FF CH 22

a. provides an overview of the ICS, including its history, principles, and organizational structure b. also explains how ICS fits into the larger NIMS model of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery c. There are no prerequisites for IS-100.

IS 100

ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents a. provides training for personnel to function within the ICS at small incidents involving one or two resources b. provides training for those incidents that start small but grow in complexity and size of operation c. Completion of IS-100 is required before taking the IS-200 course.

IS 200

National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction a. is not required at the Fire Fighter II level, but it is recommended for a better understanding of how NIMS enhances community preparedness, communications and information sharing, resource management, and incident command during emergency incidents.

IS 700

1. An ICS ensures that everyone involved in the incident is following one overall plan. a. All efforts contribute to meeting the same goals and objectives 2. The IAP may be developed by the incident commander alone on smaller incidents. a. Verbally communicated 3. The IAP will be developed in collaboration with all agencies involved in larger incidents. a. Formal, written plan 4. Personnel must understand their specific roles and how they fit into the IAP.

incident action plans

a. The headquarters location for the incident b. Command and all direct support staff should always be located at the ICP. c. Location should be broadcast as soon as it is established. d. ICP should be in a nearby, protected location. e. Often a special vehicle or building (Figure 22-3) f. Enables the command staff to function without needless distractions or interruptions

incident command post

1. Three priorities a. Life safety. This includes keeping fire fighters safe and rescuing victims. b. Incident stabilization. This includes protecting exposures. c. Property conservation. Prevent further property damage. 2. Saving lives is the highest priority. 3. Priorities are not separate and exclusive. a. Objectives can be addressed simultaneously, and certain activities help achieve more than one objective.

incident priorities

a. Responsible for the collection, evaluation, dissemination, and use of information relevant to the incident b. Works with preincident plans, construction plans, maps, aerial photographs, diagrams, reference materials, and status boards c. Develops and updates the IAP d. Activated when information needs to be obtained, managed, and analyzed e. Planning section chief reports directly to command f. Individuals assigned to planning examine current situation, review available information, predict the probable course of events, and prepare recommendations for strategies and tactics.

planning

a. Tactical priorities b. Action plans c. Hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions d. Accomplishments e. Assessment of effectiveness of operations f. Current status of resources: i. Assigned or working ii. Available for assignment iii. En route iv. Additional resource requirements

status reports

1. Groups of single resources assigned to work together for a specific purpose or for a certain period under a single leader 2. Task force a. A group of two or more single resources of any type b. Are often part of a fire department's standard dispatch philosophy 3. Strike team a. A group of two or more single resources of the same type working on a common task or function b. Uses a common communications system c. Are commonly used to combat wildland fires (Figure 22-13) d. Emergency medical services strike teams are often organized to respond to multiple-casualty incidents or disasters.

task forces and strike teams

SLICERS

2. Size up: Gather and analyze information to help develop the IAP. 3. Locate: Determine the location and extent of the fire inside a building. 4. Identify and control the flow path, if possible. 5. Cool the space from the safest location: Strategically apply a brief, straight stream of water through an opening to cool the fire before making entry. 6. Extinguish the fire: Fully extinguish the fire, including overhaul of void spaces. 7. Rescue: Conduct search and rescue operations if indicated by a risk/benefit analysis. 8. Salvage: Protect property from further damage.

1. Command is established at every incident and is maintained from the time that the first unit arrives until the time that the last unit leaves. a. The identity of command may change, but there is always one individual who is in charge of the incident. b. SOPs may dictate who will be command at any time. c. Modular design allows the organization to expand by activating predetermined components. 2. Each fire fighter always reports to one supervisor. a. A fire fighter's supervisor will usually be a company officer. b. The company officer directly supervises a small crew of fire fighters, such as an engine company or ladder company, who work together. c. At an incident scene, the company officer provides instructions and must always know where each fire fighter is and what he or she is doing. d. If the company officer assigns two fire fighters to work together away from the rest of the company, both fire fighters remain under the supervision of the company officer. e. The company officer could be an acting officer, or a fire fighter could be assigned to work temporarily under the supervision of a different officer. 3. The company officer reports to command. a. If only one company is present at the scene, the company officer is command, at least until someone else arrives and assumes that role. b. At a small incident, the company officer may report directly to command. c. At a large incident, several layers of supervision may separate a company officer and command. 4. To practice your role as a member of the incident command team, follow Skill Drill 22-1.

