11. INCIDENT
COMMUNICATIONS/GENERAL OPERATING GUIDELINES
11.1 GENERAL
This
section outlines general incident communications that affects both Fire/Rescue
and
11.2 CROSS SERVICE NOTIFICATION
Incidents
in which multi-service (Fire and
11.3 MUNICIPAL INCIDENT COORDINATION
It
is expected that Fire/EMS officials and police officials in the common response
areas have a mutual understanding of all matters related to incident mitigation
within their areas.
11.4 POLICE ALTERING OF RESPONSE REQUESTS
Any requests from a
police officer for sending additional apparatus, reducing dispatch response of
Fire/EMS apparatus or requesting apparatus to alter their response to the scene
of an emergency will be relayed to the Fire/EMS officer in charge who will
determine the course of action. The
activation of sirens, pagers and dispatch procedure and criteria have been formally established. If any problems arise concerning established
procedures or criteria, those involved must resolve the issue directly and not
implicate the
11.5 INCIDENT COMMAND
An
incident command shall be established on all incidents. Incident command consists of procedures for
controlling personnel, facilities, equipment and communications. The Cumberland County Incident Command
standard follows NIMS, the National Incident
Management System as set forth by the Homeland Security Presidential Directive,
HSPD #5, and Management of Domestic Incidents, implemented by Cumberland County
Resolution,
11.6 CHAIN OF COMMAND
The
following chain of command will be recognized until such time that Command is assumed
by a responder if the local Chiefs fail to respond. Traffic Units will not be
questioned during any Fire or
Various chain of command policies exist within the different
municipalities. Coordination must occur among the municipalities so that the
proper chain of command is followed when mutual aid responses occur.
A. Municipal
Chief, Municipal Assistant Chief or Municipal designated Duty Chief for
incidents occurring within their municipality.
B. First
due engine company officer or designated Duty Chief (per Section 4.4).
C. Second
or subsequent due engine company chief or their assistant chief.
D. Truck/squad
company chiefs or their assistant chiefs.
E.
First due company apparatus
(excluding traffic units).
11.7 RESPONSE MODES
This
section defines the general response mode announcements used in
11.7A Standardized
Response Mode Announcements - Fire &
A. Non-Emergency
- will be assumed as responding with no audible or visual signals operating.
B. Emergency
- will be assumed as responding with audible and visual signals operating and
assuming that the driver is exercising those special
privileges as needed and in a manner that insures due regard for the safety of
all persons.
C. Caution
will be used to alert responding companies of an unusual or hazardous condition
occurring which may affect responding units.
An acknowledgment will be required by units affected if the
D. Placed
In-Service/Units Held - The Communications Center will place in-service or
hold units at the direction of the OIC.
When units are placed in-service by the
Apparatus placed in-service which
is on-the-scene will not be called individually, but will be collectively
advised by Box Number without acknowledgment.
E. Class 1 = ALS/BLS Response Emergency
Class 2 = BLS Response Emergency
Class 3 = BLS Response Non
Emergency
F. Announcements of response
changes will be done on the
assigned Ops talk
group and over Fire 1 for personnel
responding without 800 radio capability. This may not be done whenever
Fire 1 is “busy”.
11.7B
11.7C An incident response status
check will be performed if no unit has arrived on the scene of an incident
(Fire and
1. Attempt radio contact with responders.
2. Page the unit(s).
3. Call the scene by telephone if able.
4. If no contact-
Send the appropriate
next due unit(s).
Contact the
appropriate Police to conduct a search for the unit.
Contact the Chief of
the company.
11.8 ASSIGNMENT OF OPERATIONAL TALK GROUPS
1. An operational talk group shall be assigned by the
Communications Center
whenever it is essential to maintaining
communications
for the incident and clearing the dispatch talk
group.
Operational talk groups will also be assigned as needed for out of county
incidents when requested.
2. For incidents (In and out of County) where responders are using
incompatible
radio systems, an operational patch (if available) will be initiated when
requested between the systems at the
Any unit operating outside of
their County should not assume good communications until verified at the
incident.
