HomeMy WebLinkAbout203.012 - Post Incident Analysis
Effective Date: June 2025 Jonathan Chew, Deputy Fire Chief
Current Revision Date: 07/17/2025 Section 203.012
Next Revision (2) Date: 07/17/2028 Page 1 of 7
200 Standard Operating Procedures Manual
SECTION 203.012 POST INCIDENT ANALYSIS POLICY
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide the Safety Officer, Training Division, and
Accident Review Team (ART) with a process for completing a Post Incident Analysis
(PIA) for an emergency incident.
APPLICATION
The Safety Officer Survey, Informational Summary, Post-Incident Analysis/Tailboard,
and After-Action Review document incidents with valuable training elements for the
Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department). The Training Division helps Safety
Officers create and distribute these documents. The Duty Training Officer is the Safety
Officers’ point of contact to facilitate the documents (information) transition into the
Learning Management System ( LMS). Serious accidents or injuries are investigated
by ART or Serious Accident Review Team (SART) and fall outside the Safety Officer’s
scope.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
The Safety Officer shall complete a Safety Officer Survey at all working fires. The
Incident Commander or Safety Officer can choose to complete an Informational
Summary, Post Incident Analysis (PIA)/Tailboard, After Action Review (AAR) or
request an Accident Review Team ( ART) dependent upon the type of incident. At the
request of the Fire Chief, a SART will be assigned to the incident. Upon review by the
Training Division of an informational summary, it will be determined if an After-Action
Review is needed.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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Fresno City Fire Department
Effective Date: June 2025 Jonathan Chew, Deputy Fire Chief
Current Revision Date: 07/17/2025 Section 203.012
Next Revision (2) Date: 07/17/2028 Page 2 of 7
PROCESS
Safety Officer Survey
The purpose of completing a Safety Officer Survey is to document specifics of a fire
incident that has taken place. This survey is not only a record of the event, but it can
also be used to investigate what happened and serve as a measurement tool to
evaluate performance on the fireground.
A Safety Officer Survey will be completed after all working fires or significant incidents
immediately following the conclusion of the incident. The surveys are to be analyzed
by the safety officers monthly with the information being shared at the Training Staff
Meeting.
The Safety Officer Surveys are specific to five incident types, to include Fire, Hazmat,
Water Rescue, US&R and Medical.
Informational Summary
An informational summary provides a recap of events that occurred at an incident.
This document is used when the Safety Officer or Incident Commander determines
there were unique circumstances, a close call, or other event that occurred.
• Timeline: An informational summary will be completed by the
Safety Officer prior to the end of the shift and sent
to the Training Division. The Duty Training Officer
is responsible for facilitating the final document for
distribution. The Training Division will deliver the
informational summary to all Department members
within seven days or as determined by the Training
Deputy Chief.
• Approval Process: The Training Deputy Chief, Operations Deputy
Chief, or Administrative Battalion Chiefs in these
divisions are responsible for review, approval, and
distribution of the document.
• Distribution: The informational summary will be delivered via the
Department’s LMS.
Effective Date: June 2025 Jonathan Chew, Deputy Fire Chief
Current Revision Date: 07/17/2025 Section 203.012
Next Revision (2) Date: 07/17/2028 Page 3 of 7
Post Incident Analysis/ Tailboard
The Post Incident Analysis/Tailboard is a meeting facilitated by the IC or the SO either
during the incident prior to departure or during the next shift. The meeting can be
either virtual or in person. If the meeting is virtual, the Safety Officer will email the
PIA survey to all members who were on scene of the incident and schedule the
meeting. The Duty Training Officer should be included in the meeting. The PIA survey
data will be used to facilitate the discussion and learning points of the PIA meeting.
Additionally, the SO will make every effort to capture relevant information to create a
simulation (SIM) of the incident that reflects conditions on scene, including the relevant
audio files. At the conclusion of the meeting the Safety Officer will collect the lessons
learned and provide that information to the Training Division for dispersal.
After Action Review
The purpose of the AAR is to aid in accident prevention by informing interested parties
"what happened" and to serve as a safety training tool. The AAR expands on the
accompanying informational summary. The Safety Officer and the Duty Training
Officer will collaborate on the creation of this document. Since the AAR is an accident
prevention tool, it should not be used to place personal blame. The AAR is the most
appropriate method of reporting near significant incidents. It should include all relevant
information, such as events or concerns of interest, as well as lessons learned for
future prevention of similar occurrences.
An AAR includes a cover page identifying the AAR with a disclaimer that information
contained in the AAR is subject to revision as additional information is obtained and
that it has not been approved by an Executive Board for review. Once the AAR is
distributed, it is considered a “public document” and may be shared with external
sources.
• Timeline: Distributed within fourteen (14) calendar days of the
incident (unless otherwise directed by the Training
Deputy Chief).
• Approval Process: Completed AARs are forwarded to the Training
Deputy Chief, Operations Deputy Chief, or
Administrative Battalion Chiefs in these divisions.
