Incident Command System (ICS)

Introduction

• A standard approach must exist for the continuity of command during an incident
• Resources should be systematically managed, with flexibility for dynamic situations
• The Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations is responsible for content, revision, and review of this instruction
• The objectives of this instruction allow company officers to achieve safe and effective incident operations
• Proper command should clearly show who is in charge and where that person is located
• A command framework allows for an expanded incident command system
• A command framework provides efficient communications to and from the Incident Commander (IC)
• Effective control and accountability of resources

Responsibility

• All fire series personnel must understand the instruction and apply it effectively during emergencies
• Incident Commanders (ICs) are responsible for enforcing compliance with established procedures

Policy Regarding Incident Command (IC)

• To ensure continuity, the first officer on scene becomes the IC, retaining command until transfer to a higher-ranking or specified officer
• For emergencies lasting over 30 minutes, the IC uses a geographic name to identify the incident, an IC can name an incident shorter than 30 minutes if they deem it necessary
• This naming convention is intended to eliminate radio traffic confusion during concurrent incidents
• The IC is required to establish an Incident Command Post (ICP) at every working emergency, where the ICP location is announced in the follow-up report
• A first arriving company officer can pass command to the next company on scene if the initial commitment necessitates a full crew or another company is available
• Command cannot be passed to a company/resource not on scene
• When a higher ranking or specified officer arrives, they coordinate a transfer of command, including a face-to-face briefing
• The briefing includes the Incident Action Plan (IAP), resource locations, and specific hazards
• The briefing includes information of life and property loss potentials
• The briefing includes information of additional resources needed to accomplish objectives and goals
• For structure fires, the IC communicates the operational mode immediately over administrative, command, and tactical radio channels
• The IC confirms compliance by all resources on scene

Check-In Process

• The IC transmits a check-in location to Los Angeles Command and Control (LACC) immediately upon requesting resources
• LACC is given a direction of travel to the check-in location due to congested operational areas
• Incoming companies must stop and hold one block (or 1/4 mile for brush) from the incident
• They must announce their holding position to the IC, confirming their readiness and allowing for a smooth IAP implementation

Radio Communication Priorities

• Controlled communications at incidents are priority
• Emergency radio messages should be short, concise, and in clear text, avoiding "10" codes
• Standard reporting formats must be used
• Established procedures help to alleviate unneeded radio traffic
• All companies honor requests for Emergency Traffic, ceasing transmissions until cleared by the IC or LACC
• The IC controls excessive radio traffic, ensuring resources use assigned radio frequencies
• Assignments and details are repeated back by the receiving company

Command System Definition

• The command systems are defined within FIRESCOPE, ICS Publication ICS 420-1 (Field Operations Guide)
• The command systems are defined within FIRESCOPE, ICS Publication ICS 120-1 (Operational System Description)
• The command systems are defined within the Department Manual Instruction supplemental to ICS Publications

Procedures for Assuming Command

• The first officer on scene who makes a size-up report assumes command, retaining it until relieved

Incident Names

• An incident name should be a one or two syllable geographic name like a street, landmark, or town
• The incident name is announced during the follow-up report

Incident Command Post (ICP) Setup

• The first vehicle to arrive is often used as the ICP
• If this is impractical, the IC uses another vehicle or geographical location like Fire Station 1 to identify the ICP
• The ICP location announcement occurs in the follow-up report
• Command sheets and boards are initiated by the first in chief officer

Passing Command Protocol

• If the initial IC cannot maintain command due to engagement needs, LACC must be advised via radio of the resource taking over
• Command is passed with a radio transmission including information related to the follow-up report
• The new IC then makes the follow-up report and leads the incident

Command Transfer

• After the initial IAP implementation, preparation for transfer of command to the arriving chief officer includes transferring general situation status
• Transferring the initial IAP, deployment and assignments of operating companies and additional resource needs
• Transferring specific safety hazards, life and property loss potentials, and operational mode for structure fires

Structure Fire Communication

• For structure fires, the IC communicates the operational mode over radio channels immediately upon taking command and confirms compliance by resources on scene

Automatic Holding Procedures

• Incoming companies stop and hold approximately one block from the incident
• All companies announce their holding position to the IC
• Use direction and distance if an intersection is not appropriate to determine the hold location

Check-In Protocol

• Check-in is mandatory for 2nd alarm or greater incidents
• Check-in is encouraged at any time the IC wants to reduce radio traffic early in command
• Check-in provides accounting of resources that responded
• The IC may check-in resources without help, but for incidents exceeding five to ten companies, the IC may become overloaded attempting to assign the resources one at a time
• The IC can prevent this problem by assigning the check-in manager function to a company or individual at the ICP, Base, or Staging

Actions for Managing Check-In

• Action: Decide on a location for easy access to the incident
• Action: Assign a company or individual as base or staging
• Action: Brief the individual
• Action: Report the location, travel routes, and radio designation to LACC
• Action: Personnel remain as a team in base, staging, until assigned

