Fireground Basics

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Fireground Basics
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Topics

• Alarm Levels
• Equipment and function
• Box Cards
• Incident Command
• The role of Command and Division Officers
• MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System)

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Alarm Levels

• Alarms are predestinated response matrixes
  designed to ensure that adequate quantities of
  the desired equipment and personnel are available
  to rapidly allow the employment of sound incident
  mitigation tactics.

Alarm levels are developed based on commonly
accepted standards and past practice.
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Alarm Levels

• The response matrix is constructed based on
  companies
• Specific piece of apparatus with an established
  function
• Staffed with a minimum number of personnel having
  a agreed upon level of training

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Common Companies

• Engine Company
• Pump
• Water tank
• Hose

• The primary concern of the Engine Company is to
  get and sustain sufficient water to the fire area
  to extinguish the blaze.

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Common Companies

• Truck Company
• Aerial Ladder
• Ground Ladders
• Tools
• Overhaul
• Ventilation
• Forcible Entry
• May or may not have
• Pump
• Water tank
• Hose

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Common Companies

• Tenders
• In areas where water systems are unavailable,
  tenders are used to transport/shuttle water to
  the scene.

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Common Companies

• Squads
• Carry a variety of specialized tools
• Extrication
• Heavy lifting and rigging
• Specialized cutting
• Equipment for unique or uncommon situations
• May have SCBA cascade systems
• Personnel can be used to perform either engine or
  truck company functions or assigned to utilize
  their specialized tools.

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Common Companies

• Ambulances
• Advanced Life Support
• Staffed with Paramedics
• Basic Life Support
• Staffed with Emergency Medical Technicians

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BOX CARD
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Incident Command
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Incident Command

• Coordinate the Strategy
• Incident Commander -- Coach of the team
• Uses the playbook (SOG) to develop the strategy
  and ensure the tactical priorities are
  accomplished.
• Subdivides the command structure into manageable
  groups.
• Command Aids
• Operations / Fire Attack
• Safety
• Staging
• Rehab
• Chaplains
• Etc.
• The span of control is 5-7 workers.

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Incident Command

• Command Post
• Is the office of the incident commander
• Establishes the strategy for the incident
• Assigns companies to operational divisions
• Ensures that companies are available to complete
  the tasks
• Maintains Accountability
• Tracks the operation
• Maintains communications

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Incident Command

• Common Divisions Operations / Fire Attack
• Coordinates activities in the forward area (most
  cases, the front yard).
• Can be subdivided into multiple divisions
  depending on the need
• Division A,B,C,D
• Front Rear
• Fire Floor
• Lobby
• Floor Below
• Etc.

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Incident Command

• Common Divisions Safety
• Monitor operations to ensure the safety of the
  operating crews.
• Has authority to stop an activity or countermand
  an order if it appears to be in his/her
  estimation unsafe.

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Incident Command

• Common Divisions Staging
• Area for companies not currently assigned.
• A Staging Officer is assigned to this area who
  will track available companies, their
  capabilities and then deploy upon request.

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Incident Command

• Common Divisions Rehab
• Area where personnel who have been involved in
  the tactical operations can go to receive
  refreshments, re-hydrate, rest, and receive
  medical assessment.

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Incident Command

• Common Divisions Public Information Officer
• Provide information about the incident to the
  media.
• Allows the I/C to continue focusing on the
  incident without the interference of the media.

Chaplains should NEVER talk to the media about an
incident
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Incident Command

• Incident Command System can be expanded to meet
  the needs of the incident
• Logistics
• Finance
• Law Enforcement
• Public Works
• When the incident crosses jurisdictional lines
  (community/ community, fire/public works,
  fire/police) a Unified Command is established.
• Major incidents can escalate to include command
  from a remote site (Emergency Operation Centers)
  with several field Incident Command operations
  taking place simultaneously.

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National Incident Management System

• Homeland Security Presidential Directive Number
  5, issued February 2003, requires State and
  Federal Agencies to adopt by ordinance the
  National Incident Management System (NIMS) to
  qualify for federal preparedness assistance.
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive Number
  8, issued December 2003, defined the term first
  responder as all personnel with incident
  management responsibilities, and requires
  training under NIMS to the level of their job
  description.

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National Incident Management System
NIMS 100 NIMS 200 NIMS 300 NIMS 400 IS 700 IS 800 IS 702 (PIO)
First Responder
First Line Supervisor
Middle Manager
Command
Chaplains should complete NIMS IS 100, 200, 700
and 800
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National Incident Management System

• On-line training
• http//training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp

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MABAS

• Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
• Organized 1968 within a group of Northern
  Illinois suburbs of Chicago
• Currently has over 1200 member fire departments
  from Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana
  Iowa.

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MABAS

• The primary purpose of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm
  System is to coordinate the effective and
  efficient provision of mutual aid during
• Emergencies
• Natural Disasters
• Man Made Catastrophes

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MABAS Will Provide

• Immediate assistance of personnel and equipment.
• Response teams of Firefighters, EMS, Hazardous
  Materials, Technical Rescue, Water
  Rescue/Recovery, etc.
• Chaplains Within Division V, XII
• Access to specialized equipment.
• Standardized policies for mutual aid responses
• Communications
• Box Alarm Cards
• Incident Management System
• Personnel Accountability
• A contractual agreement covering responsibilities
  and liabilities for all member departments.

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Role of MABAS Influencing Organizations
Local Jurisdiction
Locally established or agreed upon policies are
utilized.
NFPA
IFC
Auto/Mutual Aid
NVFC
Policies established by the Division are utilized.
ITTF
MABAS Divisional Responses Interdivisional
Responses
Illinois Corp of Fire Chaplains
Policies established by Corporate MABAS are
utilized.
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THE END