301.00 REGIONAL Incident Command System.docx

REGIONAL STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES SECTION: 300.00 / Regional Operational Procedures Guideline: 301.00 Incident Command System Effective Date: 04-01-2018 Revision Date: April 2018 301.00 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM National Incident Management System (NIMS) has been adopted and implemented to provid...

REGIONAL STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES SECTION: 300.00 / Regional Operational Procedures Guideline: 301.00 Incident Command System Effective Date: 04-01-2018 Revision Date: April 2018 301.00 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM National Incident Management System (NIMS) has been adopted and implemented to provide a comprehensive national approach to incident management applicable to all jurisdictional levels. It provides the framework for the Federal Government, States and locals to work together to respond to any domestic incident. The Blue Card Incident Command System (ICS) is an organized approach to effectively control and manage operations at emergency situations and can be modified to fit any particular incident. Reference: The following laws and standards require an Incident Command System to manage emergencies. Texas Commission on Fire Protection Chapter 435.11, NFPA 1500 and 1561, SARA, and OSHA 1910.120. Emergency operations and other situations that present similar hazards, including training exercises, shall be conducted in a manner to recognize hazards and to prevent accidents and injuries. An Incident Command System shall be established with written procedures applying to all members involved in emergency operations. All members involved in emergency operations shall receive annual training and be familiar with the system. The Incident Command System shall identify roles and responsibilities relating to the safety of operations. Safety responsibilities shall be assigned to supervisory personnel at each level of the organization. The officer in command of an emergency incident shall be responsible for the overall safety of all members and all activities occurring at the scene. The officer in command of an emergency incident shall establish an organization with sufficient supervisory personnel to control the position and function of all members operating at the scene and to ensure that safety requirements are satisfied. A standard system shall be used to identify and account for the assignment of each member at the scene of an incident. This system and the procedures for it are in these SOP’s under Section 306.00 PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY PROCEDURES. At incidents or situations where special hazards exist, the officer in command shall assign qualified personnel with specific responsibility to identify and evaluate hazards and to provide direction with respect to the safety of operations. 301.10 INCIDENT SAFETY REQUIREMENTS The fire department shall provide an adequate number of personnel to safely conduct emergency scene operations. Operations shall be limited to those that can be safely performed by the personnel available at the scene. When members are operating at an emergency incident and their assignment places them in potential conflict with motor vehicle traffic, they shall wear fire department helmets and a garment with fluorescent or reflective material. 301.20 INCIDENT COMMAND In order to increase the overall effectiveness of the emergency operations, the Blue Card incident command system is hereby adopted. The following procedures shall apply to any and all emergency incident operations. These procedures are designed to accomplish the following objectives. A. COMMAND PROCEDURES Establish a strong, direct, and visible command Assure Life Safety Engage in Fire Control Activities Initiate Loss Prevention Measures Insure Safety of Personnel Establish command as early as possible in the operation. Provide a system for orderly transfer and ultimate termination of command. B. ESTABLISHING COMMAND One or two company responses that are not going to escalate beyond the commitment of these companies do not require the first arriving unit or officer to assume Command. The first arriving unit or officer will remain responsible for any needed Command when required. Examples would include: Single unit response Check Welfare Check Hazard Any EMS call requiring only two companies The confirmation of Command occurs when the Dispatch Center uses the Order Model to repeat the size up back to all responding units, confirming that the initial arriving Unit is in Command of the Incident. C. INITIAL REPORT Initial Size-Up Building / Area Description: Size: Small Medium Large Mega Height: 1 2 3 4 5 Occupancy Type: _____________________ Problem Description: Nothing Showing Light Smoke Working Fire Defensive Fire Location of the Problem: _________________________ Initial Incident Action Plan: Tasks : (Supply-line) (Stretch line) (2 ½ with wye) (Transitional) (Defensive) Location ______________________________ Objectives: Primary Search Fire Control Strategy: Offensive Defensive Resource Determination: Cancel Additional Apparatus Greater Alarm Assume & Name Command: Yes EXAMPLE: E-262 is on scene of a small, one story, single family dwelling with a working fire. Fire and smoke located on the Alpha/Delta corner, will be stretching a handline for fire attack and primary search, will be in the Offensive Strategy. Start an additional Engine to the scene. E262 will be Main Street Command. D. 360 Report APPLY RISK MODEL to information gathered and give secondary report. 