1. FIRESCOPE REMS Position Manual ICS-223-12
Battalion Chief Brad Darbro - Santa Clara County Fire Dept.
Battalion Chief Jeff Birchfield - San Bernardino County Fire Dept.
FIRESCOPE Taskforce Members

2. What is FIRESCOPE? FIrefighting RESources of California Organized for
Potential
Emergencies
Organized in 1972 in So. Cal. Consolidated to Represent all facets in California in 1986
Represents all facets of local, rural, and metropolitan fire departments, CAL Fire, and federal fire agencies
FIRESCOPE is intended to unify these agencies into one voice and direction

3. Mission
Provide Recommendations & Technical Guidances to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) on matters involving mutual aid
Maintain the FIRESCOPE Decision Process
Continue the Operation, Development, & Maintenance of the FIRESCOPE Incident Command System (ICS) and Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS)

4. Vision
To Continue National Leadership in the Development of All-Hazard Incident Management and Multi-Agency Coordiation Systems
To Enhance & Encourage Full Participation by the California Fire Service in the Statewide Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System
To Provide a Common voice for the California Fire Service

5. Decision Process Board of Directors (Chief Exectuive Level)
Operations Team (Deputy/Assistant Chief Level)
Task Force (Battalion Chief/Manager Level)
Specialist Groups (Standing Groups)
Working Groups (Ad-Hoc Groups)
Membership of these include representatives from FIRESCOPE Partner Agencies, Cal Fire, USFS, BLM, NPS, County Fire Agencies, City Fire Agencies, Volunteer Fire Departments

6. July Complex 2014 Photo from Inciweb Website
What is a REM?
In 2012, Rapid Evacuation Modules (REM) were developed to mitigate several safety issues that arose as part of operating on the Klamath and Rouge-Siskiyou National Forests.
Developed by CIMT #3 Medical Unit
The topography, weather, and smoke conditions experienced at the Fort Complex made the reliance on hoist or short-haul helicopters as the only means of firefighter rescue impractical (Never plan anything based on the need for aircraft)
Alternative to effecting a rescue when aircraft is not an option (night, smoke inversions, etc.)
July Complex 2014 Photo from Inciweb Website

7. The Problem No consistent definition of a REM
No clear process to order a REM thru ROSS (Position didn’t exist in ROSS)
No standard equipment list
No standard level of training to be a REM

8. September 2014
FIRESCOPE Operations Team Directed the Task Force to Develop a Position Manual on the REM

9. Process Task Force consultation with various MEDL on IMTs.
Consultation with various subject matter experts in the state
The Task Force developed a position manual
Position manual presented to Operations Team in January 2015
Board of Directors met April 8, where Document was approved

10. REM Evolved to REMS
A Pre-Staged Rescue Team Assigned to a Wildland Fire to Provide Firefighters a Safe, Effective and Efficient Method of Egress Off the Fireline in the Event of Injury or Illness Incurred During Fire Fighting Operations
Another Option to Reach Incapacitated Firefighters When Ideal Conditions May Not Exist Due to Heavy Smoke Inversion, Lack of Roads, Equipment Malfunctions, etc.
Does Not Intend to Replace Ground or Air Transport

11. The Product
8 Page Position Manual Created with Four Letter Designator for ROSS ordering
Checklist to guide REMS Members when on scene
Staffing Guidelines
Training & Experience Requirements
Standard Equipment List

12. Visit: www.firescope.org

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