11.8A All operations communications will be coordinated through
incident command or OIC until command is established. "Command"
shall be assumed when a unit has been designated as such by an incident
OIC. The designation will derived from
the Municipal Chief number if one is assigned to the municipality. If no
municipal chief is designated, then the engine company number utilized in the
box number will be use for the command designation.
EXAMPLE: Middlesex Twp.
Command 7.
assigned Command 52.
Should
another incident occur within a given municipality or box area in which a "Command" has already been
designated, an additional "Command"
can be designated. This "Command" will assume the same
command number and be designated with an additional alphabetical letter.
EXAMPLE: First Incident - "Command 33"
Second
Incident- "Command 33A”
11.8B Assignment
of Multiple Talk Groups for Multiple Divisions or Groups.
1. On
major incidents, multiple talk groups may be assigned to effect good
communications at the incident.
Example:
“Command””
“Operations”
"
“Water
Supply”
2. Upon determination of the need for
multiple talk groups, the
If talk group assignments require a VTAC/Portable
change, any portable that is attached to a VTAC will need detached from the
VTAC prior to changing the talk group. Once the talk group selection is made,
another VTAC will need activated on the newly assumed talk group. Once the VTAC
is activated, the portables that have moved to this talk group will need to
attach to this VTAC.
3.
The multiple Divisions or Groups will
communicate their
needs
to the established Incident Command.
Incident
Command is responsible
to relaying any requests to
the
Communications Center via the Command talk group.
4. Command will have to
coordinate the use of multiple radios
in the Command
Area to monitor the additionally assigned talk groups on the scene if they deem
such to effect radio communications with the Divisions or Groups and Command.
11.9 FIREGROUND STRUCTURE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
The
following area identification system shall be standard within
SIDE / EXPOSURE C – Charlie
EXPOSURE B – Bravo EXPOSURE D – Delta SIDE D – Delta SIDE B – Bravo
Front / Address Side
Sides
are designated by Letter/Phonetic Alphabet Sides
A-Alpha –
B-Bravo
– C-Charlie – D-Delta. Floor levels are designated as Divisions
1-2-3-4. The interior quads are designated Quadrants 1-2-3-4.
11.10 STAGING LEVELS
The
following are staging level assignments used in
A. LEVEL
1 - First arriving engine and truck or squad type service unit will
proceed to the scene depending upon local municipal procedures. Additional
responding apparatus will stage at a suitable location near the scene awaiting
assignment.
B. LEVEL
2 - (used normally with second alarm response) All
apparatus and manpower will report to a staging area designated by incident
command and await further assignment.
C. LEVEL
3 - Staging of units and manpower at a fire station or other building
convenient to the fire scene as designated by incident command.
11.11 ADDITIONAL ALARM/APPARATUS REQUESTS
Any
requests for additional apparatus shall come from the incident commander or
from command. Apparatus may request
additional assistance if incident command has not already been
established. All non Incident OIC requests
will be cleared by the
11.12 TRANSFER REQUESTS / APPARATUS FILL INS
A. Any requests for transfers will come from the company OIC or incident
command. The
B. The Communications Center/Department of Public Safety
will initiate
apparatus transfers as needed to insure that proper
coverage is provided
within the County during any large scale event as determined by this office.
11.13 ALERTING OF
PERSONNEL OF HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS
In
events where operating situations become hazardous,
and evacuation of personnel becomes a necessity, the following procedure is to
be followed:
Upon
notification from incident command, the
EXAMPLE: (Pager tones)
(warble tone) "Attention all
personnel operating in the structure at Box 65-77, 98 Irvin Street, all
personnel are to evacuate the building immediately"
The
use of this policy should be limited to critical situations where the lives
and/or safety of personnel are potentially threatened.
11.14 FIREFIGHTER DOWN / DISTRESS COMMUNICATIONS
PROCEDURES
Emergency Button Functionality (For those services with
this functionality)
Depressing the emergency button
for .75 seconds on an emergency capable talk group will cause the following to
occur within the radio system:
Headquarters:
Dispatchers will receive
audible and visible notification of the emergency, including assigned radio
ID. During the first ten seconds of the
emergency, the microphone of the radio declaring emergency, will remain active,
and cannot be over ridden by any field unit or dispatcher.
