Fireground Command Strategies

Risk Assessment and Operations

• Monitor risk factors and employ all available risk control options to reduce risk
• Initiate offensive operations with confirmation of realistic potential to save endangered lives
• Do not initiate operations that will put firefighters at risk of injury or fatality

Definitions

• Accountability Card/Tag: used for accountability of on-scene personnel at emergency incidents
• AHJ: Authority Having Jurisdiction
• Apparatus: fire and rescue service vehicles, including engines, aerials, rescue squads, and special service vehicles
• Base: location where primary logistics functions are coordinated and administered, with only one base per incident
• Backup Line: attack hose line of equal or larger size to the initial attack line, providing protection for the initial attack team and additional fire attack capability

Modes of Command

• Investigative Mode: initial arriving company investigates, with other companies standing by and preparing to carry out assignments
• Fast Attack Mode: situations requiring immediate action, with company officer's direct involvement, including offensive fire attacks, critical life safety situations, and obvious working incidents

Incident Safety Officer (ISO)

• Perform a complete 360 of the structure, remaining mobile while monitoring the incident scene
• Report the status of conditions, hazards, and risk to the IC
• Ensure all personnel are accounted for per Accountability
• Suggest safety zones, collapse zones, and other designated hazard areas
• Evaluate motor vehicle traffic hazards and monitor radio transmissions

Commercial Structure Fire Assignments

• Standard dispatch: five engines, two aerials, one rescue, three chief level officers, two EMS transport units, and law enforcement
• All units and personnel not assigned to a specific task will stage their apparatus appropriately and report to the IC
• Company officers must maintain crew integrity, ensure personnel and apparatus take their assigned positions, and follow guidelines
• Handlines used at a commercial structure fire will have a minimum flow capacity of 250 GPM, with the nozzle set no lower than 250 GPM

Incident Commander (IC)

• Establish a stationary incident command post and assume command of the incident
• Position vehicle on side Alpha, allowing space for engines or aerials to implement tactical operations
• Ensure a safety hose line is always available and staffed at all working structure fires
• Wear appropriate identifier vest and have immediate access to full PPE and SCBA

Accountability Officer

• Position vehicle to allow access of responding engines, aerials, and other support equipment
• Reference the Accountability Guideline section

Safety Officer (ISO)

• Report to the IC to assume the role of Incident Safety Officer
• Perform duties as outlined in the ISO section

First Arriving Rescue

• Crew shall enter the building with full PPE, thermal imager, search rope, portable radios, hand lights, water can, forcible entry tools, and spare SCBA cylinders
• Form the Ventilation Group, with primary responsibility to positive pressurize the stairwells
• Report conditions to Command

EMS

• Respond to all confirmed structure fires
• Apparatus: position in cold zone and report to the IC
• Crew: establish an aid station and assist with Rehab, considering deployment to the staging floor
• Equipment: wear full PPE and carry hand lights if deployed to the building's interior

This quiz assesses knowledge of fireground command strategies, including risk monitoring and operational decisions. It covers the actions to take in different risk scenarios.