Company Operations Basics 15-1

Front 1

Incident Command System Basics

Back 1

ICS SYSTEM IS USED EVERY TIME WE GO OUT THE DOOR
Can be used for small, short incidents or the very large scale and lengthy
It is the basis for establishing the chain of command and span of control
Modular and builds from the top down and can be expanded or contracted based on the incident

Front 2

ICS Levels

Back 2

Strategic Level –
Coordination Level –
Tactical Level –
Task Level –
WHERE DO YOU, AS A FIREFIGHTER, FIT IN TO THESE LEVELS – TASK LEVEL

Front 3

Strategic Level

Back 3

Overall means and plan for achieving a long-term outcome

Front 4

Coordination Level

Back 4

Disseminating the information from the strategic to tactical level

Front 5

Tactical Level

Back 5

How and with what resources we are going to mitigate an emergency

Front 6

Task

Back 6

Personnel actually performing the necessary activities to mitigate an emergency

Front 7

TFD Command Structure

Back 7

For Tucson Fire incidents we utilize a single command structure based on ICS principles
Command has the overall responsibility and control of the emergency scene
Command operates at the strategic level
Operate using standard operating procedures or guidelines (SOP, SOG)

Front 8

Advantages of SOGS

Back 8

Provide a framework for on-scene operations
Increase performance and awareness
Reduce the number and detail of orders required

Front 9

Command Sequence

Back 9

Incident priorities are always the mission
Strategy is the overriding plan based on the situation faced
Tactical procedures are the steps to achieve the plan
Once implemented, progress is continually re-evaluated and adjusted based on conditions

Front 10

Command Sequence Step 1

Back 10

Size-Up –Problem ID

Front 11

Command Sequence Step 2

Back 11

Strategy Tactics –Action Plan

Front 12

Command Sequence Step 3

Back 12

Implementation –Tasks

Front 13

Command Structure

Back 13

Command must be established when 3 or more units are responding
Command is established by first arriving officer
Officer radios on-scene report

Front 14

Size-Up

Back 14

Command taken, named, and located
Initial actions (Including Offensive vs. Defensive Attack)
Command is kept until transferred to an officer at same level or above

Front 15

Divisions vs. Groups

Back 15

Dividing the fire scene
Divisions – Named based on geographical locations (i.e. Roof Division)
Groups – Named based on function (i.e. Ventilation Group)

Front 16

Divisions
Outside of the structure

Back 16

Divisions are assigned clockwise from the command post (ALPHA – Assigned clockwise from the command post, BRAVO, CHARLIE, DELTA)

Front 17

Inside a structure
Divisions

Back 17

Personnel assigned to interior is usually designated interior division
For multiple floors can designate them by floor number
Above grade is division 1, 2, 3, etc.
Below grade is subfloor division 1, 2, 3, etc.

Front 18

Incident Priorities (Strategic Objectives)

Back 18

Life Safety
Safety and Accountability of Firefighters
Safety of Occupants
Incident Stabilization
Property Conservation
INCIDENT PRIORITIES MUST BE APPROACHED IN ORDER

Front 19

Tactical Goals “S.L.I.C.E.R.S”

Back 19

Sequential Actions (HAS TO BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER)
Size-Up
Locate the Fire
Identify and Control Flow Path
Cool the Space from the Safest Location
Extinguish the Fire
Actions of Opportunity (HAPPENS ANY TIME WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY)
Rescue
Salvage

Front 20

Questions
Do we have to address each incident priority individually, or is it possible to address them simultaneously?

Back 20

Can address them simultaneously

Front 21

If they are not addressed simultaneously, do we have to address them in order?

Back 21

Need to be addressed in order

Front 22

Life Safety Quote

Back 22

“During life safety operations, efforts are directed to attempting to locate and remove threatened occupants. The Incident Commander must be prepared to write off all property to accomplish this objective.” The first attack line must go between the fire and persons endangered by it. TFD Emergency Operations Manual Section 302, Incident Priorities

Front 23

Primary Search Quote

Back 23

“It shall be standard operating procedure to extend a primary search in all involved and exposed occupancies which can be entered. Command must structure initial operations around the completion of the primary search.” EOM (Emergency Operations Manual), Section 303, Search and Rescue

Front 24

Risk/Reward Model

Back 24

Risk a lot to save a lot
Risk a little to save a little
Risk nothing to save nothing
Because firefighter safety is the first priority under life safety, occasionally a structure may be too involved to make entry based on the calculated risk to firefighters

Front 25

Life Safety (Tactics)
Primary Search –

Back 25

A rapid search of all involved and exposed areas affected by the fire and which can be entered to verify the removal and/or safety of all occupants

Front 26

Secondary Search –

Back 26

A thorough search of the interior of the fire area after the initial fire control and ventilation activities have been completed

Front 27

Rescue Operations

Back 27

Personnel Safety and Accountability

Front 28

Primary Search

Back 28

Do NOT enter the building without a PLAN
Identify Search Teams
Areas to be searched (Access/Egress)
Stairwell locations
Firefighting strategies surround the search

Front 29

Equipment/Tools

Back 29

Full PPE
Forcible Entry Tools (Irons)
TIC
Minimum of 2 Hand Lights
Radio
Duct Tape/MT Tags
Others: Rope, Hose Line, Door Stops, Anything Else?

