FSTFSR 04-04-2012 INFORMATION #1i~v To Rm rr•no+~ ~ Z
NQZZLE N. ,
Fireground "Segregation"
Command & chief officers should stick to
what they are trained to do
Dear Noulehead: We recently had a heated dis-
cussion in ourfirehouserelated tothe roles of chiefs
and company officers on the Fireground. Some people feel
that lieutenants and captains can be very good fire com-
mandofficers, and that chiefs should stick to coming out
only on the bigfires. Others obviously disagreed. What are
yourthoughts about who should be doing what?
-I Could Be Commandin' in Connecticut
Deaz "I Am Not Letting You Be In Command,"
Company officers generally have a momentary role in
fire wmmand~s the firsaarriving officer, condtuting
a size-up while getting their company into position.
And that may even mean gttdng a quick knock on the
fire while in command. Whoa. UK, now you white-
shirted, badges-on-bells, DAYGLOW-vest-wearin
chiefs, just calm down and heaz me out. I said the above
happens rniaally--and quickly (like first-dale quick).
The first-arriving officer does the above when a ryr-
tem has been developed to ensure that there will be
chief-level officers driving something other than a fire
appazatus (like a command vehicle) that has the tools
and equipment (writing, tracking and talking stuff) to
allow that commander [o command the Cue from, or
close to, that vehicle, depending on the situation.
I am talking about FIREGROUND SEGREGA-
TION here. Ever watch a football game? Notice how
the coacHer stay on the sidelines so they can make the
decisions? Ever notice how the playerr are doing the
actual physical work on the field? Now apply that to
the fireground. Bottom line: Keep chiefs and company
officers separate-just like in football.
Before I go any furtheg let me save "someone" from
writing in and saying that they dolt have enough staff-
ing Tbrthis. Iknow departments in the most coral areas
and the most urban dries, and they do dris. When we
fonts on the citizens who are experiencing the fire-
and not our egos and selfish wants-we can better
see that we can make this happen-we just have to
WANT it to happen for the sake of the citizens and
out troops who are trying to quickly fix the problem.
If your depaztment doesrit have the staffing, use
autmatic mutual aid. Automatic means that their
tones and your tones go ofF at the same time. h's a
simultaneous experience and it is lovely. And that
response should include plenty of Brief--level ot&Cers so
that the command roler can be filled.
So what are these command roles? 7}rinlc about your
last fire. In the first few minutes, who was assigned to
command, acmumabiliry the "Charlie side;' rescue
and/or RIT? Who was the incident safety officer?
"]here are the basic command-level roles that should
be pazt of any reported structure fire first-alarm assign-
ment. Sure, MANY of us (including me) have com-
manded fires by ourselves, and it has worked out
fine. 'That's because we got lucky. We know that the
above roles must be filled if we want to maximize our
chances for success. And the people in these positions
absolutely MUST have the experience, hazard-zone
management TRAINING and cettification necessary.
When we take lieutenants and captains out of the
apparatus and place [hem in command roles, we create
some very predictable and problematic outcomes:
• TTtere is now no one in charge of that tympany and
crew. Are you thinking right now that you trust your
people? Are you drinking that they dont need [o
have a captain or lieutenant with them? Fine, then
how do you justify the existence of the company
officers' jobs? Think! They are specifically needed to
operate at a supervisory level with their crew.
• You are placing company officers in command-level
roles. Are they trained? Certified? Experienced?
I appreciate tha[ some sergeants, lieutenants and cap-
tains would like to be in command, but a better idea
is for them to Focus on being the best company officerr
they ran be-and then study for the next test. When
chiefs "gip-ftop° roles and company officers "abandori'
their crews to fill command-level roles, they can create
unnecessary risks and predictably bad outcomes.
Only in the rarer[ si[uations are chief-level command
officers not available to fill ou[ that first-alarm assign-
ment Open up your mind and rnnsider how you
can get several command level officers to the scene ro
allow companies to do their jobs.. When we get seri-
ous about our roles, we often can come up with some
real (albeit non-traditional) solutions ro the problems
of the people who dialed 9-1-I. It's their fire. What's
best for them? ~
Z4 FIRERESCUE MAGArINF ~' FER AUARV 20t2 FIREF IG HTER NAtION.COM