M803
The user declaring an
emergency will have 10 seconds of open microphone following the depression of
the emergency button. Keying the microphone during the 10 second hot mic will deactivate the 10 second hot mic.
Audible alert and visible indicator display will occur on the radio declaring
the emergency, and all radios that contain the affected talk group in the
profile loaded at the time. The talk
group that the emergency is declared will display an asterisk at the end of the
alpha/numeric name. If a mobile radio
has the talk group in emergency in the loaded profile, but not selected, the
audible and visual indicators will activate.
To find and participate in the emergency, the user wishing to join must
scroll through the talk groups to find the one displaying the asterisk.
P801 and P800
Portable Radio:
The user declaring an
emergency will have 10 seconds of open microphone following the depression of
the emergency button. Keying the microphone during the 10 second hot mic will deactivate the 10 second hot mic. Audible alert and visible indicator display
will occur on the radio declaring the emergency, and all radios that contain
the effected talk group in the profile loaded at the time. The LED indicator blinking in orange will
denote the talk group that the emergency is declared. If a portable radio has the talk group in
emergency in the loaded profile, but not selected, the audible and visual
indicators will activate. To find and
participate in the emergency, the user wishing to join must scroll through the
talk groups to find the one displaying the blinking orange indicator.
Fire – Rescue Incident Related Operations
The Emergency Button is currently
disabled on all Fire radios. The following procedures are in place until such
time this capability is available. Your personal PASS device is still
considered your first line of defense.
FIREFIGHTER DOWN / DISTRESS COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES
If a fire fighter is in distress or in need of
assistance due to a life-threatening situation, the fire fighter will transmit
“Mayday”.
If the Incident Command hears the distress call, they
will advise Headquarters that a mayday situation is occurring. Headquarters
will activate the warble tone and announce the following on the fireground channel:
“Attention
units operating on Box _____, clear the talk group for mayday transmissions”.
If Headquarters hears a distress call, they will
advise Command immediately and make the above announcement.
Units operating on the scene will immediately cease
transmitting unless they have urgent traffic related to the distress call.
Units will await instructions from Command.
Specific rescue operations will remain on the
assigned fireground operations talk group. Additional
talk groups may be requested if needed for continued suppression activities to
assure a clear channel for any rescue operations.
If additional talk groups are
needed, any portable that is attached to a VTAC will need detached from the
VTAC prior to changing the talk group. Once the talk group selection is made, another VTAC will need activated
on the newly assumed talk group. Once the VTAC is activated, the portables that
have moved to this talk group will need to attach to this VTAC.
The Incident Command will communicate with the
firefighter and initiate necessary actions.
Upon conclusion of the situation, Command will notify
Headquarters and advise of updated talk group requirements.
If a unit or portable activates the emergency button from an
EMS Unit, the
Make radio
contact with the unit to confirm the emergency.
“Unit Designation or Alias from Cumberland
Med, verifying your emergency?”
If contact
is made, verify if an emergency is occurring and
respond appropriately as the conditions require.
If no
contact is made, the
Chief of the unit. The Chief will be apprised of the
activation
and provided the GPS location if it is available. The local
police will also be made aware of the situation and
requested to respond to verify the safety of the unit in
question.
Non Incident Related
If a unit or portable
activates the emergency button during a non
dispatched
event, the
Make radio
contact with the unit to confirm the emergency.
“Unit Designation or Alias from
Headquarters/Cumberland Med, verifying your emergency?”
If contact
is made, verify if an emergency is occurring and
respond appropriately as the conditions require.
If no
contact is made, the
Chief of the unit. The Chief will be apprised of the
activation
and provided the GPS location if it is available. The local
police will also be made aware of the situation and
requested to respond to verify the safety of the unit in
question.
Fire Police Activations
All Fire Police radios will default to their Fire Police
Emergency Talk Group if they activate the emergency button. This Talk Group
will only be monitored by the
Fire Police Incident
Activations
The same procedures will be followed for fire police
operations as is followed for other users. Incident Command will be contacted
if the emergency activation is legitimate or no acknowledgement is received if
the unit is called for verification. If the incident does not have an
established Command or Fire Department response, the local Police Department
will be contacted to respond.
