CIBOLO
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
Command procedures are designed to offer a practical framework for emergency operations and to effectively integrate the efforts of all members, officers, and companies. This will facilitate an organized and orderly tactical operation and a more effective effort.
It shall be the policy of this department that all members shall operate according to the National Incident Management System at all incidents.
A. The first Fire Department officer or member arriving on the scene shall be in command until relieved by an equal or higher ranking officer, and shall transmit a brief initial radio report including:
1. Unit identification. 2. A brief description of the situation found, where appropriate. This will generally apply to buildings and their occupancies, and any obvious fire conditions. 3. The department member in command. B. As higher-ranking officers arrive on the scene, they may assume command at their discretion. C. The incident commander will advise all companies operating at an incident of the officer in command. D. All multi-unit incidents will be designed by the name of the street, building or other feature unique to that incident. The Incident Commander and Dispatch to avoid confusion in the event of multiple incidents will use this designation. Example: "1103 Command to Schertz Dispatch" or "Schertz Dispatch to 1103 Command." E. Building side and exposure designations - Unless indicated otherwise by Command, the front of the building will be Side A, followed in a clockwise fashion by Side B, Side C, Side D, etc. The appropriate side letter followed by a number will identify exposures. Example: the second exposure on Side B is Exposure B-2. F. Radio Channels. Upon arriving at working incidents involving multiple units, Command will direct that all companies operate on Cibolo Fire channel. Single company operations and all traffic between Command and Dispatch will remain on Cibolo Fire channel. Mutual aid companies should be able to contact command on Cibolo Fire channel or Schertz Fire Primary. Guadalupe Fire Tac 2-4 are available also. The Fire Chiefs vehicle should have 2 handhelds with our channels available to mutual aid companies as well. G. Command. The Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for the following tasks: 1. Establishing command. 2. Protecting life and property.3. Assessing incident priorities. (Including a 360 ° walk around size-up)
4. Determining operational objectives. 5. Developing and implementing the Incident Action Plan. 6. Developing an appropriate organizational structure. 7. Maintaining a manageable span of control. 8. Managing incident resources 9. Coordinating overall emergency activities, including those of outside agencies 10. Authorizing the release of information to the media 11. Keeping track of costs. H. The Incident Commander will monitor and/or operate on both channels as necessary and his/her radio designation will be "Command". I. In order to facilitate the management of an incident, the incident commander may assign personnel to the following positions: 1. Command Staff - a. Information Officer - The Information Officer handles all media requests and coordinates the release of information to the media. b. Safety Officer - The Safety Officer monitors safety conditions and develops measures for ensuring the safety of all assigned personnel. c. Liaison Officer - The Liaison Officer is the on-scene contact for other agencies assigned to the incident. 2. General Staff - a. Operations Section - The Operations Section is responsible for directing and coordinating all operations, assisting the IC develop response goals and objectives, and implementing the incident action plan.
b. Planning Section - The Planning Section is responsible for the collection, evaluation, dissemination, and use of information about the development of the incident and status of resources. It may also be responsible for the development of incident action plans defining action and resource utilization for specified time periods.
c. Logistics Section - The Logistics Section is responsible for providing facilities, services and materials, including personnel to operate requested equipment.
d. Finance/Administration Section - The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for tracking incident costs and reimbursement accounting. I. The Sections may further subdivide as necessary in the following: 1. Branches - The organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility for major parts of the Operations and Logistics Sections. 2. Divisions - Divisions are used to divide incidents into geographic areas of operation. Example: Interior – Interior Division, 6th Floor - Division 6. 3. Groups - Groups are used to divide the incident into functional areas of operation, not necessarily within a single geographic division. Example: Ventilation Group, Triage Group 4. Units - Units are the organizational element having functional responsibility for specific activities in the Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration Sections. 5. Task Forces - Task Forces are combinations of different single resources assembled for a particular tactical need. Example: Two engines, a ladder, an ambulance and a chief. 6. Strike Teams - Strike Teams are combinations of the same kind and type of resources. Example: 3 engines. 7. Single resources - Single resources are typically a piece of equipment and its crew, or a team of individuals.