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Home My WebLink About201.005 - Risk ManagementEffective Date: April 2024 Command and Control Committee Current Revision Date: 09/24/2025 Section 201.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 09/24/2029 Page 1 of 6 Fresno City Fire Department 200 Administrative Manual 201.005 RISK MANAGEMENT PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish a formal procedure to reduce the inherent risk of injury or death to firefighters. APPLICATION Fire Department operations present inherent risk of injury or death to firefighters. It is a goal of the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) to provide the safest possible work environment for its members. It is imperative that each member operates in a safe manner for their own safety as well as for the safety of others. OPERATIONAL POLICY The Fire Department expects all members to make operational decisions consistent with the following FFD Risk Management Principles: 1. RISK A LOT TO SAVE A LIFE. Firefighters may accept significant risk of injury ONLY when protecting SAVEABLE human life. 2. RISK LESS TO SAVE PROPERTY. Reduced levels of risk to firefighters are acceptable when protecting savable property, ONLY after balanced evaluation of hazards, AND appropriate control measures are established. 3. RISK A LITTLE WHEN NOTHING CAN BE SAVED. No risk to the safety of firefighters will be acceptable if no reasonable probability exists to save lives or property. 4. When risk to firefighters is excessive AND control measures inadequate, consider disengagement or defensive posture. Effective Date: April 2024 Command and Control Committee Current Revision Date: 09/24/2025 Section 201.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 09/24/2029 Page 2 of 6 OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Actions to reduce or avoid risk during operations should include, but are not limited to: • Incident Command established. • FFD Command Algorithm utilized. • Actions consistent with Standard Operating Procedures/Standard Operating Guidelines. • Proper personal protective equipment utilized. • Accountability system established. • Continuous risk assessment by all members. INFORMATION The Job Aid assists the user in the relationship between Incident Priorities and Operational Strategies. The flow chart encourages adherence to observation of incident priorities through decision points to achieve an effective incident action plan that reflects the balance of risk vs. benefits of the situation. DEFINITIONS Incident Priorities 1. Life Safety: Encompasses responders and the public. It includes rescuing endangered civilians; treating the injured; and providing for the safety, accountability, and welfare of response personnel. Life safety is an ongoing priority throughout the incident. 2. Incident Stabilization: Seeks to keep the incident from escalating, minimize its effects, and bring it under control. 3. Property Preservation: Maintaining the property, the infrastructure, the evidence, the economy, and providing for recovery. Effective Date: April 2024 Command and Control Committee Current Revision Date: 09/24/2025 Section 201.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 09/24/2029 Page 3 of 6 4. Environmental Protection: Maintaining the environment, including water ways, air quality, crops, etc., and providing for recovery. Operational Strategy Operational Strategies may be described as offensive or defensive in nature. Operational Strategy is the primary determinant of an overall risk management profile for the incident. The Incident Commander (IC) must assess the current and forecasted incident conditions to determine whether the potential benefit is worth having members take on the associated risks. The acceptable level of risk must be in proportion to the potential to save lives or property. RESCUE: An increased level of risk may be assumed when the potential for a SAVEABLE life is present at an incident. In such cases the IC must use sound judgment in assigning resources to conduct rescue efforts while simultaneously addressing hazards when possible. Dynamic incidents with minimal on scene resources, immediate mitigation efforts may save the most lives. Actions are in line with the statement, “Risk a lot to save a life.” Example: • Search operations at structure fire prior to establishing Two-Out. • Attempting a rescue in a flowing irrigation canal. • Victim rescue in a confined space. OFFENSIVE: Direct mitigation efforts are utilized to eliminate or control hazards present at an emergency scene. The IC reduces risks to members by ensuring control measures are in place to mitigate present and potential hazards. There should be sufficient resources available to meet the incident demands. Actions are in line with the statement, “Risk less to save property.” Examples: • Interior structure fire operations. • Conducting direct perimeter control on a wildland fire. • The Hazardous Materials Team actively controlling a hazardous materials release/spill/leak. Effective Date: April 2024 Command and Control Committee Current Revision Date: 09/24/2025 Section 201.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 09/24/2029 Page 4 of 6 DEFENSIVE: Indirect mitigation efforts are utilized to control or reduce the effects of hazards present at an emergency scene. The IC does not have mitigation tools or sufficient resources available to ensure control measures are in place to mitigate present and potential hazards. Actions are in line with the statement, “Risk a little when nothing can be saved.” Examples: • Exposure protection during a structure fire with large fire involvement and no savable lives present. • Isolation and denying entry on a Hazardous Materials incident. Operational Strategies are specific to the type of incident (e.g., Water Rescue, Confined Space, etc.) and are described in the polices that correspond with the incident type. Options for Command 1. Investigative: These situations generally require investigation by the initial arriving company while other units remain staged. The officer may go with the company to investigate while utilizing a portable radio, or they may remain stationary and assign other resources to support the company. 2. Establish Command: On arrival, an officer determines that the best course of action for mitigating an emergency is to assume the dedicated role of IC. 3. Transfer Command: The transition of command from a lower ranking officer to a higher-ranking officer. 4. Pass Command: Command can be passed from a first arriving company officer to the next arriving company officer who is ON THE SCENE. This is indicated when the initial commitment of the first arriving company requires a full crew (i.e., high-rise or an immediate rescue situation) or the incident complexity prohibits the first arriving company officer from fulfilling the responsibilities of the Incident Commander (IC). Effective Date: April 2024 Command and Control Committee Current Revision Date: 09/24/2025 Section 201.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 09/24/2029 Page 5 of 6 5. Working Command: This option for command is applied when quick, immediate action can prevent life loss or injury. These situations require direct involvement on the part of the company officer to rescue patients and/or stabilize the incident. In this command option, the company officer accompanies the crew to provide the appropriate level of supervision. Command may be passed to the next arriving officer upon their arrival. Command shall not be passed to an officer who is not on scene. Working Command Will End When • The situation is stabilized (e.g. rescue performed, fire confined). • The situation is not able to be immediately stabilized and the first Officer must switch to a different command option. • Command is passed to the next on scene Officer who establishes command. Incident Action Plan: The strategic goals, tactical assignments, and support requirements for the incident. All incidents require an action plan. For simple incidents, the action plan is not usually in written form. Large or complex incidents will require that the action plan be documented in writing. CROSS-REFERENCES FIRESCOPE California, Structure Fire Operations, ICS-500 National Incident Management System Consortium Incident Command System Model Procedures Guide for Incidents Involving Structural Fire Fighting, High-Rise, Multi-Casualty, Highway, and Managing Large-Scale Incidents Using NIMS-ICS Effective Date: April 2024 Command and Control Committee Current Revision Date: 09/24/2025 Section 201.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 09/24/2029 Page 6 of 6 Risk Management Command Algorithm Job Aid