Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

***Robert Rose, Deputy Chief Operations Greg Perez, Fire Chief*** Purpose: To quickly establish and confirm a single incident commander and to place that person in the most effective command position as long as the hazard zone exists. Scope: The assumption of command must be a natural, automatic...

***Robert Rose, Deputy Chief Operations Greg Perez, Fire Chief*** Purpose: To quickly establish and confirm a single incident commander and to place that person in the most effective command position as long as the hazard zone exists. Scope: The assumption of command must be a natural, automatic and regular occurring organizational event. Command Function \#2 is designed to create a standard process for the initial command assumption to occur and then place/upgrade command in the most effective position based on a standard set of conditions. Definitions: **IRR:** Initial radio report **CP:** Command Post **IAP:** Incident Action Plan **BC:** Battalion Commander General Guidelines: **Establishing Command-** **Command should be formally declared on all incidents where 3 or more units are dispatched. Anytime formal command is declared, Fire Control should assign a tactical channel to the incident. If a tactical channel is not assigned, command should request one.** **1 or 2 company responses that are not going to escalate beyond the commitment of these companies do not require the first arriving officer to assume Command. The first arriving officer will remain responsible for any needed command when required.** **The first officer to arrive to the scene of a multi-unit dispatched incident will assume command of the incident by transmitting a standard Initial Radio Report (IRR). The confirmation of command occurs when Fire Control uses the order model to repeat the IRR back to all responding units, confirming that the initial arriving unit is in Command of the Incident.** **The initial Incident Commander will need to size up the incident, determine the incident's strategy and formulate an incident action plan (IAP). All of this is executed and shared with all the incident participants when they transmit an IRR.** Once command has been established, all routine communication between Fire Control and the incident will be directed through Command. The initial Incident Commander shall remain in command until command is transferred or the incident is stabilized and command is terminated. Formal command must be in place, performing the functions of command, whenever a hazard zone exists when 3 or more units are present. **First Arriving Officer as Command-** There are 3 operational levels that function at the scene of a hazard zone. They are: - Strategic level - Tactical level - Task level Each of these levels is distinct and has their own set of responsibilities. For the majority of the incidents we respond to, the initial responsibility for managing all 3 organizational levels is handled by the first arriving officer The first arriving Officer will size up the incident's critical factors, declare the incident strategy and assume command. This officer has initial command and control responsibility for the entire incident operation on the strategic level until command is transferred or terminated. On the tactical & task level, the first arriving officer will establish command, implement and execute an incident action plan that addresses the incidents critical factors in order to facilitate the completion of the tactical priorities. In addition to assigning/managing other arriving units, the first arriving officer will also directly supervise and assist their crew members with the tasks required to bring the incident's problems under control. Specific procedures: **Naming Command - Radio Designation-** The radio designation **\"COMMAND\"** will be used along with the major cross road, or the specific occupancy name of the incident site (i.e. \"Main Street Command\", \"El Pueblo Command\"). This designation will not change throughout the duration of the incident. **Command Positioning-** The incident commander's position will greatly affect their ability to control the incident scene. Preferably, the Company Officer of the first arriving Engine Company or Battalion Commander will become the initial incident commander for the incident. There are 2 command positions that a Company Officer can place themselves in, depending on the situation. The two command positions are: - Mobile Command position -- Mobile and inside the hazard zone (Company Officers) - Stationary Command position - Stationary, inside of a command post. (Battalion Commanders) **Mobile Command Position: Company Officers-** The strength of our incident management system is the initial arriving officer, who directly supervises the use of quick force at the beginning of the event. That action is reinforced and upgraded by Battalion Commanders who come in behind the initial incident commander to quickly establish a stationary, exterior command post that supports and expands on the initial IAP. The Mobile Command Position is defined as: the incident commander entering the hazard zone (when in the offensive strategy) in full PPE, with a portable radio, Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC), while supervising and assisting their crew with the attack. The advantages of a Mobile Command Position: - **Enhances crew safety and accountability.** - **Gives command another set of critical factors to evaluate and base unit assignments on (interior conditions).** - **Provides opportunity to solve the problem quickly.** The disadvantages of a Mobile Command Position: - **Combining Task level and Strategic level command can be challenging.** - **Difficult communication position (full PPE in a hazard zone).** - **Limited field of vision.** The resources coming in behind a mobile command must realize that the initial Incident Commander is in an attack position, not a stationary command position. We trade off this position's disadvantage because many times this initial aggressive tactic is enough to stabilize the incident. If the front-end control efforts don't stabilize the situation, the mobile command position is not in the best position to continue command. The Mobile Command Position should end in one of three (3) ways: 1. Situation is quickly stabilized. 2. Command is transferred from the Mobile Command Position, to a subsequent arriving Battalion Commander. 3. If the situation is not stabilized and there is a **significant delay** in the arrival of a BC, the initial Incident Commander will then take a stationary command position outside of the IDLH until the BC arrives. a. Once the Battalion Commander arrives a command transfer will be performed and then BC will assume command of the incident. **\*\*No crew will remain in a hazard zone without radio communications\*\*\ ** **Stationary Command Position: Battalion Commanders-** **The Command Position is defined as: *a command position that is stationary, remote, outside of the hazard zone and inside of a vehicle (Command Post -- CP).* The most effective command position is inside a CP, not inside a burning building.** The Incident Commander is located INSIDE of a stationary command post while managing a tactical worksheet. Physically locating the Incident Commander in the stationary command position puts the Incident Commander in the strongest possible position to carry out the functions of command, accomplish the incident's tactical objectives, and ensure the safety of all members working on the fire ground. Responding Battalion Commanders should listen critically to all radio traffic while enroute to the scene to set themselves up for success and to make the command-transfer process as seamless as possible: As soon as is practical BC's should: - Initiate filling out a tactical worksheet with the dispatched assignment. - Reference any pre-plan info, access aerial views and hydrant locations \[MDT\]. - Log assigned companies onto the tactical worksheet. When a Battalion Commander and a first arriving Company Officer arrive simultaneously, the first arriving Company Officer will defer the IRR and Command to the Battalion Commander. **Transferring Command-** **The 1^st^ arriving BC will respond directly to the scene, command should be upgraded into the Stationary Command Position. When arriving to the scene, the BC must transfer command in the following manner:** 1. **Transmit that your unit is On-Scene ("Battalion 8 On-Scene")** 2. **Contact Command and provide a unit run down to maintain your accurate understanding of the incident. Verify the position & function of all hazard zone resources with Command.** 3. **Confirm this by requesting confirmation via a CAN report.** 4. **Announce that you'll be transferring command: "taking it from out here"** 5. **Contact and Confirm the command transfer with Fire Control, announce the current strategy, and make a resource determination** Command transfers should be short and sweet. When the first arriving officer transmits a concise, clear initial radio report, unit assignments and condition reports, it ensures that arriving BC will have quality information to quickly facilitate the command transfer. References: *Blue Card Command SOP's, October 2018 update, Blue Card Command™*