3 basic components of ICS

RECEO

a. Rescue, b. Exposure protection, c. Confinement of the fire, d. Extinguishment, and e. Overhaul

1. The ICS can be applied to manage resources at fires, floods, tornadoes, plane crashes, earthquakes, hazardous materials incidents, or any other type of emergency situation (Figure 22-14). 2. ICS can be used equally well at nonemergency events, such as large-scale public events. 3. The flexibility of the ICS enables the management structure to expand as needed, using whatever components are necessary

all risk all hazard

1. A higher level of combined resources than divisions and groups 2. Established when the span of control exceeds normal capacity (Figure 22-11) 3. In these situations, a higher-level supervisor (a branch director) is in charge of a number of divisions or groups.

branches

is established when the first unit arrives on the scene and is maintained until the last unit leaves the scene. a. Other positions are filled at the IC's discretion 3. The IC is ultimately responsible for managing the incident. 4. Command is directly responsible for the following tasks: a. Establishing the IAP b. Establishing command and expanding the ICS organization as needed c. Managing resources d. Coordinating resource activities e. Providing for scene safety f. Releasing information about the incident g. Coordinating with outside agencies

command

a. Perform functions that report directly to the incident commanders b. Cannot be delegated to work in other major sections of the organization (Figure 22-4) c. An aide is a fire fighter who serves as a direct assistant to a member of the command or general staff. d. Incident safety officer i. Responsible for ensuring the safety of all on the scene ii. Serves as the eyes and ears of the command iii. Appointed early during an incident iv. Has the authority to stop or suspend unsafe operations v. Authority is clearly stated in national standards, including NFPA 1500, NFPA 1521, and NFPA 1561 vi. Should be knowledgeable in fire behavior, building construction and collapse potential, firefighting strategy and tactics, hazardous materials, rescue practices, and departmental safety rules and regulations vii. Many larger departments have full-time incident safety officers

command staff

1. Assigned locations where specific functions are always performed a. Incident command post (ICP) b. Staging area c. Incident base d. Helispot 2. Established according to the IAP or predefined ICS plan

designated incident facility

a. Responsible for the accounting and financial aspects of an incident and any legal issues that may arise in its aftermath b. Not staffed at most incidents c. May be assigned at large-scale and long-term incidents that require immediate fiscal management, particularly when outside resources must be procured quickly d. May also be established where reimbursement may come

finance/admin

a. establishes command, b. develops the IAP, c. requests resources, d. and oversees operational aspects.

first arriving company officer

a. Command b. Operations c. Planning d. Logistics e. Finance/administration

five major components

1. Most frequently used components outside of command and reporting resources (Figure 22-9) 2. Established to aggregate single resources and/or crews under one supervisor. 3. The primary reason for establishing divisions, groups, and sectors is to maintain an effective span of control. 4. Group a. Companies and/or crews working on the same task or objective but not necessarily in the same location. 5. Division a. Companies and/or crews working in the same geographic area. 6. Particularly useful when several resources are working near one another, or doing similar tasks. 7. This structure provides effective coordination of tactics (Figure 22-10) 8. Division and group supervisors have the same rank within ICS, and must coordinate.

groups and division

1. Ensures that everyone at an emergency can communicate with both supervisors and subordinates 2. ICS must support communication up and down the chain of command at every level. 3. Messages must move efficiently throughout the system (Figure 22-16). 4. Primary means of communicating is by radio.

integrated communications

i. The incident commander's point of contact for outside agencies ii. Responsible for coordinating with representatives from outside agencies iii. Functions as a representative of the command iv. Liaison area should be adjacent to, but not inside, the ICP.

liaison officer

1. ICS uses a standard system to identify the different parts of a building or a fire scene. 2. Sides a. The exterior sides are generally known as A, B, C, and D. b. The front is side A, with B, C, and D following in a clockwise direction around the building. c. Companies are designated based on the side. 3. Exposures a. Areas adjacent to a burning building b. Take the same letter as the adjacent side of the building (Figure 22-12) 4. Floors a. Within a building, divisions commonly take the number of the floor on which they are working.

