Company Ops Flashcards

1
Q

Incident Command System basics

A
  • ICS is used every time we go out the door.
  • Can be used for small, short incidents or very large scale and lengthy
  • It is the basis for establishing the chain of command and span of control.
  • Modular systems, builds from the top down and can be expanded or contracted based on the incident
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2
Q

ICS levels

A

o Strategic – overall means and plan for achieving a long-term outcome
o Coordination – disseminating the information from the strategic to tactical level
o Tactical – how and with what resources we are going to mitigate an emergency
o Task – personnel actually performing the necessary activities to mitigate an emergency
o Where do you fit in?

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3
Q

TFD command structure

A

a. For TFD incidents we utilize a single command structure based on ICS principles
b. Command has the overall responsibility and control of the emergency scene
c. Command operates at the strategic level
d. Uses standard operating procedures or guidelines (SOPs or SOGs)

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4
Q

SOGs

A

i. SOG – the practice of assigning activities to companies based on their capacities
ii. Advantages of SOGs
1. Provides a framework for on-scene operations
2. Increased performance and awareness
3. Reduce the number and details of orders required

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5
Q

Command sequence

A

a. Incident priorities are always the mission
b. Strategy is the overriding plan based on the situation faced.
c. Tactical procedures are the steps to achieve the plan
d. Once implemented, progress is continually re-evaluated and adjusted based on condition
e. Size up>problem ID> Strategy/tactics>Action Plan>Implementation>Tasks

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6
Q

Command structure

A

a. Command must be established when 3 or more units are responding
i. Keeps TFD from being caught flat-footed by a bus-load of orphans
b. Command is established by the first arriving officer.
c. Officer radios on-scene report
i. Size up
ii. Command taken, named, and located
iii. Initial actions (Offensive/defensive attack)
d. Command is kept until transferred to an officer at the same level or above, or the situation has been mitigated

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7
Q

Divisions vs Groups

A

a. Divides up the fire scene
b. Divisions – named based on geographical locations (roof division, etc.)
i. Outside divisions
1. Assigned clockwise from command post
2. Alpha –command post
3. Bravo
4. Charlie
5. Delta
ii. Inside divisions
1. Personnel assigned to interior are usually designated Interior Division
2. For multiple floors, they can be designated by floor number
a. Above grade is div1, div1, div##
b. Below grade is subfloor div1, subfloor div##
c. Groups – named based on functions (Ventilation, primary search, etc.)

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8
Q

Incident priorities

A

a. Life safety
i. Safety and Accountability of firefighters
ii. Safety of occupants
b. Incident stabilization
c. Property conservation
d. Incident priorities must be approached in order!!!

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9
Q

Tactical Goals

SLICERS

A

a. Size up
b. Locate the fire
c. Identify and control flow path
d. Cool the space from the safest location
e. Extinguish the fire
f. Rescue
g. Salvage

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10
Q

Simplified tactical goals

CAN

A

i. What do I have? (Conditions)
ii. What am I doing? (Actions)
iii. What do I need? (Needs)

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11
Q

Do we have to address each incident priority individually or is it possible to address them simultaneously?

A

We can do them simultaneously!

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12
Q

If they are not address simultaneously, do we need to address them in order?

A

Yep!

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13
Q

TFD EOM, Sec 302 Incident Priorities says what about life safety?

A

a. During life safety operations, efforts are directed to attempting to location and remove threatened occupants. The Incident Commander must be prepared to write off all property to accomplish this objective. The first attack line must go between the fire and the persons endangered by it.
- TFD Emergency Operations Manual, Sec 302, Incident Priorities

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14
Q

TFD EOM, Sec 303 Search and Rescue says what about life safety?

A

b. It shall be standard operating procedure to extend a primary search in all involved and exposed occupancies which can be entered. Command must structure initial operations around the completion of the primary search.
- EOM, Section 303, Search and Rescue

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15
Q

Risk/reward matrix

A

i. Risk a lot to save a lot
ii. Risk a little to save a little
iii. Risk nothing to save nothing
d. Because firefighter safety is the first priority under life safety, occasionally a structure may become too involved to make entry based on a calculated risk to firefighters.

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16
Q

Life Safety Tactics

A

Primary Search
Secondary Search
Rescue Operations
Personal Safety and Accountability

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17
Q

Primary search defintion

A

A rapid search of all involved and exposed areas affected by the fire and which can be entered to verify the removal and/or safety of all occupants

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18
Q

Aspects of the plan necessary to enter the building during a primary search

A

a. Identify search teams
b. Areas to be searched (Access/egress)
c. Stairwell locations
d. Firefighting strategies surround the search

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19
Q

Tools for primary search

A

a. Full PPE +air
b. Forcible entry tools
c. TIC
d. Minimum 2 hand lights
e. Radio
f. Duct tape/MT tags
g. Other: ropes, hose line, door stops, others??

