12 Questions
What is the purpose of a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)?
To determine the number of personnel accounted for
When is a Running PAR announced?
At the end of each communication
Who can initiate a request for a PAR?
Any TFS personnel concerned for safety or location
What does a team respond with when a PAR is requested by Command?
The word 'PAR' only
Who decides how to conduct a PAR?
Command
What determines the order in which to call a PAR?
Priority by Sector, starting with the greatest concern for safety
What is the reason for maintaining radio silence when a PAR is ordered by Command?
To prevent any disruptions to the PAR information being provided
What should the response be if one member of the team is missing during a PAR report?
Report the missing personnel and their last known location
What is the protocol to be implemented when personnel cannot be accounted for during a PAR report?
The MAYDAY protocol
What should the Entry Control communicate to Command if the whole team is missing?
Three personnel are not accounted for
What should be excluded from the PAR status report when a RIT team is responding to a MAYDAY situation?
The downed firefighter who has been located
Who announces the completion of a PAR over the radio?
Command
Study Notes
Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)
- A PAR is an organized roll call of personnel to determine that they are accounted for.
Running PAR
- A self-initiated means of communicating to Command and other personnel on the scene exactly how many personnel are contained in a team.
- Announced at the end of each communication when:
- Initially arriving on scene
- A change in location
- A change or completion of task
- Entering or exiting a controlled area
- A change in the number of personnel operating within a team
Calling for a PAR
- Any TFS personnel concerned for the safety or location of other TFS personnel can request a PAR from Command at any time.
- Command shall order a PAR when concerned for the safety or location of personnel.
Conducting a PAR
- Command decides who conducts the PAR (Command, Accountability Officer, or Command Post Officer).
- Command decides whether it is a full or partial PAR (all personnel on scene, or specific crews).
- Command determines the order in which to call the PAR (e.g., prioritized by Sector, beginning with the Sector where there is the greatest concern for firefighter safety).
Responding to a PAR Request
- Individual firefighters, teams, Officers, Sector Officers, or Entry Control persons communicate PAR information to Command.
- When a PAR request is made, teams respond with only the word 'PAR' (no number, as it's not a 'running PAR').
- Command knows the number of personnel in the team due to the established running PAR.
PAR Protocol
- When a PAR (full or partial) is ordered by Command, all personnel maintain radio silence and await orders to provide PAR information.
- EVACUATE/URGENT/MAYDAY radio transmissions and alerts can interrupt the radio silence.
- Entry Control contacts all personnel in the Controlled Area and reports the PAR status back to Command.
PAR Response
- If all personnel are accounted for, the response is simply 'PAR'.
- If one or more personnel are missing, the response includes the number and identity of the missing personnel.
MAYDAY Protocol
- If personnel cannot be accounted for, the PAR status report clearly indicates the number of personnel not accounted for (no use of the word 'PAR').
- The MAYDAY protocol is implemented, and information is obtained from the team captain as to the last known location of the missing personnel.
- Command activates a MAYDAY and deploys a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) to search for the missing personnel while continuing the PAR.
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