Page 1 of 9 PROCEDURE MANUAL Code: 2-6-30 Fire Services Command Procedures Original Date: 6/16/11 Revised Date: 8/24/11 30.01 PURPOSE The safety and effectiveness of Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services Department (County Fire) personnel operating at incidents requires clear and decisive action on the part of the Incident Commander. This procedure identifies the standard operating procedures to be employed in establishing command and transition to the Incident Command System. It also fixes responsibility for the command function and its associated duties on one individual at any time during the operation. 30.02 SCOPE All paid and volunteer staff. 30.03 DEFINITIONS Incident Command System Shall mirror the NIIMS ICS Model 30.04 POLICY A. This policy shall be utilized by all fire personnel and commanding officers responding to emergency incidents including structural, wildland and other fires, EMS/Rescue or Hazardous Condition Incidents and Multiple Casualty Incidents when the utilization of the ICS system is implemented. B. 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 Incident Commander or IC refers to the person and the function is COMMAND. C. Command Procedures are designed to accomplish the following: 1. Fix the responsibility for COMMAND on a certain individual through a standard identification system depending on arrival sequence of members, apparatus and Chief Officers. 2. Ensure that a strong, direct and visible COMMAND will be established as early as possible in the incident. 3. Establish an effective framework outlining the activities and responsibilities assigned to COMMAND. 4. Provide a system for orderly transfer of COMMAND to subsequent arriving officers. D. The Incident Commander is responsible for building a command structure that matches the organizational needs to achieve the completion of the tactical priorities for the incident.
Page 2 of 9 30.05 PROCEDURES A. Establishing Command The first County Fire officer (volunteer or paid) to arrive at the scene of multiple-unit responses shall establish COMMAND and remain in COMMAND until relieved in accordance with this Policy, or the incident is stabilized and terminated. B. Command Responsibilities Command is responsible for the following tasks as required by the circumstances of the situation within his/her judgment. INITIAL: 1. Transmit a Brief; Clear Text initial radio report upon arrival At Scene on the REDCOM Control Channel. (REDCOM SOP #4.) 2. NOTE: For wildland fire in the SRA, the command and tactical channels will be assigned by St. Helena dispatch. Once at scene, resources should switch to the designated St. Helena frequency for communication. (REDCOM SOP # 28) 3. Establish Command and ICP location over the radio. (REDCOM SOP #21) 4. Rapidly evaluate situation (size-up) (utilizing a 360 view for structure fires). (REDCOM SOP # 17). 5. The size up should be on the St. Helena frequency for SRA fires. (REDCOM SOP # 28) 6. Give a report on conditions after evaluation. 7. Develop a plan of action. 8. Request Command &Tactical Frequencies if needed CONTINUING: 9. Assign units as required, consistent with staging/accountability. 10. Provide continuing overall command progress reports. 11. Assign division(s), group(s) and other ICS positions as needed. 12. Review and evaluate attack efforts and revise plans of attack as needed. 13. Request Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) as required. (County Fire SOP 2-6-4) 14. Request and assign additional units as necessary. (REDCOM SOP #18) 15. Assign RIC as needed for the incident. (County Fire SOP 2-6-1) The first five tasks are initial Command responsibilities. The continuing responsibilities stay with COMMAND, the initial officer remains in command or COMMAND is transferred to subsequent arriving officers. C. Tactical Priorities The IC is responsible for assessing the three main priorities on any emergency scene: 1. Life Safety 2. Incident Stabilization 3. Property Conservation
Page 3 of 9 D. For Structural fires, the completion of the three main tactical priorities is based on the acronym RECEO-VS, which stands for: 1. Rescue 2. Exposures 3. Confinement 4. Extinguishment 5. Overhaul 6. Ventilation 7. Salvage The incident command system is used to facilitate the completion of the tactical priorities. The Incident Commander is the person who drives the command system towards that end. The Blue Prints the Incident Commander uses to accomplish this are the functions of COMMAND. 30.05 Command Options A. In cases where the initial arriving officer is a Chief Officer, efforts should automatically be directed towards establishing a Command Post and fulfilling the listed responsibilities. B. An initial arriving company officer must decide on an appropriate commitment for his/her company. This will usually fall into one of three general modes as listed below: 1. Investigation; (Nothing Showing); Situations generally requiring further investigation by the first arriving engine, while holding staged units at a distance. Normally, the officer can go with the company to investigate the situation while, utilizing a portable radio to continue COMMAND. 