Incident Command System (ICS) Overview

Introduction

• This document provides a standard approach to incident command, promoting continuity, resource management, and flexibility
• The instruction applies to all Department personnel at emergency incidents
• The Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations, along with deputy fire chiefs, is responsible for the content, revision, and review of this instruction
• Company officers are expected to achieve safe and effective incident operations and clear command identification through proper judgment in strategy and tactics
• They must also develop a flexible command framework for an expanded Incident Command System (ICS)
• The IC must maintain efficient communications, and control/accountability of resources

Responsibility

• All fire series personnel are required to comprehend and apply this instruction effectively during emergency incidents
• Incident Commanders (ICs) are responsible to enforce compliance with these procedures at emergency incidents

Policy

Assuming Command

• The initial officer on the scene takes the role of Incident Commander (IC), retaining command until relieved

Incident Name

• For emergencies lasting over 30 minutes, the IC must assign a geographic name to the incident
• This might be deemed necessary for incidents under 30 minutes
• Naming helps reduce radio traffic confusion when multiple incidents occur at once

Incident Command Post (ICP)

• The IC needs to establish an Incident Command Post (ICP) at every working emergency incident
• The location of the ICP needs to be announced in the follow-up report

Passing Command

• A first-arriving company officer can transfer command to the next company on scene
• This makes sense when the initial company's commitment requires a full crew (high-rise or immediate rescue) and another company is present
• Command cannot be transferred to a company/resource that is not on site

Transfer of Command

• When a higher-ranking officer arrives, they coordinate the transfer of command, ensuring a thorough briefing
• The transfer includes a face-to-face briefing, covering the Incident Action Plan (IAP), resource locations, and specific hazards

The Briefing

• The briefing must include an Incident Action Plan (IAP), and all goals
• Location of all resources on scene
• Possible safety risks, and possible life/property loss

Additional goals/objectives in the briefing

• The IC taking command of structure fires needs to communicate their operational mode via radio and confirm compliance from all on-scene resources
• The IC is to transmit the check-in location to Los Angeles Command and Control (LACC) when more resources are needed
• Incoming resources can be directed by LACC to the check-in location

Automatic Holding

• Incoming companies need to stop one block (or 1/4 mile for brush fires) from the incident, and communicate location to the IC for assignment readiness
• Controlled resources allows for a smooth Incident Action Plan (IAP) implementation

Priority Communication

• Radio Communication needs to be controlled, so messages are clearly transmitted and received
• Emergency radio messages need to be short, in clear language
• Established procedures are in place to reduce unnecessary traffic
• All companies must honor requests for Emergency Traffic
• They must stop relaying radio transmissions until the IC clears it
• The IC needs to make sure resources are operating on frequencies assigned
• Relay any assignments

Procedures

• All departmental units must follow set procedures

Assuming Command

• The first officer to arrive makes a size up report
• They retain command until relieved by superiors

Incident Names

• Incident names should be geographical and be of one to two syllables
• Examples include landmark, street, or town names
• This helps personnel to clearly identify incidents
• Follow-up reports are an appropriate time to announce the incident name

Incident Command Post

• The first vehicle to arrive is often used as the ICP
• The time to announce the ICP location is during the follow-up report
• Command sheets/boards are initiated by the first in chief officer

Passing Command

• This occurs when the first IC can't maintain command to engage or address incident priorities
• LACC needs to be informed of the on-scene resource that will be taking over command

Radio Transmission

• The IC advises LACC, and then command is passed with a radio transmission like "Engine 3 from Engine 1, I am passing command to you; LA, Engine 1 is passing command to Engine 3 "
• Follow-up reports need to occur after handoff
• After IAP Implementation, the transfer of command to the arriving chief officer can proceed

Chief Officer Information

• This includes all general info and situational awareness of the scene
• Info passed also includes: Initial IAP, company deployments, potential resource needs, safety hazards, and operational mode
• Operational mode is always to be communicated over administrative, command, and tactical radio channels

Automatic Holding

• All incoming companies must first stop one block (or 1/4 mile for brush) from an incident radius, and then await position from the IC

Check-in

• Is mandatory on all 2nd Alarm or greater incidents and is encouraged any time the IC wants to reduce radio traffic during the early stages of command
• Check-in is to ensure an accounting of all resources that have responded
• If the resources exceed 5 to 10 companies, a check-in manager function can be assigned

Location

• A location for easy access to the incident is to be chosen
• Base or staging locations can be assigned
• Brief individuals

Location Information

• Tell LACC the location, travel routes, and radio designation
• After advising, personnel are to remain as a team in the advised location until assigned

Reporting

• Size-up reports are to be reported to LACC
• Status reports are from division/group supervisors to the IC and LACC

Size-Up reports include:

• Location of fire by address, fire etc., type of occupancy, special instructions for structure fires
• Location of fire by address or intersection, fire size in acres, type of fuel, fire speed, special instructions, spread direction for brush fires
• Incident address/intersection, carrier/occupancy type, material type/movement, & fire presence for hazardous material incidents
• Incident address, incident type, and victim estimation for multi-casualty incidents

Follow-up reports include:

• One-to-two syllable name for name
• ICP location
• Pertinent information (additional resources required, etc.)

Operational Mode

• For structure fires, announce operational mode (investigation, offensive, defensive) and transmit incident name on command tactical channels
• State check-in and travel routes location
• Confirm the communication plan

Communications

• Release the communication plan back to LACC after confirmation
• Division/group supervisors should inform ICs for achieving the goals and objectives in the IAP
• The provided status report format includes situation, progress, and needs

Phraseology

• Radio communications need to be held with high accuracy
• State the objective and not how to do it (Engine 1 protect the East exposure)
• Company officers need to use the proper call sign