M.A.B.A.S. for Telecommunicators Presented by Tammy Kleveno, M.A.B.A.S. Coordinator

1. M.A.B.A.S. for Telecommunicators Presented by Tammy Kleveno, M.A.B.A.S. Coordinator Tkleveno@geneva.il.us Jodi Stevens, Training Coordinator Jstevens@geneva.il.us Tri-Com Central Dispatch 630-232-4739 www.geneva.il.us/tricom/tri_com

2. Presentation Objectives… • What is M.A.B.A.S.? • Responsibilities of Communications • Dispatch Procedures • Emergency Traffic Procedure/ R.I.T. Teams • State-Wide Emergency Response Plan • Modifying Your Resources

3. What IS MABAS ? • Mutual Aid Box Alarm System • Pre-determined systematic response of man power & equipment to the scene of any fire department emergency that has potential to exhaust the resources of a stricken community.

4. What Can MABAS Provide? • Immediate assistance of personnel & equipment to the scene of an emergency. • Access to specialized equipment, manpower & antidotes. • Standardized policies, procedures and terminology for mutual aid responses. • A single contractual agreement covering responsibilities and liabilities for all it’s members.

5. M.A.B.A.S.… is notintended to relieve a community of its responsibility to provide an adequate first line of defense for all local emergencies. This is known as the 80/20 Rule.

6. History of M.A.B.A.S… • 1968 Elk Grove Fire Department modified Chicago Fire Department’s Box Card system for suburban areas. • MABAS expanded to include departments of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. • Currently agencies from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri participate in MABAS. (750 Illinois and 78 Wisconsin Fire Departments, EMS Departments Fire Protection Districts, and Emergency Management Agencies) • Participating departments are organized into “Divisions”. Currently there are 42 Divisions.

7. Division Communications • Each MABAS division is assigned a primary dispatch center and a back-up dispatch center. • Fire Departments - Know which MABAS Communication Center to contact for a Box Alarm request. • Local Communication Centers – Know which MABAS dispatch center to contact if asked by Incident Command. • MABAS Communication Centers – Know which fire departments your agency or Communication center is responsible for.

8. Incident Communications • Coordinated by MABAS Dispatch Center • Incident Command / On-Scene Communications • Simple Language • NO Codes or Agency Specific Terminology • Remember: Interacting with multiple departments - identify using dept. name, type of apparatus, and unit number.

9. MABAS Response for Local Communications Centers • LISTEN to MABAS dispatch. • ACKNOWLEDGE request. • DISPATCH local department(s) due. • VERIFY correct response. • ADVISE units to switch to IFERN

10. I.F.E.R.N… • Interagency Fire Emergency Radio Network. • Previously known as N.I.F.E.R.N. • Designated for INTER-DEPARTMENTAL use during fire emergencies with the inception of the MABAS program (1968). • Name was changed with expansion of MABAS and the move to make MABAS a State-Wide program. • Purpose – To allow multiple departments access to a common radio channel for communications. • Frequency - 154.265 MHz

12. How is M.A.B.A.S. initiated • Local Fire Department • Arrives on scene • Establishes Incident Command & Staging Location • Assesses situation • Asks for mutual aid • Incident Command • Select MABAS Box • On IFERN, contacts MABAS Communications Center • MABAS Communications Center alerts local departments

13. Box Alarm Flow Chart

14. Dispatch Procedures… Be sure to obtain the following information: • Name of Department requesting the Box • Location of Incident • Box Number and Level • Type of Incident • Staging Area/Command Post “Mr. 911” Locate the appropriate Box Card and Fill Out Your Dispatch Procedure Form (Mad-Lib)

15. Dispatch Procedures… THE TONES The MABAS Tones must be activated for each level increase and when the box is struck.

16. Equipment Move Ups… • Local Communications Center should notify you A.S.A.P. if equipment is unavailable. • Equipment that is unavailable to respond on the box will generally be replaced. (check local protocol) • Notify Incident Command if equipment cannot respond. Command may reassess and not need replacement. • Replacement equipment must be “moved up” from the next level.

17. Interdivisional Box Cards • Your MABAS Division should have pre-designated Interdivisional Box Cards. • Each card should be designed to assist in sending the closest equipment needed to surrounding MABAS Divisions. • The dispatcher will need to use common sense in sending the closest departments to the incident. Advise Command which units are responding.

