Toronto Fire Services Standard Operating Guideline PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE RESPONDING WITH OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND MUTUAL AID Date Issued: June 26, 2023 Rescinds: March 26, 2018 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-RESF PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for responses to incident...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE RESPONDING WITH OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND MUTUAL AID Date Issued: June 26, 2023 Rescinds: March 26, 2018 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-RESF PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for responses to incidents attended by other fire departments. Life, safety, and the protection of the environment and property are of PRIME importance; therefore, Communication Centre personnel shall not hesitate to dispatch apparatus to border area locations. RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible for maintaining an understanding of the guideline for responses to incidents attended by other fire departments and/or when TFS responds into a neighboring jurisdiction. The Incident Commander is responsible for ensuring the safety of all TFS personnel at emergency incidents and ensuring all TFS personnel follow the guideline for responses to emergency incidents attended by other fire departments. If it is immediately determined that an emergency call pertains to another municipality, Communications Centre personnel should record the address and transfer the call to the correct Communications Centre. TFS Communications Centre personnel shall remain on the line and ascertain if there is a request for mutual aid. GUIDELINES 1. Communication Centre 1.1 Location Confirmed: (a) When TFS Communications Centre personnel receive an emergency call and discover that the location of the emergency incident is in another municipality, they shall confirm the address from the caller and transfer the call to the appropriate fire department. Communications Centre personnel will ask the neighbouring fire department if mutual aid is required. (b) Should a response be requested by a neighbouring fire department, Communications Centre personnel will dispatch as per normal TFS dispatching criteria. This shall be done to properly establish TFS Incident Management System and safety procedures. File Code: G-RESF Page 1 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 1.2 Location Unconfirmed: (a) If the address is not confirmed by ANI-ALI to be in another municipality or the caller is unsure of an exact location, TFS Communications Centre personnel shall obtain all pertinent information, dispatch a TFS response and immediately communicate the information to the appropriate neighbouring municipality. (b) Communications Centre personnel will advise that TFS apparatus have been dispatched and that they will continue to respond until advised otherwise. This shall be done to properly establish TFS Incident Management System and safety procedures. (c) TFS apparatus shall continue to the incident and take appropriate action. (d) When an accurate location for the incident is known, the appropriate fire department, if not already at the scene, shall be provided with an update of the status of the incident. 2. Radio Operations/ Communication Procedures 2.1 When responding into a neighbouring jurisdiction, direct radio communication with the other fire department(s) should be coordinated by the Incident Commander through the TFS Communications Centre. 2.2 Upon arriving at a scene, the TFS Incident Commander will initiate communication with the Incident Commander of the other responding department. Whenever possible, face-to-face communications is the preferred method. 3. Command 3.1 TFS personnel shall always remain under the command of and take direction from a TFS Officer in the role of Incident Commander or Sector Officer (minimum). 4. Incident Operations in Neighbouring Municipality 4.1 In situations where TFS personnel find themselves arriving first to an emergency in a neighbouring municipality they shall: (a) Take the necessary actions to mitigate the emergency. (b) Upon arrival of sufficient resources from the fire department with jurisdiction, the TFS Incident Commander at the scene shall transfer Command and responsibility of the incident to the neighbouring fire department's Incident Commander. (c) The TFS Incident Commander will then demobilize TFS resources when appropriate to do so. (d) The TFS Incident Commander will advise the TFS Communication Centre personnel once Command has been transferred. File Code: G-RESF Page 2 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE NOTE: Transfer of Command shall only take place when both Officers involved are physically present at the emergency incident. The Officers involved in the transfer of Command should ideally communicate face to face (which is preferable) or via radio. ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS G-COMM — Communications/Dispatching/Radio Procedures File Code: G-RESF Page 3 of 3