By Robby Bergerson
What you see depends on where you sit. While this statement is true with virtually every aspect of life (at the ballpark, at a concert, or your position within the fire department), there’s no place where this is truer than at the incident command post (ICP) of a structure fire. Firefighters and company officers often don’t see the same fireground that the chief officer serving as the incident commander (IC) sees from the ICP. While those performing task- and tactical-level operations are focusing on directing hose streams, pulling ceilings, searching for victims, and so on, the IC is focused on accomplishing strategic goals, giving clear objectives, managing resources, and staying ahead of any potential changes that may occur.
As fire companies arrive at the scene of a fire, they are typically assigned to perform tasks or assigned into a division or group so that a tactical-level supervisor can put them to work to accomplish different tasks. The lens through which firefighters and company officers see is that of smoke, flames, panicking homeowners, the muffled sounds of voices inside self-contained breathing apparatus masks, the sounds of saws, water hitting fire, breaking glass, and other chaotic distractions when performing important work. With interior operations, the functions of fire attack, search, ventilation, and rapid intervention must be accomplished at every working fire incident. While the sights and sounds of these functions by those performing the work are up close and personal, the IC sees the battlefield much differently.
Many studies have shown that noise can affect decision making in adverse ways, which is why the IC should remain in a sterile environment such as a vehicle when making strategic-level decisions. Because even moderate noise can undermine the performance of experience-based decision making, the IC should be aware of all distractions. An IC must be aware that if standing outside of the fire building next to several apparatus on high-idle or pumping, the sound level is nearly 95 decibels—the equivalent of a lawnmower or subway train going by. This noise and firefighters wanting to chat with the IC as they walk by the ICP are major distractions. The late Don Abbott’s Project Mayday shows that 36.6% of Maydays transmitted are missed by the IC on the first attempt. Of those, 67% of those missed are by sidewalk ICs and another 27% by ICs at the rear of the command vehicle. The decibels inside a vehicle with the windows up are around 45 to 50, offering the IC a location in which to have clear thought and process the incident’s needs without distraction. Unlike your eyes, which can squint and reduce the size of your pupils to focus on something to phase out distraction, your ears can’t squint, which leaves 100% of distraction from sound always present.
Keeping track of units while making assignments from the solitude of the ICP and maintaining a clear command presence are the result of proper training and practice. Tabletop and fireground drills aid with remaining sharp. Understanding your agency’s philosophy and fireground policies and procedures to a fault ensures that the IC has a good foundation on which to work.
The great philosopher Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth,” so be aware that the chaos of an incident scene can occasionally sidetrack your best intentions. The use of tactical worksheets is an effective way of staying on track and ensuring the proper tracking of individual resources and tactical-level units. While extremely helpful under stress, these do not replace knowledge or experience in any way and simply assist with maintaining order.
The view from the ICP is often obscured by other fire apparatus and distance, so the IC relies on information from tactical-level supervisors to stay ahead of the incident and maintain order to achieve goals. The view through the lens of the IC is a mix of the active incident scene, with an overlay of units, assignments, and objectives. While most personnel on the scene see things at the task or tactical level, the IC must recognize that his role and view from where he sits is much different. The failure to see the incident from the correct viewpoint (strategic level) can create chaos: The IC spending too much energy on lower-level decisions can have disastrous results when things go against the plan. Stay focused on your role, use all the help and aids available to you, and practice your craft as often as possible.
- The view of a structure fire that most of the personnel see. (Photos by author.)
The IC’s view of the same fire. The circled units indicate the division or group supervisor.
BIO:
Robby Bergerson is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and executive deputy chief of the Waco (TX) Fire Department. He is a graduate of the NFA’s Executive Fire Officer, the IAFC’s Fire Service Executive Development Institute, and the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy programs. He also is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer through CPSE and has a master’s in public administration, bachelor’s in organizational leadership, and associate’s in fire services administration. He is also an adjunct professor at Austin Community College and an instructor with Firefighter Inspiration Readiness and Education.
Photo by form PxHere
