HomeMy WebLinkAbout210.003 - Mutual Aid Agreements Section 210.003
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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL
MUTUAL AND AUTOMATIC AID
210.003 MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS
EFFECTIVE: MARCH 2018
Current Revision Date: 6/16/21 Next Revision Date: 6/16/24
Author’s Name/Rank:
Lawrence French,
Administrative Battalion Chief Review Level: 1
Administrative Support:
Leslie Oulashian,
Management Analyst II ADA
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department)
standard practices for mutual aid response.
APPLICATION
This procedure applies to members and equipment requested through the mutual aid
system.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
The Fire Chief or designee determines the level of commitment, participation, and
assistance the Department will provide to other agencies while maintaining service
delivery to our community as the number one priority.
While assigned to a mutual aid incident, members shall conduct themselves as if they
are on-duty throughout the duration of the incident. The deployment of a member is
not to take priority over the Department’s organizational progress. The needs of the
Department will come first. Members are directed to turn down any training or
deployment request which does not allow Department obligations to be met, to include
assignments, projects, previously scheduled meetings, or other responsibilities unless
approved by their supervisor.
Prior to deployment on a strike team or overhead assignment, all members shall keep
a FFD identification card and incident qualification card (IQC) in their possession.
Each member is issued an IQC annually through the Learning Management System.
This document provides the incident commander or representative with verification of
certification, qualification, and skills required.
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Department uniform and personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be worn in
accordance with all sections of Standard Operating Procedures, Section 205, Uniform
Policies. The proper use of uniform and PPE is mandatory, and non-compliance will
not be tolerated.
Fire shelters shall be worn by all members engaged in any wildland fire incident.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
1. Resource Requests:
When needed at an incident inside the City of Fresno (City) jurisdiction,
equipment and/or overhead may be requested through master mutual
aid or current local mutual aid agreements. The incident commander is
to direct operations in the best interests of the City.
Requests received from the Region 5 Emergency Communications
Center (ECC) are filled utilizing the selection process listed in this policy.
The deployment of resources is dependent on the availability of backfill,
equipment, apparatus, and vehicles, either rental or Department. When
approved by the requesting agency and/or the Fresno County
Operational Area coordinator, a certified trainee may be assigned.
The on-duty battalion chief receiving resource requests should use
discretion when sending resources, keeping the fire defenses of the City
as a top priority.
a. Equipment Requests:
i. Hazmat And Urban Search and Rescue (US&R):
Any request received from the Fresno County Operational
Area coordinator should be forwarded to the duty chief
through an on-duty battalion chief for authorization.
ii. REGIONAL US&R TASK FORCE (RTF-5):
Any request received from the Fresno County Operational
Area Coordinator should be approved by the duty chief
through an on-duty battalion chief for authorization.
iii. Water Rescue Team (WRT) Response:
Any request received from the Fresno County Operational
Area Coordinator should be approved by the duty chief
through an on-duty battalion chief for authorization.
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b. Fire Apparatus:
Up to four (4) Type 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6 engine companies, one (1)
tactical water tender (operational area only), and Office of
Emergency Services (OES) 314, may be assigned at the
discretion of an on-duty battalion chief. The battalion chief should
ensure at least two (2) reserve Type I engines are available after
resources are sent and the parent company is backfilled with
reserve apparatus. Additionally, any combination of two (2) brush
engines and/or patrols should be available within the City.
If resources are requested for initial attack in the operational area
or adjacent operational areas, the battalion chief may send up to
four (4) resources. Back-fill may not be approved until after 12
hours, next shift, or when funding is indicated in writing from the
Incident.
Note: For the purpose of this policy, adjacent operational
areas are Tulare, Kings, and Madera Counties.
If a request is received for additional equipment or members, it
should be cleared through the duty chief.
c. Apparatus Designated for Strike Team Response:
Engine 304
Engine 305
Engine 317
Engine 315
Engine 316
Patrol 2
Patrol 7
Patrol 14
Patrol 17
Brush Engine 3
Brush Engine 15
Water Tender 13
(Operational Area only)
The deployment of 300 series designated engines should be the
priority for all mutual aid engine requests. The goal is to keep
front line apparatus in quarters for members providing backfill.
d. Engine Request:
The policy of the Department is to deploy engine resources with
four (4) members when possible. The apparatus should have a
qualified/acting captain and engineer. Below is a list of the
minimum number of members an apparatus should have based
on typing.
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Approval should be received from the ECC in cases where the
typing is three (3) members, but we wish to send four (4).
