STANARD OPERATING PROCEEDURE USE OF THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

Transcription

1 STANARD OPERATING PROCEEDURE USE OF THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM Purpose: To establish an Incident Command Procedure for all operations of the Hopkins County Fire Department s to include but not be limited too incorporating those components of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as required by National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and the State of Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Also it should be mentioned that adoption and use of this standard or a similar standard is often a requirement of state and federal grant agencies. The Incident Command System (ICS) is an organized approach to effectively control and manage operations at fires and other emergencies and can be modified to fit any particular incident. At any emergency, small or large, one person must be in command, assessing the situation and available resources, determining the appropriate incident action plan, monitoring the plan s effectiveness and continually modifying the plan to meet the plan s effectiveness and continually modifying the plan to meet the realities of the situation as events evolve. Every effort has been made by Government officials to provide a system flexible enough to be used by all Fire Departments, small and large, yet rigid enough so that various Fire Departments can work together under one system. The purpose of this procedure is to give all paid personnel and volunteer members insight into a uniform operation that shall be used at all incidents. Scope: This procedure is to be used as a guideline by which personnel will be able to operate at any emergency scene. This SOP applies to all officers, employees and anyone deemed by contract as an agent of the County under Local Government Code Chapter 352, section of the Hopkins County Fire Department. It would be impossible to write a procedure by which every incident could be handled. Therefore, this guideline shall provide for the safe and efficient operation of all shifts of the Hopkins County Fire Department Station 20 personnel and all contract Volunteer Fire Departments (VFD s). It is written to coincide with other Fire/Rescue agencies and shall provide for the following: 1) Increase the level of safety for responders. 2) Ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of both emergency incidents and preplanned events. 3) Compliance with known incident management laws and standards as required by Texas State Law & Federal Laws and universally recognized standards in the fire service.

2 4) Compliance with OSHA requirement for IMS at all hazardous material incidents. 5) Compliance with NFPA 1500 Standard for Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health program. 6) Compliance with NFPA 1561 Standard Emergency Services Incident Management System. The Incident Management System as outlined in the above regulations shall be utilized in the following situations: Procedure: 1) Any emergency incident or training exercise with more than one response units at the incident location. 2) Pre-planned events when the use of NIMS could either serve as additional training for the participants or involving large numbers of either Fire Department personnel or the public. The body of this procedure shall allow for the effective functioning of the Fire Department units and personnel at operating incidents. Successful mitigation of an incident requires clear decisive action on the part of an Incident Commander. This procedure identifies the standard operating procedures to be employed in establishing Command and operating a Command Post. It also fixes responsibility for the command function and the associated duties on one individual at any time during the operation. A) Incident Command: The Incident Commander is responsible for the command function at all times. As the identity of the Incident Commander changes, through transfers of command, this responsibility shifts with the title. The term Command in this procedure refers jointly to both the person and the function. 1) ESTABLISHING COMMAND The first arriving unit officer or firefighter on the incident scene shall establish command and remain in command until RELIEVED by a senior officer or until the incident is terminated. 2) INITIAL REPORT The firefighter establishing command shall transmit brief initial radio report including: A. Unit radio identification. B. Type of fire or emergency found. C. Any safety concerns for arriving firefighters and units. (Example: Engine-20 on scene and establishing command We have smoke showing in a large two story single family dwelling.)

3 3) RADIO DESIGNATION The radio designation COMMAND will be used by the Incident Commander. This designation will not change through the entire duration of the incident, even though different officers or individuals may act as the incident commander during the incident. In the event of multiple alarms or back to back incidents, the location of the alarm should be used to designate command at different operations. (Example: INTERSTATE 30 COMMAND) 4) SCENE SIZE/WALK AROUND Upon arrival and completion of steps 1-3 the initial attack commander shall perform the tactic of a walk around. The IC will physically set eyes on all sides of the incident to obtain a full view or picture of what is involved. There by being able to make an informed decision to establish an OFFENSIVE or DEFENSIVE mode of operation and resources necessary to complete this and to help decide which mode to move on to as follows: A) Nothing Showing Mode: These situations generally require investigation by the first arriving engine, rescue or brush truck while holding staged companies at a distance. Normally the officer should go with his company to check while utilizing his portable radio to continue Command. B) Quick Attack Mode: Situations which require immediate action to stabilize the situation such as interior fires. In residences, apartments, or small commercial occupancies require that the officer quickly decide how to commit his company. Where a fast interior attack is critical, he can take advantage of his portable radio to permit the necessary involvement in the attack without neglecting Command responsibilities. This mode should not last more than a few moments and will end by either of the following: 1) Situation is stabilized 2) Command is passed to next arriving company 3) A Command Officer arrives and command is transferred. 4) Situation is not stabilized and the officer must remove himself to a normal Command Position. C) Command Mode or Extended Attack: Situations that require principally command such situations by virtue of the size of the fire, the complexity/potential of the occupancy or the possibility of extension require strong, direct, and overall command from the outset or in the event that options A & B fail. In such cases, the officer will assume a Command position and maintain that position until relieved by a-ranking officer. An extended attack will require in most cases the full use of the Incident Command System and shall at a minimum allow for completion of any of the following: 1) Primary Search