Front 30

Searching Procedures

Back 30

Prior to entering room, place one hand light at door with beam shining into room
Follow a search pattern to insure personal safety and increase chance that the entire room will be searched
Most common search patterns? (Right or Left)
Search one room quickly before moving to another
Utilize tools or webbing, etc. to extend reach and maintain contact with hose, partner or wall

Front 31

Primary Search Tips entering the fire

Back 31

Utilize rope safety lines tied to rescuer when performing search and rescue in extremely hazardous situations
If you can’t see your feet, don’t stand
Be alert for holes, stairs, shafts, and many more. We must use tools to sounds floor if basement below or on second story
If room is too hot or door is difficult to open, prop doorway with F.E. tool;
CHECK AND RECHECK YOUR AIR SUPPLY

Front 32

Primary Search Tips Finding victims

Back 32

victims are often just inside door
Pause occasionally and be alert for signs of victims: cries for help, coughing, moaning, etc.
Be aware of signs that residence is occupied: car(s) in garage, toys, lights on, time of day/night, info from others

Front 33

Primary Search Tips When extricating victims found

Back 33

don’t forget to watch what the fire is doing around you
Keep one person on the hose line to protect your egress as you extricate
Be aware of rollover and pre-flashover conditions and be prepared to deal with them
Coordinate extrication with command
More people may be needed to help extricate victims and keep an eye on fire behavior (BE DIRECT DURING RADIO COMMUNICATIONS)

Front 34

Oriented Search

Back 34

A method of search that utilizes one “oriented” team leader, and one or more searched
Allows for focus to be split in two areas:
Safety of the Search Team
Actual Search

Front 35

V.E.I.S

Back 35

Vent, Enter, Isolation, Search
This is an approved tactic for entering a structure in a rescue situation through a door or window to search for victims or the seat of the fire. The priority upon entering from outside is to secure the entry door of the room entered to isolate that room from the flow path created by opening your entry point. The room must remain isolated until the fire is being directly controlled by advancing hose lines. The room, or rooms isolated, may be searched once door control is made and maintained.

Front 36

Secondary Search

Back 36

Should be completed by companies/personnel other than those who performed the primary search. Why?
THUROUGHNESS is the key to secondary search

Front 37

Rescue Operations

Back 37

Rescue efforts shall be carried out in the following order:
Most severely threatened
Largest Number (Groups)
Remainder of the fire area
All other exposed areas
Per EOM Section 303, Search and Rescue

Front 38

Personnel Safety and Accountability

Back 38

Safety Officer
Accountability Procedures (Passport System)
Rapid Intervention Crew (“RIC”) Response(s)

Front 39

Incident Stabilization

Back 39

“During incident control operations, efforts are directed at attempting to locate the fire, cut it off and extinguish it. It may be necessary to damage the building in order to save it.”
EOM, Section 302, Incident Priorities

Front 40

Property Conservation

Back 40

“During property conservation operations, efforts are directed at attempting to identify and protect the value of all property that may have survived the fire and firefighting efforts.”
EOM, Section 302, Incident Priorities
Begins before we roll and continues until all incident priorities and benchmarks are accomplished

Front 41

Customer Stabilization
Ensure that all people affected by the emergency are accounted for:

Back 41

Red Cross
Animal Control
Crisis Response Center
Medical Issues
Securing Property and Personal Effects

Front 42

Benchmarks

Back 42

Benchmarks are achievement signals that tell the Incident Commander when one basic priority function is completed and the operation can go on to the next major activity
Life Safety: “ALL CLEAR” (Two separate all clear notifications)
Primary
Secondary – Relayed after Incident Stabilization
Incident Stabilization: “UNDER CONTROL”
Property Conservation: “LOSS STOPPED”

Front 43

Operational Modes

Back 43

Investigative
Offensive
Exterior Reset
Interior Attack
Defensive

Front 44

Offensive Fire Attack

Back 44

An AGGRESSIVE interior attack with related support to bring the fire under control

Front 45

Defensive Fire Attack

Back 45

An exterior attack directed to stop the forward progress of the fire, limit loss, and protect exposures

