chapter 13

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Introduction to Fire Protection 3rd EditionRobert Klinoff

Introduction to Fire Protection3rd Edition



Chapter 13

Emergency Incident Management



Objectives

• Explain the need for a plan at every incident• Differentiate between offensive, defensive, and

transition modes of attack• Explain the need for organized thought

processes in incident assessment• Describe the strategic priorities at an incident• Explain the terms strategy, tactics, and tasks



Objectives (con’t.)

• Explain the need for size-up of an incident• Explain how a size-up is performed and what

information must be communicated• Describe the NIIMS Incident Command System• Explain the need for unified command on a

multijurisdictional incident



Introduction

• Every firefighter at a scene is responsible for assisting in the control of the incident– Size-up the incident

– Apply strategic priorities in proper order

– Assist person in command

• Incident command system aids in effective management– Presents structures that are adaptable to all

types of incidents



Management Responsibility

• First-in officer initiates the plan• All firefighters at scene must:

– Remain alert

– Be aware of the plan and the hazards present

• Standard rule– “Victims do not arrive at the scene in fire trucks”



Incident Planning

• Every incident must have a plan• Establish objectives first• Determine strategies to accomplish objectives• Plans must be flexible to address changes in

the incident as it progresses



Incident Planning (con’t.)

• Operational modes– Offensive

• Aggressive, direct attack

– Defensive• Protecting exposures, indirect attack

– Transition• Using different modes on areas of incident• Coordinate to avoid conflicting tactics• Requires clear communication



Strategic Priorities

• Seven areas– Rescue

– Exposures

– Confinement

– Extinguishment

– Overhaul

– Salvage

– Ventilation



Strategic Priorities (con’t.)

• Rescue– This is first strategic priority

– May have to be delayed while hose lines are placed between victims and fire

• Exposures– Prevent fire from spreading to adjoining

structures or improvements




• Confinement– Attack from unburned toward burned

– Cut off spread of fire

• Extinguishment– Putting fire out or stopping leak of hazardous

materials

• Overhaul– Search for hidden fire

– Make sure all fire is out




• Salvage– Save contents of building from additional

damage

– May be concurrent with other operations

• Ventilation– May have to happen before any of the other

priorities are attempted

– Can be performed at any time during operation



Tactics

• Methods to accomplish objectives– Interior search

– Laying supply lines

– Advancing hose lines to seat of fire

– Cutting holes in roof to release smoke and heat

– Spreading salvage covers



Tasks

• Jobs completed in a specified amount of time– Don SCBA

– Advance hose lines

– Raise (throw) ladders

– Cut holes

– Operate equipment



Size-Up

• Ongoing mental process that results in a plan• Components

– Facts

– Probabilities

– Situation

– Decision

– Plan of operation



Size-Up (con’t.)

• Continues as operations are carried out because situations change

• Always critique incidents afterward– Look for what went right

– Look for what went wrong

– Don’t make the same mistakes twice



Vegetation Fire Size-Up / Report of Conditions

• Correct location• Size• Fuel type• Slope and aspect• Rate of spread



Vegetation Fire Size-Up / Report of Conditions (con’t.)

• Exposures in path• Weather conditions• Potential of the fire• Additional resources needed• Objectives



Structure Fire Size-Up / Report of Conditions

• Correct location• Height/stories• Size and type of structure• Location and area involved• Level of involvement



Structure Fire Size-Up / Report of Conditions (con’t.)

• Exposures• Potential of fire• Additional resources needed• Objectives• Obtain an “all clear”



Incident Command System

• National Incident Management System (NIMS)– Created under HSPD-5 (Management of

Domestic Incidents)

– Compliance of all federal agencies and departments

– To prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents



Incident Command System (con’t.)

• National Incident Management System (NIMS) (con’t.)– Five components

• Incident Command System (ICS)• Preparedness• Communications and Information Management• Joint Information Systems (JIS)• NIMS Integration Center (NIC)




• National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS)– Provides a common system for federal, state,

and local levels

• National Interagency Fire Qualification System (NIFQS)– Qualification, training, and certification of

personnel




• ICS– System based on “Principles of Command” (see

Chapter 7) – Basic organizational structure for all types of

emergencies

– Large or small incidents

– Simple or complex in nature



• Common terminology– For organizational functions, resource elements,

and facilities

• Modular organization (see Figure 13-1)– Expands and contracts in a logical manner

• Integrated communications– Uses clear text (no codes)

Components of the ICS



Components of the ICS(con’t.)

• Unified command structure– Regardless of jurisdiction or function

• Consolidated action plans– Unified objectives

• Manageable span of control– 3 to 7 with 5 the optimum

• Predesignated incident facilities– Base, camp, Incident Command Post



Components of the ICS(con’t.)

• Comprehensive resource management– Single resource, task force, strike team

• Resource status– Assigned: in use at the incident

– Available: able to respond in three minutes or less

– Out-of-service: not ready for immediate deployment; may be in base or camp



Organization

• Five areas of ICS– Command

– Operations

– Plans

– Logistics

– Finance



Organization (con’t.)

• Command– Incident commander and command staff

– Safety officer

– Liaison officer

– Public information officer




• Operations– Operations chief and subordinates

– Staging area manager

– Branch director

– Division: based on geography

– Group: functional in nature, may cross divisional boundaries




• Plans– Plans chief and staff

– Resources unit

– Situation unit

– Documentation unit

– Demobilization unit

– Technical specialists




• Logistics– Logistics chief

– Service branch

– Supply branch




• Finance– Finance chief

– Time unit

– Procurement unit

– Compensation/claims unit

– Cost unit

– Incident type sections




• Advantages of ICS– All positions are identified before incident

happens

– Personnel that staff positions are ready to assume positions

– Teams can be brought in from different locations because of standardization

– Adaptable to any type of incident



Summary

• At any incident, ask three questions:– What do you have?– What do you need?– What is your plan?

• Effective management requires a plan– Includes strategies, tactics, and size-up

• Incident command system is a method of placing a plan into operation

chapter 13

Business

incident size

incident planning

niims incident command

incident assessment

multijurisdictional

incident command post

emergency incident management

areas of incident coordinate