4 2) Secondary Search 3) Rescue and Treatment of Victims 4) Fire Control, Exposure Protection and Incident Stabilization 5) Property Conservation 6) Operations Completed In the event of an extended attack more often than not there will be at some point a transfer of Command to a senior officer. The following shall address the needs and the procedure for proper transfer of an incident. B) Transfer of Incident Command: The response and arrival of ranking officers on the fire grounds strengthen the overall command function and the arrival (in itself) of a ranking officer on the fire ground does not mean Command has been transferred to that ranking officer. In cases where current Command is effectively handling a tactical situation and is completely aware of the location and function of operating companies and the general status of the situation, it may be desirable for that officer to continue in an active command role. In these cases, the ranking officer may assume a supportive role in the overall command functions i.e. Unified Command. Command will be considered to be transferred within this context by virtue of the ranking officer being involved in the command process. Command is transferred only when the outlined communication functions have been completed. All officers will exercise their Command prerogatives in a supportive manner that will insure a smooth transition and the effective ongoing function of Command system i.e. there will be no arguing on scene as to who has command. The first Fire Department unit or officer to arrive on the scene will assume and retain command until relieved by a ranking officer within the following guidelines: 1) The Hopkins County Fire Chief or ranking officer i.e. Station 20 Shift Leader or Station Fire Chief will automatically assume Command in cases of complex tactical situations that have not been declared under control. This will only take place after transfer of command procedures have been completed as follows within the chain of command indicated above, the actual transfer of command will be regulated by the following procedures: A) Arriving ranking officers assuming Command will communicate with the officer being relieved by radio or preferably face-to-face on arrival. B) The officer being relieved will brief the officer assuming command indicating the general situation status, fire location, extent, condition, and extension and the effectiveness of control efforts. C) Deployment and assignments of operating companies D) Appraisal of needs for additional resources at that time.

5 E) The officer relieved of Command will be utilized to best advantage by the officer assuming command however, in most cases the Commander being relived will step into a Unified Command role as training and on the job experience serves as the best training tool for combination fire departments. 2) Assumption of Command is discretionary for the Fire Chief, or ranking officer. NOTE: This does not preclude the option of the first arriving company officer having another company officer arriving with him or close behind take Command. This may be by prearrangement or may be necessitated by circumstances, in either case it shall be confirmed by both parties by radio. 3) The officer being relieved should review the tactical control sheet or board with the ranking officer in complex situations, whichever is being used. These tools provide the most effective framework for Command transfer as it outlines the location and status of resources in a standard form that should be well known or understood to all members. 4) Command officers should eliminate all unnecessary radio traffic while responding unless such communications are required to in-sure that Command functions are initiated and completed. C) Command Structure: It will be the responsibility of the Incident Command to develop an organizational structure utilizing standard operating procedures as soon as possible after arrival and implementation of initial tactical control measures. The size and complexity of the organization structure obviously will be determined by the dimensions of the particular tactical situation. The objectives must be to develop the Command organization at a pace which stays ahead of, or even with, the tactical deployment of firefighters and apparatus, also if necessary, mutual aid companies and other organizations arriving at the scene. The standard or tactical control measure to be utilized is the Measurable Objectives Standard; every 15 minutes the Incident Command should ask the following; 1) Is what we are doing making the situation better? 2) Is what we are doing making the situation worse? 3) Is what we are doing having any effect at all, if so what effect? The Incident Command System can be adjusted to the size of the current incident the diagram listed below is the basic structure as pertains to the Hopkins County Fire Department. The most common structure is as follows:

6 Incident Commander Operations/Safety Rehab/Staging Operations/Safety Hose Team: A Team: B Team: C Water supply Rehab/Staging Rehab Medical Apparatus & Personnel Staging The above Incident Command structure is a basic overview of the system as it pertains to the Hopkins County Fire Department s. The structure can be added too or down sized as the needs of the incident change and evolve. At large scale emergencies it may become necessary for one unit or person to assume more than one command role, description of the most common command functions used by Fire Departments are as follows: Incident Commander: The incident commander is the individual with overall responsibility for a particular incident. The incident commander provides for the overall safety of all units under his or her operational command, also responsible for the formulation as well as constant evaluation of operational plans. Do to the nature and makeup of the Hopkins County Fire Department as a combination department with both volunteer and paid personnel, it should be understood that this function within ICS is not a status or power position. Rather it should be recognized as a position of great responsibility for life, limb and property! The individual assuming this role Shall understand that he or she may be called to court to answer for actions or decisions made while in command of an incident. Operations Officer: The operations officer is responsible for placing the incident commander s operational mitigation plans in to effect, and will typically be responsible for hose teams, roof operations, and any duties of teams required having hands on the actual incident. The operations officer provides for the overall safety of all units under his or her operational command, also responsible for the constant evaluation of operational plans and reports findings to incident command.

