ACCOUNTABILITY

DMC

• The purpose of an accountability system is to track the location and objectives of all personnel operating within the hazard zone

• An accountability system provides enhanced personal safety for individual firefighters

• Remember- good beginnings lead to good endings

Why is accountability important?

How can we get better?• Early accountability– Capturing the first units on scene– Firefighters must be tracked once tactical assignments have

been made---not after the fact

Hazard Zone Accountability Includes:1. Staying Together2. Always maintaining the

capability to exit the hazard zone3. Not working past any crew

member’s anticipated air supply4. Maintain crew integrity

1. Arrival on Scene2. Description of the

Structure/Vehicle3. Description of the problem4. Assuming and Naming Command5. Assigning a tactical channel• Fire

• “E101 is on the scene of a two story duplex with a working fire on the second floor, side 3. E101 is assuming Demaret Command, all units check in on Gold upon arrival.”

• MVA• “E101 is on the scene of a two

vehicle, head on collision. Both vehicles are upright in the roadway with heavy front end damage. E101 is assuming 133 Command, all units check in on Gold on arrival.”

Primary Size-up – Initial Radio Report

Secondary Size-up• Secondary Size-up (360)

– Declare the command post location over the radio

– Determine the incident strategy– Resource Determination

• Fire• Offensive or Defensive• “Columbia from Demaret

Command, 360 complete, we have a working fire on side 3, command post will be located at E101, we are in the offensive strategy.”

• MVA• Extrication or non-extrication• “Columbia from 133 Command,

secondary size-up. We have confirmed extrication with a total of 2 patients.”

How else can we get better?

• PAR (Personnel Accountability Report)– Intended to permit rapid determination of who

may be at risk or lost during sudden changes at the scene (MAYDAY)

– Tracks crews during time intervals at working fires• Situational Awareness • Maintaining crew integrity– No freelancing!– Only the Incident Commander can give you an

assignment

Buffalo, NY LODD

FF Jonathan Croom Lt. Chip McCarthy

August 24, 2009• 3:51 a.m. – fire crews were sent to 1815 Genesee Street in

Buffalo. When they arrived, they were met by a resident who said he heard people trapped inside. Crews began searching the building, but were eventually ordered out as conditions deteriorated.

• 4:22 a.m. – Members of Rescue 1 entered the building to make sure all firefighters had evacuated the building. Less than two minutes later the floor in the rear of the building collapsed. Lt. McCarthy of Rescue 1 fell into the basement as the floor collapsed. according to the report, other members of Rescue 1 were unaware of the collapse and only reported hearing a loud noise. McCarthy began calling for help on his radio, but other members of Rescue 1 were unable to determine where the calls were coming from and left the building unaware that Lt. McCarthy was trapped.

• 4:23 a.m. – Firefighter Croom entered the building after hearing the calls for help. the report says he did not exit the building, apparently falling into the basement near Lt. McCarthy.

• 4:31 a.m. – An emergency head count was ordered to determine the identity of the missing firefighter. Lt. McCarthy was reported missing at that time, but FF Croom was not. Firefighters in the front of the store reported hearing a pass alarm, but could not reach it due to extreme fire conditions, a weakened floor and continuing collapse.

• 4:48 a.m. – all crews were ordered out of the building because it had become unsafe. Later, concerns began to arise that FF Croom was missing. the report says he was erroneously reported in a remote area.• 5:46 a.m. – On scene personal realize FF Croom is missing and likely inside the building.• 6:10 a.m. – Another head count is taken and FF Croom is reported missing.• 9:18 a.m. – the Recovery Group reports that the two missing firefighters had been located in the basement, covered in fallen debris.• 9:32 a.m. – the debris is cleared and Recovery Group firefighters reach Lt. McCarthy and FF Croom.

What’s next?

• Incident Command Board• Two-line accountability

tags• Passport system• Command Aide• Accountability

Reinforcement – Truck Check IC– Training IC

• Monitors Dispatch Channel (Green)

• Manager of the Command Board

• Manages crews in staging• Keeps incident

documentation• Captures time– Crews working time– Completed Benchmarks

Command Aide