Manitowoc
Section
1: Scope
It is the
responsibility of all personnel on the fire ground to ensure that all personnel
are accounted for. All personnel on scene shall not engage in freelancing at
any time. This
guideline shall apply at all incidents where any members are operating in a
hazard zone.
Section
2: Terms and Definitions
1. Hazard Zone: Any area that requires an SCBA, charged hose
line, and special protective clothing; or in which a firefighter is at risk of
becoming lost, trapped, or injured by the environment or structure.
2. Individual Passport: A
2”x1/2” Velcro tab that has your name attached.
Each member affixes their tags to company passports at the beginning of
each incident.
3. Company Passport: A 2”x4” Velcro board that has your company
identifying number on it. They come in
the following types:
a) Primary Passport: WHITE, it is used to document the movement of
a team within an emergency incident
b) Back-Up: RED, it is left as an emergency back-up or replacement if the primary passport is lost. It can also be used as a passport at the point of entry when called for.
c) Reserve: GREEN, kept in the
station for incidents involving shift change.
It is also used as a back-up if the primary or back-up passport is lost.
d) Blank: GREEN, Passport that is blank on top. It is maintained in the make-up kits in the command vehicle. Commanders can use a marker or grease pen to customize a Blank passport for the creation of a new company. It can also be used as a temporary replacement for a preprinted passport that has been lost or damaged.
e) Company passport shall have the department’s name (4 alpha numeric designee that does not have “FD” as the last two alpha numeric characters) and vehicle listed on the top of the tag. Example for Manitowoc is MTWC not MFD.
4. PAR: Personnel Accountability Report, a systematic report of all personnel on the fireground.
Section
3: General Safety Rules
1. All personnel must be under
direct supervision of a company officer.
All company officers will be under the direct supervision of the
incident commander or division /group supervisor. There will be no freelancing.
2. Under normal circumstances,
a company officer’s span of control will be 3 to 7 members.
3. Company officers must keep
their crews together and be able to immediately account for all members under
their direct supervision throughout an incident. Reduced visibility and increased risk will
require working very close to each other.
4. Companies not assigned a
task will report to the staging or rehab area.
Company officers will advise the incident commander or supervisor of any
changes in status, which will be logged by the Accountability Officer or
designee.
a) All personnel will be
equipped with a radio. If a radio fails
while in a hazard zone, the company will immediately exit, notify command of
the problem, and shall not be reassigned to the hazard zone until a replacement
radio is obtained.
Section4: Communications
1. Communications is a key
element of an effective accountability system.
The company officer must keep the incident commander or supervisor and
the Accountability Officer or designee aware of the company’s:
a) Entry into the
building/area.
b) Task and location
c) Significant findings and
observations.
d) Exit from building/area and
destination.
Section 5: Equipment
1. Member Identification
a) As turnout gear is replaced,
the turnout coat will display the member’s last name on the lowest area on the
back of the coat.
2. Passports
a) All Fire Department vehicles
will be equipped with a White and Red Passport that will have the company’s
identification on them. These will be
located on the Officer door of the vehicle.
b) All members will be issued a
Velcro card with six Velcro pads that will contain the member’s name. These will be affixed to the underside of the
firefighters helmet brim.
c) Each day every member will
affix a nametag to the White and Red Passports in the vehicle.
d) The helmet markings and
passports must remain accurate throughout the shift, reflecting temporary
changes in assignments.
e) The company officer will
ensure the accuracy of the passport and helmet markings at the beginning of
each duty day.
3. Status Display
a) Each company will have the
passports located so that the passports can be collected and the Accountability
Officer or designee can track the status of the crews working in the hazard
zone.
b) A resource status board that
the passports will be affixed to will be located in each Chief or Battalion
Chief’s vehicle.
c) A second status board will
also be located in the Command Vehicle or Battalion Chief’s vehicle.
Section 6:Accountability System Implementation
1. Accountability Officer or
designee
a) The Incident Commander shall
assign a member to perform the duties of the Accountability Officer or designee. This assignment may vary by size or
complexity of the incident.
b) The Incident Commander may
assign a member to perform the duties of the Accountability Officer or designee
Aide. This member may be assigned to the
Point of Entry.
c) Locations
i) The first engine to each geographic side will serve as the
initial accountability location.
ii) First alarm companies shall
leave their passports on the apparatus.
The Accountability Officer or designee will collect the White Passports
before going to the Incident Commander.
The passports will then be ffixed to the
Status display board.
iii) Whenever possible the Accountability
Officer or designee will be located in a position that has a clear view of the
primary point of entry.
f)
Point of Entry Control.
i) When collected, passports will remain with the Accountability
Officer or designee. The Status display
boards will display the status (location and task) of all companies assigned to
the incident.
ii) When a member is assigned to the Point of
Entry this member shall have the point of entry status board. They shall be informed by the company officer
of their task and location. They shall
then write the information on the status display board. When the company exits the building their
information shall be removed from the board.
iv) The Incident Commander, when
incident dictates, may request that the Red Passports be used at the Point of
Entry. When this occurs
only the names of the individuals actually entering the Hazard Zone shall be on
the Passport. The members of the
companies that are not entering shall be left on the apparatus or the names may
be turned upside down on the passports indicating that the member did not enter
the Hazard Zone. The Company Officer
shall then give the Accountability Officer or designee Aide the Red Passport
when entering. This passport shall then
be affixed to the Status Display Board with the task and location. When exiting the Passport shall be returned
to the company officer.
