The Barnstable County Mutual Aid System

Transcription

1 The Barnstable County Mutual Aid System The Barnstable County Mutual Aid System is an organized, unified, area-wide approach to providing emergency assistance to any organization requiring assistance in dealing with a challenge. A strong committee sets the guidelines and standards within which the system operates. Barnstable County Control provides the centralized operating and control function as well as maintenance of resource information on all departments involved. Normal daily operations are handled with the use of running cards provided by each fire department. These cards are very specific which ensure few errors that may be caused by variations in equipment availability. In addition to the basic running card a special call section is required listing basic emergency resources that may be needed on an individual basis. The control center also maintains lists of specialized equipment by department or organization. This inventory includes dive and technical rescue teams or equipment such as containment boom, speedy dry material or extra lighting capability. The control center maintains a master status board for all major apparatus in Barnstable County. The operational policy and procedures are set by the mutual aid committee and are carried out extremely effectively by Barnstable County Control. A copy of the policy and procedures manual is enclosed in this packet along with training questions. With minor exceptions all requests from departments in or out of the organization requesting assistance must go through their own local fire organization and it is the fire organization that becomes the host and requesting agency. This is to maintain organization and coordination. All departments in Barnstable County operate under the incident command system and expect to find it in place when providing assistance and resources. Members of the mutual aid committee and the managers of the control center will be pleased to provide further information about our operation. November 12, 2003 Page 1

2 A. Dispatching of Mutual Aid [10/19/92][Rev. 96 ] [07/15/04] 1. Departments requesting Mutual Aid shall provide the following information when making a request: a) District where the incident is located. b) Type of incident. c) Exact address, INCLUDING A CROSS STREET. d) The Staging Area e) Specifically what is being requested. f) Request for an operations channel, if needed. g) It is suggested that a Map Book Name and Location Grid would be very helpful. IF ANY OF THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IS NOT PROVIDED THE MUTUAL AID DISPATCHER MUST REQUEST IT, IF NEEDED. 2. Apparatus will be dispatched according to the appropriate Running Card. 3. Apparatus will be dispatched in the order shown on the Running Card unless the requesting department is special calling a specific piece of equipment. (Special Hyannis Section Deleted 7/15/04 per Committee) 4. Where one or two engines are special called in place of a full additional alarm assignment, the next due engine on the alarm assignment card will be used as the cover engine. For example, a 2 nd alarm assignment reads: i. E233, E155, L66 to the scene E64 to cover ii. If E233 were special called to the scene then E155 should be the cover engine. 5. Requests for apparatus beyond the running cards are the responsibility of the fire officer in the requesting department and must be specific as to the type and amount of equipment. 6. The Mutual Aid Dispatcher using the closest available apparatus shall do selection of cover and additional apparatus after exhaustion of the running card. 7. If a question exists as to whether additional apparatus should be dispatched from a department already involved in mutual aid, that department will be contacted before being skipped over. November 12, 2003 Page 2

3 8. In no case will be dispatching of an ambulance or ambulances from a department be used as a reason to bypass that department when other equipment is needed for mutual aid, i.e. engines, ladders, breakers, etc; (or vice versa). 9. In a major emergency the mutual aid dispatcher may: a. Suggest staging of additional apparatus in stations close to the incident. The running card for the district the incident is in shall be used for the staging of apparatus. b. Recommend specialized apparatus that the incident commander may not have thought of, considered or knows exists. c. Check with departments heavily involved in the incident to see if additional coverage is desired. 10. For the purposes of providing a chief officer when one is called on a mutual aid card or where requested by the incident commander, the following definition applies: A chief officer shall be an individual in the rank of chief, deputy, assistant or be the chief s designee in charge of the department in his absence who has the responsibility for the command of the providing department. a. That officer will respond with no company responsibilities, in a separate vehicle, and will report to the incident commander or make his presence known to the incident commander. b. If a department is unable to supply a chief officer, it shall notify the mutual aid center. The center shall then dispatch the next due command officer from the run card. 11. In cases where multiple pieces or types of special equipment is needed or the requesting department does not know where to obtain the equipment the mutual aid center will be contacted for dispatching of such equipment. The mutual aid center shall first consult the running card for the proper district and dispatch the apparatus as follows: a. Closest by department as listed on the appropriate running card for the requesting department. b. When the equipment requested is not listed or is listed in insufficient quantities the mutual aid dispatcher shall consult the special equipment inventory listings in the center and dispatch the closest department(s) that has the equipment requested. November 12, 2003 Page 3

4 12. When a department wishes to call for special equipment, a single vehicle or apparatus not in the normal sequence as listed on a card, the requesting dispatcher must make this clear by using the term special call. This makes it clear to all that the situation is an exception to normal procedure. The requesting department need not provide a district number when special calling a piece of apparatus by name and number. A district number must be provided when special calling for equipment by generic name. a. Example of a piece-specific special call: Barnstable County Control from Mashpee Fire, special call Heavy Rescue 821 to our MVA on Route 130. b. Example of a generic special call: Barnstable County Control from Mashpee Fire, special call an additional set of jaws to the MVA on Route 130, district 1-2. (Notice the district number is required for a generic equipment request). November 12, 2003 Page 4