360 Report Results of the 360: Not Completed / Completed Stories from Charlie Side ______________________________ Basement / No Basement Window Well Look-Out Walk-Out Any Changes to IAP / Size Up Yes No ______________________________ Engine/Quint (Number) will be the? Accountability Location Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta E. Command Positioning The IC’s position will greatly affect their ability to control the incident scene. Typically, the Company Officer of the first arriving Engine Company will become the initial IC for the incident, IC #1. There are three command positions that a Company Officer can place themselves in, depending on the situation. These three command positions are: Investigating Command position Fast-Attacking Command position – Inside the hazard zone "Command” position - Stationary, inside of a Command Post (CP). F. Transfer of Command Typically, when a fast attacking IC transfers command to a subsequent arriving command officer, they are physically located in the hazard zone, so the transfer will take place using a portable radio. Command must be transferred in a standard manner (per SOP’s). The following sequence represents a standard command transfer: Verify that all operating positions match the current incident conditions Announce your arrival to scene (Dispatch will acknowledge) Contact the current IC using the Order Model Verify, document and confirm the position and function of all resources located in the hazard zone with the current IC along with obtaining a CAN report Inform the current IC that you’ll be “Taking it from out here” Contact Dispatch Announce that you’ll be assuming command (“BC-1 will be assuming Main St. Command”) Re-announce the overall Incident strategy Make a resource determination Announce the CP location One of the following resource determinations must be made when transferring command: Cancel the original assignment Hold the original assignment (Lights/Sirens vs. Normal driving) Upgrade/Fill out the original assignment Strike additional Alarms/Boxes The IC should designate a Level 2 Staging location when requesting greater alarms. G. CAN Reporting—Typically driven by the IC CAN reporting gives the troops a regular, consistent way to report back to the IC on their progress and needs. CAN reporting keeps things simple and it delivers the IC the information needed to keep the strategy and IAP current. The CAN acronym stands for: Conditions Actions Needs All CAN reports should start with the tactical objectives that have been completed prior to giving the report. Here is a basic list of reporting items to choose from when providing a CAN report to command H. Staging Level I Level I staging will automatically apply to all multiple unit responses and will include: 1. First Engine/Quint responds directly to the scene. 2. When subsequent arriving units arrive to Level 1 staging locations, they will simply announce that they are Level 1 staged; “Engine 262 - Level 1”. Dispatch will not acknowledge any Level 1 staged units over the tactical channel. Command will then contact Level 1 staged units and assign them to the incident site based on their IAP. Level II Level II Staging will relate to large situations requiring an on-scene reserve of companies and will involve formal staging in an area designated by Command. The staging area should be away from the Command Post and emergency scene in order to provide adequate space for assembly and for safe and effective apparatus movement When requesting addition alarms/boxes, the IC should designate a Level 2 staging location and put companies responding to Level 2 on a separate radio frequency. The dispatch center will notify additional units dispatched to the incident that Level2 staging is in effect and the location of the Level 2 staging area. The dispatch center will notify greater alarm Units of the tactical frequency of Level 2 staging Units dispatched to the Level 2 staging area will report in person to the Level 2 Staging Officer and will make no radio transmissions while in Level 2 staging (face to face).. Command may designate a Level 2 Staging officer who will be responsible for the activities outlined in this procedure. In the absence of such an assignment, the first fire department officer to arrive at the staging area will automatically become the Level 2 Staging Officer and will notify Command upon their arrival to the Level 2 Staging area. The arrival notification will be made to Command on the assigned Level 2 Staging channel. This responsibility can be transferred to a later arriving chief, or staff officer if needed. I. Radio Discipline When 3 to 4 units (and up) are assigned to the incident site, the tactical channel can start to fill up with unnecessary radio traffic. The 2 main reasons for this are: Assigned units are communicating/contacting the IC with non-essential radio traffic. The IC themselves are communicating non-essential radio traffic. The IC MUST control the radio traffic on the tactical channel or they will not be able to control the overall incident site. The following radio guidelines are to be strictly adhered to when there are units assigned into a hazard zone: Know exactly what you’re going to say before clicking the microphone to talk. Only communicate information on the tactical channel that pertains to the completion of the tactical priorities and firefighter safety. Always let communication loops close before clicking the microphone button to talk. Let the IC be the one to contact