FIRE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION

1. FIRE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION INTERMEDIATE: SFFMA OBJ – 1-02.01 – 1-02.05 16hrs credit received

2. Reasons for Incident Command • Standardized organizational structures, processes, and procedures • Standards of planning, training and exercising, and personnel qualification standards • Equipment acquisitions and certification standards • Interoperable communications processes, procedures, and systems • Information management systems • Supporting technologies – voice and data communications systems, information systems, data display systems, and specialized technologies

3. Five Functional Areas

4. Incident Command Responsibilities • Ultimately responsible for all incident activities, including the development and implementation of an Incident Action Plan (IAP) • Authority to call resources to the incident and to release them from it • IC may delegate authority to the Command Staff

5. Command Staff • Safety Officer • Monitors incident operations and advises the IC on all matters related to operational safety, including health and safety emergency responder personnel • Liaison Officer • Point of contact for other governmental and nongovernmental agencies and private sector organizations involved in the incident • Public Information Officer • Responsible for interfacing with the public and media

6. 4 Functional Areas of IC • Operations Section Chief (Ops) • Reports directly to the IC and is responsible for all activities focused on reducing the immediate hazard, saving lives and property • Ops directs the tactical operations to meet the strategic goal of the IAP • In large scale ops, Ops is responsible for staging area

7. 4 Functional Areas of IC • Logistics Section Chief (Logistics) • Responsible for all support requirements needed to facilitate effective and efficient incident management • Included is ordering resources from off-incident locations • Planning Section Chief (Plans) • Responsible for the collection, documentation, evaluation, and dissemination of incident situation information and intelligence to the IC • Tracks the status off all resources assigned to the incident and for developing the IAP for review and approval by the IC

8. 4 Functional Areas of IC • Finance Section Chief (Finance) • Established when the agencies involved require finance and other administrative support • Not all incidents require Finance Officer

9. ICS Terms • Assigned— Resources currently committed • Available — Resources checked-in and not assigned • Branch — Organizational level between Divisions/Groups and the IC and operations (Continued) Firefighter I

10. ICS Terms • Command— Function of directing, ordering, and controlling resources • Command Post — Location from which all incident operation are directed • Division — A geographic designation assigning responsibility for all operations within a defined area (Continued) Firefighter I

11. ICS Terms • Group— A functional designation • Incident Action Plan (IAP) — Written or unwritten plan for managing the emergency • Incident Commander (IC) — Officer in overall charge of the incident (Continued) Firefighter I

12. ICS Terms • Out-of-service— Resources not available • Resources — All personnel and major pieces of apparatus on scene or en route (Continued) Firefighter I

13. ICS Terms • Resource Status— Resources are in one of three status modes: • Available • Assigned • Out-of-service (Continued) Firefighter I

14. ICS Terms • Single Resource — Individual personnel and equipment teams • Strike Team — Set number of resources of the same kind and type • Strategic Mode — Determines positions for companies: offensive and defensive (Continued) Firefighter I

15. ICS Terms • Supervisor— Someone in command of a division or a group • Task Force— Any combination of resources assembled in support of a specific mission Firefighter I

16. Interaction With Emergency Medical Services • If fire department personnel do not provide EMS or medical transportation, they should develop a relationship with those who do • Firefighters must have appropriate level of first-aid training Firefighter I

17. Interaction With Hospitals • May operate ambulances and provide EMS; usually do not • Hospital personnel may be called to an emergency scene • Mass casualty incidents • Advanced life support • Serious entrapment Firefighter I

18. Interaction With Law Enforcement • Law enforcement and fire personnel must understand each other’s roles and priorities • Law enforcement may be present at fire scene • Firefighters may assist law enforcement Firefighter I

19. Interaction With Utility Companies • Many incidents involve utility providers (electricity, natural gas, and water) so fire personnel must have a good working relationship (Continued) Firefighter I

20. Interaction With Utility Companies • Fire units must coordinate with utilities on mutual responses • May have specially trained and equipped emergency response teams Firefighter I

21. Interaction With Media • NIMS-ICS includes a Public Information Officer for dealing with the media • Students should not make comments or express opinions; refer to PIO • Can play an important role in delivery of news based on an incident Firefighter I

22. Interaction With Other Agencies • Any possible contacts should be identified and a relationship established Examples: Public health departments, coroner/medical examiner’s officers, EPA Firefighter I

23. Practical Exercise • Instructor led ICS Scenario Trainer • Ensure all sections of ICS System are emplaced