Policies And Procedures

Front 1

Administrative Officer

Back 1

Officers within all Divisions other than Operations

Front 2

Aerial Company

Back 2

(Also known as a Ladder or Truck Company). A fire department apparatus with a complement of Firefighters trained in the use of ground ladders, aerial ladders, snorkel and elevation platforms. Theses companies provide ventilation of smoke and fire gases as the engine company attacks the fire. They also force entry, rescue occupants, provide lighting, and perform salvage and overhaul operations.

Front 3

Arrival

Back 3

Term used to report the arrival of various companies on the incident scene.

Front 4

Backdraft

Back 4

An explosion of heated gases in a confined structure, the problem may be eliminated by proper ventilation procedures. This is an oxygen-regulated event.

Front 5

B.L.E.V.E.

Back 5

A boiling liquid expanding vaper explosion, evolving hazardous material-type substances which results in a devastating explosion.

Front 6

Branch

Back 6

The organizational level having functional/geographical responsibility for major segments of incident operations. This functional level falls between SECTION and DIVISION/GROUP.

Front 7

Brief Initial Report

Back 7

The initial status report that includes all the information necessary to establish the operations at an incident.

Front 8

Chief

Back 8

Functional title of the individual in-charge of the General Staff positions Operations, Planning, Logistics, or Finance.

Front 9

Command

Back 9

That section of the General Staff responsible for the overall management of the incident activities. Specifically responsible for assessing incident priorities; developing goals and objectives, developing and implementing incident action plans; developing appropriate command structures; resource management; incident scene safety; liaison with outside agencies; and release of appropriate information to the media.

Front 10

Command Post

Back 10

A fixed location at which primary COMMAND functions are executed.

Front 11

Command Staff

Back 11

The collective functions of Safety, Liaison, and Public Information Officer that report directly to the IC.

Front 12

Communications Unit

Back 12

Functional unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for the incident communications plan, the installation and repair of communications equipment, and operation of the incident communication center.

Front 13

Company

Back 13

A ground vehicle providing specified equipment, capability, and personnel.

Front 14

Company Officer

Back 14

The individual assigned as the Officer in charge of a company, either pumper truck, or rescue.

Front 15

Compensations/Claims Unit

Back 15

Functional unit within the Finance Section responsible for financial concerns resulting from injuries or fatalities at an incident.

Front 16

Crash Truck

Back 16

Specially designed apparatus equipped with water, foam, and dry chemical extinguishing systems for aircraft firefighter.

Front 17

Crew

Back 17

A specific number of personnel not to exceed the recommended span of control of 3 to 7 (5 being optimal) assembled for an assignment. Most often used when company assignments are not available.

Front 18

Defensive Strategy

Back 18

An exterior attack with related support designed to stop the forward progress of the fire and then provide fire control. Not to be used in conjunction with an offensive strategy.

Front 19

De-escalation

Back 19

The winding down of an incident. Placing units back in service.

Front 20

Delayed Treatment Manager

Back 20

A functional unit in the Treatment Group, under the Medical Branch when activated, of the Operations Section that is responsible for providing care to the non-critically injured.

Front 21

Demobilization Unit

Back 21

Functional unit within the Planning Section responsible for assuring orderly, safe, efficient demobilization of resources committed to an incident.

Front 22

Director

Back 22

Functional title of the individual in-charge of a Branch.

Front 23

District

Back 23

A designated geographic area in which fire companies and apparatus are maintained. The immediate response area.

Front 24

Division

Back 24

That organizational level having responsibility for operations within a defined geographic area. This functional level falls between BRANCH and GROUPS.

Front 25

Documentation Unit

Back 25

Functional unit within the Planning Section responsible for recording/protecting all documents relevant to an incident.

Front 26

Emergency Traffic

Back 26

A priority message that is immediately transmitted to all-operating companies, sectors, etc.

Front 27

Engine Company

Back 27

A fire department pumper with a compliment of Firefighters that carries ground ladders, water, hose, fire-rescue equipment and appliances.

Front 28

Evacuation

Back 28

The immediate orderly withdrawal of all fire crews.

Front 29

Evacuation Signal

Back 29

A single long blast on the air horn and a radio announcement.

Front 30

Exposures

Back 30

People, property and/or structures which are threatened, internally, or externally, by the existing emergency and which may require immediate protection to prevent injury, loss of life or further property damage.

Front 31

Facilities Unit

Back 31

Functional unit within the Support branch and the Logistics Section responsible for providing fixed facilities at an incident, including Base, feeding areas, sanitary facilities, and a formal Command Post.

Front 32

Finance Section

Back 32

The section of the General Staff directly responsible to the IC for all costs and financial considerations of the incident.