5 B. Dispatching for Ambulances 1. When a single ambulance is needed, the department should consult the special call list for the appropriate district for the correct response and may request it directly from the listed neighboring department. After completing such a request the mutual aid center must be notified. All additional requests shall be made through the mutual aid center. This regulation does not permit ongoing partial selections of apparatus to incidents (i.e. piece-mealing ). a. After the first ambulance has been requested directly by a department all other additional ambulance requests shall go through the mutual aid center regardless of which incident they are to respond to. b. Should one direct request have already taken place, the department now contacting the mutual aid center must advise what equipment it has previously called for. c. This regulation does not prevent the calling of the mutual aid center for any initial response. d. All mutual aid requests shall be done by radio using the County mutual aid dispatch channel. 2. Ambulances should not be requested for routine station coverage. Simply because one particular community has no ambulance(s) available in-service is not considered justification for requesting a mutual aid ambulance for station coverage. Most departments are monitoring their neighboring department s channel and have an idea whether surrounding/adjacent communities have ambulances available. a. The mutual aid dispatcher may move ambulances to fill a void (i.e. when any large area on the Cape is without in-service ambulances) if he/she believes the void will last more than 30 minutes. b. Permission need not be obtained to make regional coverage moves as they are for the benefit of the area, not just one department. It is important that discretion and common sense are used when making such moves. c. In the event of a diversion at Cape Cod Hospital and/or Falmouth Hospital, the Barnstable County Control telecommunicator shall have the discretion to assign and/or honor a request for ambulance period or until their rescue returns. November 12, 2003 Page 5

6 3. In the case of a mass casualty incident, it shall be the mutual aid coverage at any affected Fire Department during the diversionary dispatcher s duty to provide regional ambulance coverage as the situation warrants. 4. For any type of ambulance coverage the running card for the station to be covered will be used to determine which ambulance to use. 5. In normal operations no department should be asked to strip its own ambulance coverage for station coverage of another department. Ambulances may be relocated to provide coverage for larger areas. 6. Ambulance coverage may be requested and will be provided when an individual department is involved with a local Fire incident that does not leave the capability to respond one of its ambulances in the first due area. 7. Ambulances listed on running cards for scene or coverage duty will be replaced unit for unit as the resources are committed. 8. Dispatchers must use care in dispatching the closest available ambulance by following station specific running cards and not accepting inappropriate independent substitutions. Any substitutions must be BCC dispatcher approved. (Numbers 6,7,8 added 8/1/06) November 12, 2003 Page 6

7 C. General Information 1. Line Box or Automatic Response responses shall be handled directly between the departments involved via a common channel. 2. All departments are strongly encouraged to hold open (other responding departments invited) Post Incident Analysis on third alarm fires or greater, level 2 MCI s or when the situation warrants within 14 days of the incident. If a PIA is not held then the mutual aid committee will schedule one [7/18/96]. 3. All departments shall be provided with mutual aid comment forms. These forms are to be used for any comments, questions, situations or complaints with regards to mutual aid operations or the system. The form is meant to provide a means to identify, correct, improve and answer questions about our system. Personnel should use the form to lessen the chances of unresolved complaints, confusion or frustration with incorrect procedures. Completed forms are to be directed to the chairman of the mutual aid committee who will route it properly [11/16/00]. 4. Please ask dispatchers to give the district number when dispatching calls on local fire alarms. 5. Refrain from piecemealing apparatus to calls. Special calls should be reserved for specialized equipment or unusual situations only. Use the alarm structure we have in place. 6. When requesting alarms try to give an indication of future needs so the center can be ready. 7. Have units signing on indicate their manpower and communicate that to requesting department. This could be critical in the decision of the incident commander. 8. Responding units should use whatever common frequency is in use and talk with the department they are responding to not with their dispatcher. 9. Remember that in long duration incidents you may be able to pick up additional manpower of your own and thus be able to release mutual aid units sooner. 10. Reminder to all that ambulance coverage by the mutual aid center is for regional reasons. They are the ones most aware of gaps. 11. In an effort to maintain efficiency in Mutual Aid Dispatch, the following procedure shall become effective immediately: November 12, 2003 Page 7

8 a) After transmitting a request for mutual aid, perform a roll call of the Departments and note whether you received a response. b) Recall, by radio, any Department that fails to acknowledge the request. c) Set the Radio Room timer for seven (7) minutes. If at the end of the seven minutes, you have not received notification that all requested pieces of apparatus are enroute or in the process of responding, query those departments who have not yet responded. d) If a department cannot provide the requested apparatus or a suitable replacement, Barnstable County Control will request an alternate unit from the next closest department, according to the mutual aid run card. 12. When any apparatus is being placed in or out of service with Barnstable County Control the status change shall be transmitted over the mutual aid dispatch channel. This procedure allows neighboring departments to monitor the status of vehicles that may have an effect on their operations. 13. All mutual aid requests shall be done by radio using the County mutual aid dispatch channel. November 12, 2003 Page 8

