TRANSITION TO COMPANY OFFICER

Arlington Fire DepartmentOfficer Development

September 2000

Definition of a Company Officer

• Supervises a single resource of the Fire Department

• Member of a Company who acts in the capacity of a Company Officer (CO)

Difficult Transition

• The Company Officer’s position is one of the most important in the organization.

• Promotion to Company Officer is worthy of acknowledgement.

Once responsible to perform the work; now must get work performed through others.

Preparation for promotion or appointment

• Mastery as a firefighter

• Officer development training program

THE COMPANY OFFICER’S

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY

Firefighting is one of the most dangerous

occupations in the United States

Key Safety Behaviors

• After ten years of research, Fire Chief Alan V. Brunacini of the Phoenix Fire Department, developed 25 key firefighter safety behaviors.

Think(Insert fire photo)

Drive Defensively

(insert photo of fire truck accident

Drive Slower

rather than faster

(insert photo of fire truck rollover)

If you can’t see, STOP

(insert photo of obstructed view)

Don’t run for a moving rig

(insert photo of FF running for rig)

Always wear your seat belt

(insert photo of seated, belted FF)

Wear full turnouts and SCBA

(insert photo of FF w/turnouts near fire)

Attack with a sensible level of aggression

Always work within the organizational structure - NO FREELANCING

(insert photo of Command giving assignment)

Keep your crew intact

(insert photo of crew together)

Always have a communications link to the next organizational level

Insert photo Command talking on radio

Don’t ever breathe smoke

Insert photo of smoky area

Always have an escape route

Insert photo of secondary exit

Never go beyond your air supply

Insert photo of smoky house fire

Use a big enough and long enough hoseline

Looking EastLooking East

Evaluate the hazard - Know the risk you are taking

Follow Standard Incident Procedures

Vent early and vent often

Insert photo of ventilation holes

Provide lights for the work area

If it’s too heavy, get help

Photo of FF’s carrying heavy equipment

Always watch your incident position

Photo of FF’s around fire involvement

Look and listen for signs of collapse

Rotate fatigued companies -- assist stressed companies

T-1 & E-1 OfficersT-1 & E-1 Officers

Pay attention ALL the time

Everybody takes care of everybody else

Large Group Activity 1.2CREW SAFETY

Cover of Trapped Firefighter

Cover of Trapped Firefighter

Photo of too many FF’s on ladder and second floor porch area

THE COMPANY OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

Safe and Effective Incident Operations Require:

• That someone be in charge• All resources must operate within the action plan• Roles and responsibilities must be defined• The tracking of all resources

Safe and Effective Incident Operations Require:

• Resources assigned to a tactic or task remain intact

• The Incident Commander must be able to communicate immediately

Individual Activity 1.3Incident Management

Assessment

THE COMPANY OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR

INCIDNET MANAGEMENT (contd)

The Company Officer’s Responsibility as Initial IC

• Size-up• Identify strategy and select tactics• Develop incident action plan• Implement action plan• Manage incident resources and coordinate

overall emergency activities

Additional functional responsibilities of the IC include:

• Scene Safety• Liaison with other agency representatives• Dissemination of Incident information

Responsibilities When Functioning as CO

• Tactical size-up• Maintain crew integrity• Maintain an awareness of conditions• Maintain immediate communications• Operate to meet assigned tactics• ALWAYS operate within the incident

action plan

Responsibilities When Functioning as CO

• Operate within the established organizational structure

• Maintain ongoing supervision

What are the traits of an effective Incident Commander and

Company Officer on emergency incidents

Summary

• Emergency operations responsibilities• Key safety behaviors• Incident management