location designators

a. Responsible for providing supplies, services, facilities, and materials during the incident b. The logistics section chief serves as the supply officer for the incident. c. Responsibilities include keeping the apparatus fueled, providing food and refreshments, obtaining the necessary extinguishing agents, and arranging for heavy equipment. d. Routinely performed by permanent support services personnel e. Usually used in resource-intensive or long-duration situations

logistics

1. ICS is designed to be flexible and modular. a. The organizational structure is predefined, ready to be staffed and made operational as needed. b. ICS has often been described as an organizational toolbox, where only the tools needed for the specific incident are used. c. Additional components can be added or eliminated as needed as the incident unfolds. d. Some components are used on almost every incident, whereas others apply to only the largest and most complex situations. 2. ICS is not necessarily a rank-oriented system. a. The best qualified person should be assigned

modular organization

a. Responsible for managing all actions that are directly related to controlling the incident b. Activities include fighting the fire, rescuing trapped victims, treating injured victims, and doing whatever else is necessary. c. Operations section chief takes on tactical responsibility at complex incidents so that command can focus on overall strategy d. Conducted in accordance with an IAP that outlines strategic objectives and how operations will be conducted i. IAP is usually relatively simple ii. Can be a lengthy document that is regularly updated

operations

i. Responsible for gathering and releasing information to the media and other appropriate agencies (Figure 22-5) ii. Allows the incident commander to concentrate on the incident iii. Headquarters should be established near, but not in, the ICP. iv. Information released to media must be approved by public information officer.

public information officer

1. A standard system of assigning and keeping track of the resources involved in the incident. 2. Staging area a. Used at large-scale incidents b. Location close to the incident scene where a number of units can be held in reserve 3. Personnel a. Most vital resource b. Uses personnel accountability system to track members

resource management

all of the means that are available to fight a fire or conduct emergency operations at an emergency incident. a. Resource requirements depend on the size and type of incident. b. Resource availability depends on the capacity of a fire department to deliver resources to the scene. 2. Basic resources are personnel and apparatus. a. Firefighting resources are usually defined as the numbers of engine companies, ladder companies, special units, and command officers required to control a particular fire. 3. Resources also include: a. Water supply b. Specialized equipment c. Food and fluids for rehabilitation d. Fuel for apparatus 4. Water supply is a critical resource. a. In area without hydrants, water supply could limit operations. b. Takes time to establish water supply from static source c. Limited amount of water can be delivered by tanker shuttle. 5. Size-up enables the IC to determine what resources will be needed and ensures their availability. 6. Mutual aid agreements a. Fire departments have agreements with surrounding jurisdictions to assist each other if a situation requires more resources than the local community has. 7. The IC must always determine which actions can be taken safely with the resources available. 8. Resources must be organized to support efficient emergency operations. a. Fire fighters must be properly organized in companies. 9. Equipment and procedures must be standardized.

resources

a. Most traditional perception of the command function b. All agencies must report to and work under the direction and authority of the IC c. Appropriate in the later stages of an incident d. As incidents stabilize, strategic objectives focus on a single jurisdiction or discipline e. If all agencies and jurisdictions agree, it is acceptable to designate a single IC in multiagency and multijurisdictional incidents. f. IC is responsible for developing the strategic incident objectives upon which the IAP is based

single command

1. A single resource is an individual vehicle and its assigned personnel, or a team with an identified supervisor (Figure 22-7). a. E.g., a ladder company. 2. Company officer is the individual in charge of a company. 3. Company operates as a work unit 4. A crew is a group of personnel working without apparatus. 5. Additional personnel assembled to perform a specific task are also a crew. 6. Crew must have an assigned leader or company officer 7. Small-scale incidents can often be handled by a single resource. 8. The typical command for a one-alarm fire consists of only command and reporting resources (Figure 22-8) 9. A larger incident requires more complex command structure to ensure no details are overlooked.

single resource crews

1. The maximum number of subordinates a supervisor can have 2. In most situations, one person can effectively supervise only three to seven people. 3. In the ICS setting, the span of control should be limited to five. 4. Actual span of control should depend on the complexity of the incident and the nature of the work being performed.

span of control

a. Provides several advantages when multiple agencies with overlapping jurisdictions or legal responsibilities are involved in an incident b. Representatives from each agency cooperate to share command authority. c. Helps ensure cooperation, avoids confusion, and guarantees agreement on strategies and tactics

unified command

1. Each person working at an incident has only one direct supervisor. 2. All orders and assignments come directly from that supervisor 3. All reports are made to the same supervisor. 4. This a. eliminates confusion. b. reduces delays in solving problems c. increases overall accountability d. prevents freelancing e. improves communication f. assists with the coordination of operational issues g. enhances safety

unity of command