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The Incident Command System is used throughout Hamilton County, Ohio to provide a consistent approach to structural firefighting strategies and tactics, to provide a standardized vision of strategies that will be used on the fire ground, and to improve fire ground safety through the utilization of the most up to date technological information related to fire growth, behavior, and their control measures.
The fire chiefs in Hamilton County have unanimously adopted an Incident Command SOG to provide firefighters with fire suppression options that allow for safer incident outcomes with the most efficient resource utilization and to clarify strategic and tactical options that will ensure a strong coordination of resources is obtained.
The Functions of Command create the foundation for responses to structure fire incidents. Every dispatch for a structure fire should have a minimum response of (5) Engines, (2) Ladder trucks, (2) Medic transport units, (2) District cars, and an IMAT activation.
An Incident Commander is established at each incident. Incident Commanders document the position and function of every firefighter on the scene and the tactical benchmarks using a command worksheet. Firefighters are tracked using an accountability passport system, which is carried on every apparatus. Each firefighter has an accountability name tag that is placed on their apparatus passport daily. Once a crew is assigned on the fire ground, their passport is placed on the accountability board or given to a sector/division supervisor before entering a building.
Additionally, many of the Hamilton County fire departments have an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) that consistent of trained chiefs that are dispatched to all structure fires. These chiefs are from different jurisdictions and will respond (if available) to the incident and assist the Incident Commander. They can be assigned to various roles by the Incident Commander to enhanced firefighter safety, such as the following:
· Sector/Division Supervisor(s)
· Incident Commander Aide
· Sector/Division Supervisor Aide(s)
· Staging Officer
· Water Supply Officer
If there is a Mayday the Incident Commander will continue directing firefighters to control the fire, while the sector/division supervisor(s) directs the Rapid Assistance Team (RAT) to rescue any firefighters and/or assist firefighters to a safe area.
During larger scale or extended incidents the Incident Commander can request the Mobile Command Vehicle (Command 400) to setup an extensive command and communications center and/or a Unified Command Center.
The fire chiefs in Hamilton County have unanimously adopted an Incident Command SOG to provide firefighters with fire suppression options that allow for safer incident outcomes with the most efficient resource utilization and to clarify strategic and tactical options that will ensure a strong coordination of resources is obtained.
The Functions of Command create the foundation for responses to structure fire incidents. Every dispatch for a structure fire should have a minimum response of (5) Engines, (2) Ladder trucks, (2) Medic transport units, (2) District cars, and an IMAT activation.
An Incident Commander is established at each incident. Incident Commanders document the position and function of every firefighter on the scene and the tactical benchmarks using a command worksheet. Firefighters are tracked using an accountability passport system, which is carried on every apparatus. Each firefighter has an accountability name tag that is placed on their apparatus passport daily. Once a crew is assigned on the fire ground, their passport is placed on the accountability board or given to a sector/division supervisor before entering a building.
Additionally, many of the Hamilton County fire departments have an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) that consistent of trained chiefs that are dispatched to all structure fires. These chiefs are from different jurisdictions and will respond (if available) to the incident and assist the Incident Commander. They can be assigned to various roles by the Incident Commander to enhanced firefighter safety, such as the following:
· Sector/Division Supervisor(s)
· Incident Commander Aide
· Sector/Division Supervisor Aide(s)
· Staging Officer
· Water Supply Officer
If there is a Mayday the Incident Commander will continue directing firefighters to control the fire, while the sector/division supervisor(s) directs the Rapid Assistance Team (RAT) to rescue any firefighters and/or assist firefighters to a safe area.
During larger scale or extended incidents the Incident Commander can request the Mobile Command Vehicle (Command 400) to setup an extensive command and communications center and/or a Unified Command Center.