engineer of the engine where they deployed a handline.
  • The engineer becomes the accountability officer for those crews.
• Engineer:
  • Places the passport/pouch on the discharge gate at the pump panel when charging the stretched hoseline with water.
  • Removes hoseline ID tags from the passport and places them on each respective hoseline.

Backup Accountability Kit

• A backup kit is issued to each engine to provide a means to maintain accountability in the event of lost equipment.
• The kit contains:
  • Blank hoseline ID tags
  • Passport pouch
  • Blank passport
  • Grease pencil
• Command Officers carry a backup accountability pack to maintain accountability when assigned to a forward position.

Terminating the Passport System

• Accountability is maintained throughout the entire incident.
• The system can be terminated following a report of "fire under control."
• Command determines whether to continue or terminate the use of the passport system based on a risk management assessment of the scene.

Passport Rules

• Passports reflect only personnel presently in the hot zone.
• Passports are delivered to the assigned accountability location prior to entering the hot zone.
• Passports are maintained at the point of entry to the hot zone.
• Passports never enter the hot zone.
• Passports are retrieved upon exiting the hot zone.

Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)

• A PAR is a confirmation that all members are accounted for and have an adequate exit air supply.
• Reports are required in situations such as:
  • Missing or trapped firefighters
  • Change from offensive to defensive
  • Sudden hazardous events
  • Every 30 minutes of elapsed time
  • Any time Command feels it is necessary

This quiz covers the standard operating procedure for accountability during emergency incidents, including the roles and responsibilities of members and officers.