Traffic Incident
Management
Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs
Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Patrol
Responders
Roles and Responsibilities
How are we similar?
• We have some common elements:
–SAFETY
– Clearing the scene as quickly and safely
as possible
– Environmental concerns
Washington State Patrol
Washington State Patrol
• WSP responsibilities include conducting
investigations and preserving evidence.
• Usually, the first trooper on scene is the WSP
incident commander until relieved by a higher
ranking officer.
• Additional WSP responders may include
detectives, public information officer, and
commercial vehicle personnel
WSP Responsibilities
• Locating people
involved (drivers,
passengers,
witnesses) and their
identifying information
and statements
• Noting location of
people involved
• Identifying other
responders
• Traffic control
Fire and Emergency Medical
Services
Fire and EMS Response
• Fire and EMS response may include
single or multiple units:
– Fire service resources and private
vehicles
– Other responders may include
specialized resources, helicopters,
ambulances
FIRE and EMS
Responsibilities
• Fire suppression and patient care
– The “Golden Hour”
• Generally, the first officer on scene will be
the Fire Services incident commander until
relieved by a higher ranking officer
Washington State Department
of Transportation
Washington State Department
of Transportation Response
• Traffic Control
– Standardized traffic
control (ABC’s)
– Traffic patterns
• Infrastructure
repair
• Maintenance
resources
WSDOT Responsibilities
• Traffic Management Center
Current Status
Traditional
Operations
•
•
•
•
Consistent interagency coordination?
Agency versus incident priorities?
Understanding of others’ roles?
Playing well together?
What happens when an incident
isn’t properly managed?
How will we
manage
incidents
better?
• COMMUNICATION! With radio,
wireless, face-to-face, after-action,
and by using Unified Command
Communication
• Scene assessment
• Unified command
• Incident review
Unified Command
Unified
Fire/EMS
ALS
Engine
WSDOT
IR Truck
Arrow truck
WSP
Troopers
Detectives
Effective Unified Command is:
COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION,
and COOPERATION
Unified Command
• What needs to be discussed?
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Scene safety
Alternate routes
Hazardous Materials
Evidence
Names of responders
Biohazards
Recovery
Extent of injuries
When to meet to re-assess
What else?
Scene Assessment
First responder on scene:
what will you request?
Scene Assessment
• Severity?
• Traffic control?
• Resources
needed?
• Alternate route
to the scene?
• Estimated
duration?
Continued Scene
Management
•
•
•
•
•
Parking at scene
Traffic Control
Emergency lights
Staging area
Reassessment!
Scene Assessment
Incident Review
Informal or Formal
Summary
Where do we go from here?
• Continue to meet with each
other regularly to promote
effective interagency…
– COMMUNICATION
– COORDINATION
– COOPERATION