you. Always end every CAN report with a NEED assessment (or with “No Needs”). Never get on the radio to give good news unless it is request by the IC. There are 4 major types of radio communication to the IC: Routine radio traffic Status Changes Roof reports Priority traffic J. Routine radio traffic: Routine radio traffic should be the most common communication performed on the emergency scene. In most instances, routine radio traffic should only be initiated by the IC. Command must structure all routine radio traffic using the Order Model. Once a Unit is assigned into the hazard zone, they should maintain radio silence unless they are contacted by Command. All communications that details the routine work that Units performing their assigned work areas should be done face to face and must not be transmitted over the tactical channel. The purpose of this policy is to eliminate all “good news” reporting over the tactical channel. This policy does not eliminate a Unit’s responsibility to contact the IC with: Status changes Roof reports Priority traffic Primary and Secondary All Clears, Fire Control and Loss Stopped Benchmarks (Structure these reports as CAN Reports). Command may also order a Unit to “get back to them” as soon as an information target has been obtained or verified. Unit’s contacting command with an IC information request that result in good news, should structure their report as a standard CAN report using the Order Model (example; “Command from E-1 with a CAN report”). Information requests that result in bad news to the IC should be structured as priority traffic (covered later in the section). K. Status changes A status change is defined as: moving from an assigned work location to a different geographic work location or exiting the structure to recycle or rehab. Status changes should be given as soon as possible, but the sender must use the Order Model to structure the report. When clearing the IC with a status change, the sender should start the communication with a “status change”. Example: “Command from E-1 with a status change”. If a Unit has completed their entire work assignment, they should contact Command with a status change and request another assignment. Example; “Command from E-1 with a status change” - ”Engine 1 has a primary all-clear, there is no fire extension to the 2nd floor or the attic space, we are at 75% air, and our NEED is to be reassigned”. A status change report should be made as soon as possible if a Unit is unable to gain access to an assigned work area (access or building arrangement). Example; “Command from E-2 with a status change” – “E-2 has it made it to the Charlie side and there is no access to the interior from the Charlie side. Our NEED is to be reassigned”. L. Roof Reports Quints have the equipment (ground ladders/power tools) to access and operate on the roofs of most mid-level structures. These units can provide very valuable tactical information to the IC and the rest of the troops about what is going on above interior operating units. A company assigned to the roof will make the following assessment (size-up) of the roof: Type of roof if not easily identified from the ground (peaked, flat, bowstring, etc) Stability of the roof (stable, unstable) Fire or smoke conditions and their location on the roof Location of any firewalls Unusual heavy roof loads (if present) Conditions in the Attic (if known) Basic blueprint of the building if unusual Any roof report containing significant tactical information should be given to the IC shortly after the roof company has made access to the roof and has obtained the information. The sender must use the order model to structure a standard report. When clearing the IC with a standard roof report, the sender should start the communication with; “roof report”. Example: Command from Q261 with a roof report”. Reports from the roof containing any of the following information should be structured as priority traffic and should be made as soon as possible: Unstable roof Eminent collapse potential A locally identified hazardous roof structure (bow stung, etc.) Working fire in the attic space M. Priority Traffic Reports Once a unit is assigned into the hazard zone, they should maintain radio silence, and wait to be contacted by the IC. The following are examples are the ONLY instances where a unit can break radio silence. These transmissions should be structured as Priority Traffic reports (example: “Command from Delta – Priority Traffic”) and they MUST be transmitted as soon as the information is obtained: Unable to complete a critical assigned task/tactical objective Urgent need to be reinforced/backed-up to complete an assigned task/tactical objective Victims encountered Working concealed space fires not easily controlled by the locating unit A roof report that includes: attic fire, unsafe roof structure, eminent collapse threat Sudden, significant incident events (flashover, back draft, collapse) All Priority traffic reports are to be direct to and acknowledge by the IC. Having the Dispatch center acknowledge priority traffic reports will greatly slow down the IC’s ability to quickly readjust their IAP and/or Strategy based on these reports. Unit/members with priority traffic are allowed to break into the order model of routine radio traffic to deliver their priority traffic report. Once the IC has acknowledged the priority traffic report, they should conclude their radio transmission with the unit whose traffic was broken into. All communications that details the routine work we perform in our assigned