Fire Police Non
Incident Actions
If a unit or portable
activates the emergency button during a non
dispatched event, the
Make radio
contact with the unit to confirm the emergency.
“Unit Designation or Alias from Headquarters,
verifying your emergency?”
If contact
is made, verify if an emergency is occurring and
respond appropriately as the conditions require.
If no contact is made, the
11.15
Accountability
The Personnel Accountability Report (
Initiation:
Incident Command will
advise the
Incident Command should contact the
In
20 minute intervals from the initiation of
will
contact. Incident Command and prompt them that
on the incident. Incident Command or their designee(s) will either query each
unit or company for
Conclusion:
Upon notification from Incident Command, the
11.16 APPARATUS AVAILABILITY FROM AN INCIDENT
Apparatus
will advise "available"
when returning from an incident except when placed in-service
by an announcement from the
Individual Chiefs shall not advise
available.
11.17 INCIDENT CLEARED
The
11.18 GENERAL
NOTIFICATIONS/REQUESTS FOR NOTIFICATION
The
following are general notifications and procedures for notification requests at
an incident.
A. Police
Department Notification
The
An
police related information encountered during an incident must be relayed to
the
B. State Police Fire Marshal Notification
The
1.
Any fire incident in which a
fatality has
occurred.
2.
Any fire incident in which
access to the scene or preservation of evidence may be in jeopardy after fire
department leaves the scene.
3.
Any fire in which suspects are
in custody.
4.
Any fire involving particularly
newsworthy events surrounding a probable arson fire.
5.
Any fire resulting in a large
monetary loss.
6.
Any fire
incident in which victims (civilians and responders) are transported to a
medical facility.
Requests for a State Police Fire
Marshal which are not of a Priority nature will be made by the
incident commander directly to the Pennsylvania State Police.
C. Bomb
Threat and Other Hostile Threat Situations
Bomb threats and other hostile
threats are a matter to be handled by the police department. When a report of
such is received, the
1. Dispatch a police unit to the scene.
2. No fire or
D.
Public Utility Requests
The
E.
Wrecker Service
Wrecker service notification will
be handled by the investigating police agency.
Fire and
F. Department
of Public Safety Notification
The Public Safety staff will be
notified of any significant event in accordance with the Pennsylvania Emergency
Incident Reporting System (PEIRS).
G.
Helicopter/Aeromedical
Requests
1.
Aeromedical requests will be made in accordance to regional
Example: Shippensburg
Landing Zone
“LZ 4”
2.
State Police
State Police
helicopters will be notified upon request of Incident Command for any incident
other than aeromedical. State Police helicopters are not an approved aeromedical service.
In the event of an immediate aeromedical need,
medical command can be contacted to request authorization for State Police
helicopter use.
H. Special
Police (Fire Police)
Special Police activation should
be considered as "automatic" with the dispatch of Fire service units
for public safety needs. The OIC of the
incident shall allow adequate and reasonable time for Special Police to respond
and function at an incident. Only after
the arrival of apparatus to the scene and the OIC has determined that
insufficient police resources have responded may the request for re‑dispatch
of the Special Police be considered. For incidents in which traffic control
assistance is required by any of the county's law enforcement agencies and the
Fire Services are not part of the incident event, Special Police will be
activated by company pager(s). Specific
Special Police Communications requirements are detailed in Section 14.
Announcements for Special Police
will be done
with an
activation of the appropriate pager and 2 verbal announcements of the response.
I. Hazardous
Materials Incidents
1.
The
2. The county's hazardous materials team will be alerted in
accordance to the established Hazardous Materials Response Plan.
3.
Incident OIC should advise the
J. Search Assistance
In the event
the Communications Center
receives
a request for assistance in
locating
a lost or overdue person, or where
a search
operation is requested, the
K. Red
Cross/Salvation Army Notification
1. The American Red Cross will be
immediately notified by the
2. Salvation
Army Disaster Services will be contacted
at the request of Incident Command to provide for food and drink needs for the
services involved. The Salvation Army
can also provide for emergency placement needs.
L. Coroner
Notification
The