Elements of Standard Reporting Formats for Radio Communication

• Size-up and Follow-up are reported to LACC
• Status reports are from resources or division/group supervisors to the IC and also given from the IC to LACC

Size-Up Report Format: Structure Fires

• Location of fire by address
• Identification of products of combustion
• Numerical floor height
• Occupancy type
• Special instructions (e.g., exposures, fire location)

Size-Up Report Format: Brush Fires

• Location of fire by address or intersection, stating which side the address is on
• Size of fire in acres
• Type of fuel available to be burned
• Speed of spread
• Spread direction
• Special instructions, like homes or values threatened

Size-Up Report Format: Hazardous Materials Incidents

• Location of incident by address or intersection
• Identifying the type of occupancy or carrier transporting material (e.g., railroad car, LPG tanker, gasoline truck)
• Type of material involved and whether incident is moving or static (e.g., spill into drains, confined by diking, cloud moving)
• If the incident is with or without fire

Size-Up Report Format: Multi-Casualty Incidents

• Location of incident by address or intersection
• Type of incident (e.g., overturned bus, downed aircraft)
• Estimation of number of victims

Content of a Follow-up Report

• Identifying the incident with a one or two syllable geographic name
• Identifying the ICP location
• Stating other pertinent information (e.g., resources needed, alarm assignment, specialized equipment, assisting agencies)
• Announcing the operational mode for structure fires, transmitting the incident name, mode, and hazard instructions on command tactical channels
• State the Check-In location and travel routes (Staging, ICP, Division, Base, Camp, Helibase, and Helispot)
• Confirm the communication plan, and if not needed, release the communications plan back to LACC

Status Reporting

• The IC needs information from the Division/Group Supervisors to gauge if the goals and objectives are being achieved in the IAP
• The IC provides status reports to LACC when requesting additional resources and every 30 minutes
• Details a situation and the related information
• Highlights progress made since the previous report
• Specifies what resources are needed to handle the problems

Phraseology for Radio Communication

• Radio communications between units at an incident use the assigned command or tactical frequency
• Radio traffic should be minimal while ensuring adequate data for task completion and status reports
• Communication guidelines should be brief and accurate

Assignment Communication

• When giving assignments, tell the officer the objective and state what you want
• For example, "Engine 1 from IC protect the East exposure"

Acknowledging Assignments

• Companies acknowledge radio assignments by repeating the gist of the order
• Example: "IC from Engine 1 copy, East exposure"

Unit Identification During Communication

• A company officer uses the company call sign to identify the company
• When company members communicate, they use their company call sign and their rank
• When two firefighters are assigned to the same company, they identify themselves by unit, rank, and last name
• Command assignments will use proper terminology as indicated in Department Manual instructions

Emergency Traffic Use

• Emergency traffic is to be utilized as defined in Appendix I

Definition of Allocated

• Resources dispatched to an incident that have not yet checked-in

Definition of Assigned

• Resources checked-in and assigned a work task on an incident

Definition of Automatic Holding

• A location for assisting companies to stop and hold one block (or 1/4 mile for brush) from the incident and announce their holding position to the IC
• This procedure notifies the IC that companies are ready for assignment and allows a smooth implementation of the IAP

Definition of Check-In

• Locations where resources check-in at an incident
• Locations include ICP, Incident Base, Camps, Staging Areas, Helibases, and Division Supervisors

Definition of Emergency Traffic

• Emergency Traffic is a designator to clear the radio traffic for an emergency affecting the incident
• The term can be declared by any member who becomes aware of an emergency affecting the incident
• The person declaring “emergency traffic” uses clear text to identify the type of emergency, change in conditions, or tactical operations, for example, “evacuate the building"

Definition of Incident Commander

• Responsible for the overall management of the incident

Definition of Incident Command Post

• The location of authority at emergency incidents

Definition of Incident Command System

• The combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure with responsibility for the management of assigned resources to effectively accomplish stated objectives pertaining to an incident

Definition of Incident Action Plan

• The plan, developed by the IC, that guides strategic and tactical operations, either in verbal or written form

A Basic IAP Includes

• A clear definition of goals and objectives
• Time limits
• An ordered sequence of events

Definition of Staging

• A procedure to provide for a standard system for the placement of resources for assignment and effective utilization

Effective Staging Supports

• Prevention of resource congestion at the emergency incident
• Provisions of time for the IC to evaluate conditions prior to making assignments
• Reduction of radio traffic during the critical initial stages of emergency operations
• Allowing the IC to develop and implement the IAP in an efficient manner

Typical Size-Up Reports

• Reports of this type are created for structure fires, brush fires, hazardous materials incidents and multi-casualty incidents
• These reports are made by LACC (Los Angeles Communications Center) and other units in initial and follow-up reports