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20
Q

How to do a primary search?

A

a. Prior to entering the room, place one hand light at the door with beam shining into the room.
b. Follow a search pattern to insure personnel safety and increase chance that the entire room will be searched
c. Most common search pattern (L/R)
d. Search one room quickly before moving to another
e. Utilize tool or webbing, etc. (not ax blades!) to extend reach and maintain contact with hose, partner, or wall.
f. Search area should begin as close to fire as possible

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21
Q

Primary search tips

A

a. Utilize rope safety lines tied to rescuer when performing search and rescue in extremely hazardous situations
b. When you can’t see your feet, don’t stand!
c. Be alert for holes, stairs, shafts, etc. Must use tools to sound floor of basement below or on second story
d. If room is too hot or door is difficult to open, probe doorway with FE tool, victims are often just on the inside of the door.
e. Pause occasionally and be alert for sings of victims: cries for help, coughing, moaning, etc.
f. Call out frequently to alert potential victims of your presence
g. Looks for signs that the residence is occupied: cars, toys, lights on, time of day/night, info from others
h. CHECK AND RECHECK YOUR AIR SUPPLY!!

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22
Q

Extricating victims from a primary search

A

a. When extricating victims, don’t forget to watch the fire conditions around you
b. Keep one person on the hose line to protect your egress as you extricate
c. Be aware of rollover and pre-flashover conditions and be prepared to deal with them.
d. Coordinate extrication with command
e. More people may be needed to extricate the victims and keep an eye on fire behavior.

23
Q

Oriented search

A

a. A method of search that utilizes one “oriented” team leader and one or more searches
b. Allows for focus to be split into two areas
i. Safety of search team
ii. Actual search

24
Q

What is VEIS?

A

a. Vent, Enter, Isolate, Search
b. This is an approved tactic for entering a structure in a rescue situation through a door or window to search for victims of the seat of the fire. The priority upon entering from the outside is to secure the entry door of the room entered to isolate the room from the flow path created by opening your entry point. The room must remain isolated until the fire is being directly controlled by advancing hose lines. The room, or rooms, remain isolated once door control is made and maintained

25
Q

Secondary Search

A
  1. A through search of the interior of the fire area after initial fire control and ventilation activities have been completed.
  2. Should be completed by personnel other than those who performed the primary search
  3. Thoroughness is the key to secondary search
26
Q

Rescue Operations

A
  1. Rescue operations shall be carried out in the following order
    a. Most severely threatened
    b. Largest number (groups)
    c. Remainder of the fire area
    d. All other exposed areas
    e. Per EOM, Section 303, Search and Rescue
27
Q

Personnel Safety and Accountability as relates to Company Ops

A
  1. Safety officer (able to override IC)
  2. Accountability procedures (passport system)
  3. Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) response
28
Q

TFD EOM, Section 302, Incident priorities, says what with regards to incident stabilization?

A

a. During incident control operations, efforts are directed at attempting to locate the fire, cut it off and extinguish it. It may be necessary to damage the building in order to save it. – EOM, Section 302, Incident Priorities

29
Q

TFD EOM, Section 302, Incident priorities, says what with regards to property conservation?

A

a. During proper conservation operations efforts are directed at attempting to identify and protect the value of all property that may have survived fire and firefighting efforts. – EOM, Section 302, Incident Priorities

30
Q

Customer stabilization

A

a. Ensure that all people affected by the emergency are accounted for
i. Red Cross
ii. Animal Control
iii. Crisis Response Center
iv. Medical Issues
v. Securing property and personal effects

31
Q

Benchmarks for incident priorities

A

a. Benchmarks are the achievement signals that tell the incident commander when one basic priority function is complete and the operation can go on to the next major activity
b. Life Safety – “ALL CLEAR” (A separate notification is required after primary and secondary searches
c. Incident Stabilization – “UNDER CONTROL”
d. Property Conservation – “LOSS STOPPED

32
Q

Operational Modes

A

a. Investigative
b. Offensive
i. An aggressive interior attack with related support to bring the fire under control.
ii. Exterior reset
iii. Interior Attack
c. Defensive
i. An exterior attack directed to stop the forward progress of the fire, limit loss, and protect exposures.