Front 33

Fire Apparatus

Back 33

A motor driven fire truck of any variety or a group of fire trucks.

Front 34

Fire Extinguished

Back 34

Standard term used to designate that the fire has been completely extinguished.

Front 35

Fire Under Control

Back 35

When the advancement of fire has been halted.

Front 36

Fire Ground Perimeter

Back 36

An imaginary line that encloses the space where the fire situation creates a potential hazard to personnel.

Front 37

Fire Line

Back 37

Marks the area reserved for the fire department to operate without having to deal with spectators, traffic, and other associated problems.

Front 38

Food Unit

Back 38

Functional unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for providing meals to personnel involved in an incident.

Front 39

Freelancing

Back 39

Person or persons who are not carrying out Command's decisions in a coordinated effort. Persons who are not under the direct supervision of an Officer.

Front 40

General Staff

Back 40

The collective sections of COMMAND, OPERATIONS, PLANS, LOGISTICS, and FINANCE.

Front 41

Group

Back 41

That organizational level having responsibility for a specific functional assignment. This functional level falls between DIVISION and CREW, TASK FORCES, STRIKE TEAMS, and SINGLE RESOURCES.

Front 42

Heavy Rescue

Back 42

A piece of fire apparatus which is used for hazardous materials and extrication incidents that has specialized equipment an air compressor and lighting.

Front 43

Incident Action Plan

Back 43

General control objectives reflecting the overall incident strategy and specific action plans for the next operational period. Action plans identify the problem/s (strategies), the solution/s (tactics), and the tactical operations (who & when).

Front 44

Incident Commander (IC)

Back 44

The individual assuming, and having responsibility for, the management of all incident activites.

Front 45

Leader

Back 45

Functional title of any individual in-charge of a Crew, Task Force, Strike Team or functional unit.

Front 46

Level I Staging

Back 46

All companies except the 1st in engine company and the 1st in rescue company will stage in the direction of travel, if possible uncommitted, approximately one block from the incident scene (whenever possible, second due engine companies will stage at a hydrant).

Front 47

Level II Staging

Back 47

Used for large, complex, or lengthy operations. Additional companies are staged together in a specific location under the command of a Staging Officer. Companies may be called to the fire grounds from staging with or without their apparatus.

Front 48

Liaison Officer

Back 48

Point of contact for assisting or coordinating agencies.

Front 49

Lobby Control

Back 49

A high-rise logistics function responsible to coordinate the movement of resources between Base and Staging. Also responsible for control of elevator and air handling systems.

Front 50

Logistics Section

Back 50

The section of the General Staff responsible directly to the IC for providing facilities, services, and materials for the incident.

Front 51

May Day

Back 51

See section 14.5.7

Front 52

Medical Staging Area Manager

Back 52

A functional unit in the Transportation Group, under the Medical Branch when activated, of the Operations Section that is responsible for EMS transport unit staging when separate from the incident staging area.

Front 53

Medical Unit

Back 53

Functional unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Function responsible for emergency medical treatment of on-scene emergency personnel.

Front 54

Multiple Alarm

Back 54

An additional alarm such as a second or third alarm that is a request for additional response of equipment and manpower.

Front 55

Mutual Aid (Inter-local Agreement)

Back 55

Reciprocal assistance from other fire departments under the prearranged plan by contract on the basis that each will assist the other in time of an emergency.

Front 56

Offensive Strategy

Back 56

Interior attack and related support directed toward quickly bringing the fire under control.

Front 57

Officer

Back 57

Functional title of any individual responsible for the Command Staff functions of Safety, Liaison, or Information.

Front 58

Operations Section

Back 58

The General Staff section responsible directly to the IC for management of all tactical operations.

Front 59

Plan of Attack

Back 59

The strategy and tactics determined through size-up as necessary to bring the situation under control.

Front 60

Planning Section

Back 60

The General Staff section responsible for the collection, evaluation, dissemination, and use of information about the development of the incident and the status of resources.

Front 61

Position Kits

Back 61

Markers used to reflect the physical location of person/bodies after an incident.

Front 62

Post Incident Analysis

Back 62

(PIA) An after incident critique with negatives and positives stressed. To alter the negatives and reinforce the positives.

Front 63

Primary Search

Back 63

A rapid search of all involved and exposed areas affected by fire that can be safely entered.

Front 64

Procurement Unit

Back 64

Functional unit within the Finance Section responsible for financial matters involving vendors.

Front 65

Public Information Officer

Back 65

Officer responsible for the formulation and release of information about the incident to the news media and other appropriate agencies, as approved by the Incident Commander.

Front 66

Rapid Intervention Crew

Back 66

(RIC) are crews of at least two properly trained and equipped responders who are available to perform a rescue of other responders if required.

