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Ontario Fire Service Messenger

February/March 2006                Volume 15 Issue 2

Incident Management

Teaching Plan

Introduction:

Operator: “Do you require police, fire or ambulance?”

Caller: “Fire, my children are still in the house! Please help!”

Phone line disconnected!

As the first arriving unit on this scene, an already tense situation could get worse within seconds without an Incident Management System (IMS). As we will demonstrate in this lesson plan, the importance of good, sound and structured IMS will assist in ensuring the safety of both firefighters and the public they serve.

As a senior officer, company office and firefighter, you will be called upon to work within the IMS. It is everyone’s responsibility to understand and practice the important steps within the system.

Learning Outcomes:

The company officer and firefighter will:

1. Describe the purpose of Incident Management System

2. Describe their role within the Incident Management System

3. Describe the responsibilities of the Incident Commander

4. Describe the levels of command

5. Describe span of control

6. Describe sectoring

7. Describe the tactical priorities

8. Describe benchmarks and their importance

9. Describe the Rule of Eight

10. Describe accountability and entry control

11. Describe PAR (Personnel Accountability Report)

12. Describe a post incident analysis and the role of participants within the PIAR

Expectations of the Participant:


Key Points
and Terms

Student Learning Activity

References and Resources

Trainer/Facilitator Activity

Purpose of Incident Management

IMS will avoid: •Freelancing
•Confusion and chaos
•Wasted resources
•Uncoordinated incident attack
•Unsafe work practices
•Conflicting orders

IMS will promote: •Accountability
•Personnel safety
•Coordinated approach to the incident
•Efficient use of resources
•Confidence from crews
•Public image
 
•Group brainstorm sessions
•Group activities with ideas captured on flip chart and presented to class
 		 Additional information on Incident Management can be found in:
•Fire Fighter Curriculum
•Model Procedures for Structural Firefighting
•Fire Department Training Manual
•Department OGs
•Section 21 Guidance Notes
•“Fire Command” by Al Brunacini
•Introduction to Incident Management for Company Officers
 

•Facilitator led group discussion and brainstorming exercise

•Flip chart documentation from group

•Learning steps from curriculum:

•A-1

•B-1


Learning Step A 20 minutes

 
Roles and Responsibilities with IMS

Initial decisions and actions of the Incident Manager or Commander:
•First arriving officer or firefighter shall announce and assume command

 
•Group brainstorm sessions
•Group activities with ideas captured on flip chart and presented to class
•Review handouts
 		 Additional information on Incident Management can be found in the same resources as above.
 

•Facilitator-led discussions

•Handout and review of definitions

•Learning Steps from curriculum

•C-1


Learning Step B 20 minutes

 
Modes of Command

Nothing showing:

•Investigative
Fast Attack:

•Offensive Attack

•Critical Life and Safety Rescue Situation

Command:
•Stationary
•Offensive or Defensive


Levels of Command Strategic

•IC

Tactical

•Company Officer

Task

•Firefighter


Span of Control Maximum
How much can an IC handle?
Sectoring
•By task

•By geography

 		 •Group discussion
•Group activities with ideas captured on flip chart, presented to group
 		 Additional information on Incident Management can be found in the same resources as above.
 

•Facilitator-led discussions
•Handout and review of definitions

Learning Step C 30 minutes with 15 minute group activity

 
Tactical Priorities 1.Rescue

2.Fire Containment

3.Property Conservation


Core Value: Firefighter Safety


•Group brainstorm sessions
•Group activities with ideas captured on flip chart, presented to class
•Review handouts
 Additional information on Incident Management can be found in the same resources as above and others including:

•Fire department tactical worksheets

•Decision making tree handout

•Facilitator-led discussions

•Handout and review of definitions


•Learning Steps from curriculum

•B-2

•C-1


Learning Step D 20 minutes

 
Rule of Eight
1.Size Up

2.Call for help

3.Rescue

4.Confinement

5.Exposures

6.Ventilate

7.Salvage

8.Overhaul

 
•Review handout
 Additional information on Incident Management can be found in the same resources as above.

•Handout about Rule of Eight and example scenarios of how this would be played out.


•Learning Steps from curriculum

•D-1


Learning Step E 20 minutes


 
Benchmarks

All clear
•Primary and secondary search


Under control
•Fire contained/extinguished


Loss stopped
Fire and firefighting efforts will cause no more damage to property

 
•Review tactical worksheet
•Review handout with definitions of each
 Additional information on Incident Management can be found in the same resources as above and

•Tactical worksheet from department with OG

•Use a tactical worksheet as a guide

•Review each benchmark and the tactics/tasks associated with each.