areas should be done face to face in the work area and must not be transmitted over the tactical channel. Wait for the IC to contact you if you don’t have bad news (the above list). Mayday communications are in a separate category. N. Emergency Traffic Emergency traffic should only be used for true emergencies. The improper, over use of emergency traffic at emergency scenes tends to diminish the overall effect it has on the operation. The IC is the only person who can initiate an emergency traffic report. Companies operating in and around the hazard zone will contact the IC with priority traffic reports and the IC will determine the need for emergency traffic and the corresponding tones. When emergency traffic is given, the IC will contact the Dispatch center directly to initiate the report. Once emergency traffic has been requested, the Dispatch center will immediately activate the emergency traffic tones. It is very important to get the emergency traffic tones transmitted as soon as possible. The sooner they are activated, the sooner the IC and all other affected units can initiate corrective action(s). The emergency traffic report should be structured in the following manner: The IC will contact the Dispatch center directly and ask for emergency tones The Dispatch center will sound the emergency tones The IC will deliver the emergency traffic radio report Once the report has been given, the Dispatch center will repeat the emergency traffic report verbatim on the channel it was given on Example: IC - Dispatch from Command, sound emergency tones” Dispatch center sounds the emergency tones Dispatch center - “Go ahead with your emergency traffic Command” IC - “Main St. Command to all units, we are going defensive on this structure. All units operating in the fire structure, exit the structure and report PAR’s upon exiting” Dispatch center – repeats Command’s radio traffic verbatim Emergency traffic will receive the highest communications priority from the Dispatch center and the IC. All other units operating at the incident site will maintain radio discipline until the emergency traffic has been cleared by the IC. Once the situation that caused the Emergency Traffic has been mitigated (PAR’s obtained, power shut off, etc.) the IC should contact the Dispatch center and clear the Emergency Traffic with a brief report stating why. Example; “Dispatch from Command”, “Disptach go Command”, “Command to all Units 456 Main St. all Units have exited the structure with PAR’s. Command is clearing Emergency Traffic and will remain in the defensive strategy. All Units return to routine radio traffic”. O. Offensive to Defensive Strategic Shift When the offensive strategy is chosen on our initial arrival, most of the time, a well placed initial attack solves the incident’s problem. But there are many times (for many reasons) that our initial, and sometimes re-enforced attack efforts, do not solve the incidents problems and conditions continue to deteriorate to the point where the critical factors indicate switching from an offensive to a defensive strategy. IC’s must be very pessimistic in these types of situations, especially if the structure has a primary “All Clear”. Command must change strategies before the building is disassembling itself due to structural damage. When this happens, Command is very late in the strategy shift and on the receiving end of the building's decision governing the new strategy. The IC must be the single person to make the defensive decision, NOT the building coming apart. The announcement of a change to a defensive strategy will be made as follows: Call Dispatch – Ask for Emergency Tones/Traffic Emergency Tones transmitted Announce to all hazard zone units: Shifting to the Defensive Strategy All Unit’s “Exit” or evacuate the structure All Units report PAR’s upon exit Dispatch/Alarm repeats Emergency Traffic report - verbatim “Exit the Structure” will be defined as: an orderly withdrawal where interior lines and equipment will be withdrawn and repositioned/shut down when changing to a defensive strategy. “Evacuate the Structure” will be defined as: an emergency retreat where all hose lines and heavy equipment will be left in place and all members in the hazard zone will exit the structure as quickly and as safely as possible. A PAR (Personnel Accountability Report) shall be obtained for all units exiting the hazard zone after any switch from an offensive to a defensive strategy. Commands greatest priority once a strategic shift has been initiated is the safe exit of all units located in the hazard zone. Level 1 Staged units and other units working outside the hazard zone shall maintain radio silence until all PAR’s have been tallied (unless they have priority traffic). Company officers will account for their crews and advise their DIVISION Officer or Command on the status of their crew upon exiting. Division Officers will notify Command of the status of the individual crews assigned to their division upon their exit. 301.30 Incident Command System Organization The major functional management areas of ICS are Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. It is important to remember that these are functions, not positions that must be staffed. However, any function not staffed must be carried out by the Incident Commander. Normally, the ICS functions are staffed in the following order: Command Divisions and Groups Operations Section Branch Other sections as needed by Command (Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration) Each incident situation will