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IMS, Incident Management System
Does your department use IMS in every one of your calls? I know we don't always use it but if it's a call involving more than one apperatus than we do use it. Now our local city department uses it on every single call.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dean on
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We try and use it all the time. Even on basic motor vehicle accidents we establish an IC which is usually an officer or senior firefighter and from there it can be expanded to whatever the situation calls for from just that @ a motor vehicle accident to many divisions and teams @ a structure fire
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly A Bownas on
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We don't for like AFA's and that really is the wrong thing to do I know, but typically we just have an officer who is usually driving the engine and maybe 2 other firefighters. That is if you are lucky. We do use it for the bigger calls.
We did use it at a big drill we had a couple of weeks ago and it does work. I was IC for my team that went in as a search team. I was nervous as all hell let me tell you. I stuck right there and told the team what the main IC wanted us to do and then I collected all their tags and I even had one of my guys go as a door person. I then let the IC know that I had 4 of my crew going in and doing the job he requested and a crew member at the door. I then helped him with keeping track of the different crews and keeping track of the time that each victim was removed. The only problem we had was one of the hose teams from another department didn't leave us there tags so we had no clue how many went in on the hose line. All we knew was what department they were from. Other then that it was good to be able to see how the system works and that it does work when used. It was very interesting and very much an eye opener. The IC said that I did a good job. So I guess I did. IMS works as long as it is used.
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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Whether your realize it or not, IMS is used at every call. Just because it's a small incident where you only have a IC (even if it's implied without calling it command) you are under the wing of an IMS. Small calls are usually handled by the highest ranking officer on scene and this is an "implied command."
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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We do it on every single call to include every single unit response... even EMS responses. It's called repetition and it breeds better size-up and communication skills which include the establishment of incident command. Even on single unit responses some one is actually in command. Do this bunch of times and when the real deal is happening under duress, the repetition will make it that much easier for the first in officer.
Kimberly, you have confused me with the description of your drill. You were IC for a team? That would be a company officer, which in the IMS span of control is not actually designated as S&R unless you are assigned as a divison leader or a S&R group? Sounds as though you were the accountability officer in the end..
I suggest during AFA's, you start communicating the buildings type, size and construction with building is being evacuated, nothing showing and the establishment of command by the first in CO's identification. That is a perfect time to get used to giving good arrival reports without alot of stress.
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Permalink Reply by Jenny Holderby on
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Listed below are a couple of online training resources for the National Incident Management System (NIMS) ICS . I can highly recommend both.
http://www.nfaonline.dhs.gov/
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/nims_training.shtm
I also very highly recommend the following publication:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&...
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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"Whether your realize it or not, IMS is used at every call."
The thing about IMS (NIMS, ICS, FGC) is that it must be formally invoked to really be IMS.
Check any NIMS class or related ICS class, and you'll find that if Command isn't declared, then it doesn't really exist, even for single unit calls. You won't find "Informal Command" listed as a command mode in any NIMS/FIRESCOPE/FGC class.
IMS was designed for incidents that are large, complex, involve multiunit/multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional response, or that have the potential to escalate. If the incident has none of those characteristics, then establishing Command is probably a waste of time. My department uses IMS religiously for fires, rescues, hazmat, multiple-patient EMS calls, mutual aid, and the like. We don't use if for a single ambulance response to a sick call at a local nursing home.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Muehsam on
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While I agree with your first statement about having to formally establish Command, or you don't have ISC, your second statement could not be further from the truth. ICS can, and should be used on ALL incidents, regardless of size, complexity, or agencies involved. Not only is it "good business", it's the "law of the land" since NIMS was instituted.
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Permalink Reply by T.J. on
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Yes those are great links and I've got them downloaded and we practice with them quite often.
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Bill,
Not only is my second statement absolutely true, a review of the FIRESCOPE system will show the history of why that statement is true.
Here's what the current FIRESCOPE history page has to say about it...
"
FIRESCOPE was organized after the disastrous 1970 wildland fires in southern California. The goal of this group was to create and implement new applications in fire service management, technology and coordination, with an emphasis on incident command and multi-agency coordination. This dynamic state-wide program continues to serve the needs of the California Fire Service today."
http://www.firescope.org/firescope-history/firescope-origins.htm
Note the "multi-agency coordination" emphasis in that statement.
Ben
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Bill,
Additionally, NIMS does not require the formal establishment of command on every incident for every agency. If your statement is correct, then every police department that does not establish Command every time they take an after-the-fact burglary report is breaking the law. That's simply not the case.
Ben
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