Chapter 2
Fire Department Organization,
Command, and Control
Introduction
• This chapter covers:
– Department organization into companies
– Companies divided into functions
• Engine, ladder, truck companies
• Rescue or hazardous materials companies
– Division of work assignments
• Responsibility for specific response area,
activity
• Eliminate duplication of work and confusion
• Establish adequate level of equipment and
personnel
2.2
Fire Department Organization
• Fire departments have a reason for
existing and a structure for operations
• Mission statement communicates the
reason for being
• Organizational structure defines the
chain of command and authority
2.3
The Business of Fire Protection
• Jurisdiction determines the type and level of
fire protection
• Several types of fire department service
delivery
• Career or paid departments consist of fulltime positions with benefits
• Volunteer department positions with percall/hourly payment or no payment at all
• Some jurisdictions utilize a system of both
career and volunteer members
2.4
The Business of Fire
Protection (cont’d.)
• Public or municipal fire department
commonly found in larger cities or densely
populated areas
• Fire district funded by dedicated property
tax
• Fire chief responsible for department
operations
• Industrial fire departments (brigades) are
specially trained and provide emergency
services
2.5
Mission Statement
• Each fire department should have a
mission statement
• Provides meaning and direction
• Provides a clear and defined purpose
• Must be specific to the public
2.6
SAMPLE MISSION STATEMENT 1
The Midway Fire Department is organized
to deliver fire prevention, fire suppression
(extinguishment), and rescue services to
the citizens of its protection area. This
will include response to conduct vehicle
extrication, hazardous materials mitigation,
and basic life support emergency
medical services.
2.7
SAMPLE MISSION STATEMENT 2
The Midway Fire Department is organized to
deliver fire prevention, life safety, fire
suppression (extinguishment), and rescue
services to the citizens of its protection area.
This will include response to conduct vehicle
extrication, hazardous materials mitigation,
confined space rescue, advanced life
support emergency medical services,
disaster response, and fire life safety code
enforcement.
2.8
Organizational Structure
• Fire department must have
organizational structure
• Structure may be simple or complex
• Shows internal organization as well as
functions and responsibilities
2.9
Figure 2-3 The organizational structure for a medium to large
fire department shows the division of work assignments
and chain of command.
2.10
Figure 2-5 Different from most organizational charts, this
organizational structure shows the interdependence of the
community, fire department, governing body, and firefighters.
2.11
The Firefighter
• Individual trained to perform the
function of fire prevention and
suppression
• Other areas firefighters may know:
–
–
–
–
Emergency medical technician (EMT)
Paramedic (EMT-P)
Hazardous materials technician
Rescue specialist
• National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) established training standards
2.12
(A)
(B)
(C)
Figure 2-7 Some positions available to firefighters are (A)
rescue specialist, (B) paramedic, and (C) hazardous materials
technician.
2.13
The Firefighter (cont’d.)
• Some typical requirements for an
individual trained in structural fire
suppression:
– Know department's organizational
structure and operating procedures
– Perform duties safely
– Know department's response area
– Maintain equipment
– Respond to alarms
– Use self-contained breathing apparatus
2.14
Figure 2-6 The firefighter is the individual who
makes a department operate.
2.15
The Company
• Basic unit of a fire department
• Firefighters assigned to perform a
specific function
• Company officers are supervisorylevel positions
• Company officers are responsible for
firefighters and administrative duties
2.16
The Engine Company
• Firefighters who deliver water
• Deploy hoselines
• Attack and extinguish fires in vehicles
and structures
2.17
The Truck Company
•
•
•
•
Carry firefighters for forcible entry
Search and rescue
Ventilation
Provision of ladders and securing of
utilities
• Overhaul functions at a fire scene
• Three basic aerial devices
– Aerial ladder
– Tower ladder
– Snorkel
2.18
The Rescue Company
• Provides specially trained firefighters
• Specialized rescue equipment
– Tools to conduct forcible entry
– Tools used for search and rescue
– Tools to conduct vehicle extrications,
confined space rescue, rope rescue, and
other technical operations
2.19
Specialty/Combination Units
• Typically a blend of two major company
functions
• Quint is a combination of an engine and
ladder company
• Mobile water supply apparatus (tenders)
provides water where a supply is not
present
• Examples of specialty units:
– Wildland fire
– Hazardous material units
– Mass casualty response units
2.20
Emergency Medical Services
• Many departments provide either
basic life support or advanced life
support
• May be an additional duty assigned to
an existing company
• Fire departments may operate
ambulances to provide transport
services
2.21
The Chief Officers
• Ultimately responsible for the
operations and administration of the
fire department
• Chief may have a number of deputy,
division, assistant, or battalion chiefs
• Rank structure and position depends
on size, need, and history of an
individual fire department
• Number of officers depends on the
size of the organization
2.22
Additional Fire
Department Functions
• Many additional functions assigned to
operations:
– Training
– Fire prevention
• Additional sections may be
established:
–
–
–
–
Hazardous materials
Urban/technical search and rescue
Water rescue
Delivery of emergency medical services
2.23
Fire Prevention and Life Safety
• Preventing fire reduces risk to community
• Fire prevention office divided into two
functions:
– Code enforcement/ inspection services
– Fire/life safety education
• A chief-level officer usually heads the fire
prevention office
• Fire survival programs educate the public on
what to do after a fire has started
2.24
Figure 2-16 Some fire departments utilize unique characters such
as E.D.I.T.H. the Clown to help children relate to the message of fire
prevention.
