Chapter 4 Incident Command

Question 1

List and describe the ten Command functions (from the review questions)

Answer 1

1. Assume an effective command position and confirm operations.
2. Rapidly size-up the situation.
3. Initiate, maintain and control the communications process.
4. Identify the overall strategy and develop an attack plan and assign crews.
5. Develop an effective fire ground organization.
6. Provide continuing command within the framework of department standard operating procedures.
7. Coordinate the transfer of command as required.
8. Review, evaluate, and revise attack plan as required.
9. Request and assign additional crews as required.
10. Terminate operations/command and return crews to service.

Question 2

List and describe the three sources of information Command uses during a Size-up.

Answer 2

1. Visual factors – what the officer sees upon arrival
2. Reconnaissance factors – smoke, heat, fire conditions, and safety conditions relayed to Command by the sectors
3. Pre-fire assessment factors – information gained and recorded on fire inspections by fire crews.

Question 3

List the five things the first arriving officer should communicate to Dispatch and other incoming units upon his or her arrival at the emergency scene.

Answer 3

1. Unit identification.
2. Size Up - description of the building, occupancy and emergency scene.
3. Summary of fire/emergency conditions.
4. Initial Plan of action
5. Identification of officer in Command and their location (A,B,C,D)

Question 4

List and describe the three strategic choices Command may use on the fire ground to address the responsibilities of rescue, fire control, salvage, and personnel safety.

Answer 4

Offensive interior attack
Defensive exterior attack
Shelter-in-place strategy

Question 5

List and describe the three organizational levels of an effective fire ground organization.

Answer 5

1. Strategic levels – these are command functions
2. Tactical levels – these are sector functions (sector Captains)
3. Task levels – these are the tasks of the fire fighters within a sector.

Question 6

How should command be transferred if possible?

Answer 6

Command should be transferred Face to Face.

Question 7

List and describe the two types of crews formed within Level 2 staging.

Answer 7

Major crew is an officer and two or more firefighters.
Minor crew is an officer and one firefighter.

Question 8

Explain the purpose of an Accountability Worksheet.

Answer 8

It provides a structured, organized flow chart depicting the sequence of events involving the resources at an incident. It also provides documentation and accountability of the following:
Accountability
Outline of emergency site plan
Plan of attack
Progress
Available resources
Transfer of command
Final report

Question 9

What does PAR stand for and what constitutes it?

Answer 9

A Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) is intended to be a formal accounting system for the location, status, and condition of each crew assigned to an incident.
Personnel Accountability Report – PAR is when you can see, touch and/or hear your crew members.

Question 10

On the Accountability Worksheet what are the four benchmarks Command must achieve and
document on the fire ground?

Answer 10

1 - Primary search complete
3 - Secondary search complete
2 - Fire under control
4 - Fire out

Question 11

The first arriving Officer at an emergency or event ______ _______ ______

Answer 11

must assume command.

Question 12

What is the Incident Command System (ICS)

Answer 12

The ICS is a model for the command, control, and coordination of personnel and resources both responding to and on scene during an emergency.

Question 13

what are some examples of emergency situations that ICS applies to

Answer 13

1. Medical responses
2. Alarms ringing
3. Motor vehicle collisions
4. Structural and non-structural fires
5. Hazardous material responses
6. Technical rescues such as: Tunnel 7. rescues/High angle rescues/Structural collapse
7. High-rise fires
8. Aircraft accidents
9. Wildland fires

Question 14

At an EFRS fire event, there are four benchmarks that must be met for an emergency to be considered complete. They are:

Answer 14

1. Primary Search Complete
2. Fire Under Control
3. Secondary Search Complete
4. Fire Out

Question 15

What are 5 Advantages of ICS

Answer 15

1. Flexible for any size emergency
2. Systematic approach lessens confusion
3. Allows for informed decisions
4. Deployment of resources are easier
5. Provides accountability for all resources

Question 16

Definition of Incident Commander

Answer 16

The Incident Commander is the person with the overall responsibility and authority for the management of a second or multiple alarm incidents. The I.C. is responsible for supplying resources to assist the Fire Commander

Question 17

Definition of Fire Commander

Answer 17

The fire commander is the person with the overall responsibility to manage dispatched resources at an emergency event. This person is also responsible for developing the initial strategy, determining tactical priorities, and assigning personnel to sectors for the successful mitigation of the emergency.

Question 18

List and describe the 2 modes of Command.

Answer 18

1. Command Mode – Involves the first arriving officer remaining staged at the apparatus, assuming incident command, assigning tasks to unit personnel, communicating with other responding units, and adapting the Incident Action Plan as needed by the complexity of the incident.
2. Mobile Command/Fast Attack mode (First Alarm) The first arriving officer assuming incident command directs their personnel in an offensive attack to bring the fire quickly under control. The fast attack mode remains until one of the following:

Question 19

When is PAR given? (3 points)

Answer 19

● When entering a building
● When exiting a building
● Whenever Command asks for it

Question 20

1.______ __ ______ ______ ______ and confirm operations.
2. Rapidly ______-___ the situation.
3. Initiate, maintain and control the _______ process.
4. Identify the overall ______ and develop an attack plan and assign crews.
5. Develop an effective _____ ______ ______.
6. Provide ______ ______ within the framework of department standard operating procedures.
7. Coordinate the ______ __ ______ as required.
8. ______, evaluate, and revise attack _____ as required.
9. Request and assign ______ ______ as required.
10. ______ operations/command and return crews to service.