Section 7: Tactical Benchmarks
Several accountability benchmarks are included in
tactical operations. The Personnel
Accountability Report (PAR) involves a roll call of members assigned to the
incident. For the company officer, a PAR
is a confirmation that members assigned to his/her crew are visually accounted
for. For command or division/group
supervisor, a PAR is an accounting for all crewmembers of all companies
assigned to him/her. Report of PARs
should be made face-to-face within the company or within the division/group
whenever possible.
1. A PAR will be initiated by
command in the following situations:
a) Any report of a missing or
trapped firefighter.
b) Any change from offensive to
defensive attack mode.
c) Any sudden hazardous event
at the incident (flashover, back draft, collapse, etc.).
d) By crew(s) reporting
“primary search completed”(company officers of the
crews responsible for search and rescue will ensure they have a PAR for their
crews at the time they report all clear).
e) At the report of fire under
control.
f)
Any time command requests.
g) No more than 20 minutes of
elapse time shall pass without a PAR.
2. Missing or Trapped
Firefighters.
a) In the event a firefighter
or crew is determined to be missing, trapped, or a MAYDAY is broadcast, command
shall be notified immediately. Command
will immediately request an extra alarm assignment through the dispatch
center. A situation assessment must be
performed prior to re-assigning resources.
b)
The pumping engine will be
ordered to transmit a 5- one second alert tones on the tactical channel, clearing
the way for emergency radio traffic. The
Pumping engine shall sound the air horn 5 times. A brief description of the emergency should
be transmitted by command. Crews
operating at the incident may expect to be reassigned. This may include evacuation or a change in
attack modes.
c) Evacuation alarm. This will be sounded when it is determined
all personnel are to immediately (WITH OUT QUESTION) exit the structure and
report a PAR. The alarm will be 10 air horn
blasts from the pumping engine or other as designated by command.
3. Terminating the Passport System.
The passport system will be
maintained throughout the incident. The
company officer will collect the passport after they have been cleared from the
incident but prior to leaving the scene.
Section 8: Terminology
1. All companies shall use
proper company identification when enroute to an incident or when talking to
dispatch. Once on scene the Incident
Commander will give task orientated identifiers to companies once assigned a task. These will be use throughout the incident.
a) The following are the Task
orientated identifiers. These will be
followed by a number assigned by the incident commander if a given identifier
is assigned more than once. (Example:
“Attack” is the initial fire attack unit, “Attack 2” is the second attack team
assigned.)
i)
Command - The Incident Commander in charge of the incident
ii)
Attack - Crews that are assigned the role of fire attack.
iii)
Back-Up - Crews that are assigned the duties of the back-up line.
iv)
Search - Crews that are assigned
to search
v)
RIT - Crews that are assigned RIT
vi)
Vent - Crews that are assigned to vent along with the other tasks that
are normally assigned to the ladder crew initially. (utilities,
laddering etc.).
vii)
Staging - Crews that are in the staging area.
viii)
Truck - Used for ladder companies when doing outside operations.
(Rescue, Arial Operations etc.).
ix)
Salvage - Crews assigned to salvage work.
x)
Overhaul - Crews when they are assigned to overhaul duties
xi)
Rehab - Crews that are in rehab.
xii)
Water- Tenders assigned to water shuttle
Section 9: Summary of Accountability System Responsibilities
1. Accountability will work
only with a strong personal commitment to the safety system. This commitment involves the following
responsibilities:
a) Firefighter:
Responsible for staying with his/her crew at all times and ensuring that
his/her passport is on the company passport at all times.
b) Engineer/Motor Pump Operator: The engineer of the first engine to each
geographic side of the incident becomes the initial Accountability Officer or
designee. The engineer must manage
accountability until relieved by another Accountability Officer or designee Leader.
c) Company Officer: Responsible for keeping his/her crew intact
at all times and that the passport is current and accurate. The passport should reflect only those
members operating in the hazard zone.
d) Division or Group Supervisor: Responsible for maintaining an awareness of
their location and status of all resources in his/her division/group.
e) Accountability Officer or designee: Reports to the planning Section Chief or the
Incident Commander, tracking location and status of all assigned
resources. Maintains a master list of
all resources committed to incident operations.
g) Command: Responsible for maintaining an awareness of
the location and status of all resources assigned to the incident through
regular communications with Accountability Officer or designee or Planning
Section Chief.
h) Tender driver: Shall passport into the chief incharge of the water shuttle. This driver shall stay with his/her vehicle.
i)
Water shuttle officer:
Responsible for tender operations and accountability of the tenders.