7 Safety Officer: The safety officer is directly responsible to the incident commander for the conducting of safe operations on the fire ground. The safety officer retains the full authority to stop certain operations on the fire ground if procedures are deemed unsafe as per department procedures and/or Texas State & Federal Laws. (NOT EVEN THE INCIDENT COMMANDER CAN OVERRIDE SAFETY ON UNSAFE OPERATIONS ISSUES). Under most circumstances the operations commander can perform as the safety officer if manpower is limited. Rehab Officer: Is directly responsible to the incident commander for the rehabilitation area, where EMS personnel are located for the treatment of victims as well as fire department personnel. The rehab officer is also responsible for the setting up and equipping of the rehabilitation area for the rest and conditioning of on-scene fire department personnel. Upon the arrival of EMS crew or crews will become responsible for all medical treatment and be directly responsible to coordinate said operations with the rehab officer. In the event that Red Cross is called out the individual staffing that unit may be utilized as the Rehab Officer, or the ranking individual on the ambulance may serve in this capacity. Staging Officer: The staging officer is directly responsible to the incident commander for the locating of resources in an area away from the actual emergency until such time as they are needed to work at the scene. Staging may include the relocation of both personnel and apparatus. Any incident can use staging as part of its operation. When identifying a staging sector, the IC should keep in mind the need to locate resources in an area where they are out of danger and have easy access routes into and out of the scene. At large-scale incidents, a staging officer should be used. It will be the job of the staging officer to track the amount and type of equipment and personnel available to the incident commander. The staging area officer and rehab officer should be positioned as close together as possible and have good radio communication between each other for the tracking of resources. At smaller scale incidents the rehab commander may also function as the staging commander. Water Supply Commander: At rural incidents the supply of water via water tankers will become necessary and a water supply commander will be utilized and be directly responsible to the operations commander to ensure the constant supply of water throughout the entire incident. The water supply commander will have radio communications with staging as well as the operations commander.

8 D) Radio Communications: Once an emergency is dispatched and after units go in-route a Fire Ground Frequency or VFIRE Channel will be assigned by dispatch for the incident. Once units arrive on-scene they Shall report to incident command and use the assigned Fire Ground or VFIRE Channel. The frequency assigned will in most standard cases be assigned by County Precinct that the emergency is located i.e. Precinct 1 will be assigned Fire Ground 1 or VFIRE 21. However, during large scale incidents the use of other or all channels may take place at the desecration of the incident commander. In some cases it may become necessary for individual functions to be assigned their own frequency i.e. water supply or operations. If units with certain functions are to use a separate frequency an announcement should be made over both the Main dispatch frequency and the main Fire Ground or VFIRE frequency being used for all associated units to move channels. Once time has been allowed accountability check or roll call should take place on the new frequency for all the associated units. E) Leadership Responsibilities of Commanders: 1) Provide for the safety of units, personnel, and by standers at every incident. 2) Always maintain an inventory of resources and anticipate future needs. 3) Rotate firefighters and provide rehabilitation, particularly during very hot or cold weather. 4) Have a RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM staging near the incident scene. F) Firefighter Rapid Intervention Team (R.I.T. TEAM) The R.I.T. TEAM is a team of firefighters that is organized to take immediate action to assist other firefighters in case something unforeseen happens at an incident. The R.I.T. TEAM LEADER will be directly responsible to the operations commander and incident commander in the same fashion as a hose team. All members of the R.I.T. T EAM are to be equipped with full turnout gear, self-contained breathing apparatus, forcible entry tools and other equipment deemed necessary by the Incident Commander. 1) R.I.T. Fire Ground Communications Once a R.I.T. Team has been assigned the team shall be assigned their own operation frequency which shall be designated as VFIRE 11, unless the team is advised by the Incident Commander to use a different frequency.

9 2) R.I.T. Operations The R.I.T. Team officer/leader is directly responsible to the Safety Officer or if one is not assigned the leader will be responsible directly to the Incident Commander. This team shall stay together at all times during the incident and be within close proximity of the Incident Commander or Command Post and be in a state of readiness in the case that a MAY DAY is called. The team should follow the progress of the incident and be prepared to respond immediately as a rescue team if needed. All R.I.T. TEAM members should be well trained, experienced interior firefighters. If at all possible no rookie or first year firefighters should be allowed to operate on the R.I.T. TEAM. The R.I.T. TEAM LEADER should discuss the situation with the Incident Commander, conduct an independent size up, and prepare the FAST TEAM members for any situations they may face. For example, if structural collapse is a concern, necessary rescue tools should be assembled and prepared for use. If flashover is a concern, burn kits and related supplies should be available. Fire Chief T. Kevin Yates September 23 rd, 2013