9 D. Radio Procedures [11/09/02] 1. Operations [Rev. 1/10/00] a) Mutual Aid Dispatch Channel The channel over which Barnstable County Control will transmit mutual aid assignments as well as conduct routing communications including the daily radio and apparatus status checks. Local departments to request mutual aid and to log apparatus in and out of service will also use this channel. The mutual aid dispatch channel is primarily for base-to-base communications only. The use of portable and mobile radios on this channel shall be limited to emergency traffic only. Apparatus responding to mutual aid incidents or for station coverage shall not sign on on this channel. b) Mutual Aid Operations Channels These channels are available for departments to utilize for operations where it is beneficial to isolate incident communications to a dedicated channel and to take advantage of safety features in the radio programming. Barnstable County Control will assign mutual aid operations channels as requested. Departments may request and use these channels for any incident. Departments are required to request and use an OPS channel when committing a mutual aid company to operate in an IDLH atmosphere. Base stations operating on the OPS channels shall be limited to the department to whom an OPS channel has been assigned and, when necessary, Barnstable County Control. Departments shall promptly notify Barnstable County Control upon releasing the use of an assigned OPS channel so that it may be reallocated as necessary. c) Local Fire Alarm Channel Unless an OPS channel has been assigned and is being utilized, all incidents will be conducted on the requesting department s local fire alarm channel. 2. Companies responding to a mutual aid incident will switch to and operate on the requesting department s fire alarm channel unless an OPS channel is being used. All apparatus responding to coverage assignments shall switch their radio channel immediately to the local fire alarm channel for the station being covered. Apparatus shall then advise the local fire alarm of their apparatus designation, county number, staffing and destination. [Rev. 1/15/04] a) Company should refrain from asking for directions over OPS channels when they are being used for incidents. 3. Departments sending units on mutual aid, including ambulances, must notify the mutual aid center when the apparatus is responding and when it is secured from the aid [Rev. 1/10/00]. November 12, 2003 Page 9

10 a) This notification should normally take place by radio via the mutual aid dispatch channel, but may be done by telephone during major incidents to reduce radio traffic. 4. Departments having automatic response areas need not notify the mutual aid center when a response is made under that arrangement until the apparatus is committed at that incident. The department providing the automatic response is responsible for notifying the mutual aid center. 5. On receipt of a call for mutual aid, the mutual aid center shall use the appropriate run card to determine which departments are to send which apparatus. Barnstable Country Control shall use mutual aid tones, to alert departments, for all mutual aid dispatches. a) Where 50% or more of the departments in a mutual aid group are to be alerted, the group tone may be used. b) If less than 50% of the departments in a mutual aid group are to be alerted, individual tones will be used. c) Alerting Message Barnstable County Control KCB781 transmitting (level of response/type of incident) at (address, community, and district) (staging or brief directions) (OPS channel assignment) the following companies to respond (Announce assignments and roll call departments). d) Specific directions to the emergency are to be obtained from the requesting department by the individual sending departments as needed. 6. All mutual aid tones will be tested on the first Sunday of each month. 7. Ambulances responding mutual aid shall operate on the designated channel with the department that they have been requested by and dispatched to until the call is completed, apparatus is released or units leave the hospital. In the last circumstance the rescue will return to their own frequency only after signing off with the department they have been working with [Rev. 1/10/00]. a) On a standard mutual aid rescue call the designated channel is normally the local fire alarm channel of the department requesting the aid. b) On MCIs or other major incidents on OPS channel, as assigned by the mutual aid center, may be the designated channel. November 12, 2003 Page 10

11 E. Staffing [12/17/92] 1. To the scene of an incident, or to cover a station: a) The staffing suggested below are minimums and heavier manning is encouraged where situations permit. i. Engine Four ii. Ladder Four iii. Brush Breaker Four iv. Tanker Two v. Ambulance Two vi Ambulance (MCI) Three b) For a response involving an engine, ladder or brush breaker, an officer representing the sending department should respond with, or in conjunction with the apparatus. c) Minimum manning requirements apply to apparatus dispatched on mutual aid whether it is to the scene or to cover. d) All apparatus responding on a mutual aid request must sign on, on the proper radio channel, with the department to which they are dispatched. Apparatus shall report their type and county number along with their staffing level. If it is known that the staffing of the apparatus responding will not ultimately meet mutual aid staffing requirements, both the requesting department and the mutual aid center must be notified. e) Individual departments shall decide between themselves whether manning is to be provided on the apparatus or by allowing members to respond in private vehicles or other departmental vehicles. f) Minimum manning does not apply to automatic responses, which are specific agreements between participating departments. November 12, 2003 Page 11

12 F. Additional Manpower [10/19/92] 1. The mutual aid center must be notified of this situation specifically by the requesting department. 2. Standard information for proper dispatching must be provided such as the type of incident, location and district. 3. The exact type and amount of manpower must be specified. 4. For additional firefighters, the mutual aid center will use the appropriate running card to request listed departments to dispatch four (4) man crews for each piece of apparatus listed until the required number of personnel are obtained. The method of transportation to the incident is up to the sending department. 5. For additional EMTs and paramedics, the mutual aid center will use the running card for the incident location (i.e. district) and request no more than two (2) additional paramedics and four (4) additional EMTs from each department listed on the ambulance assignment where that department has already dispatched an ambulance or ambulances to the scene. November 12, 2003 Page 12