dictate how Command will build the ICS organizational structure. Command will staff only those functions that are applicable, considering the complexity of the incident, the number of resources on the scene, and span-of-control issues. Examples: Typical single-family dwelling fire, Command may choose to start with Groups and build to Divisions Apartment building fire, Command may choose to start with Divisions Large commercial complex, Command may choose to start with Operations and Branches A. Command Staff Functions Command is responsible for overall activities, and certain command functions must be immediately accounted for by the IC. These are Safety, Liaison, and Public Information. If the IC appoints a Command Staff, the Safety Officer, Liaison Officer, and Public Information Officer reports directly to the IC. The Safety Officer is responsible for enforcing safety procedures and practices at the emergency scene, and also identifies present and potential hazardous or unsafe conditions. The Safety Officer has the authority to stop unsafe acts or alter, terminate, or suspend the operation, when time or conditions prevent using regular lines of authority, but must notify the IC as soon as possible. The Liaison Officer is the point of contact with outside agency representatives, and acts as a buffer between the IC and other agencies that provide assistance (i.e. Red Cross, Highway Dept., Salvation Army, etc.). The Public Information Officer is responsible for gathering and releasing of incident information to the media and other appropriate agencies, and acts as a buffer between the IC and the media. B. Assignment of Groups and Divisions Command may assign “Groups and/or Divisions”, and only those designated as Group or Division Supervisors (officers) will use the designation “Group or Division”. Group and Division Supervisors are at the same authority level in ICS. Group and Division Supervisors will report to Command (if no Operations or Branch has been established). Effective communication among Divisions and Groups during emergency operations is critical. Group Supervisors must coordinate with Division Supervisors when they perform work that will affect Division personnel, operations, and safety. Group or Division Supervisors will be in control of their assigned group or Divisions including: RECEO VS (Rescue, Exposure, Containment, Extinguishment, Overhaul, Ventilation, Salvage) Monitor progress Direct and redirect activities as planned Coordinate with related activities Provide for safety of assigned personnel Request additional resources as necessary Reallocate resources as necessary Advise Command when assignment is complete and when available for reassignment C. GROUPS GROUPS will be assigned to a specific function, such as: RECEO VS (Rescue, Exposure, Containment, Extinguishment, Overhaul, Ventilation, Salvage), water supply, evacuation, etc. A Group may be assigned in order to remove a specific functional tactic from a Division. D. DIVISIONS A DIVISION is responsible for operations within a defined geographic area. Examples of Division geographic areas: a floor in a building the exterior of a fire building a section of a brush fire A Division is responsible for all operations (RECEO VS, etc.) in their assigned geographic area, unless a group has been assigned and thus removed a tactic from the Division. Use Division terminology effectively to divide the incident scene. Examples include methods based on the sides of a burning structure, exposures, or floors of a building. FLOOR DIVISIONS: Roof ROOF DIVISION 5th Floor DIVISION 5 4th Floor DIVISION 4 3rd Floor DIVISION 3 2nd Floor DIVISION 2 1st Floor DIVISION 1 Basement BASEMENT DIVISION Divisions on the exterior of a building may also be referred to as Side A, B, C, D. DIVISION C DIVISION DIVISION B D DIVISION A FRONT/ADDRESS SIDE Quadrant A, B, C, D, E indicate positions inside the structure. Radio communications using A, B, C, D, E can be improved using the terms: Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo E. OPERATIONS SECTION AND BRANCH CREATION When Command’s span-of-control is exceeded or when Command, due to other concerns, cannot focus full attention on tactical operations, an Operations Section may be staffed. The function of the Operations Section is to direct the organizations tactical operations to meet the strategic goals developed by Command. Operations allocates and assigns resources to establish control of the incident, and participates in the development of the incident action plan. When Operations is staffed, the IC focuses on strategy, and the Operations Chief focuses on tactics. The IC no longer talks to the operational Divisions, Groups, or single resources; the Operations Section Chief now communicates with Command for these resources. At larger or complex incidents, such as large commercial/industrial areas, large-scale brush fires, floods, tornado, plane crashes, etc. the Operations Section may break the incident area into BRANCHES. BRANCHES can be assigned by the IC, or Operations Chief if staffed, when: 1. The number of operating companies exceeds the span-of-control for the IC or Operation’s Chief (optimum span-of-control is five). 2. Companies are involved in complex tactical operations out of the visual range of Command. 3. The situation is such that close company control is required, including structural conditions, Haz-Mat, etc. 4. Specific operational needs dictate the creation of functional branches, such as Suppression Branch Exposure Branch Rescue Branch Medical Branch Hazmat Branch