Strike Team/Task Force Leader Problem Scenarios

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Strike Team/Task Force Leader Problem Scenarios
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Strike Team/Task Force Leader Problem Scenarios

• The following scenarios actually took place
• You will be presented with a problem
• Discuss some problem solving solutions as a group
• Then we will look at some possible resolutions

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Scenario 1

• Your XMA Strike Team arrives home safe after a 9
  day assignment
• 3 days later, one of the departments
  participating on the Strike Team informs you that
  their handheld radio was broken on the incident
  and wants to know how to get the incident to pay
  for the damage

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Scenario 1 - Resolution

• The agency was informed that unless the radio had
  been taken to COML for documentation of damages
  and processed through Compensation/Claims Unit on
  the incident, prior to demobilization, the
  incident is not responsible for the repairs

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Scenario 2

• The incident informs you at 1700 hours that they
  are demobilizing all local government resources
  and that you are to report to demob immediately
• You just got off of day shift
• Your travel time home is 6 hours

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Scenario 2 Resolution

• Contact your AREP
• You just got off of day shift and are entitled to
  rest prior to demobilization (This is a safety
  issue)
• Resources demobilized from an incident are to be
  at home no later than 2200 hours (This is per the
  California Mobilization Guidelines)
• In the absence of an AREP resolving this, you
  would go to the incident Liaison Officer or IC

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Scenario 3

• The STL, after checking in at the incident, goes
  to Comp/Claims to present them a bill for a tire
  repair that he paid for on another departments
  engine while en-route to the incident and wants
  to be reimbursed

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Scenario 3 Resolution

• The incident is not responsible for this
• Agencies must support their own resources while
  en-route to and returning from an incident per
  the California Fire Assistance Agreement
• This should have been presented to the AREP
  before going to Comp/Claims

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Scenario 6

• Your Strike Team has been assembled for an
  assignment to Southern California
• While making your first meal stop, one of the
  engines informs you that they do not have the
  ability to pay for any food

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Scenario 6 - Resolution

• Make contact with the agency involved and see if
  you can be reimbursed
• Agencies participating in these events should be
  prepared for logistics while en-route to and
  returning from an incident
• This could have been caught at an assembly
  briefing
• This should be something covered in pre-season
  readiness exercises

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Scenario 7

• During mechanical demobilization, you are
  informed that one of the local government engines
  has been red tagged and cannot be driven home

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Scenario 7 - Resolution

• This happens with some frequency
• Determine nature of problem (worn tires, brakes,
  steering, etc)
• Notify AREP for determination of incident
  responsibility or logistical support needed to
  initiate repairs if possible
• Coordination with home agency, payment
  authorization and alternate travel home

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Scenario 8

• One of the OES engines on your Strike Team is
  being repaired on the incident
• Your Strike Team is re-dispatched to another
  incident

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Scenario 8 - Resolution

• Make sure that repairs are going to be done on
  the incident and that the incident will provide
  logistical support for the crew
• Notify AREP
• Provide contact information to the engine crew
  and have them form up with you at the new
  incident when repairs are complete
• You will have some F-42 issues to deal with

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Scenario 10

• Your Strike Team is involved in a large
  mobilization in California with numerous fires
• Youve been sleeping on the ground with no cover
  for the last 5 days
• Cold night temperatures and weather are predicted
  to move in
• Your crew is complaining of lack of sleep

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Scenario 10 - Resolution

• Contact your AREP to see if provisions can be
  made to resolve this situation
• Contact ground support to see if tents, tarps,
  heaters or other items are available for you to
  use in supply
• Motels may be an option if they are available
  through the incident
• Be resourceful with this problem, there are a lot
  of ways to potentially solve this

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Scenario 11

• You have exhausted all efforts to resolve the
  rest issues from before
• Your crew has informed you that they are willing
  to stay in Motels on their own dime for one night
  to rest and clean up

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Scenario 11 - Resolution

• Inform your AREP of the situation
• Make sure the incident (Plans) is aware of your
  location
• Be responsible for your actions while off shift
  (Youre still on the clock)
• Report in a timely manner to your next briefing

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Scenario 12

• While on an out of county Strike Team response
  with local government engines, your Fire Chief
  calls you to inform you that they are
  experiencing numerous fires at home and want
  (demanded) you to be released from the incident
  to come home

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Scenario 12 - Resolution

• Contact your AREP or incident Liaison Officer
  immediately and inform them of this situation
• Most Fire Chiefs understand the participation
  parameters of the California Fire Rescue Mutual
  Aid System, but this can happen
• In most cases, efforts will be made to
  accommodate this request
• Notifications will need to be made to OES, Region
  and Operational Area Coordinators