Answer 20

1. Assume an effective command position
2. size-up
3. Communications
4. Strategy
5. Fire ground organization
6. Continuing command
7. Transfer of command
8. Review, Plan
9. Additional Crews
10. Terminate

Question 21

What are the 2 reasons for establishing mobile command?

Answer 21

o Immediate action required - the first arriving officer assuming incident command directs their personnel in an offensive attack to bring the fire / situation quickly under control.
o Nothing Showing- mobile command could perform a reconnaissance until another officer arrives on scene, command would direct all incoming units to level 1 staging.

Question 22

The Mobile Command mode remains until one of the following (3)

Answer 22

▪ Incident is stabilized
▪ The crew is forced to withdraw due to hazardous conditions
▪ Incident command is transferred

Question 23

Typical First Alarm Command Structure

Answer 23

Incident Command
|
|_____________ Safety Officer
|
rescue\ evacuation, Ventilation, Fire Attack, Salvage

Question 24

Define Single Resource

Answer 24

Personnel, vehicle, and/or equipment is considered a single resource

Question 25

Define Task Force

Answer 25

Combination of single resources within the span of control amassed for a task. An example would be level 1 response units dispatched for a house fire.

Question 26

Define Strike team

Answer 26

A combination of a number of units that are of the same type and purpose. An example would be Aerial strike team that would be comprised of Aerials

Question 27

The use of the _____ _____ _____ _____ makes for smooth transfer to the new Fire Commander

Answer 27

Incident Command Accountability Worksheet (ICAW)

Question 28

What is level 1 staging

Answer 28

Units dispatched to events are determined on numerous factors. Upon arrival, all initially dispatched units report their location to Fire Command and assume Level 1 staging. Fire Command may, through his initial size-up, identify that more resources are required than those initially dispatched. The parameters of a first alarm response allow command the latitude to request up to two additional units to mitigate the emergency.

Question 29

Any request exceeding _____ additional units automatically upgrades the event to a 2nd or multiple alarm emergency.

Answer 29

Two

Question 30

What is Level 2 Staging

Answer 30

When an emergency escalates to a multiple alarm, additional dispatched resources report to Level 2 Staging. The location of level 2 staging is identified and assigned by Fire Command. The first arriving officer at the Level 2 staging area becomes the Staging officer unless another has been previously assigned. As required, Fire Command will request additional resources, identified as major or minor crews, directly through the Staging Officer. Occasionally, Fire Command will request a specific unit from the staging area as its functionality factors into his strategy and plan of attack

Question 31

Roles and Responsibilities of The Incident Commander

Answer 31

Review and evaluate the attack plan and initiate change as necessary Provide on-going review of the overall incident Determine priorities Suggest direction as to the tactical priorities Review the organizational structure and initiate change or expansion as needed Establish a liaison with other integral agencies and officials, outside agencies (police, utilities), property owners and/or tenants

Question 32

Roles and Responsibilities of The Safety Officer

Answer 32

First arriving District Chief at an emergency events Does not respond to “NOTHING SHOWING” Advise Fire Command of safety concerns and the overall welfare of EFRS personnel on the emergency scene (Scene Safety) Will assume the role of EMERGENCY SAFETY OFFICER (ESO) when Fire Command assigns a RIC Sector or when a MAYDAY occurs.

Question 33

Roles and Responsibilities of The Fire Command | weeds

Answer 33

Determine strategy and strategic priorities Develop and implement the plan of action Manage the evolution of his plan of action and subsequent tactical activities Inform Incident Command of situational changes and progression of event Assign resources to tactical areas based on the tactical priorities Provide tactical objectives for sectors Control staging Provide for life safety Determine needs and request resources as necessary Consult with and inform the incident commander as needed

Question 34

Roles and Responsibilities of The Sector Officer

Answer 34

Manage assigned tactical activities Coordinate these activities with Fire Command or other Sector Officer’s as required Develop and implement a plan of action with sector crew Assign tasks and lead fire fighters within sector Ensure safety of fire fighters within sector Determine additional needs and request resources as necessary

Question 35

Roles and Responsibilities of The Public Information Officer

Answer 35

Coordinate information between Command and the media. Coordinate Public Safety announcements pertaining to the emergency event

Question 36

Roles and Responsibilities of The Planning Officer

Answer 36

Evaluate current strategy and develop an incident action plan with the incident commander Ensure adequate resources are on scene Forecast possible outcomes Evaluate future resource requirements Coordinate with any outside agencies for planning needs Evaluate tactical priorities, specific critical factors and safety Maintain incident records

Question 37

Roles and Responsibilities of The Logistics Officer

Answer 37

Provide and manage any required supplies or equipment Forecast and obtain future resource needs (coordinated with the planning officer) Obtain specialized equipment or expertise Provide fuel and repairs for equipment Provide food and associated supplies for emergency responders Secure any needed facilities, fixed or portable Provide medical aid for incident personnel and manage Rehab Sector Coordinate immediate critical incident stress debriefing if required Provide any other logistical needs as requested

Question 38

Roles and Responsibilities of The Finance Officer

Answer 38

Procuring of services and/or supplies from sources within and outside the fire department or city as requested by command (coordinated with logistics) Documenting all financial costs of the incident Documenting for possible cost recovery for services and/or supplies Analyzing and managing legal risk for incidents (i.e. hazardous materials clean-up) Documenting for compensation and claims for injury