The following points are to provide direction and guidance to all District 2 members in the response to, and management of incidents, consistent with the State Controllers strategic control priorities.
The safety of personnel is to be considered a priority over all other outcomes.
- Everyone comes home.
- Take action to prevent incidents.
- Report the occurrence of incidents/near misses.
Incident Controllers are to consider public information and warnings a priority.
- What do the public need to know
- What action do you want the public to take
- Who is the target audience
- What is the best method of communication
Incidents Controllers are authorised to make decisions, and direct all incident resources/personnel on the fireground.
- Make a decision based on the situation that is presented to you.
- Deploy resources based on your knowledge of the situation.
- Everyone is there to support you to manage the incident.
Incident Controllers are to set clear objectives, and ensure they are communicated to, and understood by incident personnel.
- Develop a plan.
- Communicate your plan.
- Clearly communicate your objective.
Strategies & tactics should focus on heavy weighted attack for the direct control of fires, and the timely demobilisation of resources.
- If you think first attack resources will be insufficient, escalate early.
- Escalate fireground management structure, ie sector commanders.
- Be prepared to task additional resources.
- Consider the use of, and escalation of, aircraft in strategies.
- Release resources when no longer required.
Incident Controllers are to ensure the early communication of concise information from the fireground to key support personnel.
- Fuel type & Size – Grassfire/bushfire, hectares, length and width.
- Location, Direction
- Assets lost, Assets under threat
- Likelihood of success
- Resources required
- Requirement for warnings
- Contact person & method – communications plan, mobile phone.
Groups are to support the management of incidents.
- Empower the incident controller.
- Prepare for, and carry out critical support tasks delegated by the incident controller.
- Prepared for the transition of some or all management functions to an LCF/ICC.
Groups should be prepared to operate without external support for 24 hours.
- Circumstances may determine that groups have to operate in a standalone environment.
- Incorporate such an event into preparedness planning.
Author: District 2 News