COMMAND BOARD BASIC DESIGN AND OPERATION (Command and Control) (Accountability) (ICS) Presented By: OCWFCD 1

Layout Layout Operation Operation Advanced Control Advanced Control Presented By: OCWFCD 2 COMMAND BOARD BASICS

OBJECTIVES Improve Overall Incident Command through:  Understanding COMMAND BOARD (CB) Design  Understanding CB Operation  Understanding enhanced Control Elements  Improve overall command and control Presented By: OCWFCD 3 COMMAND BOARD BASICS

COMMAND BOARD OVERVIEW: Presented By: OCWFCD 4 COMMAND BOARD BASICS

COMMAND BOARD OVERVIEW: Presented By: OCWFCD 5 COMMAND BOARD BASICS Track all incoming units Track critical assignments via grid Checklist for Command Concerns Notes area

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 6 COMMAND BOARD BASICS Track all incoming units Incoming units are listed here upon dispatch. Upon arrival they are crossed off. Allows IC to quickly check if more units are coming. E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E11 INCOMING UNITS

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 7 COMMAND BOARD BASICS Track all incoming units IC can look at assignments needed immediate attention vs. incoming units. Is an additional alarm needed? E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E11 INCOMING UNITS

COMMAND BOARD: EXAMPLE Presented By: OCWFCD 8 COMMAND BOARD BASICS Two-Story occupied residence. Interior crews report fire on first floor. No extension to the second floor reported. Command board shows attack (with back-up line on the first floor). Attack line on second floor checking for extension. Primary is in progress on second floor bedrooms. RIT in place Two more units still responding to scene. E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 ARE ADDITIONAL UNITS NEEDED? INCOMING UNITS

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 9 COMMAND BOARD BASICS Units identifiers are written in grid as assignments are given out. Upon completion of a task the grid is crossed out. (NOTE: DO NOT CROSS OUT A GRID FOR INCOMPLETE TASKS - A UNIT CONDUCTING A SEARCH THAT COMES OUT TO CHANGE SCBA BOTTLES BEFORE COMPLETING SEARCH) E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 AT THIS POINT IN THE FIRE WHAT TASK(S) REMAIN TO BE COMPLETED? ASSIGNMENTS E4 E11

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 10 COMMAND BOARD BASICS When a company completes a task and moves to rehab they are dropped down to the rehab row directly below their last assignment. When pulling units from rehab for new tasks IC can see their last task and determine if crew should be given a less strenuous assignment Also if new search team is sent in, IC can advise last crew where to search. IE – “E4, complete Primary Search on Div. Two. Make contact with E3 in rehab for update on already searched areas.” E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 WHAT ARE OTHER BENEFITS OF TRACKING LAST ASSIGNMENT IN REHAB ROW? REHAB E4 E11

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 11 COMMAND BOARD BASICS Checklist items are designed as reminders for important tasks to be completed: 360 – Has anyone conducted a 360? SUP – Water supply FDC – Connected to FDC? SP – Connected to Standpipe? WOF – Water on Fire (Notify Dispatch) VENT – Appropriate Ventilation* PRI-C – Primary Complete (Notify Dispatch) SEC-C – Secondary Complete (Notify Dispatch) POW – Power Secured? GAS – Gas secured? KD – Knockdown on Fire (Notify Dispatch) SFM – State Fire Marshall called E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 *SOMEONE MUST COMPLETE A 360 *VENT IS NON-SPECIFIC. FIRE MAY REQUIRE PPV, HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, OR OTHER. VANTING IS A CAREFUL, CALCULATED TASK THAT MUST MATCH CONDITIONS. CHECKLIST E4 E11

SPECIAL CONTROL ELEMENTS THIS SIMPLE CB DESIGN IMPROVES THE COMMAND CONTROL ELEMENT OF ICS:  Built in PAR Checklist  Crew assignment history  Benchmarking improvement tracking  Search details  Easily identifiable remaining tasks Presented By: OCWFCD 12 COMMAND BOARD BASICS

