Accountability

Accountability Boards

Accountability boards are used by the designated accountability officer to gather information on working crews. An accountability officer will be appointed by the officer in charge. The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System will be utilized to create and manage Accountability Boards.

Accountability Procedures

Generally, single alarm responses and some small structure fires are contained with minimal apparatus and manpower. Accountability of personnel at these scenes can usually be conducted through line-of-sight by the officer in charge.

Multi-unit incidents (3 or more units) require more control of personnel for accountability purposes. Accountability on these incidents will be conducted by the Incident Commander, a Chief Officer, or someone appointed by the Fire Chief.

Upon initiation of operations in which accountability is required, the Incident Commander will collect personnel reports from apparatus crews that receive assignments immediately upon their arrival. It is imperative that Command and/or Division Officers maintain awareness and an accurate accounting of personnel assigned to them.

Entry/Exit

As operations are initiated, accountability will begin automatically. As crews are given an assignment, the crew’s status will be placed on the Accountability Board. When the crew exits, the Accountability Board should be updated to reflect.

Personnel Accountability Report

Personnel Accountability Reports will be called for by the Incident Command every 15 minutes or in the event that a situation develops that could threaten the safety of those operating at the incident. Examples may include a building collapse, backdraft, flashover, explosion, strategy change (offensive to defensive), etc. In some cases, Command may request a PAR without a significant occurrence. Upon the call for a PAR, each Company Officer, or team leader if assigned, will report the status of their personnel. The term “PAR” indicates that all personnel within the crew have been accounted for.

A “No PAR “declaration should be made by the Incident Commander if all personnel cannot be accounted for within a reasonable time frame (three to four minutes). In addition, the following events should trigger an automatic “No PAR” declaration:

Loss of radio contact with an interior crew, or crew operating on the roof when out of visual contact. Three attempts to establish radio contact should be made before a “No PAR” is declared.
Missing or downed firefighters
Any abnormal or unexpected event that could reasonably place firefighters in life threatening situations.

“No PAR” Declarations

If a “No PAR” is declared, the following sequence of events should take place:

Command will request an upgrade to the next alarm level (i.e., if incident is at 2nd alarm, call for 3rd)
Command will call an Alert/Emergency Traffic tone on all tactical frequencies being utilized in order to clear the air.
If radio contact with a crew has been lost, one final attempt to establish contact will be made.
A building evacuation will be called for by sounding a solid blast on the air horns of the apparatus in the area of the building for a minimum of 30 seconds.
If during or after the evacuation, the personnel are still unaccounted for, Command will initiate a search by the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT). The RIT will begin searching the area where the missing crew or individual was last known to be operating. Backup RIT’s will be established so there is no lapse of search operations. The search will continue until the missing personnel are located and evacuated or until conditions deteriorate to a point that the Rapid Intervention Crews safety is unreasonably compromised.