13 G. Drills [11/09/92] 1. The mutual aid center shall be notified, by the hosting department, of any drill that will or might involve other departments. 2. All participants in multi-department drills shall be notified prior to the drill. 3. All drills shall be announced over the radio as such and the term drill shall be stated with each dispatch of equipment and acknowledgement (i.e. E233 responding with 4 to the drill at ). 4. All apparatus and equipment participating in drills shall proceed with traffic. There shall be no use of warning lights, sirens or speed. 5. The mutual aid center may delay the dispatch of apparatus to a drill in order to deal with actual emergencies. 6. Should any drill escalate into an actual emergency the mutual aid center will dispatch all apparatus as quickly and efficiently as any other actual mutual aid situation. 7. The mutual aid center and/or any department have the right to scale down a drill involving mutual aid due to extenuating circumstances, (i.e. weather, storms or actual major mutual aid incidents). 8. An OPS channel may be assigned by Barnstable County Control, if requested, with the understanding that it will be released immediately if the mutual aid center determines that it may possibly be needed for an actual incident. November 12, 2003 Page 13

14 H. Establishing and Revising Running Cards [10/19/92] 1. The procedure to be followed for establishing changes or additions (other than upgrading apparatus) to any running cards shall be: a) Discuss the assignments and apparatus with the chiefs most involved with the cards to clarify any questions or possible problems. b) Submit the cards to the mutual aid center in duplicate for review: one (1) copy for dispatcher s review and one (1) copy for the mutual aid chairman. The dispatchers and/or mutual aid committee may make written recommendations to improve the cards or prevent problems from occurring. Notice must go back to the submitting department within thirty (30) days. If there are no recommendations the cards shall be implemented on an agreed date and implementation announced through a county message. c) If there are no problems with the cards the submitting department will be notified and it shall be responsible for issuing final copies to all departments involved in the case. d) If changes or corrections are necessary based on the mutual aid review the revised cards shall be resubmitted for final review and implementation on an agreed upon date. The implementing department is responsible as in item c for providing all participants with copies of the cards. 2. All running assignments shall be submitted to the mutual aid center in the format approved by the mutual aid committee (See appendix A). 3. If the jurisdiction has more than one district a detailed map of the jurisdiction showing the districts shall be provided. 4. Working Fire: This term is used in Barnstable County and the ICS System is a term of Alarm or Response request. It is NOT a fire description! When the term is used it activates a reaction to supply resources by the Mutual Aid Center and Departments based on the appropriate Run Card. 5. In completing cards, consideration must be given to sound fire protection standards and the recommendations of the mutual aid committee. a) Any automatic response apparatus shall be indicated on the first alarm. November 12, 2003 Page 14

15 b) A minimum of two (2) pieces of apparatus shall be listed on each alarm. c) It is strongly recommended that extra ambulances to the fire and at least one coverage ambulance be listed on the card on the 2 nd or 3 rd alarm. d) Under the incident command system a chief officer should be listed on each alarm. e) Coverage for all stations within the jurisdiction must be indicated for each alarm. f) Indicate covering apparatus for departments where the response has stripped apparatus. If this is not done the mutual aid committee will assign covering apparatus to the card. It is the policy of the committee to have all coverage listed on the cards to avoid any confusion at the time of an incident. g) The back of each card shall provide a listing of apparatus indicated in order of response above the requesting department s own equipment. A minimum of ten (10) ambulances and ten (10) brush breakers shall be listed. The mutual aid committee will fill in any blank areas. h) Each card must indicate at least three (3) alarms. It is the committee s policy that any department that reaches the highest alarm on its card must revise its cards to add at least one more alarm. i) Forestry units, as defined by the mutual aid committee, shall be listed on the special call portion of the running card. A minimum of two (2) units shall be listed. [10/14/92]. 6. When a piece of apparatus is placed permanently out of service the mutual aid center shall be notified on a form provided by the committee, The mutual aid center will then print out all cards involving that apparatus and provide them to the respective chiefs to review them within 90 days [10/14/92]. 7. A form will be provided to all departments upon which to submit information regarding new apparatus and equipment. This form shall be November 12, 2003 Page 15

16 submitted to the committee to be numbered and distributed to all departments (apparatus bulletins). [10/14/92]. November 12, 2003 Page 16

17 I. Stranding of Mammals [12/17/92] 1. Stranding situations shall not be considered normal mutual aid unless a human life safety situation exists (i.e. people being swept out to sea). 2. Requests for volunteer assistance in stranding situations may be made through the mutual aid center. All such requests will be handled as an administrative message by the center. 3. All requests must include the following information: a) Requesting department. b) What exactly is requested? c) Exact quantities of items requested. d) Location of staging. e) A phone number for people to call to provide the assistance. 4. Individual departments have the right to decide how to deal with requests of this nature. November 12, 2003 Page 17