Front 46

Command Modes

Back 46

Investigation
No visible or obvious signs of fire
Fast Attack
Immediate action required: “Mobile Command”
Command
Immediate organization required: “Fixed Command”

Front 47

Company Operations
Typical single family residence response (single alarm)

Back 47

1 BC
3 Engines
1 Ladder or LT
1 Medic Truck
2 ECs
Air/Power/Light (APL) if working incident

Front 48

Additional Alarms

Back 48

1 BC, 2 Engines, Ladder, Squad (RIC), 1 Medic Truck, 1 EC

Front 49

Engine Operations Offensive Attack

Back 49

Deploy and Operate Hose Lines
Primary Search and Rescue
Fire Attack
Water Supply
Coordinate with ventilation group for proper timing and location
Utilize Fire Protection Systems
Hook to the sprinkler system first
Standpipes second

Front 50

First In

Back 50

Primary search/fire attack
Initial hose lines into the structure
Depending on the next due engine or location of hydrant, could make own water supply

Front 51

Second In

Back 51

Locates and stages at hydrant
When given order, typically supplies first in engine with a water supply
Pulls additional line off first in engine
Assist with primary search/rescue/fire attack
Can conduct secondary search if the fire quickly controlled by the first in company

Front 52

Third In

Back 52

RIC Functions

Front 53

Hose Line Operation Offensive Attack

Back 53

Protect Victims
1stline between fire and victims
Protect Egress
Lines between fore and exit
Protect stairwells

Fire Attack

Attack from the unburned portion of the structure
Fog pattern for heat protection, Solid/Straight Stream for extinguishment

Back Up

True backup line is in place in case 1st line fails and to protect egress. Also must be same size or larger as attack line. Must have separate water supply

Front 54

Hose Line Operation Defensive Attack

Back 54

Safe Placement of Apparatus

Development of Master Streams

Protect Exposures

Fire Control

Front 55

Rapid Intervention Crew

Back 55

Concept is based on NFPA 1561 standards which require personnel be made available for the sole purpose of rescuing firefighters who may become lost or trapped inside a structure fire or other operational situation
RIC should be made up of at least personnel (3rd due Engine)
Will be utilized in ALL working fires and any other incident where their perspective is deemed necessary

Front 56

Should RIC report to staging or directly to the scene? Why?

Back 56

Should report directly to the scene to be ready in case of mayday or any other potential emergency
RIC reports directly to the scene

Front 57

RIC must survey the scene and:

Back 57

Identify barriers to rescue
Ensure correct placement of ladders
Observe fire conditions and fire attack
Anticipate problems fire crews might encounter (soften the building)
This role is more proactive than reactive! Assume the worst will happen
All four members of crew report to IC (or Operations, if staffed) with circular saw, in full turnouts and SCBA

Front 58

Soften the Building –

Back 58

Force doors or barriers to egress

Front 59

Standby in an area near the incident that will allow

Back 59

them to fulfill the requirements of immediate rescue

Front 60

Upon activation, RIC will become

Back 60

“RIC Rescue Group”

Front 61

RIC is there for rescue. They should not

Back 61

be assigned other tasks unless they are “immediately retrievable”

Front 62

RIC Responsibilities

Back 62

Observe overall strategy: offensive vs. defensive
Monitor radio traffic for “mayday” call
Evaluate collapse potential
Identify special problems (barred windows, gates, steel doors, high security locks, access problems); be proactive and remove them for quick access
Observe accountability board/location of companies, determine where fire attack and primary search teams are operating
Observe location of ground ladders, place more if necessary

Front 63

Final Notes on RIC
Depending on the size of the incident,

Back 63

there may need to be more than one RIC

Front 64

Typically the RIC will stage at or near the Command Post, but if the building is very large in area or in height, RIC may be located in

Back 64

the division closest to the fire attack crews

Front 65

Some departments use term “RIT”

Back 65

(Rapid Intervention Team)

Front 66

Ladder Company Operations

Back 66

Offensive Attack
Primary Search
Secondary Search
Rescue Operations
Support Activities
Forcible Entry
Ventilation
Utility Control
Lighting and Power Supply
Salvage/Overhaul
Defensive Operations
Secure Utilities
Lighting/Power Supply
Development of Elevated Master Streams
Fire Control
Protect Exposures

Front 67

Medic Company operations

Back 67

Can be assigned to any function by command
Primary responsibility is attending to victims
Typically assists with engine operations initially and pulled out if victims found
Also may be assigned as rehab, triage, treatment, and transport responsibilities

Front 68

Know the Game Plan

Back 68

All functions are essential for success
Each company knows the role they are playing
Each company follows the Game Plan
Each crews task is essential for overall success of the Strategic Plan

Front 69

Teamwork quote

Back 69

“There’s a special force that gets people working as a team. Once that force is in action the team is virtually unbeatable.”