
Use of Chiefs to Improve Fireground Operations
departments
The Volunteers Corner
A common criticism by fire fighters is that there are too many chiefs on the fireground. When there is some basis for this criticism, the fire fighters should he saying that there are chiefs moving about without specifically assigned and clearly understood duties.
There are two basic types of assignments for chief officers assisting the chief in charge of a fire. The first is supervision of fire fighting operations in a specific area of the fireground and the other is supervision of supportive, or staff, activities.
As a fire goes into multiple alarms, at least one higher-ranking chief arrives on the fireground along with other chief officers. When mutual aid companies are called, frequently chiefs of departments arrive with them in addition to chiefs of lower rank. Options are available to make good use of these officers.
Changing responsibilities: First let’s look at the multiple alarm that brings in companies from the same municipal fire department. With the arrival of the second-alarm response, the first-alarm chief turns over his command of the fireground to the higherranking chief (assistant, deputy or division chief). The new fireground commander assigns the first-alarm chief and the one or more other second-alarm chiefs to fireground sectors to supervise specific companies. This step-down of the fireground commander is repeated on additional alarms until the arrival of the chief of department or a firefighting commissioner.
Where the fireground commander assigns his chief officers is determined by his strategy for attacking any specific fire. Remember, fire fighting chief officers are supervisors and as such, they have the responsibility to carry out the tactics implementing the fireground commander’s strategy. Therefore, where they are assigned on the fireground will depend on each specific fire situation.
General patterns, however, are used in most fireground assignments of chief officers. The fireground commander establishes his command post at the most expedient location. In most cases, this is in front of the fire building, but it might be at some other side of the building if that is where most of the action is going to take place and it is a more logical place for command control. The second in command takes the rear or opposite side of the building from the command post. If more chiefs are available, one should be assigned to each of the other two sides.
Other assignments: In many cases, the second in command can be more effective if he is assigned to the inside of the building. If the building and fire are large enough for many companies to be working inside, then more than one chief officer might best be assigned to their supervision. In a large structure, chiefs might be assigned to sectors of the fire floor. When extensive roof ventilation is being done, the fireground commander should consider the advisability of assigning a chief to the roof even at the cost of leaving one of the other positions mentioned without a chief officer. An unusually serious search and rescue demand can require coordination by a chief officer.
When a fire is of sufficient magnitude, there are plenty of details for chief officers. Supportive activities need to be supervised by chiefs who are regarded as filling what can be called staff positions. A water supply chief can handle a vital problem for the fireground commander at both rural and urban fires. At rural fires, he supervises the setting up of tanker shuttles or pumper relays. At urban fires, he uses his knowledge of the water system to assign incoming pumpers to make the best use of the water supply.
A communications chief can coordinate the flow of information and orders and provide the fireground commander with time to concentrate on command problems. The department’s mechanical supervisor takes care of all apparatus functions, seeing that they are operated properly by personnel, observing the conditions of engines and pumps, and making certain that additional supplies of fuel and oil are available.
Safety and logistics: Chief officers also can be assigned to such details as fireground safety, logistics, public relations and any special problems. Fireground safety might well be the assignment of the training chief, who can still be available for a special detail. In suburban and rural areas, mutual aid chiefs can handle the communications detail because in many cases they are as familiar with the area communications as the local officers. They might also be thoroughly familiar with sources of special equipment and supplies that are the concern of the logistics chief.
A staging area is another place where a chief officer should be assigned. In a highrise building, one staging area will be two floors below the fire. This is where breathing apparatus, air cylinders, tools, hose and other equipment are gathered for use on the fire floor. Another staging area will be on the street some distance from the fire building. Here companies and special equipment are held while awaiting the need for their use.
In suburban and rural areas, mutual aid companies report to a staging area and may be held there until the fireground commander calls for them. Supplies of all types, including air cylinders and food, are handled at the staging area. A chief officer will have plenty to do there.
If a fire is large enough to bring in many chief officers, there is enough work for each of them to have a specific assignment. The fireground commander who uses his chiefs effectively will have more time for his major responsibility—developing strategy.