18 J. Radio Message System [3/25/93] 1. Message broadcast over the Barnstable County Fire Radio Network shall be official in nature and shall be of importance to fire departments within Barnstable County. 2. The mutual aid and radio committee of the Barnstable County Fire Chief s Association shall set policy for the transmittal of message over the network. 3. The mutual aid committee chairman, or his designee, shall have final say as to the type and content of messages being broadcast within established guidelines. 4. User agencies shall, whenever possible, prepare messages well in advance of the requested transmission date and time, in order to ease the burden on Barnstable County Control dispatchers. 5. Emergency or short-notice messages may be given over the phone to Barnstable Country Control. Note: dispatchers shall not be held responsible for any mistakes on messages taken over the phone. 6. Messages shall be sequentially numbered during each calendar year, using the last two digits of the year with a dash prior to the message number. Messages shall be numbered as they are issued. No numbers shall be issued in advance. 7. The network control shall keep a permanent record of all messages issued. 8. Messages shall be issued on time only, except as determined by the mutual aid committee chairman or his designee in case of rare emergency. 9. Insofar as possible, all messages shall be kept concise and easy for other departments to copy when being issued. 10. Messages shall be broadcast at the time of the regular daily radio check, unless the mutual aid committee chairman or his designee otherwise determines. November 12, 2003 Page 18

19 K. Mutual Aid to Non-Fire/Rescue Organizations [1/14/94] 1. The Barnstable County Mutual Aid System is designed to provide aid to any fire or rescue organization in need of additional resources. With the system s tremendous resource there are many ways that organizations outside the system may be provided with valuable assistance. This includes police, emergency management agencies, harbormaster or any other local, state or federal organization that might make use of the fire department resources in an unusual or emergency situation. 2. In order to access the system, any outside organization must make request through the local fire/rescue organization. The request must be specific as to resources and mission. The chief or his designee of the local fire department shall decide whether the mutual aid system should be activated to meet the request. 3. Once the system has been accessed the requesting fire department shall provide a liaison officer between the incident commander and the officer in charge of the fire/rescue mutual aid resources. 4. Any outside agency requesting mutual aid shall work through their local fire department liaison during all operations. At no time will an outside agency command or attempt to run the operations of the mutual aid resources. Those resources shall always be under the command and control of a fire department officer. 5. It is the intent of the mutual aid system to provide as much assistance as possible to outside agencies in an emergency or unusual situation as can be safely and properly done. At no time can the safety and well being of the people of departments involved be put in jeopardy. 6. The system does reserve the right for departments involved to charge their expense to the outside agency requesting assistance. November 12, 2003 Page 19

20 L. Special Rescue Teams [1/18/96] 1. Requests for special rescue teams or services, such as dive and technical rescue teams, shall be provided in the order listed on the appropriate run card. 2. Where no listing is provided the mutual aid center shall send the closest recognized special team. 3. The county special equipment vehicle (R-902) may only be dispatched upon the request of a member of a recognized special rescue team or the incident commander when asked to do so by the special team. When R-902 is dispatched Barnstable County shall verify that the incident commander knows that the vehicle has been requested. November 12, 2003 Page 20

21 M. Intra-County use of Task Forces and Strike Teams [01/15/04] 1. The intent of this guide is to provide a mechanism for determining special response situations in a logical manner. 2. Natural disaster task forces are designed for response and use both within and outside of Barnstable County. 3. In unusual situations regarding county coverage or response situations which do not fit or apply to the need it is recommended that mutual aid dispatchers and chief officer at BCC consider the use of the task force or strike team concept. 4. TASK FORCE: consideration must be given to the resource need. A task force shall be a minimum of 3 engines, 1 ladder, 1 ambulance and 1 chief officer. The maximum shall be 6 engines, 2 ladders, 1 heavy or medium rescue, 1 ambulance and 4 chief officers. Brush situation: 3 Brush Breakers, or 3 Forestry or combination, 1 Tanker, 1 Ambulance, 1 Chief Officer. Maximum Brush shall be 6 Breakers or Forestry or combination, 2 Tankers, 1 Ambulance, and 2 Chief Officers. 5. Where a task force response is not necessary or appropriate to the resource need in varying situations, a strike team may be used. By definition, a strike team is 5 units of the same type led by an independent command person. A second command officer may be activated. 6. Once intra-county task forces or strike teams are activated, and assembled, they may be broken down as needed to meet the needs of the area to which they have been dispatched to under the direction of the Leader. 7. Where more than one unit is broken out, a chief officer from the command officers shall accompany that multi unit response. 8. Any movement of apparatus in less than these numbers is considered regional coverage. 9. When a Task Force or Strike Team is formed they will be assigned to a separate RESPONDING CHANNEL to be controlled by BCC. November 12, 2003 Page 21

22 N. Apparatus Status Procedure [3/1/99] 1. Apparatus status inventory will be conducted each morning during the 09:15 radio checks. Barnstable Country Control will roll call all departments alphabetically. 2. Each department will respond by announcing the department s name and then announcing their apparatus that is out of service. 3. If all apparatus is in service then the department will respond with the department name only. 4. Only the following apparatus types will be reported on during the radio check: a) Engine b) Ambulance (Rescue) c) Ladder d) Tanker e) Breaker f) Forestry g) Heavy Rescue h) Boat i) Crash Unit j) Patrol 5. Departments shall report the pieces of apparatus being out of service each day during the radio test until back in service with the following exceptions: a) Vehicle permanently out of service. b) Vehicle out of service seasonally such as some boats or specialty equipment. c) Apparatus out of service for extended periods of time such as refurbishment or major repairs. 6. For exceptions in item 5 a county message will be provided prior to the daily roll call when the vehicle is placed out of service. The message is to contain as much pertinent data as possible such as the following: a) Permanently out of service. b) Seasonal and when expected to return to service. c) Long term out of service for maintenance, refurbishment, etc. 7. The following departments will not be included in the apparatus status list and will respond at the radio check with their department name only. a) Dukes County Fire November 12, 2003 Page 22