2.25
Training
• Begins with basic firefighter or
probationary training
• Continues with proficiency training as
new tools, equipment, or techniques
become available
• Chief-level officer usually heads the
training division
• All departments must have a training
officer
2.26
Figure 2-18 Training must be a continuing function in all fire
departments regardless of size or area served. (Courtesy of
Eastern Oklahoma Technology Center)
2.27
Emergency Medical Services
• Depending on size of organization, the EMS
function may be a separate division
• Chief-level officer responsible for its
activities
2.28
Apparatus Maintenance
and Purchasing
• Large departments may have a fire
apparatus maintenance or repair
shop
• Responsible for vehicle repair,
maintenance, and purchasing
• Headed by a fire department officer
or non-uniform staff member
2.29
Special Operations
• Depending on size of community or
potential hazards present
• Delivers or supports services such
as:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Hazardous material mitigation
High-rise operations
Air operations
Confined space rescue
Trench rescue
Swift water or ice rescue
2.30
Figure 2-19 Trench rescue is one of many specialized
operations requiring additional equipment and training.
2.31
Regulations, Policies, Bylaws,
and Procedures
• All organizations must have:
–
–
–
–
Regulations
Policies
Bylaws
Procedures
• Ensures an adequate and effective
emergency response
• Used to establish daily and
emergency operations
2.32
Regulations
• Determine how an organization
operates
• Established by top-level management
• OSHA may establish regulations
• Most states have their own
occupational safety and health plans
• Federal program has no enforcement
authority
2.33
Policies
• Formal statements or directives
• Established by fire department
managers
• Provide guidance for decision
making
• Usually general in nature
• Framework for day-to-day
department activities
2.34
Bylaws
• Volunteer departments may be
organized as independent
corporations
• Fire corporation usually organized
as a not-for-profit organization
• Bylaws established by board of
directors or membership
– Describe how the business structure is
organized
2.35
Procedures
• Standard operating procedures
(SOPs) provide specific information
and instructions
• Established so all members will
perform the same function with the
same level of uniformity
• Tactical in nature
• Also called standard operating
guidelines (SOGs)
• Variety of ways in which SOPs are
developed and documented
2.36
Allied Agencies and
Organizations
• During an operation, fire department
interacts with many different
organizations
• A few of these organizations:
–
–
–
–
Police/ law enforcement
Utility companies
Environmental conservation
Private business
2.37
Incident Management
• Fire departments respond to millions
of emergency incidents each year
• Extreme incidents require mutual aid
assistance from outside the authority
having jurisdiction
2.38
Command and Control
• Firefighters must understand the
concept of command and control
• Unity of command
• First unit arriving should establish
command
• Transfer of command is the process
of briefing an authority of equal or
higher experience
• Transfer of command should occur
during a face-to-face meeting
2.39
Incident Command System
• Systematic approach for command,
control, and management of an
emergency incident
• Must contain the following
components:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Command terminology
Modular organization
Integrated communications
Consolidated incident action plan
Span of control
Designated incident facilities
2.40
Figure 2-21 This chart of a typical incident command system
shows the modular organization necessary to manage an
incident.
2.41
Five Major Functions of an
Incident Command System
• Incident commander develops
strategic goals
• Operations section chief responsible
for implementing tactical assignments
• Planning section chief responsible for
development of incident action plan
2.42
Five Major Functions of an
Incident Command System
(cont’d.)
• Logistics section chief responsible for
securing facilities, services,
equipment, and materials
• Finance/administration section chief
documents cost of materials and
personnel
2.43
Figure 2-25 Organizational structure showing the managerial level
for an incident.
2.44
Unified Command
• Used to manage an incident involving
multiple response agencies
• Unified command has only one IC
and Incident Action Plan
• Allows for agencies with jurisdiction to
be part of the command structure or
team
2.45
The Team
• Utilize an incident command system
(ICS)
• Work together and remain intact
• Look after each other
• Prevent freelancing
2.46
Figure 2-26 Tactical worksheets provide the incident
commander with a guide for managing an incident.
2.47
Lessons Learned
• Common contributing factors to
firefighter deaths in the line of duty
are command- and organizationrelated
• To survive on the fire scene,
firefighters must know:
– Roles and responsibilities of personnel
– How their fire department command
structure works
– How to function as part of that command
structure
2.48