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 13 COMMAND BOARD BASICS BUILT IN PAR CHECKLIST: Command is a fast paced environment requiring careful tracking of resources. It is easy for an IC to “lose” a company on accountability. This simple board design creates a built in safety feature to maintain PAR! E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 E7 T4 T2 ON THIS CB A COMPANY HAS BECOME LOST. WHAT CREW IS UNACCOUNTED FOR? HOW CAN THE IC VERIFY EVERY COMPANIES LOCATION AND ASSIGNMENT? IMPROVED CONTROL E4 E11

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 14 COMMAND BOARD BASICS CREW ASSIGNMENT HISTORY: Companies need to be assigned to complete tasks. The fire was intense but is knocked down. Heavy overhaul must be completed, and a Secondary Search must be completed on Division Two. There are currently five companies available in Rehab. E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 T4T2 Based on the company assignment history built into the command board operation, what two companies would be best to use for the remaining assignments? IMPROVED CONTROL E4 E11 E7 E3

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 15 COMMAND BOARD BASICS BENCHMARKING IMPROVEMENT TRACKING: Upon assuming command the IC writes the arrival time on the CB. When receiving Benchmarks (BM) from dispatch the IC writes the time of the BM below the grid. The IC also places a plus or minus beside the time. A plus indicates conditions improving, a minus indicates conditions deteriorating. E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 T4 T2 THE INCIDENT TIME IS NOW BASED ON THE BM HISTORY WOULD YOU ASSUME TACTICS ARE WORKING? SHOULD A DEFENSIVE OPERATION BE CONSIDERED? IMPROVED CONTROL E4 E11 E7 E

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 16 COMMAND BOARD BASICS IMPROVED SEARCH DETAILS: When assigning a crew to search the crew should provide command with an update upon entry: “Command Truck Two, we have entered division one and are proceeding with a right-hand primary search.” When the IC writes T2 on the CB a small “R” is placed to the lower right of the company identifier. 1 2 E1 T2 WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF TRACKING THE DIRECTION OF SEARCH CREWS ON THE COMMAND BOARD? IMPROVED CONTROL E7 R

COMMAND BOARD: HOW TO Presented By: OCWFCD 17 COMMAND BOARD BASICS REMAINING TASK IDENTIFICATION: A completed task is marked with an X. Any grid space with an X is completed: Attack - Fire Knocked down = X Primary – Completed, all Clear = X An assignment started, but not completed by the crew is give a single slash: “/” E1 E7 T4 E3 T2 E4 E E1 T4T2 KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT THE FIRE, BASED ON THE ABOVE COMMAND BOARD, WHAT ASSIGNMENTS STILL NEED COMPLETION? IMPROVED CONTROL E4 E11 E7 E3

SIMPLE COMMAND BOARD WITH APPROAPRIATE OPERATION PROVIDES: Presented By: OCWFCD 18 COMMAND BOARD BASICS List of responding units Checklist of important reminders Grid for assignments Division dividers Unit history tracking PAR checklist Benchmark tracking Detailed search info Quick check for additional company needs Assignment completion vs started Easily transferable between commanders

SIMPLE COMMAND BOARD: Presented By: OCWFCD 19 COMMAND BOARD BASICS

DISCUSSION What are ways that incident operations are improved by combining:  ICS basic principles  C.A.N. Reporting  Order Intent and Verified Communications  Detailed Command Board incident tracking Presented By: OCWFCD 20 COMMAND BOARD BASICS

OBJECTIVES DISCUSSION Have we completed these objectives? (Discuss): Improve Overall Incident Command through:  Understanding COMMAND BOARD (CB) Design  Understanding CB Operation  Understanding enhanced Control Elements  Improve overall command and control Presented By: OCWFCD 21 COMMAND BOARD BASICS

Comments Questions Concerns? Presented By: OCWFCD 22 CONCLUSION