•Review radio communication associated with each benchmark.


•Learning steps from curriculum:

•B-1


Learning Step F 15 minutes


 
Accountability and Entry Control
•On scene

•Hazardous zones

•Tagging in

•Documentation

Personnel Accountability Reports (PARS)

•Called at intervals

•Major events

•Termination of Scene

 
•Review information about PIARs

 

 


•Group discussion re: benefits and challenges of PIARs

 Additional information on Incident Management can be found in the same resources as above and •Information Sheet # 3 in Fire Fighter Curriculum
 

•Use PIAR from department with OG

•Using sample PIAR as a Guide to discuss components of it.

•Group brainstorming and discussion re: benefits and challenges of PIARS.

 


Learning Step H 25 minutes

Post Incident
Analysis Reviews

•Review of the
Incident
•Includes everyone in
Incident
•Not to be used for
blame
•Apply IMS
principles and tactical
worksheets to assess
what worked and
what did not
•Check on OGs and
procedures to ensure
they work
•Use to develop
training
•Not to be used
to replace Critical
Incident Stress
Debriefing		 •Review information
about PIARs
•Group discussion re:
benefits and challenges
of PIARs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Additional information
on Incident
Management can be
found in in the same
resources above and
others including:
•Information Sheet
# 3 in Fire Fighter
Curriculum
•Use PIAR from
department with OG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 •Using sample PIAR
as a Guide to discuss
components of it.


•Group
brainstorming and
discussion re: benefits
and challenges of
PIARS.

 

 


Learning Step H
25 minutes

 Summary:
The overall purpose of Incident Management System is to:

Evaluation:

It is recommended that this session be conducted in two parts.

Part 1: Theory (as described above)

Part 2: Practical


 Knowledge Quiz

TRUE OR FALSE

  1. Outside agencies should, if possible, take part in post-response evaluation.
  2. The decision making process allows the officer in charge to make yes and no decisions and change strategy and tactics when necessary.
  3. The tactical level of command (in the big sense) is instituted at all fire department emergencies.
  4. Safety is a main function of the task officer.
  5. All members of the fire department should be trained in the Incident Management System.
  6. The tag system is a means of accounting for all fireground personnel.
  7. The on-duty list of personnel shall be kept only in the dispatch office.
  8. Personal safety and accountability is the responsibility of each firefighter.
  9. The transfer of command can only happen on the scene.
  10. The firefighter works at the tactical level of command.

 Short Answers

  1. When is the best time to conduct a post-incident analysis and review?
  2. What information should become available to you on receipt of an alarm?
  3. Name six of the pre-plan factors in the decision making process.
  4. Explain what is meant by the phrase “identify major fireground factors”.
  5. Name the tactical priorities within the Incident Management System.
  6. Explain who should initiate command and when should it be done.
  7. What is the role of a new firefighter in the command structure?
  8. Describe the responsibilities of each level of command.
  9. Define the term Reinforced Response.
  10. Describe why an Incident Commander would create divisions or sectors.

 Knowledge Quiz

  1. T
  2. T
  3. T
  4. T
  5. T
  6. T
  7. F
  8. T
  9. T
  10. F

 Short Answers

1. ideally the same day
failing that as soon as possible after the incident
2. location
nature of emergency
people trapped 		 
3. building area
building height 
building construction
interior arrangement
building population
fuel load
special hazards
special consideration 		protection systems
water supply
hydrant locations
means of egress
access points
experts available
4. the officer decides which factor or factors are important and plans the course of action
5. tactical priorities

- remove endangered persons (rescue)
- stabilize the incident (fire control)
- conserve property
- safety, accountability and welfare of personnel

6. the first arriving officer or firefighter and it must be established as soon as possible after arrival
7. obey orders
communicate effectively
work as part of a team		  
8. Strategic - develop strategy for successful completion of the incident
Tactical - initiate tactics to carry out the strategy
Task - carry out the tasks that need to be done to fit the tactics
9. The Incident Commander on the scene determines that the apparatus, equipment and firefighters are sufficient to bring the incident to a successful completion. (i.e., a second alarm etc.)
10 situations where multiple companies are or will be involved
when the Commander can no longer control the number of companies involved (span of control)
when operations are complex in nature (i.e., large buildings)
when companies are operating from positions out of sight and out of the control of the Incident Commander
when special hazards require immediate control and monitoring of company operations