23 b) Plymouth County Control c) Plymouth Fire d) Onset Fire e) Wareham Fire 8. New or replacement vehicles and/or equipment shall be placed in service as follows: a) Each department shall provide a detailed apparatus summary and equipment list to the mutual aid committee for classification. b) The information shall include radio designation, station assignment and the position it will operated in (i.e. first due). c) Once all apparatus is classified a listing shall be provided to Barnstable County Control d) Once announced, a fax will be provided to all departments with the new information. 9. Barnstable County Control shall also be notified by radio at the actual time vehicles are placed in and out of service. This is in addition to the other provisions of this section. November 12, 2003 Page 23

24 O. Condition Status Indicator [7/20/95] 1. The condition status indicator is a term used to classify a department s ability to provide assistance outside its boundaries due to a non-fire or rescue event. 2. The condition status indicator is not used in fire or rescue situations since the mutual aid center is aware of what is going on. It is to be used for storm related situations, parades, concerts or other situations where the department is internally committed and thus unable to provide mutual aid. 3. The condition status indicator should only be used where the situation committing the department is expected to last two hours or more. 4. The terms for the condition status are: a) Condition Green: The department is fully able to supply assistance to other departments. (This is the normal situation). b) Condition Yellow: The department is only able to supply limited assistance to other due to heavy commitment of their own resources within the town or district. Declaration of Condition Yellow would be made by the office in charge of the department. c) Condition Red: The department is unable to supply assistance to any town due to full commitment within the town. The department may be calling for assistance depending on the commitment period and additional resource needs. 5. The condition status indicators are considered in place for use any time with all departments considered to be Condition Green by default. 6. Departments that are confronted with situations stretching their resources so that they are unable to provide mutual aid (any or minimal response) shall notify Barnstable County Control of the department status, i.e. Yellow or Red, and provide an estimated duration of the status. 7. During major weather emergencies Barnstable County Control may poll all departments as to their status in order to determine trends or to clarify which areas may require assistance or modification of assignments. 8. Normal mutual aid operations are in no way replaced by the condition status system. Once a department or departments has declared a Condition Yellow or Red, mutual aid will be affected and may be modified accordingly. November 12, 2003 Page 24

25 9. In the event that two or more neighboring departments declare a Condition Red the mutual aid center shall endeavor to obtain additional information about the situation and duration. 10. Based on the severity of the situation, the mutual aid center shall notify the chairman of the mutual aid committee or his representative and the state district mutual aid coordinator. 11. The chief or officer in charge of the department is solely responsible for declaring implementation of or change (upgrade, downgrade) in status in the condition status system. November 12, 2003 Page 25

26 P. Apparatus definitions [7/93] AERIAL APPARATUS DEFINITIONS Aerial Ladder Truck SPECIFICATIONS A vehicle equipped to respond as a ladder company with the following listed equipment as a minimum. Aerial Device Ground Ladders 115 foot minimum 6 each SCBA 30 minute minimum Salvage and Overhaul Equipment 1 Each Smoke Ejector Generator 3500 watt minimum Ventilation Saw Aerial Platform A vehicle equipped to respond as a ladder company with the following listed equipment as a minimum. Aerial Device with Platform Ground Ladders 115 foot minimum 6 each SCBA 30 minute minimum Salvage and Overhaul Equipment 1 Each Smoke Ejector Generator 3500 watt minimum Ventilation Saw Aerial Tower A vehicle equipped to respond as a ladder company with the following listed equipment as a minimum. Aerial Device with Tower Ground Ladders 115 foot minimum 6 each SCBA 30 minute minimum Salvage and Overhaul Equipment 1 Each Smoke Ejector Generator 3500 watt minimum Ventilation Saw City Service Ladder Truck A vehicle equipped to respond as a ladder company with the following listed equipment as a minimum. Ground Ladders 115 foot minimum 6 each SCBA 30 minute minimum Salvage and Overhaul Equipment 1 Each Smoke Ejector Generator 3500 watt minimum Ventilation Saw November 12, 2003 Page 26

27 COMMAND / STAFF VEHICLES APPARATUS DEFINITIONS SPECIFICATIONS Command SUV Command Automobile Staff SUV Staff Automobile Two or four wheel drive SUV equipped for command purposes. Two or four wheel drive vehicle equipped for command purposes. Two or four wheel drive SUV equipped for staff purposes Two or four wheel drive SUV equipped for staff purposes November 12, 2003 Page 27

