Command and control

SMEACS

Situation - turn out

Mission - RECEO (Our mission was to conduct the rescue and extinguish the fire)

Execution - how you did the above

Administration - word back + PAGEBREW

Command/ communication - IC, sector, staging, BA entry, radio channel, firecom

Safety - PPC/PPE - Hazards on site

Questions - Do you have any questions for me?

Initial questions for blue coat

Who are you?

Are you okay?

Is anyone missing? (If yes repay to crew straight away, where were they last seen?

Any evacuations? If yes, where and how many?

Second stage questions for blue coat

Is power/gas isolated?

Best access? Is it locked?

What’s on fire? Where?

Dangers to my crew inside? What, where and quantity.

Fire suppression systems?

Word back

Incident type - structure fire, non-structure fire,

Incident status (resource requirements) - Investigation, Stop, Under control, 2nd alarm or greater response.

Location

Brief description + dimensions

BA stage 1 in operation

Trains and trams (4 Ps)

P - Pentograph

P - Power (DC and 24v battery)

P - Park

P - people

Actions: designate spotters 500m in both directions.

Stop trains (no one to enter onto tracks until confirmed)

Don’t apply water until pantograph is down and power isolated.

2nd alarm structure fire

5 primary appliances

1 teleboom

1 rescue

1 BA support

1 rehab

1 Commander

2nd alarm non structure fire

6 primary appliances

Including 2 x pumper tankers

2 commanders

2nd alarm grass and shrub fire

3 FRV primary appliances (minimum 1 pumper tanker)

5 cfa tankers (1 cfa FCV)

1 FRV commander

1CFA commander

PAGEBREW

Police

Av

Gas

Electricity

Ba stage 1

Representative

EPA

Worksafe

Format of a SITREP

Incident type and status

Potential/ loss/ damage “the incident involves…”

Objectives “crews are currently…”

Resources required (PAGEBREW) and commitment.

WEADISQ

Who are you? Are you okay?

Is anyone missing?

Is everyone evacuated?

Access (unlocked?)

Dangers

Isolations

Safety/ services - installed services ie sprinklers, isolated stairwells

Quantities

Patient care

Details - gender, age

Status / condition (conscious, unconscious, smoke inhalation, burns)

In care of FRV crews, treatment received.

Crew tasking (not just initial)

Primary search - if you come across the fire knock it down, rescue is priority

What is the status of your primary search?

Retasking - complete primary search, water on fire, advance on fire and extinguish, once extinguished search for extension using TIC “in around and above”

If TIC readings are low - secondary search and ventilate

If TIC readings are still high - grab hose reel and task crews to search or get crews to continue to cool

Trains - info sources and considerations

Sources: Relevant rail authority, train driver, size up.

Considerations: Confirm exact location of train (at station, between stations)

Type of train (electric, diesel, steam, passenger, freight)

Confirm maintenance crew is aware/ on route/ on scene.

Trains- Questions to consider

Have the passengers been evacuated?

Is anyone trapped/ injured and their location?

Points of access?

Sign of fire and location of fire?

Cargo, hazardous materials, fuel?

Trains - Power questions (P’s)

Power, pantograph, park,

Has the pantograph been lowered?

Has the DC power been isolated?

Has the 24v battery been isolated?

Have the brakes been engaged?

Have the High Voltage capacitors been discharged?

General train safety

Request a stop of all rail movements via Firecom and receive confirmation.

Use a spotter/ safety lookout.

Turn ignition off and apply brakes.

Isolate power to electric trains (overhead DC lines)

Shut down engines of diesel trains.

Consider stability of train.

Consider cargo/ hazardous materiel.

Tram questions/ considerations

Is anyone trapped/ injured?

Have the passengers been evacuated?

Has the pantograph been lowered?

Request Direct Current (DC) power isolation via Firecom and await attendance of maintenance crew to confirm.

Has the 24v battery been isolated? (After pantograph lowered as battery is used to lower pantograph)

Have the brakes been applied?

Has the tram been derailed?

Has ignition been turned off?

Have the High Viltage capacitors been discharged?

Gas meters, bowsers and bullets

Gas meters : Do not extinguish (will only cause a gas leak) set up exposure line.

Bowsers: Approach under fog using step up to isolation button.

Bullets: Straight stream to cool and get immediate tic reading with readings every (15?) minutes? Approach from sides NOT ends in case of BLEVE.

Considerations for incidents involving cars

Take not of fuel type

Assume someone is in it

Primary search of vehicle

Protect using fog if fire nearby

Park brake on, ignition off, chock wheels to stabilise

Notify police for towing

Practical SMEACS for a 2nd alarm structure fire…

Situation - we were responded to a house fire. Upon arrival we found flames through the window…

Mission - Our mission was to conduct a rescue and extinguish the fire

Execution - we did this by having a crew in BA make entry to the property with a 38mm firefighting line. They conducted a rescue then remade entry to extinguish the fire.

Admin - we are currently a 2nd alarm structure fire. Police have been responded for traffic management and AV responded for the rescue and FF welfare. Power and gas have been requested to confirm isolations.

Command/ Comms - I am the incident controller at sector 1 at 69 droop street, oncoming appliances are staging on sector 2, BA entry is pump operator, safety officer is next oncoming SO, we are communication on fireground 47 and firecom.

Safety - crews are wearing full PPC, we have confirmed isolation of power and gas, the appliance is staged out of the smoke, crews have the protection of a firefighting line, we have taken a second extinguishing medium…(add more)

Questions?

Booking on scene

Firecom pumper 47 is on scene now known as _______

Incident controller is QFF King

(If Fire or some showing) BA stage 1 in operation

Consider responding AV or relevant train/tram authority if turnout information suggests

Initial tasking of crews prior to questioning blue coat

Pump operator to engage pumps to a working pressure and establish BA entry.

BA crew in proper PPE (inspect) to establish:

Quick water if flames are visible

Tally tags to BA board

38mm firefighting line

2nd extinguishing medium

Breaking gear

Size up

Conduct size up whilst questioning blue coat, while crews are setting up hose, or after WATCHING crews make entry. Size up needs to be THOROUGH! Look for missing persons, more info and dimensions. Make blue coat walk with you.

Triangulate

After size up, triangulate yourself to the best position away from pump panel, with full site of the job and stay put. Command and control from there.

The Big 4 (initial questions)

Who are you?

Are you okay?

Is there anyone missing? (If yes, where were they last seen?)

Is everyone else evacuated?

Secondary tasking of crews at structure fire after rescue

Crew, I want you to remake entry. The fire is in…. Locate the fire and knock it down, then complete your primary search

Questions for rescue

Who are you?

Are you okay? (If injured/smoke inhaled take them to receive treatment)

What’s on fire? Where? anything else my crew need to be aware of?

Initial tasking of crews after questioning blue coat (SMS)

Situation: we have a fire in….

Mission: Our mission is to rescue…locate fire…

Safety: Be aware…. (Power, gas, dangers) GET TO WORK

Responding VicPol and AV

DO NOT BULLSHIT - If they ask for information you don’t yet know, say STANDBY and find out.

Do not respond police if not needed (FIP, no smoke)

AV for firefighter welfare and 1 missing person status unknown

Police for traffic control/ management of evacuees