Effective Communications Leads to Smoother Operations
DEPARTMENTS
Volunteers Corner
Just as the family forms the basis of our society, the company (engine, truck, or rescue) forms the basis of the fire department. Every company consists of at least two or more members who must pull together as one cohesive unit if they wish to be effective. In order to accomplish this, there must be excellent communications between the members of the unit. Lack of or poor communications can be costly for the fireground company.
The process of communicating starts when a new firefighter enters the department. He or she must form a solid foundation by learning the terminology of the business. New members are often “gophers,” who perform various duties to assist their superior officers. If they do not know the proper name for a tool or operation, they can waste valuable time carrying out a task. Their initial orientation must be simple and concise, yet thorough, exact, and committed to memory.
Good communications are also important when an alarm is received. Whether you are responding directly from the station, assembling at the station to respond as a company, or responding directly to the fire, it is essential that you know the correct location of the incident. If you are responding as a unit, the communications can be minimized. But, if you are responding directly to the scene, it is essential that you receive precise information. You must be sure that someone has gone to the station to respond with the apparatus.
It is also vital that those arriving on the scene report immediately to the incident commander for assignment to an officer and/or given a specific objective. If there is no procedure set up to report in and receive orders, firefighters become involved in free enterprise firefighting. They wind up doing whatever they “think” needs to be done.
This thwarts the team effort and makes it impossible for groups to work together under the direction of a command system with a single unified tactical objective. If free enterprise operations are in effect, it generally means there is no communication on the scene.
Good communications must be practiced constantly in order for things to flow smoothly during an incident. This means that the officer/company relationship and their ability to function as a team should be exercised on work nights, during training sessions, and during drill evolutions. The officer of the company should be given assignments that he can delegate to the firefighters. This will develop teamwork, camaraderie, and the concept of working as a company.
Chief officers must refrain from giving orders to individuals, and think in terms of company assignments. The company officer will then communicate specific tasks to the members of the crew.
Communications are important to various aspects of fireground operations. In many parts of the country, a system of 10 signals is used for radio communications. There are several variations of these, and most units must carry a listing of the 10 signals used in the local area. Because some signals are used so infrequently, many of them are never even learned.
It is easier to use short, clear terms that everyone understands. This improves communications immensely. In addition, you can also use a number of common, simple terms defined as “clear text.”
During incidents, communications must be relayed to the incident commander. If your department has not already done so, it should develop a procedure for providing the incident commander with situation reports on a regular basis. These reports must be succinct, accurate, timely, and indicate the progress (or lack of progress) that is being made. They should give the incident commander a good picture of what is happening on all sides of the incident, as well as inside, if a structure is involved. Good situation reports are vital for command decision making.
Communications also will make or break the transfer of command during an escalating situation. The arriving command officer cannot take control of the fire from several blocks away. First, the ranking officer must arrive on the scene and be totally briefed before assuming command. He must be apprised of the status of the situation, the progress of control efforts, and the recommended need for additional resources. Second, the arriving officer may not have to assume command if proper communication indicates that the situation is under control.
Good communication skills must be learned.
- Teach the new recruit to talk in precise details.
- Design your drill evolutions to orient the students to work in response groups as a team.
- Continuously reinforce communications skills so that they will be highly developed before a firefighter is promoted to company officer.
The single most important communicator in the department is the company officer. A disastrous situation can result if an officer’s orders are not understood on the fireground. Company officers will find themselves leading multiple company operations until the chief arrives. They must be able to communicate the initial setup and plan of action.
Lack of communications at any level or in any of the situations that have been discussed can lead to serious losses and injuries on the fireground. A firefighter cannot carry out an assigned task if he or she does not understand what is to be accomplished.
If the company fails in its assignment, the officer will find it difficult making the next situation report. The incident commander probably will become upset. In short, poor communications could lead to an unsatisfactory fire department performance.
Communications are the keystone of fireground operations. Employing good communications from start to end will lead to efficiency on the fireground and enable personnel to work cohesively toward the common goal.