2. Initial Attack Mode; A situation which requires immediate action to stabilize the situation, such as interior fires in residences, apartments or small commercial occupancies, and a rapidly expanding vegetation fire also requires that the officer quickly decide how to commit his/her company. Where a fast rescue, direct attack on a vegetation fire and/or interior attack is critical, advantage can be taken of the portable radio to permit the necessary involvement in the attack, without neglecting COMMAND responsibilities. In order for an interior attack to take place, the IC must ensure that the 2-in 2-out rule is followed (County Fire SOP 2-6-6). This mode should not last more than a few moments and will end with one of the following; a. Situation is controlled. b. Situation is not controlled and the Officer must remove himself/herself to normal COMMAND position or transfer command to the next arriving unit. c. Chief Officer arrives and COMMAND is transferred. 3. Command Mode: Situations that require principal command; such situations by virtue of the size of the incident, the complexity/potential of the occupancy or the possibility of extension require strong, direct overall COMMAND from the outset.
Page 4 of 9 In such cases, the officer will initially assume a COMMAND position until relieved by a ranking officer. 30.06 Transfer of Command A. The first fire department unit Officer to arrive on the scene will assume and retain COMMAND until relieved within the following guidelines: 1. The first arriving Company Officer will automatically assume COMMAND except as noted in the following. a. Assumption of COMMAND is discretionary for chief officers. b. This does not preclude the option of the first arriving company officer having another company officer arriving at the same time, 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. B. Within the chain of command indicated above, the actual transfer of command will be regulated by the following procedures; 1. Arriving officer assuming COMMAND will communicate with the officer being relieved by radio or face-to-face on arrival. 2. The officer being relieved will brief the officer assuming COMMAND, indicating the following: a. General Situations Status: 1. Incident location, extent, conditions, extension. 2. Effectiveness of control efforts. 3. Deployment and assignments of operating companies. 4. Appraisal of needs for additional resources at that time. C. The officer being relieved should review the Incident Command Worksheet with the officer taking COMMAND. (In complex situations, this sheet provides the most effective framework for COMMAND transfer, as it outlines the locations and status of resources in a standard form that would be well known to all members.) D. If possible Officers should eliminate all unnecessary radio traffic while the transfer of Command is taking place, unless communications are required to ensure that COMMAND functions are initiated and completed. E. The arrival (in itself) of a chief officer at the emergency does not mean COMMAND has been transferred. Transfer of COMMAND is a formal process that is only complete when one of the following has been accomplished: 1. Face to face contact at emergency scene 2. Radio to radio contact from IC requesting a ranking officer to take COMMAND. 3. In cases where an individual is effectively commanding an incident with full knowledge of the committed resources and the current status of the situation, and where progress is being made to bring the incident under control, it may be desirable
Page 5 of 9 for that individual to continue in an active command role. In these cases, the arriving ranking officer may assume a subordinate role within the Incident Command System. F. The Incident Commander is responsible for managing the incident. The organization (County Fire) empowers that individual with the authority to formulate a plan and assign resources. Simply stated, the Incident Commander outranks everybody. (Anybody can affect a change in the incident management in extreme situations relating to safety by notifying the Incident Commander and initiating corrective action). G. If a ranking officer wants to make a change in the management of an incident, they must: 1. Be on scene 2. Utilize the formal transfer of command procedure. 30.07 Offensive/Defensive Attack A. It is standard operating procedure to attempt to stabilize fire conditions by extending (WHEREVER POSSIBLE) an aggressive, well placed and adequate interior attack effort, and to support that aggressive attack with whatever resource and action is required to reduce fire extension and to bring the fire under control. A critical COMMAND decision, (both initial and on-going), relates to the offensive/defensive mode of the situation. B. The Incident Commander must define offensive/defensive mode based upon: 1. fire extent 2. structural conditions 3. entry capability (2-in 2-out) 4. ventilation profile 5. resources (personnel, apparatus, water supply) C. Offensive Strategy 1. Interior Attack - directed towards quickly bringing the fire under control. 2. Exterior Attack - directed to first reducing fire extension and then bringing the fire under control. 3. Offensive Plan: a. take command b. ensure rescue if known c. establish 2 in/2 out d. first line-fast, aggressive interior attack e. do primary search, from nozzle back to entry point f. secure sustainable water source g. second line - back up first / cover rear / exposures D. Defensive Strategy: 1. The decision to operate in a defensive mode indicates that the offensive attack strategy has been abandoned for reasons of personnel safety, lack of available resources or the involved structure or portion has been conceded as lost. 2. The announcement of a change to a defensive mode will be made as emergency traffic.