28 ENGINES APPARATUS DEFINITIONS Engine SPECIFICATIONS A two or four wheel drive vehicle with as a minimum, the following listed equipment. 750 GPM Class A Pump 500 gallon booster tank 1200 of 2½ hose or 1000 of large diameter hose 4 each, SCBA 30 minute capacity Provision for 2½ Handline Engine Tanker A two or four wheel drive vehicle with as a minimum, the following listed equipment. 750 GPM Class A Pump 1500 gallon booster tank minimum Tank discharge rate of 500 GPM or higher Carries minimum of 1500 gallon portable tank 1200 of 2½ hose or 1000 of large diameter hose 4 each, SCBA 30 minute capacity Provision for 2½ Handline Mini Pumper Any vehicle that does not qualify as an engine but has structural firefighting capabilities on a limited basis. November 12, 2003 Page 28

29 FORESTRY APPARATUS DEFINITIONS SPECIFICATIONS Brush Breaker Heavy Brush Breaker Medium Brush Breaker Light Forestry Truck Patrol Truck A vehicle with 800 or more gallons of water, heavy iron and all wheel drive. Minimum of 500 of forestry hose or 1½ hose. A vehicle with 500 or more gallons of water, heavy iron and all wheel drive. Minimum of 500 of forestry hose or 1½ hose. A vehicle with 150 or more gallons of water, light push bar and iron and all wheel drive. Minimum of 500 of forestry hose or 1½ hose. A two or four-wheel drive vehicle designed or modified for handling brush fires. Equipped as follows: 200 gallons of water 500 of 1, 1 1/8 forestry hose or 1 ½ hose or combination thereof. PTO or auxiliary pump A two or four-wheel drive vehicle designed or modified for handling brush fires. Equipped as follows: 200 gallons of water 250 of 1, 1 1/8 forestry hose or 1 ½ hose or combination thereof. PTO or auxiliary pump November 12, 2003 Page 29

30 RESCUE APPARATUS DEFINITIONS SPECIFICATIONS Heavy Rescue Squad Medium Rescue Squad A vehicle equipped with, as a minimum, the following: Rescue/extrication tool Jacks and/or air bags Cascade or breathing apparatus air compressor system 4 each SCBA 30 minute capacity with 4 spare cylinders Lighting Plant, 5000 watt capacity Portable and mounted lighting equipment First aid supplies and demand valve Winch Small tool assortment Chain or circular saw Miscellaneous shovels, ropes, bars and cribbing A vehicle equipped with, as a minimum, the following: Rescue/extrication tool Jacks and/or air bags 4 each SCBA 30 minute capacity with 4 spare cylinders Lighting Plant, 5000 watt capacity Portable and mounted lighting equipment First aid supplies and demand valve Small tool assortment Chain or circular saw Miscellaneous shovels, ropes, bars and cribbing Light Rescue Squad Ambulance as defined by State Regulation; Class I or II November 12, 2003 Page 30

31 SPECIALTY APPARATUS APPARATUS DEFINITIONS SPECIFICATIONS Dive Truck Boats Durable sided Inflatables Snowmobiles ATV Hovercraft Trailers Mechanic November 12, 2003 Page 31

32 Q. Barnstable County Mobile Decontamination Policy [11/12/03] I. Refer to: Standard Operating Guidelines for Mass Decontamination Units. Appendix A. II. Local Mass Decontamination Units Dispatch Procedures 1. Under the Mass Fire Mobilization Plan District 1, 1 mobile decontamination unit is the primary response unit to the scene for Barnstable County. It may also be moved immediately to Nantucket or Martha s Vineyard as they are part of District One. 2. District 1 Mass Decontamination Unit is also listed as the first due unit going off Cape. 3. As stated in the Standard Operating Guidelines for Mass Decontamination Units, if the incident is in the town or district that has a hospital assigned MDU the Incident Command may request that unit to the scene. In that case the regional MDU shall go to the Hospital from which the first MDU was taken. The State Running Card will then be followed to dispatch additional units. 4. The District 1 Mass Decontamination Unit is operated by trained personnel from Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, and Orleans. The Trailer is located in Chatham. [Rev01/1/06] 5. As contained in the state concept of operations summary October 10, 2003, there are 4 levels of response for each town. 6. In all levels of response, a Hazmat team or multiple Hazmat teams will be activated. 7. District 1 Mass Decontamination Unit Dispatch: [Rev 01/15/04] To activate the District 1 Mass Decontamination Unit, the following procedure shall be used. 1. Call shall be dispatched as a mutual aid call to the Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, and Orleans departments. (Barnstable County Control). 2. They shall then re-transmit the request to their assigned Mass Decontamination Unit personnel. November 12, 2003 Page 32