Front 67

Reconnaissance

Back 67

Gathering information not visually available to Command. It is usually acquired by assigning personnel to specific problems and receiving their reports via radio or face-to-face contact.

Front 68

Responder Rehab

Back 68

Functional unit within the Medical Unit of the Logistics Section responsible for monitoring, evaluation, and appropriate action concerning the medical condition of emergency response personnel.

Front 69

Resource Status Unit (RESTAT)

Back 69

Functional unit within the Planning Section responsible for recording the status of resources committed to an incident.

Front 70

Safety Officer

Back 70

Responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and developing measures for ensuring personnel safety.

Front 71

Secondary Search

Back 71

A complete, thorough search of the interior fire scene area after completing fire control, ventilation, and other required support activities.

Front 72

Section

Back 72

The organizational level having functional responsibility for primary segments of incident operations, such as: Operations, Plans, Logistics, and Finance.

Front 73

Sectoring

Back 73

The act of dividing an incident into manageable segments. There are two (2) methods of sectoring. They are:

1. Geographic - the dividing of areas through the use of Divisions.

2. Functional - The dividing of the incident by specific tasks to be accomplished through the use of Groups or Strike Teams, Task Forces or Single Resources.

Front 74

Service Branch

Back 74

A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for service activities at an incident.

Front 75

Single Command

Back 75

Command structure in which one individual has sole responsibility for COMMAND functions.

Front 76

Single Resource

Back 76

An individual company or crew.

Front 77

Situation Status Unit (SITSTAT)

Back 77

Functional unit within the Plans Section responsible for the analysis of a situation as it progresses.

Front 78

Size-Up

Back 78

The mental evaluation of the various factors at an incident that lead to the determination of the problems that must be solved.

Front 79

Span of Control

Back 79

The number of personnel that can be effectively supervised/managed by a superior officer. Under emergency conditions this number should be limited between 3 and 7 (5 being optimal). The higher one is in the chain of command of the incident command system, the less personnel that can be effectively supervised by this one individual. This is due to the type and consequences of the decisions being made. Hazardous Material incidents, high-rise incidents, or incidents which are spread out over a lager than normal area, will also reduce the number of personnel which can be effectively supervised.

Front 80

Staging Area

Back 80

The location where personnel and equipment are pooled are ready for immediate deployment in an incident.

Front 81

Staging Area Manager

Back 81

Responsible for coordination, support and distribution of incoming resources.

Front 82

Strategy

Back 82

The overall plan that will be used to control the incident. The purpose towards which all incident activities are directed. Strategic goals are broad definitions of incident problems. Examples: Rescue, Extinguishment, Salvage, etc. Strategy is achieved by the completion of tactics.

Front 83

Stairwell Support

Back 83

A high-rise logistics function responsible for moving equipment from Base to Staging when using the stairwell.

Front 84

Strategic Mode

Back 84

The mode of attack as specified by the availability of resources compared to the resource requirements of the incident, i.e.:

1. Offensive Mode - Aggressive attack since available resources exceed that required by the incident.

2. Defensive Mode - A protective attack or defense since the incident requires more resources than are available.

Front 85

Strike Team

Back 85

A functional element of up to five (5) units of the same type and under a common communications designation and a common leader.

Front 86

Supervisor

Back 86

Functional title of any individual in-charge of a Division or Group.

Front 87

Supply Unit

Back 87

Functional unit within the Support Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for ordering equipment/supplies required for incident operations.

Front 88

Support Branch

Back 88

A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for providing the personnel, equipment, and supplies to support incident operations.

Front 89

Tactics

Back 89

Specific operations that must be accomplished to achieve the strategy. Tactics are both specific and measurable.

Front 90

Task Force

Back 90

A functional element of up to five (5) units of mixed type under a common communications designation and a common leader.

Front 91

Technical Specialist

Back 91

Anyone from anywhere with information that can assist in the control of the situation. These personnel initially report to the Planning Section but can be further assigned as the incident warrants.

Front 92

Transportation Group Supervisor

Back 92

A functional unit in the Operations Section, under the Medical Branch when activated, that is responsible for ground and air transportation of patients from a multiple or mass casualty incident.

Front 93

Triage Group Supervisor

Back 93

A functional unit in the Operations Section, under the Medical Branch when activated, that is responsible for triaging patients at a multiple or mass casualty incident.

Front 94

Unified Command

Back 94

The organizational method that allows all agencies or individuals having jurisdiction or legal responsibility towards an incident to contribute to the COMMAND function.

Front 95

Unit

Back 95

The organizational element having functional responsibility for a specific incident's planning, logistics, or finance activity.

Front 96

Zone

Back 96

A designated geographic area in which fire companies and apparatus respond. The immediate response area. Usually a smaller portion of a fire district.