304. Incident Command Procedure
An example of the localized incident command structure.
304.1 Incident Roles
Appointment of Specialized Roles: Depending on the experience of the Incident Commander, the amount of available personnel; experience in the relationship of similar events or incidents regarding the active working conditions- The Incident Commander at any time may appoint specific personnel to any of the following positions below; Assuming they're certified and considered 'competent' to fulfill their roles responsibly. Note; It is very important to choose qualified personnel over personal benefits or values such as mutual favors or friends. As it may serve an impact reminder of why picking qualified personnel is the safest best for any Incident Commander.
Division / Section Chief (DC/SC): The ICS title for individuals responsible for the management of functional sections or districts assigned to a locality, and may monitor or directly command a major incident depending on the need of Command Resources. Section or Division Chiefs may specialize in a certain section of their localized responsibility; Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration.
Battalion Chief (BC): The ICS title for individuals responsible for the management of functional sections or districts assigned to a locality. Section or Division Chiefs may specialize in a certain section of their localized responsibility; Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration.
Safety Officer (SOFR): In ICS, a member of the Incident Command Staff is responsible for monitoring incident operations and advising the Incident Commander or Unified Command on all matters relating to operational safety, including the health and safety of incident personnel. The Safety Officer modifies or stops the work of personnel to prevent unsafe acts. The delegated Safety Officer is obligated to stop, halt or delay operations that will or can cause further deliberate harm to property, life, or the environment. Furthermore; regardless of the rank or occupation of a member or personnel of a respected agency; the safety officer must ensure all proper PPE and equipment is correct, safe , and maintained for the duration of the incident, operation, disaster, or other criteria.
EMS Coordinator (EMCO): The Incident Command System title for an individual responsible for an appointed EMS Officer responsible for the management of all government or third-party EMS resources; such as Private EMS Organizations.
Apparatus Officer (A/O): In ICS; The Apparatus Officer (Disparate from 'A/O - Apparatus Operator') identified as 'A/O' is typically the first person to have first incident-command until the proper command structure below can be established. It is also the most vital stage in the creation of an Incident Command System for an incident requiring potentially large sources or resources to one specific area, scene, checking, or containment of a hazard, destructive device, or natural harm towards an environment or eco-system.
The Apparatus Officer must complete the following steps to ensure proper procedure is being followed to maintain order to chaos. The following steps are:
[CORRECT] Begin immediate preparations for additional resources, and locate hydrants and other facility utilities that may assist or hinder operations.
[CORRECT] Begin Evacuations (If Applicable) to a remote area, and establish safe zones and areas of offense to a hazard.
[CORRECT] Perform a 360-degree observation of the area of operation; report findings.
[INCORRECT] Begin Operations outside of your scope of responsibility; I.E- Fighting Fire when managing a scene.
Whilst extinguishing flames is important, and preventing damage to life and property is an absolute must- The role of an officer is to determine on incidents if whether or not an escalation of response is necessary to resolve the incident.
An example of the incident command structure for a major disaster activation or incident.
304.2 Incident Command System (ICS) Terminology
DEFINITION. Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of on-scene incident management, providing a common hierarchy within which personnel from multiple organizations can be effective. The Incident Command System is apart of the National Incident Management System, or NIMS. NIMS is a crucial tool for incident commanders to inform, notify, track and update information on a long or short-range basis where it is necessary. Some specialized divisions within several levels of Law Enforcement use NIMS as a way to coordinate with countering Arson, Terrorism, and natural disasters.
Access and Functional Needs: Individual circumstances requiring assistance, accommodation, or modification for mobility, communication, transportation, safety, health maintenance, etc., due to any temporary or permanent situation that limits an individual’s ability to take action in an emergency.
Agency: A government element with a specific function offering a particular kind of assistance.
Agency Administrator/Executive: The official responsible for administering policy for an agency or jurisdiction.
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE: A person assigned by a primary, assisting, or cooperating local, state, tribal, territorial, or Federal Government agency, or nongovernmental or private organization, who has authority to make decisions affecting that agency’s or organization’s participation in incident management activities following appropriate consultation with that agency’s leadership.
AREA COMMAND An organization that oversees the management of multiple incidents or oversees the management of a very large or evolving situation with multiple ICS organizations.
ASSIGNED RESOURCE. A resource that has been checked in and assigned work tasks on an incident. Assignment: A task given to a person or team to perform based on operational objectives defined in the IAP. Assistant: A title for subordinates of principal Command Staff and EOC director’s staff positions. The title indicates a level of technical capability, qualification, and responsibility subordinate to the primary positions. Assistants may also be assigned to unit leaders.
ASSISTING AGENCY. An agency or organization providing personnel, services, or other resources to the agency with direct responsibility for incident management.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION (AHJ). An entity that has the authority and responsibility for developing, implementing, maintaining, and overseeing the qualification process within its organization or jurisdiction. This may be a state or Federal agency, training commission, NGO, private sector company, or a tribal or local agency such as a police, fire, or public works department. In some cases, the AHJ may provide support to multiple disciplines that collaborate as a part of a team (e.g., an IMT)
304.3 Incident Resource Composition and Types
Division: The organizational level having responsibility for operations within a defined geographic area. Divisions are established when the number of resources exceeds the manageable span of control of the Section Chief.
Group: An organizational subdivision established to divide the incident management structure into functional areas of operation. Groups are composed of resources assembled to perform a special function not necessarily within a single geographic area. See also Division.
COMPANY / UNIT: A company is a basic unit within a fire department. An apparatus (a fire engine for example) and the crew of firefighters and emergency services personnel that operates it, make up a company (sometimes referred to as an engine or truck company, squad or brush company.) Note: Rescue Companies are NOT Rescue Ambulances.
Regional Task Force: A series of divisions, battalions, stations, units, or even full departments coordinated under one command structure provided by the state's fire agency; such in this case would be SANFIRE. Task Forces unite all the respective departments under one unified command structure to better organize, communicate, train, and defuse dangerous incidents.