33 DISTRICT 1 MASS DECONTAMINATION UNIT RUNNING ASSIGNMENTS (revised 4/06) Barnstable County Control shall dispatch requests for the Mass Decontamination Unit (M D U) as a mutual aid call to Brewster, Chatham, Eastham and Orleans Fire Departments. Barnstable County Control shall have the responsibility of ensuring the appropriate units sign on ; the appropriate number of personnel are responding; and shall continue efforts until the minimum criteria is met. Each Department will then transmit the request to their assigned MDU trained personnel, and shall ensure their respective assignment is met. The ability to meet / inability to meet their assignment shall be transmitted to Barnstable County Control, including the number of personnel responding and if they are MDU trained. MDU TRAILER ASSIGNMENT: CHATHAM The MDU trailer will be permanently located at the Chatham Fire Department. Chatham Fire Department will respond with the trailer to the scene of an incident when dispatched. A crew of two (preferably MDU trained) personnel will respond with the trailer. The trailer will be towed by a vehicle equipped with the proper towing package including electric breaks for the trailer. ENGINE COMPANY ASSIGNMENT: BREWSTER The Brewster Fire Department will provide an Engine response in support of the MDU. The Engine will be dispatched with a minimum crew of two personnel (preferably MDU trained). The Engine Company shall establish a water supply to the MDU. Depending on the location, the water supply may be from an available fire hydrant or in more rural areas, from tank water. Personnel will also be used to assist in the MDU operation. AMBULANCE ASSIGNMENT: ORLEANS The Orleans Fire Department will provide an Ambulance response in support of the MDU. The Ambulance will be dispatched with a minimum crew of two (1 Paramedic & 1 EMT) preferably MDU trained personnel. The Ambulance shall be utilized in support of and for the protection of the MDU personnel. PERSONNEL RESPONSE: EASTHAM The Eastham Fire Department will provide the personnel for the MDU response. A minimum crew of two personnel, (preferably MDU trained) will be dispatched to the incident location. November 12, 2003 Page 33

34 CHIEF OFFICER: A Chief or Senior Officer will respond with the MDU for the purpose of maintaining continuity of organization; facilitating needed functions; and as liaison between the MDU Team and the destination at which the MDU has been requested. The officer will ensure the continuity of the team at the staging area and then proceed ahead of the convoy to the decontamination destination for the purpose of facilitating the arrival of the MDU Team. The Officer will be determined based on the schedule below and in the event the department on rotation is unable to provide the officer, the officer of the next town in rotation will be dispatched: 2006 Chatham Fire 2007 Brewster Fire(January June) 2007 Eastham Fire (July December) 2008 Orleans Fire (January June) As an example of duties, the Chief Officer will determine the location in which the MDU will be deployed; locate water source; facilitate additional supplies and a mobile cascade system as needed; request a hazardous material clean up vendor for the purpose of collecting decon runoff as needed; request local Police; etc. ASSEMBLY AREA: For incidents in Chatham; Brewster; Orleans; & Eastham, the units and personnel will proceed directly to the requested location. For response out of the area, all units and personnel will be advised where to assemble by the Chief Officer. RESPONSE MODE: When all units have assembled, the units will proceed to the assigned destination as a convoy, with the Chief Officer proceeding ahead. (See Chief Officer Response) November 12, 2003 Page 34

35 SECTION R: 6/20/06 REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY BUS ACTIVATION Under agreement with the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority the authority buses may be requested to assist in an emergency. Activation of assistance shall be done through the Barnstable County Fire and Rescue EMS system and the Barnstable County Mutual Aid System through the communication system operated by the Barnstable County Sheriff s Office. PROCEDURES: I. The Activation of Equipment and Personnel from the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority shall be made by the incident commander of the scene of an emergency to Barnstable County Control who shall then contact representatives of CCRTA. The incident commander shall identify to county control the Estimated # of people to be transported or protected Whether the people to be transported are citizens, injured or not or response personnel The type of Emergency Event The location of the event How soon assistance is needed. Staging Area and Staging Manager. 2. Barnstable County Control shall contact the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority Representative through a designated 24-hour call number (774) or (774) When a representative has been contacted, the dispatcher shall identify the following to the CCRTA. Barnstable County Control shall co ordinate communications between CCRTA and the Staging Manager. Estimated # of people to be transported or protected Whether the people to be transported are citizens, injured or not or response personnel. The type of Emergency Event The location of the event How soon assistance is needed. Staging Area and Staging Manager. November 12, 2003 Page 35

36 3. CCRTA shall mobilize personnel and equipment and notify Barnstable County Control (508) of the Transportation Team Leader: CCRTA Estimated Time of Arrival to the scene The # of Vehicles being sent for assistance The Types of vehicles being sent to the scene The # of Drivers and any support personnel being sent to the scene. 3.1 Barnstable County Control will then provide contact information to the CCRTA representative for the Staging Manager or on scene coordinator. Staging Manager will also be notified of contact information for the CCRTA Team Leader. Name, phone #, cell #, or whether communication will continue through Barnstable County Control. 3.2 Upon reaching the Staging Area or Assigned Location CCRTA Team Leader will contact the Staging Manager or designee for further directions. 4. When the incident involves injured people Incident Command or EMS Branch will make every effort to provide an EMS person with any bus transporting said injured should such be considered necessary. 5. CCRTA shall assist with the transportation portion until released by the Incident Commander or designee. 6. CCRTA shall account for all personnel and vehicles that assisted with the incident. Any discrepancies with the numbers shall be reported immediately to the incident commander or designee. 7. All expenditures for this assistance such as labor costs, fuel, vehicle service or repair shall be calculated by CCRTA and submitted to the appropriate Town Emergency Manager, Town Manger, Fire Chief, Police Chief or the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee. Should state or Federal disaster relief funding become available, reimbursement may be available for these expenditures. 6/20/06 November 12, 2003 Page 36