Accountability & Scene Size Up

Accountability & Scene Size Up Bella Vista Fire Department Training Division Division Chief Scott M. Cranford

The Fire Officer’s Role In Accountability Every fire officer is expected to be able to function as the initial incident commander, as well as a company-level supervisor, within ICS (Incident Command System). The first-arriving fire officer has the responsibility to establish command.

Incident Commander • ICS can be incrementally implemented • ICS allows the company officer to maintain a manageable span of control • Strategic Management • Life Safety • Incident Stabilization • Property Conservation

You Should be Working Towards • Building a command structure that matches the needs of the incident

Your NEXT BIG Responsibility • Managing resources

First, Let’s Talk About Scene Size-UP • When does size-up begin? • What is a window size-up? • Who does the 360 walk-around? • What are we looking for in the 360 walk-around? • Where’s the flow path? • Which ventilation decision do I make? • What mode of operation am I in? • How do I track all of these people and apparatus.

What is the Size of the Structure? Residential or Commercial? How Many Stories?

What Type of Construction Do You Have? • Fire Restive • Non-combustible • Ordinary • Heavy Timber • Wood-frame • Lightweight • Green Construction • Alternative What’s our Bread N’ Butter?

What is the Percentage of Fire Involvement? • Make it easy: Estimate either 25, 50, 75 or 100% involvement. • This helps with figuring Base Fire Flow (BFF) and Required Fire Flow (RFF).

What MODE are you calling out? • RESCUE MODE - Gets priority over all benchmarks. • ATTACK MODE – Let’s go after the fire. • TRANSITION MODE – Let’s hit the fire, wait for knockdown or personnel. • DEFENSIVE MODE – Conditions are not survivable, no one goes in. • INVESTIGATION MODE – All other units stage while the first in apparatus discerns what is going on.

Select a Strategy and Tactics • RECEO VS – “Rescue, Exposure, Confine, Extinguish, Overhaul, Ventilate, Salvage” – fire attack method. • SLICERS - Revised Structural Fire Tactical Goals • Size-Up • Locate the Fire • Identify and Control Flow Path • Cool the Space from Safest Location • Extinguish the fire • Rescue • Salvage Actions of Opportunity

Name Command and Give the Location. If you go mobile, then say “Command is Mobile” if not, stay at your post.

Benchmarks • I.A.P. (MANDATORY), in your head or on paper, use your tac. Board • Utilities Controlled • Fire Attack • IRIT followed by RIC • Water Supply • Primary and Secondary Searches • Ventilation • All Clear • Under Control • Rehab

SIZE-UP CONTINUES TRHOUGHOUT THE SCENE • We must be in the habit of continually checking our tactics. • Do this through C.A.N. Reports (Conditions, Actions, Needs) • What are the conditions? • What actions are being done? • What do you need? • Every 10 minutes or as needed during intense scenes

Are Your Tactics Working? • With good communication with your interior crews, Attack 1, Attack 2, Search 1, Search 2 etc… and the use of C.A.N. reports, you should already have a good idea about progress on the fire. • As a rule of thumb, if 10 minutes has gone by and no headway on the fire has been made, you may want to re-think your tactical approach. • You need to be prepared to switch modes at any time.

P.A.R. (Personnel Accountability Report) • Anytime you switch MODES • Every 20 minutes as a rule of thumb. Time intervals can be adjusted. • Some dispatch centers track and remind scene commanders about PARs. • PARs are conducted from the area that is most dangerous to the area of least dangerous. In most every fire, this is working from the inside out. • PARs should be acknowledged over the radio, as the radio is likely recorded.

Everyone is Responsible for Safety • The S.O. is the only person on the fireground that could supersede the Incident Commander. • Know your MAYDAY Procedures and utilize check lists to make sure you do not miss any critical pieces of information. • Overhaul is a dangerous period in structural firefighting • Complacency • Tired • Not willing to wear appropriate breathing apparatus in light smoke conditions. • Structure is already weak and damaged. This is where building collapse KILLS.

Now, Let’s Focus on Accountability EVERY SINGLE PERSON is required to check into command at every fire scene, no exceptions. Accountability is paramount in maintaining order and in the efficient management of a fire scene. It is up to you to make sure that you are doing your part. After all, you call yourself a professional firefighter!

Every Shift • Replace tags out on your apparatus board. If the previous member’s accountability tag is left in place, please return it for them to the appropriate place on their gear. • Upon arrival to the scene. If you are first in, then your D/O will collect tags at the pump panel, and at the first opportunity, give those to Battalion 1. • If you arrive, and Battalion 1 is already there, then take your tags to Battalion 1. • Be sure to collect your personnel and apparatus tags prior to leaving the scene so that you have them for the next big scene.

Battalion 1 • BC’s are busy making decisions and directing incoming resources. • The accountability tags may not get organized onto an accountability board until command takes the time to setup the accountability board or he assigns someone to perform the role of Accountability Officer. • That could be you.

What are the benefits of Accountability Prepare Every Day • Your turn! Pay Attention To What is Happening Watch Out For Each Other Give Locations and When and Where You Enter and Exit the Structure

Some Labels for Teams in Terminology Here is a lead in for upcoming training plans, but it is important to utilize similar terminology across all shifts and by all stations. Please utilize the following established labels for personnel working on our structure fire scenes. • Search 1 or Search 2 • Attack 1 or Attack 2 or Attack 3 • R.I.C. or R.I.T. • Vent 1 or Vent 2 • Overhaul 1 or Overhaul 2 • Investigations • Staging

Accountability & Scene Size Up