(Including scanned diagrams and maps, if
possible). The Training Deputy Chief, Operations
Deputy Chief, or Administrative Battalion Chiefs in
these divisions are responsible for review and
consultation with the Safety Committee team for
approval and distribution of the document via LMS.
Effective Date: June 2025 Jonathan Chew, Deputy Fire Chief
Current Revision Date: 07/17/2025 Section 203.012
Next Revision (2) Date: 07/17/2028 Page 4 of 7
• Revision: A revised After-Action Review may be issued
following the distribution process if:
o Additional pertinent information is developed
o The initial AAR needs updating or
clarification
ART/SART
The Department will activate an ART and/or SART to investigate all accidents that
result in serious injury, death, or by direction of the Fire Chief.
Post Incident Analysis Matrix
Action Item
Who is
Responsible Timeline Frequency/Type
Safety Officer Survey
Safety Officer Before
end of shift All working fires
Informational
Summary
Safety Officer
Training Division
Prior to the
end of shift
Posted in LMS
within 7 days
Unique incidents and
close calls (i.e., structural
collapse or civilian injury)
After Action Review
(AAR) Training Division
Posted in LMS
within 14 days
of Incident
Notable firefighter injury
or major incident
ART Training Division Assembled
within 48 hours
Accidents resulting in
serious injury, death, or
significant property
damage
SART Fire Chief and
Training Division TBD
Accidents resulting in
serious injury, death, or
significant property
damage and meet the
criteria per the Fire Chief
Incident
Non-Significant Incident
Unique circumstances, lessons to
share, etc.
Significant Incident
Accident, injury, or death
Informational
Summary
Completed by S/O and
delivered to Duty T.O
After Action Review
Completed by Safety Officer
and/or Training Officer
ART Report
Completed by Accident
Review Team (ART)
SART Report
Completed by Accident
Review Team (ART)
Initiated by IC
or S/O
Initiated by
Fire Chief
Initiated by
Training Division
Off-Scene
PIA Tailboard
Low Complexity High Complexity
Initiated by IC or
S/O
Safety Officer Survey
Completed by Safety Officer
for all working fires
Effective Date: June 2025 Jonathan Chew, Deputy Fire Chief
Current Revision Date: 07/17/2025 Section 203.012
Next Revision (2) Date: 07/17/2028 Page 6 of 7
Fresno Fire Department Safety Officer Job Aid
Position: Safety Officer, Training Division
Supervisor: Incident Commander (Incident)/Deputy Chief of Training (Non-
Incident)
1. Initial Responsibilities:
• Contact the Incident Commander for an update on hazards.
• Conduct initial or additional 360.
• Identify any significant hazards and make them known.
• Immediately stop any unsafe act.
• Mitigate hazards that can be mitigated, Isolate/Deny entry to
those that cannot.
• Make immediate corrections to any PPE issues.
2. Situational Awareness/Observations:
• Ensure operations are consistent with assignments.
• Ensure tactics align with the overall strategy.
• Ensure the level of acceptable risk is aligned with benefit.
3. Safety Practices and Documentation:
• Accountability/Passport use.
• Monitor air conditions during overhaul.
• Ensure proper decontamination for all crew members.
• Investigate/document any injury or equipment failure.
• Conduct post incident safety briefing.
• Complete Safety Officer Survey.
• Complete an Informational Summary when necessary.
4. Non-Incident Objectives:
• Monitor incidents to recognize red flags or potential escalation.
• Coordinate with on-duty crews to assist with training/station
schools.
• Pre-plan areas of significance/high hazard.
• Coordinate with training on lessons learned.
• Attend Safety Committee meetings.
• Update the Deputy Chief of Operations on Department safety
issues.
• Investigate any significant non-incident related injury.
• Analyze Incident data and identify negative trends.
Effective Date: June 2025 Jonathan Chew, Deputy Fire Chief
Current Revision Date: 07/17/2025 Section 203.012
Next Revision (2) Date: 07/17/2028 Page 7 of 7
INFORMATION
Use the links below to access the surveys
• Safety Officer Survey • Post Incident Analysis
• Safety Officer Survey Results • Post Incident Analysis Results
DEFINITIONS
Safety Officer Survey: Survey completed by the Safety Officer after every
working fire.
Informational Summary: Provides a summary of events that occurred at an
incident where a unique circumstance, close call, or
other event of note occurred. No lessons learned or
recommendations on best practices will be made in an
informational summary. Informational Summary (Click
the download arrow to access.)
Post Incident Analysis A Safety Officer-led group discussion on the activities
and
/Tailboard Meeting: lessons learned from a notable incident.
After Action Review: A review of an Informational Summary from which
applied lessons learned and recommendations on best
practices will be shared with the Department. After
Action Review (Click the download arrow to access.)
ART/SART: A team convened to investigate and document an
incident where a serious injury or death occurred.
Duty Training Officer: The Training Officer responsible for being the point of
contact for the Safety Officer as identified in the staffing
program.
Non-significant Incident: An incident where a unique circumstance, close call, or
other event of note occurred that did not lead to a
significant injury or death.
CROSS-REFERENCES
Administrative Manual
Section 104.7, Accident Review Team