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How Do You Operate?
How are you assigned? Or are you?
This is more of a poll question that I would really like a lot of input on.
How are you assigned?
Do you run separate engine, truck and rescue companies?
Do you run with predetermined assignments based on your arrival order?
Are your people assigned tasks by seating?
Or, do you arrive and wait for an assignment from the IC?
These questions came up in a recent conversation with several people on multiple occasions. I am really interested to know how the rest of the country is doing “it” and what trends are being followed.
This is especially interesting with the unfortunate budget cuts and reductions in staffing in some jurisdictions.
Let us know what is going on out there, we really look forward to your feedback.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ashfire on
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Our county will run 4 engines and 3 special services and a Chief on a building fire. First arriving engine makes the first water supply and takes the side A and does the size up and what operations they need to do. First special service if its a truck will take side A and do what operations will be done. Second engine will compete the water supply and its crew will move to the building for assignment. Third engine will start a second water supply and the forth engine will compete it and their crews will move to the building for assignement. The second truck will take side C and preform what actions they need to do. A chief or Batt chief will be IC with additional chiefs to take safety or sections of the building. If the third special service is a truck or a squad they will be the RIT. If the fire is a working fire a BLS and ALS ambulances will be dispatched.
Since our county is a combination service of career and volunteer you will have chiefs from the assigned stations on the call.
As for seat assignment we had been doing it for years for all of our apparatus in the station when there are a number of members in the station so that they knew when a call came in that was where they ride. We would empty the house on calls but they county has changed that so as to limit the number of units responing unless the call is in the station's first due area and they can run everything in the station.
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Permalink Reply by Station10Capt106 on
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being on a volunteer department we do not have specific truck assignments as we never know who is going to be able to respond to each call. Our general plan is:
Driver & Officer (or highest ranking/experienced) firefighter in front. Back seat firefighters would be the ones to pack up and attack.
On scene the officer or IC would survey the situation and then assign tasks to the crew. Obviously some of the routine stuff is done automatically such as hydrant hook-up, pulling lines, packing up, getting tools.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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Basically first engine to side A establishes I C and primary attack or rescue as needed. Each unit after announces arrival and receives assignment. Second engine will establish water supply and is usually teamed with first tanker because in rural area we don't have many hydrants. As was stated earlier pre-assignment in a volunteer company is difficult since you never know who's available. The only person we are sure is responding is our chief and he will assume command on arrival.
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Our county and the areas around is kind a different because some stations have live in volunteer members or required sleep in nights so seat assignments are needed. If we had a training or meeting night seat assignments are done so that there is no confussion when people start running for gear and units.
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Ashfire excellent idea on a training night I will see about copying that
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Permalink Reply by capcityff on
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We run 5 engines, 2 trucks, 1 rescue squad, 2 battalion chiefs and 1 ambulance on every box alarm.(report of smoke or fire) When on scene, if we have fire, they will call for a working fire dispatch which gets 1 engine, 1 truck, 1 air unit, 1 fire investigation unit, 1 medic unit, and a few other random things.
1st due engine usually drops their layout section and lays out from a hydrant.(some hook up to the hydrant depending on where you are in the city. others just drop it, jump on the tail board, and ride to the fire) They then pull an attack line after positioning on side A. These guys go to the fire floor.
2nd due engine does the same as first due, but in the rear of the building.
3rd due engine completes 1st dues water supply, and backs 1st due up.
4th due engine has the same duties as 3rd, but again, in the rear.
5th due will secure it's own water supply and wait for an assignment. Usually safety or RIT.
1st due truck goes to the front. 2nd due to the rear. Truck duties very and each company operates a little bit differently. Driver and tillerman will throw ladders and put the stick up. They do vertical ventilation. Hook man will throw some ladders on his own, then maybe VES on his own. After that he goes in to pull ceilings for the engine. Bar man gains access to the building and works with the engine busting down doors for them. Bar man also searches while doing that. Officer changes sometimes depending on the company. Some will stay out and throw ladders with the hook man before going in. Others will go with the bar man.
Rescue Squad pulls up in front and breaks off into two teams for search and rescue.
As stated before, we all have our assignments already. We know where to go and what to do. Shouldn't be any waiting for orders. The fire could be put out before the battalion chief even arrives.
As far as who sits where, the officer is obviously the officer. Drivers are a position that one must promote to so they have their spot unless on leave. On engines there's layout man and line man. On trucks there's two techs(driver and tillerman) and two backstep guys.(bar man and hook man) Bar man is usually the more popular one on the truck and given to the senior guy because he operates alone.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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How are you assigned?
EMS call can vary with a ambulance alone or an engine or truck also depending on nature of call.
Fire call:
3 engines with crew of 4.
First in, fire attack may obtain water supply
Second in is backup and may secure water supply if not done by first in
Third in is RIT
One truck, crew of 3....truck duties
One ambulance, minimum crew of 2...assist with truck duties, may be initial command
One Battalion Chief...IC
Do you run separate engine, truck and rescue companies?
Yes, but at any time anyone could work on any rig. Also it is not uncommon for a pump crew to do truck work and vice versa.
Do you run with predetermined assignments based on your arrival order?
As described
Are your people assigned tasks by seating?
Yes, tools and roles are assigned depending on incident.
Or, do you arrive and wait for an assignment from the IC?
Additional assignments by IC would be more at the progression of an incident, or if the IC wants to do something different.
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