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Scenario 13

• Upon completing your mechanical demobilization,
  you are informed that the Water Tender operator
  on your Task Force is not properly licensed

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Scenario 13 - Resolution

• Verify that this information is correct
• Determine if there is a relief operator from
  another resource on your Task Force
• Inform your AREP of the situation
• Coordination may need to take place with the home
  agency to provide an operator if necessary

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Scenario 14

• The incident has put your Strike Team up in a
  motel for the night
• You discover that several of the engine crews are
  eating pizza and drinking beer out by the motel
  pool

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Scenario 14 - Resolution

• You need to inform the crew that this practice is
  unacceptable and that even though they are off
  shift, they are still on the clock
• This kind of event leads to bad publicity and has
  been the reason for Strike Teams being sent home
• Different rules for different folks
• Strike Team Code of Conduct

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Scenario 15

• Your OES engine Strike Team has been assigned to
  a subdivision several miles away from a fire that
  has been controlled
• Crewmembers from various engines are not in full
  PPE and some are sitting on lawn chairs in full
  view

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Scenario 15 - Resolution

• Remind your folks that you are on a shift plan
  and as such, PPE is required
• Remember that your folks are flying the flag of
  their organization at home as well as that of the
  State of California and need to act
  professionally
• Training opportunities present themselves well
  here
• Out of sight, out of mind

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Scenario 16

• Your engine strike team had 1000 feet of hose
  burned on a division
• You have informed your DIVS
• Upon demob, supply informs you that they do not
  have any hose

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Scenario 16 - Resolution

• Make sure you have proper documentation from the
  incident that will enable you to purchase the
  hose once you return home
• This usually involves a purchase order being
  authorized by the incident

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Scenario 17

• The medical unit leader informs you that a member
  of your strike team came in to see if they could
  re-fill a prescription of Vicodin pain medicine

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Scenario 17 - Resolution

• Vicodin is an opiate drug that should raise some
  red flags
• Who is taking this Why are they taking this
  Why did this person keep you out of the loop?
• In one actual case, it was determined that the
  person needed this medicine at night and a
  prescription was filled and administered nightly
  by the Medical Unit.

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Scenario 19

• You are assigned to a Structure Protection Group
  and moving into an area where numerous homes are
  present, per the Group Supervisor
• While traveling into the area, you discover that
  the DIVS is pulling their people out of the same
  area

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Scenario 19 - Resolution

• There may be a disconnect here between the
  Group Supervisors
• Make every attempt to get them together for the
  purposes of updating intelligence
• This disconnect happens with some frequency
• Make sure you are applying risk assessment to
  situations like this

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Scenario 20

• Youre assigned to an incident that is utilizing
  sleeping trailers
• You made reservations for your ST to rest the day
  before
• You arrive to find that your name has been
  removed from the list

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Scenario 20 - Resolution

• This has happened especially when there are more
  crews to sleep than there are trailers
• Operations or Facilities has prioritized those
  resources who need rest
• Youll need to take this up with your AREP or
  Liaison

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Scenario 21

• One engine of your OES strike team is staffed
  with personnel from CDF.
• They inform you that they have been able to shag
  motel rooms for the strike team.

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Scenario 21 - Resolution

• Does this ever happen?
• Is the incident aware of this and was it done
  with full disclosure? Does the motel unit think
  they just put up a CDF strike team?
• Never ever split up the strike team.
• Question Where do labor contracts fit into this?

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Scenario 22

• Your strike team is off shift. Sleeping
  accommodations at incident base are less than
  desirable.
• You re-con a park with some lawn and shade in an
  out of the way place several miles from incident
  base.
• You inform your AREP that you will be doing your
  R R there and leave your cell phone number.

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Scenario 22 - Resolution

• Does this ever happen?
• What would happen if your strike team caused
  property damage at this location?
• What would you do about permissions from the
  landowner?
• With everything good about this, something just
  as bad can come of it.

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Scenario 23

• Your strike team received a motel slip for rooms
  for your strike team.
• You arrive at the hotel at 2300 hours and they
  have over-sold the rooms leaving you one room
  short.
• Your attempt to contact the incident regarding
  this was unsuccessful.
• You had to purchase a room at another facility.

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Scenario 23 - Resolution

• You resolved the problem by purchasing a room at
  another facility.
• Youll need to tell the Motel Unit at the
  incident what happened.
• You will have to process a comp/claims form to
  get reimbursement.

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