Communications

Co u cat o s
3rd Function of Command

2nd edition 2008

Henderson
H d Fire
Fi Department
D t t
Incident Command Training
 Communications
Major
j Goal
‹ “The Incident Commander will initiate, maintain
and control the communications process”
 Objectives
‹ Describe
esc be the
t e general
ge e a requirements
equ e e ts foro
effective communications
‹ Identify the available radio channels
‹ Name the correct unit designations
‹ Define and execute required reports
‹ Identify the 7 Fire ground bench marks
‹ Explain the difference between
“Emergency Traffic” and “Mayday”
‹ Explain The difference between
“Withdrawal”
Withdrawal & “Abandon
Abandon the building”
building
 Objectives continued
‹ Describe the role that SOP’s, communication
t i i
training andd organizational
i ti l managementt play
l iin
the communication process.
‹ Identify the different forms of incident
communications
i ti
‹ Understand the responsibilities of all the
communication participants.
‹ Describe
b the
h different
d ff roles
l off the
h IC,
Division/Groups & Companies to maintain
effective communications
‹ D fi
Define the
th IC’s
IC’ rolel in
i controlling
t lli communications
i ti
‹ Explain the components of the Communications
IC Checklist
 Competencies
… Use communication SOP
… Start/control communications upon arrival with
Brief Initial Report
… Use effective communication techniques to keep
everyone connected
… Use organizational chart as communication flow
plan
l
… Use companies and Divisions/Groups as
communications partners
p
… Maintain a clear controlled voice
… Listen critically – understand communication
difficulties from tough operating positions
 Competencies cont
cont.
… Mix and match forms of communications
… Coordinate timely progress reports
… Maintain communication availability – answer on
first call
… Utilize standard order model
… Keep communications simple:
task/location/objective
… Utilize CP position and staff to help
communications
… Center communications around tactical
benchmarks – “primary all clear,” “knockdown,”
“loss stopped”
… Project a good radio image
 Overview
‹ Our favorite incident problem
‹ Must standardize

‹ The
Th IC’s
IC’ primary
i tool
t l for
f
effectiveness
‹ Connects all participants

‹ Critical for scene safetyy

 Standard Communication
System Elements
‹ SOP’s

‹ Training

‹ Organizational Management
‹ Equipment

‹ Communication Channels
‹ Standard Language

‹ Techniques
Forms of Incident Communications
‹ Face to Face
‹ Radio

‹ Electronic
El t i S
Supportt
‹ Standard Operating Procedures
 Communication Participants
‹ Dispatch

‹ IC

‹ Command Support
pp Staff –
Division/Groups
‹ Operating Units - Companies

‹ Other Agencies
 Maintaining Communications
‹ The IC
IC’s
s Role
‹ Get things going
‹ Balance talking/listening

‹ Control
C l communications
i i
‹ Be available to communicate

‹ Division/Group Reporting
‹ Command Partners
‹ Utilize standard reports

‹ Emergency Traffic
‹ Communicating with Operating Companies
 IC Communication Control
‹ Ability
to Command
‹ Who’s in Control?

‹ The
Th Conductor
C d t
 Function #3
Communications

Major Goal
To initiate,, maintain,, and control effective
incident communications.

Competency
•Use communications SOP.
 Function #3
C
Communications
i ti

Competency
•Start/control communications upon
arrival with initial radio report that
describes conditions and actions.
 Function #3
C
Communications
i ti

Competency
•Use effective communications
techniques to keep everyone connected.
 Function #3
Communications

IC

Roof Division A Division C Division

Competency
•Use Organizational Chart as
Communication Flow Plan
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Use Companies, Divisions/Groups and
Dispatch as Communication Partners
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Maintain a clear, controlled, well-timed
radio voice.
 Function #3
Communications
i i

Competency
•Listen critically -- understand
communications difficulties from tough
operating positions.
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Mix and match forms of communications
(face to face - radio - computers - SOPs).
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Coordinate timely progress reports.
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Maintain your communication
availability – answer on the first call.
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Utilize the standard order model to
structure communications.
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Keep communications simple:
task/location/objective (use plain
text).
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Utilize CP position and staff to help
communications.
 Function #3
C
Communications
i ti

Competency
•Center communications around the
tactical benchmarks - “primary all clear,”
“knockdown,” & “loss stopped”,
 Function #3
Communications

Competency
•Project a good radio image.
 Communications SOP
‹ Unit Designation
– Officer of any unit Unit ID
– Engineer
g of unit Unit ID + Engineer
g
– Firefighter of Engine or Truck Unit ID + Firefighter
– Paramedic of unit Unit ID + Medic
– Battalion Chief Unit ID
– Rescue 1st Roster Position Unit ID +A
– R
Rescue 2nd
2 dR Roster
t Position
P iti U it
Unit ID +B
– Crew w/o Officer Unit ID + crew
– Report to vehicle Unit ID + apparatus
 Communications SOP# EM-
EM-38
‹ Reports
– Brief Initial Report
– Follow
Follow--up Report
– Roof Report
– Triage
g Report
p
– In-
In-Transit Report
– Personal Accountability
y Report
p
– Progress Reports
‹ C.A.A.N. Reports
‹ Completion Report
‹ Exception Report
 Brief Initial Report
‹ Brief Initial Report – The first arriving unit
on a dispatch of 3 or more units
units, on a motor
vehicle accident*, or on any fire dispatch
(possible fire, brush fire, car fire etc.) will
provide a Brief Initial Report
Report. This report will
include:

1. Unit designation (Who am I?)

2. Incident Address (Where am I?)
3 Assume and name command (Who is in command?)
3.
4. Brief description of the situation (What do I have?)
5. Action being taken and strategy declaration (What
am I doing?)
6. State any immediate needs from incoming units or
dispatch (What do I need?)
 Sets/Reps
B i f IInitial
Brief ii lR Report
Recon – Just inside front door
Recon
Recon
Recon
 Follow--up Report
Follow
‹ Follow--up Report – After the first
Follow
arriving
i i unit
it has
h evaluated
l t d ththe scene and
d
identified the critical factors you may provide
a follow-
follow-up report.
report This report will include:
1. Situational Update*
2. Resource determination
determination*
3. Any immediate safety concerns*
4. Clarify Command Mode and Strategy if not done
in the Brief Initial Report*
*If needed
 Roof Report
‹ Roof Report
p – The Officer that is assigned
g to
the Roof will give the IC a Roof Report. This
report may include:

1. Type of roof (flat, pitched, tile, metal, shingle etc.)

2. Are smoke & heat vents present and operating
(commercial roofs)
3. Conditions of roof (stable, unstable, venting,
pressured smoke etc.)
4 Concentrated
4. C t t d lloads
d (HVAC
(HVAC, antennae
t etc.)
t )
5. Firewalls or partitions if present
6. Basic blueprint if unusual
7. Action being taken
 Sets/Reps
R fR
Roof Report
‹ Triage Report – At a motor vehicle accident
or MCI the person assigned initial triage will
give a triage report to Command. This report
is vital for the IC to request the appropriate
resources. This report will include:
1
1. The number and severity of patients
2. Is mechanical extrication going to be necessary
3. Which patient goes first
 In--Transit Report
In
‹ In--Transit Report – When the IC assigns
In
a unit to a Division/Group he will notify
the Supervisor of the unit inin--transit. The
Division/Group Supervisor will then notify
the IC when the unit in
in--transit has
arrived.
i d
– *When command orders a unit to an
assignment where no Division/Group has been
established, the Officer in charge will notify
command when they are in position.
 Progress Reports
‹ C.A.A.N.
CAAN Report
– Conditions
– Actions
– Air Supply
– Needs
‹ Completion Report
‹ Exception Report
 Sets/Reps
CAAN R
C.A.A.N. Reports
 Personal Accountability
Report
Report
‹ Personnel Accountability y Report
p “PAR” – The
Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) involves a
roll call of all personnel assigned to crews and
Division/Groups
/ p that are workingg in the hot zone.
The PAR is a confirmation that all members are
accounted for and have an adequate exit air
supply.
pp y For the Division/Group
/ p Officer,, a "PAR" is
an accounting for all crewmembers of all
companies assigned to his/her Division/Group.
For the Companyp y Officer,, a PAR is an accounting g
of all crewmembers assigned to his/her company.
Reports of PAR's should be conducted face-face-to-
to-
/
face within the Division/Group p or company
p y
whenever possible.
 Bench Marks
1. Water on the fire
2. Personnel in the structure
3. Primary all clear
4. Utilities
U ili i securedd
5. Knockdown
6
6. Secondary all clear
7. Loss stopped

*Dispatch will report 10 minute intervals to

C
Command,d from
f onsett off the
th call.
ll
 Emergency Traffic
‹ The “Emergency
g y Traffic” announcement
will be utilized to provide immediate
notification to all fire ground personnel
tthat
at a notable
otab e hazard
a a d is
s either
e t e about to
occur or has occurred. “Emergency
Traffic” will receive the highest
communications priority from dispatch,
Command and all operating units.

‹ * h air
*The i absolutely
b l l belongs
b l to any
unit giving the “Emergency Traffic”
call.
 Mayday
‹ The radio message “Mayday”
Mayday is a term to
be used only in the event of a lost or
trapped firefighter. Any member may use
“Mayday” to report a lost firefighter. Any
report of a “Mayday” will receive priority
radio
di ttraffic.
ffi The
Th term
t “Mayday”
“M d ” will ill be
b
reserved only to report a firefighter in
trouble and needing rescue.
rescue The term
“Emergency Traffic” will be used to report
all other emergencies.
g
 Withdraw vs.
vs Abandon
‹ Withdraw Order
– utilize “Emergency Traffic”
‹ Abandon the Building
– utilize “Emergency Traffic”
‹ Evacuation