Fire Suppression Operations: Risk Management and Incident Command

Risk Management in Fire Suppression Operations

• The primary goals of fire suppression operations are to save lives, reduce suffering, and minimize property damage while ensuring firefighter safety.
• Officers must make tactical and strategic decisions based on training, experience, and sound judgment, integrating risk management principles into incident command and the Incident Action Plan (IAP).

Incident Command Responsibilities

• The Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for assuming and confirming command, conducting a 360° size-up of the structure, and developing an overall strategy and incident action plan.
• The IC must request additional resources as required and perform a situation evaluation that includes risk assessment and operational safety.

Risk Management Procedures

• Risk assessment and operational safety are critical components of situation evaluation, including the assignment of ICS incident communications.
• The IC must develop an overall strategy and action plan, manage resources, and maintain an effective approach.
• The IC is responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and revising the operational plan as required, and communicating any deviations from the normally expected Company actions.

Risk Management Principles

• Activities that present a significant risk to member safety are limited to situations where there is a high potential to save endangered human lives (Risk a lot to save a lot).
• Activities that protect property and/or the environment are recognized as inherent risks to member safety, and actions should be taken to reduce or avoid these risks (Risk a little to save a little).
• No known risk to member safety is acceptable when there is no possibility to save lives or property (Risk nothing to save nothing).

Additional Safety Considerations

• Firefighters must use appropriate safety practices, sound judgment, and initiative in emergency situations.
• Officers are responsible for the safety of their subordinates.
• The IC must assign a qualified Incident Safety Officer to evaluate hazards and provide direction on safety operations.
• A Two-out or Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) must be established when one or more crews are assigned to the hot zone.

Maintenance Reporting

• Maintenance reporting is required for sites that hold systems, including water cover devices and Class of Service applications.
• The Work Order is generated in Vecar, and a physical out-of-service tag must be affixed to the affected equipment.

Learn about the primary goals of fire suppression operations and the importance of risk management principles in incident command and tactical decision-making.