By Raul A. Angulo
At the 2000 Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Conference, the top five causes of fireground deaths, according to NIOSH statistics, were:
- Lack of Incident Command
- Inadequate Risk Assessment
- Lack of Firefighter Accountability
- Inadequate Communications
- Lack of Standard Operating Procedures
What has changed in the past three years? Have we seen a significant improvement in these areas? September 11 dominated the national fire scene for the past two years, so where are we with these issues?
In my opinion, anytime fires “go wrong,” communications (or the lack of) seems to be the number one problem. Another leading factor is the lack of a strong incident command system (ICS). There’s been a huge emphasis on improving incident command and reteaching ICS to firefighters. The Seattle (WA) Fire Department uses IMS, The Incident Management System Model Procedures Guide for Structural Firefighting developed by the National Fire Service Incident Management System Consortium.
No matter what system your fire department uses, there’s a greater expectation for the first-in company officer to take command and set up the fireground for the first-in units by giving them initial assignments. It depends on the situation and the number of firefighters on scene as to whether you’re going in to help your crew on the initial attack or stay outside and run the fire (i.e., two-in/two-out). In either case, a chief officer will soon arrive on-scene, and you will probably transfer command. If you’re a battalion chief and this is a significant fire, you will most likely transfer command to a ranking chief officer.
The previous fire chief in Seattle, James Sewell, had a list of fireground information he wanted when he arrived at the scene of a major emergency or a multiple-alarm fire. The criteria were well thought out and follow a logical thought process for command. All firefighters should learn this so when they become the initial IC, this thought process becomes second nature. I believe this list was only circulated at the battalion chief level and never made it to the troops. I added a few items, but it’s worth reviewing before it disappears along with retiring fire chiefs.
The information at transfer of command should include:
- Status report: What’s going on?
- Current incident conditions
- Extent of the fire
- Problems that you have encountered
- What is your strategy?
- Offensive
- Defensive
- Transitional
- What mode are you in?
- Investigative
- Fast attack
- Command
- A simple drawing of your IC structure, including the company assignments and where crews are located.
- The IC staying at the command post.
- Is the accountability system in place and actively being used?
- Are there any safety considerations?
- Is anyone injured?
- Civilian or firefighter?
- Status of injuries
- Where were they transported?
- What is your current incident action plan/quick action plan? What is the plan for the next operational period 15 to 20 minutes from now? (This plan does not have to be written down during the initial stages of the incident, but you should be able to verbalize it.)
- What are your tactical objectives? Maintain a tactical worksheet.
- Are there any resources needed at this time?
- What can staff officers do right now to help?
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
- What can be said?
- What has been said?
- Where do you want the PIO and the press?
A note on passport accountability: The IC should collect all staff passports from the fire chief, assistant chiefs, special operations, fire prevention inspectors, PIO, etc. If personnel are going to be on the fireground, they will need their passports because you will have to account for them. As IC, you are responsible for the whereabouts and safety of all personnel on the fireground.
Don’t look at this as another checkoff list to memorize. If you study it and refer to it once in awhile, you will see it is a thorough, organized, and systematic approach to relaying pertinent information during the transfer of command.
Raul A. Angulo, a 23-year veteran of the fire service, is captain of Seattle (WA) Fire Department Engine Co. 33. He is on the educational advisory boards for FDIC and FDIC WEST. Angulo is an instructor in company officer development, fire service leadership, and fireground strategy and tactics. He is president of theFellowship of Christian Firefighters, Seattle-Puget Sound Chapter.
