United States Fire Administration Chief Officer Training Curriculum Operations Module 1: Application of the ICS

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-2 Objectives  Identify ICS functions, elements, and responsibilities  Define command presence, assuming command, transferring command, and establishing a Command Post (CP)  Develop a basic ICS organization for an emergency incident  Develop an extended ICS organization for a major emergency incident

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-3 Overview  ICS overview  ICS major functions –Command –Operations –Planning –Logistics –Finance/administration  ICS management techniques

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-4 History of the ICS  Before 1970: department-specific  Past 30 years: –FIRESCOPE ICS –Fire Ground Command (FGC) –Combinations of ICS and FGC –National Fire Service Incident Management System Consortium

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-5 FIRESCOPE  Catalyst: wildland/urban interface fires in 1970's  Adapted to structural firefighting and “all-risk” incidents  Flexible model: –Any type or size incident –Any department or agency

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-6 Need for ICS  In your department: –Safer, better handling of incidents –Professional approach –More effective use of resources

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-7 Expanded Incidents  Simple ICS organization at routine incidents  Expanding incident cues ICS transition  ICS organization expands with needs –Modular design –Delegation of command responsibility

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-8 ICS Command and General Staff Positions

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-9 Command  Determines strategies  Selects tactics  Sets the Incident Action Plan (IAP)  Develops the ICS organization  Manages/coordinates resources  Provides for safety  Releases information  Coordinates resource activities

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-10 Unified Command A unified team effort that allows all agencies with responsibility for the incident, either geographical or functional, to manage the incident by establishing a common set of incident objectives and strategies without losing or abdicating agency authority, responsibility, or accountability.

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-11 Unified Command  Cues: multiple agencies/jurisdictions  Selection of participants: –Legal responsibilities –Location of incident –Type of incident –Previous training and experience  All participants contribute to the command process

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-12 Command Staff  Scene Safety  Authority to take action  Interface with agencies  Liaison area  Information and media  Information area

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-13 ICS General Staff Positions SAFETY LIAISON INFORMATION OPERATIONS COMMAND PLANNINGLOGISTICS FINANCE/ ADMINISTRATION

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-14 Operations  Manages all resources directly engaged in incident operations  Determines and directs tactical operations  Allocates and assigns resources  Assists in developing the action plan

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-15 Operations (continued)  When to staff: –Complex incidents (20+ units) –IC must focus on “big picture”  When Operations is staffed: –IC does strategies –Ops does tactics

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-16 Planning  Collects and evaluates information  Records resource status  Documents the incident  Assists in developing the action plan

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-17 Planning (continued)  When to staff: –When the IC needs assistance at the Command Post –On complex incidents where analysis and strategic planning are too time-consuming

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-18 Logistics  Provides facilities, services, and materials to support incident operations  Assists in developing the action plan

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-19 Logistics (continued)  When to staff: –When service and support functions are required to maintain operational forces –On complex, resource-intensive incidents –On incidents that will extend for a long time

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-20 Finance/Administration  Responsible for all financial and legal aspects of the incident  When to staff: –Abnormal costs are encountered –Reimbursement is possible

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-21 Delegating Responsibilities The IC:  Is responsible for any functions not delegated  Has ultimate responsibility to ensure all incident requirements are met

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-22 The Operations Section A CLOSER LOOK

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-23 Single Resources and Crews  Single resource: individual company  Crew: personnel without apparatus ENGINE 2CREW COMMAND RIC ENGINE 2 CREW OPERATIONS COMMAND RIC

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-24 Task Force/Strike Team  Task force: group of single resources  Strike teams: same-type resources STRIKE TEAM TASK FORCE COMMAND RIC TASK FORCE STRIKE TEAM OPERATIONS COMMAND RIC

Task Force Example

Strike Team Example

 Fire involves 25% of the front of the store  First alarm –2 engines –1 truck –1 chief Grocery Store Example

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-28 Grocery Store Example (continued)  The complex ICS you have heard about  How many alarms handled by this size organization?

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-29  Resources ready for immediate assignment temporarily located  Personnel in POVs should report for formation into crews Staging

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-30 Level 1 Staging  Used to control first-alarm units  One or two units and chiefs go directly to scene  All other first-alarm units stop one block from scene  Report (“identity, location, direction”)  Wait for an assignment!