Page 6 of 9 3. The Fire Ground Safety System will be utilized to ensure that all personnel have evacuated the building and are accounted for. The Building Emergency Evacuation Signal and the Personnel Accountability Report (PARs) are to be used. 30.08 Defensive Plan A. Establish command B. Evaluate life safety aspects of incident C. Evaluate fire spread / write off lost property D. Identify key tactical positions E. Secure an uninterrupted water source F. Protect exposures G. Prioritize fire streams H. Provide big, well placed streams I. Quickly determine additional resources J. Master stream operation 30.09 Area Designations A. In order to effectively manage an incident, the incident may need to be divided into management units such as, Divisions, Groups or Branches. 1. Geographical assignment = Division 2. Functional assignment = Group a. Example: Fire Attack, Rescue, RIC, Vent, Salvage, b. Water Supply, Exposure etc.
Page 7 of 9 STRUCTURE FIRE REAR OF BUILDING DIVISION C ROOF DIVISION DIVISION B DIVISION D INTERIOR DIVISION DIVISION A FRONT OF INCIDENT (ADDRESS OR MAIN ENTRANCE) WILDLAND FIRE LEFT FLANK DIVISION A RIGHT FLANK DIVISION Y ----------ORIGIN-------------
Page 8 of 9 30.10 Setting-Up the Formal Command Post A. The location of the command post is generally at the front of the emergency. This is where the main action takes place. It would be the address side or main entrance to the building. B. Spot the command vehicle in a visible location so the IC can see the maximum amount of the scene and incoming units can find the ICP. C. The location should not hinder or obstruct suppression efforts. D. Communicate your location to your subordinates. E. Take firm command and communicate it to all officers and the Control Channel. COMMAND must be formally passed on and assumed as described earlier in this SOP. F. Access pre-fire plans, tactical command board, tactical worksheets, etc. G. Set up a working surface if available. H. The IC should remain at the ICP as much as possible. I. Send assistants to other locations to be an extra set of eyes and ears, or use Division/Group Supervisors for information and feedback. J. Generally, Division Officers are placed somewhat as follows. Left and Right are determined as the IC is facing the building: Division Location A (Alpha) Front of emergency (usually address side) B (Bravo) Left side of emergency C (Charlie) Rear of emergency D (Delta) Right side of emergency Interior Interior of Structure Roof Roof of Structure 2-20 Indicates Floor Number A1 #1 Exposure side A B1 #1 Exposure side B C1 #1 Exposure side C D1 #1 Exposure side D K. Often COMMAND personnel are assigned to manage geographical divisions of the incident. The Division Supervisor manages these functions and his/her assigned resources. L. Interior crews should vocalize their location within the structure by referencing the Alpha designators. (Example: Engine 1 has located a victim in the Bravo/Charlie corner and we need assistance).
Page 9 of 9 30.11 References REDCOM Standard Operating Policies Clear Text Policy # 4 At Scene Reporting Policy # 16 Size Up and Initial Conditions Report Policy # 17 Requesting Additional Resources Policy # 18 Establishing Command Policy # 21 SRA and MTZ Fires Policy # 28 Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services Standard Operating Procedures Rapid Intervention Crews 2-6-1 Personnel Accountability System 2-6-4 Two In Two Out 2-6-6