Policy 1106: Incident Management
YAKIMA COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 12
10000 ZIER ROAD
YAKIMA, WA 98908
POLICY # 1106
COMMISSION CHAIR SIGNATURE: s/b Ken Eakin, Chair
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1/11/98
REVISED DATE: 6/10/08
POLICY TITLE: INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
REFERENCES: WAC 296-305-05001, SOG 2-3 & 2-4
1.0 PURPOSE
The Purpose of this policy is to establish an incident management system (IMS) consistent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Incident Management System (NIMS) and provide written guidelines to all members involved in emergency operations.
2. INCIDENT COMMANDER TO MANAGE EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION
At emergency scenes, the incident commander shall establish an Incident Command System (ICS) organization with sufficient supervisory personnel to control the position and function of all members operation at the emergency incident and to ensure that safety requirements are satisfied.
3.0 INCIDENT COMMANDER HAS OVERALL COMMAND
The incident commander (IC) is the person in overall command of the emergency incident. The IC is responsible for the direction and coordination of the response effort and must assume and confirm command in an effective command position. The IC must initiate, maintain, and control incident communications and develop an overall strategy and attack plan assigning units to operations.
4.0 THE INCIDENT COMMANDER SHALL USE AN INCIDENT COMMAND
SYSTEM
The IC shall use an ICS to safely manage an incident scene and develop an effective ICS organization by managing resources, maintaining effective span of control, and maintaining direct supervision over the entire incident by creating geographical and/or functional areas as appropriate for the scope and size of the incident. The IC must review, evaluate, and revise the operational plan as required by the incident size and complexity. The IC shall continue, transfer, and terminate command as appropriate.
5.0 IC TO CONDUCT RISK ASSESSMENT
The IC will conduct a risk assessment in accordance to YCFD12 policy 1201 and SOG 3-4.
6.0 DISTRICT TO USE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
The District will use the Yakima County Chief’s Association “Firefighter Accountability System.” This system provides tracking and inventory of all members at an emergency incident utilizing passport tags, helmet shields and command boards.
7.0 IC SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY
At an emergency incident, the IC shall be responsible for the overall safety of all members and all activities occurring at the scene.
8.0 ALL PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY
All personnel shall have the responsibility to maintain an awareness of the physical condition of members and ensure that adequate steps shall be taken to provide for their safety and health. The command structure shall be utilized to request relief and reassignment of fatigued crews.
9.0 INCIDENT COMMAND TRAINING TO BE PROVIDED BY DISTRICT
The District will be responsible for providing initial and ongoing ICS training for all Department members. The District has adopted the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) and all of its related publications and procedures related for the utilization of the ICS. All members shall be familiar with NIIMS, and shall receive on-going ICS training that is conducted frequently enough to ensure that each member is able to perform their assigned ICS duties and functions satisfactorily and in a safe manor. The IMS shall be applied to drills, exercises, and other situations that involve hazards similar to those encountered at actual emergency incidents and to simulated incidents that are conducted for training and familiarization purposes.