MCCCD Program Description

Command Strategies for Major Emergencies

Course: FSC205

First Term: 1989 Fall

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Effective methods of managing major emergency incidents including multiple alarm structural fires, high rise fires, major brush fires, complex hazardous materials incidents and multi-casualty medical incidents. Includes incidents that require the commitment of resources based on a transitional situation and/or managing the effective interaction between numerous agencies to achieve control

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Perform the role and assume the responsibilities of the Incident Commander at a simulated major emergency. (I) 2. Describe the organizational structures used by the Incident Commander during multiple alarm structural fires, high rise fires, brush fires, hazardous materials incidents and major medical incidents. (II) 3. Manage the transition from offensive strategy to defensive strategy at a simulated major structural fire. (III) 4. Describe the organizational structure used by the Incident Commander to effectively manage numerous Public Safety Agencies operating at the scene of an emergency. (IV)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Role and responsibilities of Incident Commander at major emergency A. Establish identification system for 1. Command 2. Sectors 3. Companies B. Insure early, strong, direct, visible command C. Establish and implement organization structure - maximizes efforts to control the incident D. Determine tactics and strategy appropriate for incident 1. Continuously evaluate conditions 2. Develop plan of attack and communicate it 3. Review and evaluate efforts 4. Revise plan as needed E. Provide adequate resources to achieve control F. Provide for 1. Safety of firefighting personnel 2. Rescue and treatment of victims 3. Fire control 4. Property conservation II. Organization structures used by Incident Commanders A. Multiple alarm structural fires 1. Sectorize by direction a. North b. South c. East d. West 2. Sectorize by function a. Salvage b. Safety c. Staging d. Other 3. Sectorize by location a. Interior b. Roof c. Other 4. Support at command post for Incident Commander a. Tactical advisor b. Information and communications coordination c. Operations levels of command B. High rise fires 1. Special sectorization considerations a. Lobby control b. Floor numbers 2. Problems involving access to the scene and to operational locations 3. Special resource requirements and control 4. Operations levels of command 5. Utilization of mechanical functions within the structure to achieve control C. Brush fires 1. Access and special resource considerations a. Rough terrain b. Brush firefighting equipment 2. Management of sectors that are changing locations 3. Utilization of aircraft in brush firefighting (water-drops) 4. Special safety considerations D. Hazardous materials incidents 1. Special safety and tactical considerations a. Proper protective equipment b. Research before action 2. Establishment of hazard zone 3. Evacuation considerations and methods 4. Interagency coordination a. Department of Transportation b. Department of Public Safety c. Hazardous materials waste removal agencies 5. Special equipment and training requirements E. Major medical incidents 1. Special sectorization considerations and management a. Extrication sector b. Treatment sector c. Transportation sector 2. Sequence of sectorization and sector identification 3. Interaction with medical facilities 4. Special resource requirements 5. Debriefing for emergency personnel III. Managing transition from offensive strategy to defensive strategy at major structural fire A. Close supervision within sectors B. Establish an active safety sector C. Monitor structural conditions constantly D. Special resource requirements E. Maintain pro-active management position relating to strategy IV. Organization structure used by Incident Commander to effectively manage numerous agencies operating at scene of emergency A. Maintain a strong command posture B. Assignment of liaison officers C. Information management D. Communications requirements E. Separation of responsibilities

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 5/9/1989

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.