33
Q

Command Modes

A

a. Investigation – no obvious signs of fire
b. Fast attack – Immediate action required “Mobile Command”
c. Command – Immediate organization required “Fixed Command”

34
Q

Typical single family alarm

A

i. 1 BC
ii. 3 engines
iii. 1 LD or LT
iv. 1 medic
v. 2 ECs
vi. APL if working incident

35
Q

Additional single family alarm

A

i. 1 BC
ii. 2 engines
iii. 1 LD
iv. RIC
v. 1 medic
vi. 1 EC

36
Q

Engine Company offensive attack

A

i. Deploy and operate hose lines
ii. Primary Search and Rescue
iii. Water supply
iv. Also:
1. Coordinate with ventilation group for proper timing and location
2. Utilize existing fire protection systems if any
a. Sprinklers first
b. Standpipes second
c. Why?

37
Q

1st in engine tasks

A
  1. Primary search/fire attack
  2. Initial hoseline into structure
  3. Depending on the next due engine or location of hydrant, could make own water supply.
38
Q

2nd in engine tasks

A
  1. Locates and stages hydrant
  2. When given order, typically supplies first in engine with water
  3. Pulls additional lines off of first in engine
  4. Assists with primary search/rescue/fire attack
  5. Can conduct a secondary search if the fire is quickly controlled by the first engine crew
39
Q

3rd in engine tasks

A

RIC

40
Q

Hoseline offensive attack goals

A
  1. Protect victims – first line between fire and victims
  2. Protect egress
    a. Line between fire and exits
    b. Protect stairwells
  3. Fire attack
    a. Attack from unburned (not true anymore)
    b. Fog pattern for heat protection, Solid/straight stream for extinguishment
    c. Right to fight, left for life.
  4. Back up
    a. True back up lines is in place in case the first line fails in order to protect the egress. Must be same size or larger than attack line. Must have separate water supply.
41
Q

Hoseline defensive attack goals

A
  1. Safe placement of apparatus
  2. Development of Master Stream
  3. Protect exposure
  4. Fire Control
42
Q

RIC is created based on what NFPA standard?

A

NFPA 1561

43
Q

Rules for RIC

A

a. Based on NFPA 1561 standards which require personnel be made available for the sole purpose of rescuing firefighters who may become lost or trapped inside a structure or other operational situation.
b. Will be utilized in ALL working fires and any other incident where their presence is deemed necessary
c. Requires discipline
d. “Don’t do anything. You will want to go somewhere, do something. No. You need to be ready on that trigger.

44
Q

What does RIC do?

A

e. RIC should report directly to the scene
f. RIC should survey the scene and:
i. ID barriers to rescue
ii. Ensure correct placement of ladders
iii. Observe fire conditions and fire attack
iv. Anticipate problems fire crews might encounter (soften the building)
g. Proactive role! Assume the worst will happen!
h. All four members of crew report to IC or OPS with circular saw, PPE + air
i. Soften building – force doors or barriers to egress
j. Stand in an area near the incident that will allow them to fulfill the requirement of immediate rescue

45
Q

Can RIC do other jobs?

A

RIC is there for rescue. They should not be assigned other tasks unless they are “immediately retrievable”.

46
Q

What is RIC’s radio designator if activated?

A

RIC Rescue Group

47
Q

RIC Responsibilities

A

i. Observe overall strategy: offensive vs defensive
ii. Monitor radio traffic for “Mayday” call
iii. Evaluate collapse potential
iv. Identify special problems (barred windows, gates, steel doors, high security locks, access problems) and proactively remove them for quick access/egress
v. Observe accountability board/location of companies, determine where fire attack and primary search teams are operating.
vi. Observe ground ladders and place more if necessary

48
Q

Final RIC notes

A

i. Depending on the size of the incident, there may be more than one RIC
ii. Typically the RIC will stage at or near the command post, but if the building is very large in area or in height, RIC may be located in the division closest to the fire attack crews.
iii. Some departments use RIT (Rapid Intervention Team)

49
Q

Ladder Company Offensive Attack tasks

A

i. Primary search
ii. Secondary search
iii. Rescue operations
iv. Support activities
1. Forcible entry
2. Ventilation
3. Utility Control
4. Lighting and power supply
5. Salvage/overhaul

50
Q

Ladder Company Defensive Attack tasks

A

i. Secure utilities
ii. Lighting/power supply
iii. Development of elevated master streams
iv. Fire control
v. Protect exposures

51
Q

Medic Company tasks

A

a. Can be assigned a function by command
b. Primarily responsibility is attending to victims
c. Typically assists with engine operations initially and pulling out victims if found
d. Also may be assigned as rehab, triage, treatment and transport responsibilities

52
Q

Know the game plan!

A

a. All functions are essential for success!
b. Each company knows the role they are playing
c. Each company follows the game plan (no freelance!)
d. Each crew’s task is essential for the overall success of the strategic plan.

53
Q

Teamwork quotes

A

a. There is special force that gets people working together as a team. Once that force is in action the team is virtually unbeatable.
b. Hard work spotlights the character of people: some people turn up their sleeves, some people turn up their noses, and some people don’t turn up at all.