This is another discussion board that I originally wrote for my Principles of Emergency Services class and wanted to share here:
Although
we rather it not be this way, our reputation as a department is only as good as
how we managed the last incident we responded on. We might have the newest,
most beautiful station around, but, if the public perceives that we “screwed
up” on that fire on Cleveland Avenue the other day, that is what we will be
remembered for and judged on. Let’s take the fire pictured at left, as fire service
professionals – and, make no mistake, we are professionals – we know the deck
is stacked against us when we roll up and have a single-family dwelling
fully-involved. The general public does not understand that, they expect us to
be able to save the structure (and contents) regardless of what we encounter on
arrival.
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The heading above comes from Fire
Command by Alan Brunacini (ISBN 0877655006) and he is absolutely correct .
. . sometimes we make parking lots or, if it is a residential neighborhood,
green space (Brunacini, 2013). Never let
it be said this happens because we don’t try, but when you pull up and the
house is almost completely involved, it just does not bode well for a good
outcome. There are steps that we can take as Incident Commander’s to work
towards a favorable outcome (FireScope, 1994): 1) Remove endangered occupants
and treat the injured; 2) Stabilize the incident and provide for life safety;
3) Conserve property; and 4) Provide for the safety, accountability, and
welfare of personnel. (The latter is a
priority that must be ongoing for the duration of the incident.)
The management of incidents is often the standard by which
fire departments are judged. Is this the right standard?
Although
we rather it not be this way, our reputation as a department is only as good as
how we managed the last incident we responded on. We might have the newest,
most beautiful station around, but, if the public perceives that we “screwed
up” on that fire on Cleveland Avenue the other day, that is what we will be
remembered for and judged on. Let’s take the fire pictured at left, as fire service
professionals – and, make no mistake, we are professionals – we know the deck
is stacked against us when we roll up and have a single-family dwelling
fully-involved. The general public does not understand that, they expect us to
be able to save the structure (and contents) regardless of what we encounter on
arrival.
Sometimes we make parking lots
The heading above comes from Fire
Command by Alan Brunacini (ISBN 0877655006) and he is absolutely correct .
. . sometimes we make parking lots or, if it is a residential neighborhood,
green space (Brunacini, 2013). Never let
it be said this happens because we don’t try, but when you pull up and the
house is almost completely involved, it just does not bode well for a good
outcome. There are steps that we can take as Incident Commander’s to work
towards a favorable outcome (FireScope, 1994): 1) Remove endangered occupants
and treat the injured; 2) Stabilize the incident and provide for life safety;
3) Conserve property; and 4) Provide for the safety, accountability, and
welfare of personnel. (The latter is a
priority that must be ongoing for the duration of the incident.)
Functions of Command
In order to obtain the outcomes
listed above, the Incident Commander is the one who must drive his/her
command toward that end. To assist us in that task the ICS provides us with
functions of command that are imperative for us to utilize: 1) Assume and
announce the command and establish an effective operating position (Incident
Command Post); 2) Rapidly evaluate the situation (size up); 3) Initiate,
maintain, and control the communications process; 4) Identify an overall
strategy, develop an Incident Action Plan (IAP), and assign personnel in a way
that is consistent with plans and Standard Operating Guidelines; 5) Develop an effective
ICS organization; 6) Provide tactical objectives; 7) Review, evaluate, and revise
(as needed) the IAP; and 8) Provide for the continuity, transfer, and termination
of Command.
Reference
Brunacini,
A. (2013, February 01). National fire protection association. Retrieved
from http://nfpa.org Retrieved: August 25, 2013
Firefighting resources of California organized for potential
emergencies1994.
(1994, November 01). Retrieved from http://www.firescope.org/
Retrieved: August 25, 2013