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-31 Level 2 Staging  Formal staging area determined by IC when second alarm or mutual aid requested  Request is cue to staff the staging area Manager function  Announce staging area location on radio  Staging versus base

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-32 Grocery Store Example (continued)  IC requests additional resources  Second alarm: –3 engines (E-3, E-4, E-5) –1 truck (T-2) How will they be distributed?

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-33 Grocery Store Example (continued) All to Staging (E-3, E-4, E-5, T-2) Some to assignments Others to Staging

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-34 Grocery Store Example (continued)  What’s wrong with this organization?  Assume seven units at the scene

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-35 Divisions  Organize resources by geographic area  Require departments to establish a method of dividing the incident scene

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-36 Dividing the Incident  ABCD System Structure Division C Division D Division A Division B

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-37 Dividing the Incident (continued)  Exposure System Exposure C Exposure D Exposure B Structure Division C Division D Division A Division B

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-38 Dividing the Incident (continued) Each floor is a division. Division 5 Division 4 Division 3 Division 2 Division 1

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-39 Groups Division 1Vent Group COMMAND  Organize resources by functional area of responsibility  Work across division lines  Operate at the same command level  Coordinate with Division Supervisor

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-40 Grocery Store Example  Plug in resources as they arrive  Start at the division and group level

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-41 Garden Apartment Example

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-42 Activity 1.1: Application of the Basic ICS Functions Activity 1.1: Application of the Basic ICS Functions

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-43 Scenario 1

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-44 Scenario 2

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-45 The Operations Section (continued)  Staffing the operations function –Span of control exceeded –Other concerns

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-46 Garden Apartment Example

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-47 Garden Apartment Example (continued) More complex than previous example:  Larger building and fire area  Nighttime fire situation  Residents displaced from 48 apartments  Dead-end water main  No rear vehicle access to apartments  Limited road access

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-48  More problems for the IC  Inability to focus on tactical operations  Result: operations function is staffed Garden Apartment Example (continued)

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-49 Garden Apartment Example (continued)

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-50 Branches  Responsible for all tactical operations in assigned portion of action plan  Under direction of the IC or operations section chief

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-51 Branches (continued) Should the exposure branch director position be staffed?

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-52 Haz Mat Example  Incident requires many special resources  Branches give experts flexibility and control

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-53 Branches (continued) Command Suppression Branch EMS Branch Haz Mat Branch Rescue Branch Other functions

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-54 Review of Operations Operations RIC Staging Branch GroupDivision Strike Team Command Task Force Crew

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-55 Planning Section  Staffed as needed to manage incident  Section chief reports directly to IC

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-56 Planning Section (continued) – Resource Unit – Situation Unit – Documentation Unit – Demobilization Unit – Technical Specialists

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-57 Logistics Section  Staffed as needed to manage incident  Section chief reports directly to IC

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-58 Logistics Section (continued) SERVICE BRANCH LOGISTICS SUPPORT BRANCH COMMAND MEDICAL UNIT COMMUNICATIONS FOOD SUPPLY FACILITIES GROUND SUPPORT REHAB MGR

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-59 Finance/Administration  Staffed as needed to manage incident  Section chief reports directly to IC

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-60 Finance/Administration (continued) Also responsible for legal matters at incidents Time Unit Procurement Unit Claims Unit FINANCE/ ADMINISTRATION COMMANDCOMMAND Cost Unit

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-61 Activity 1.2: Using the ICS at a Major Incident Activity 1.2: Using the ICS at a Major Incident

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-62 Command Presence  What is command presence?  How can fire officers improve command presence?

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-63 Assuming Command  What is confirmation of command?  What are your department’s requirements for assuming command?  Identify command.

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-64 Transfer of Command  What should be included in a transfer of command methodology?  What is passing command?

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-65 Establishing a Command Post  What does a command post provide?  Where should the command post be located?

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-66 Module Summary  History and purpose of ICS  ICS at expanded incidents  ICS functions and command staff  Resource terminology and staging  Divisions, groups, branches  Incident management techniques

United States Fire Administration Ops 1-67 Module Summary (continued)  Apply ICS to any incident regardless of size or type  Carry out all functions at every incident  All fire officers should train in ICS