18. The terms EMERGENCY TRAFFIC and/or MAYDAY will be used to clear radio traffic immediately. These terms are used for EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS,FIREFIGHTER DOWN, MISSING or TRAPPED. The Dispatch Center will clear the air with a distinct tone to allow for the Emergency Traffic. These terms are currently being defined by the MABAS Executive Committee for future uniform use. “Mayday” and Emergency Traffic

19. Rapid Intervention Teams (R.I.T.) • Teams used to initiate rescue action plans in the event of a Firefighter Emergency. • Minimum of 4 rescuers. • Members assigned to R.I.T. shall remain in a state of readiness for rapid deployment and not engage in routine firefighting activities. • Additional members shall be assigned as a R.I.T. in the event 1st team is used by Incident Command.

20. Statewide Mutual Aid Plan • MABAS partnered with the ITTF (Illinois Terrorism Task Force) in 2000. • In 2001 a memorandum of understanding was signed between MABAS and IEMA (Illinois Emergency Management Agency) to work together as counterparts during a declaration of disaster. • This agreement lets Fire/EMS resources function as a state asset in the event of a natural disaster or act of domestic terrorism. • Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Chemical Antidotes, Biological Medication, Communications and Paramedic Personnel are some of the specialized response plans available.

21. MABAS Divisions will receive a phone call from RED CENTER requesting Statewide aid from that Division. • The MABAS Division will call any Local Communication centers to advise which Statewide Mutual Aid has been requested • The Communication center will use their local procedure to dispatch a “Statewide_________Mutual Aid” and indicate equipment that is due to respond. • Responding departments will acknowledge and go en route to pre-designated staging area on their local frequency. • The Local Communication center will contact the MABAS Division by phone to advise when units are at staging. • The MABAS Division will contact RED CENTER when the entire package is complete and responding to incident staging.

22. What is a “Package”? • A “Package” is a pre-designated number of apparatus and personnel designed to assist a community with a “Statewide” emergency without depleting it’s own Division resources. • Division Chiefs should have predetermined which departments will send equipment. • Example: Task Force = 2 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Squad, 3 Ambulances and 1 Chief. • It is important that the equipment be staffed with at least the minimum number of personnel and no more than the maximum.

23. Fire Department Box Card

24. New Box Card Format for Dispatch Batavia Fire DepartmentBox Alarm Number: 3910 Incident: SOUTHEAST- Raddant Rd & East – South of Wilson 1st Box Agency: Equipment/Personnel: Destination: Rd.)

25. Dispatch Procedure Form a.k.a.(Mad-Lib) MABAS Dispatch Procedure Form Info to obtain for box alarm: Requesting Agency________________________________________ Box Alarm Number_________________________________________ Box Level________________________________________________ (1st, 2nd, etc.) Type of Incident___________________________________________ (Structure Fire, Chemical Spill, etc.) Location_________________________________________________ (Address/Business Name, Intersection, etc.) Staging Area/Command Post________________________________________ “THIS IS MABAS DIVISION 13 TO ALL LOCALS. THE ____________FIRE • (Agency) DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING MABAS BOX NUMBER___________TO THE______________LEVEL, FOR A_________________________________ (1st,2nd,etc.) (Incident Type) AT_________________________________. (Location) THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS ARE DUE TO RESPOND: (Read List of Departments/Equipment/Personnel and Destinations from Box Card) STAGING WILL BE AT________________________, ALL DEPARTMENTS (Staging Area) DUE TO RESPOND, SWITCH TO AND ACKNOWLEDGE MABAS DIVISION 13 ON IFERN (Your call sign e.g. KNBG264).”

26. Strike Out Procedure MABAS Dispatch Strike-Out Form • Select on the IFERN Frequency. • Transmit MABAS tone. • Announce the following: THIS IS MABAS DIVISION 13 TO ALL LOCALS. THE ______________FIRE (Agency) DEPARTMENT HAS STRUCK OUT MABAS BOX NUMBER ____________, ON THE AUTHORITY OF ______________________.(Repeat Message) (Name, or ‘Incident Command’) (Your Call Sign) Note: Equipment or Personnel who may be en route to the incident at the time of the strike-out are still due to respond and should not be returned.

27. The most current resources available were used to prepare this program. While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this presentation, errors and omissions are possible. Neither the presenters nor the MABAS organization, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, or State of Illinois offices (IEMA, OFSM, IDPH) are responsible for the accuracy of the material. Because MABAS is continuously expanding, the list of participating agencies and dispatch centers should not be considered all-inclusive. Special Thanks to: Chief Jay Reardon, Northbrook Fire Department MABAS Division 13 Chiefs and participating departments Tri-Com Central Dispatch Leigh Crowell, Jim Jones “Mr. 911”, Dave Korf, Tom Lentz, Nicole Nania and Tina Webber Pete Collins, City of Geneva And anyone else we forgot to recognize that helped make this presentation possible…we thank you!