Command
&
Accountability
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Incident Command System
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Incident Command System
• Ensures that an incident is managed with a
common goal of life/property preservation
and personnel safety as priorities.
• Reduces the number of personnel reporting
directly to one person.
• Ensures that task priorities are addressed in
a timely manner.
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Incident Command System
Overview
Command
Safety
Liaison
Information
Operations
Planning
Logistics
Administration
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Incident Command System
Terms
• Command
• Division
• Group
• Sector
• Supervisor
• Incident Action
Plan
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Incident Command System
Command
Incident Command
• Successful fire
operations require the
application of an
effective overall
management system
Incident Commander
• The Incident
Commander is the
overall incident site
manager. Everyone
else on the fireground
will follow and
support the Incident
Commander’s plan
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Incident Command System
Sectoring
Functional
Geographical
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Incident Command System
Sectoring
Little
Incident
Pumper
Incident
Commander
Rescue
Interior
Attack
Ventilation
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Incident Command System
Sectoring
Big Incident
Incident
Commander
Sector
Officer
Water
Supply
Pumper
Sector
Officer
Pumper 2
Interior
Attack
Sector
Officer
Exposure
Exterior
Attack
Ventilation
Interior
Attack
Medical
Sector
RIT
Account
Rehab
Ambulance
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Incident Command System
• We need to utilize our Command System at
all incidents.
• First arriving personnel announce who is
command. Does not have to be an officer.
• Change of command MUST to be broadcast
and documented by radio operator.
• Command has overall responsibility for
scene and personnel safety.
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Incident Command System
• Command should remain in a location that
gives them a good overall view of the scene
if at all possible.
• Command should also remain in a certain
location so they can be easily located.
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Incident Command System
• What can WE do to improve our system
• What can YOU do to improve our system
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Accountability
Why?
Who
Where
What
How Long
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Accountability
 Only
way to maintain control of personnel on
the fire ground
 Use varies widely
 System needs to keep track of everyone
 Must be:
— Established as a system
— Established long before emergencies occur
— Utilized by all personnel who could operate
on a scene
— Practiced on all calls
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Accountability
Accountability Systems

Manual Systems
 Cattle Tag/Velcro
 Computerized
Systems
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Accountability
Accountability Systems
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Accountability
Accountability Systems
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Accountability
How?
• Two-tag movable system
• 1 for fireground
accountability
• 1 for Entry Control Pass
Alarm
• Master Board
• Entry Control ???
18
Accountability
Entry Control
• To monitor entrance
into a hazardous area
• Entry Control check
point established
• Check in / out
mandatory
• Large incidents may
have more than one
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New Type of Tags
•New style tags are made of lightweight
aluminum with personalized labels
•Easy and fast to replace if lost.
•Old style tags will be replaced as needed
•Does not matter which tag you use where.
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Accountability
Why Entry Control?
• Two In
Two Out
• Entry Control
Officer
• Hazardous Area
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Firefighters are responsible to advise Command,
Accountability Officer or the Entry Control Officer
as they exit a structure, and to pick up their second
tag and disarm their PASS alarm if their next
assignment will not involve interior operations.
• 2nd Tag attaches to pass
key.
• Entry Control keeps
both tag and pass key
until FF exits
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Accountability
Personnel Accountability Reports
A verification to Incident
Command that all personnel are
accounted for should an issue of
safety occur at an emergency
scene.
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Accountability
Reasons For P.A.R.
• A report of a missing or trapped firefighter
• A team is reported by Entry Control to have
worked in a hazardous area
• In breathing apparatus for more than the minimum
allowable time of the bottle
• A sudden hazardous event
• A search and rescue operation is complete
• A change in operations from an offensive to a
defensive mode
• At any time Command deems it necessary
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Accountability is not tags…
It is knowing where your people are
And what they are doing!
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Command Accountability System
• Must be utilized at all incidents, regardless
of size
• Is a requirement under OH&S Section 21
guidelines
• Is there YOUR
SAFETY
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Command Accountability System
QUESTIONS??????????
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