Type I Crew of four (4) (captain, engineer, two (2)
firefighters)
Type II Crew of three (3) (captain, engineer, and
firefighter)
Type III Crew of three (3) (captain, engineer, and
firefighter)
Type V/VI Crew of three (3) (captain, engineer, and
firefighter)
e. Tactical Water Tender Request:
A crew of two (2) (captain and engineer) is dispatched on
Department water tenders.
f. OES Equipment Request:
Apparatus designated for OES Response:
OES Engine 314 – Type I Engine
OES HazMat 52- Type 2 HazMat unit
OES medium US&R trailer
Requests for OES apparatus or equipment are made by the OES
area coordinator. The battalion chief should ensure four-person
staffing is provided on OES Engine 314 with at least one (1)
qualified operator, unless otherwise agreed upon with OES
representative.
If a front-line unit responds outside of the Fresno operational
area, the following equipment should be left at the station
assigned:
First In book
Apparatus key ring
Station door opener
Specialized equipment
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Apparatus should have one (1) complete set of filters and fan belt
for maintenance while on assignment.
Note: The Fire Shop should be notified when any
apparatus is sent to incidents outside of the City.
2. Response:
a. Initial Attack:
CalOES – Initial attack is usually a Code-3 response for
protection of life and property. Resources will respond instantly
or as quickly as possible. Initial attack utilizes the closest
available mutual aid resources within the operational area or
adjacent operational area. Resources will normally rendezvous
directly at the incident.
Initial attack requests, where units are requested directly to an
incident, are to be staffed with the on-duty personnel assigned to
the responding apparatus. Personnel who are assigned to an
incident and scheduled to go off-duty prior to the end of the
current shift should be replaced as soon as possible. Crew
members must ensure they have the proper PPE prior to
deployment.
b. Immediate Need:
CalOES – Immediate need may or may not be a Code 3
response. Mutual aid resources respond to incidents within 30
minutes from time of dispatch within the operational area, or to
adjacent operational areas.
Immediate Need to the Incident: Immediate need requests
responding directly to the incident, within the operational
area or adjacent operational area, are to be staffed with
the on-duty personnel assigned to the responding
apparatus. Personnel who are assigned to an incident and
scheduled to go off-duty prior to the end of the current shift
should be replaced as soon as possible. Crew members
are to have the proper PPE prior to deployment.
Immediate Need with Rendezvous (other than at the
incident): Immediate need requests reporting to a pre-
designated rendezvous location (within the operational
area or adjacent operational area) are to be filled from on-
duty personnel on the strike team hiring list. This list is
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established at 0800 hours each morning during wildland
fire season.
Note: For the purpose of this policy, adjacent operational
areas are Tulare, Kings, and Madera Counties.
c. Planned Need:
CalOES – Planned need requests are normally not a Code-3
response. Planned incident arrival time determines departure
time. Resources should be able to be en route to rendezvous
within 60 minutes of request. Mutual aid resources respond
within the operational area, region, or state as needed for the next
operational period or as determined by requesting agency.
Resources usually rendezvous before departure and travel
together.
Planned Need within One Hour: Planned need requests
requiring a response within one (1) hour from the time the
staffing officer receives the request are filled by on-duty
personnel from the strike team hiring list. This list is
established at 0800 hours each morning during wildland
fire season.
Planned Need Greater Than One Hour: Planned need
requests requiring a response of greater than one (1) hour
from the time the staffing officer receives the request are
filled by on- or off-duty personnel from the strike team
hiring pick list, which is established at 0800 hours each
morning.
d. Overhead Requests:
Members are qualified and/or certified in the position requested
as per Administrative Manual, Section 103.004, California
Incident Command Certification System (CICCS). Each battalion
office should keep an up-to-date list of members who are certified
for overhead positions in the resource ordering system used by
the ECC. Refer to Selection and Staffing section for filling
overhead positions.
3. Duration of Assignment:
Response crews assigned to a request for initial attack or immediate
need are relieved at the end of their shift by on- or off-duty members
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who have made themselves available via the strike team hiring list. A
shift is defined as a 24-hour period from 0800 - 0800 hours.
Members assigned to a mutual aid request may be committed for a
maximum of 14 days, excluding travel. Members assigned to overhead
positions may exceed the maximum of 14 days, excluding travel, with
approval from both the incident and Department. Members being
requested to extend past 14 days are to contact an on-duty battalion
chief for approval. Extensions are limited to an additional 7 days (total
of 21-day deployment, excluding travel). Members rostered on an
incident management team may be granted an extension beyond 21
days for extenuating circumstances (such extensions will not be the
normal practice but may be granted. For example, team involvement in
significant accident reviews). This must be approved by the Duty Chief.
Members should ensure they are available to be committed for the
duration of the assignment prior to placing their name on strike team
hiring list. During an unforeseen event which would require a member
to return home prior to scheduled demobilization, a member of equal
rank should be sent as a replacement. Returning members are replaced
by on- or off-duty members who have made themselves available via
the strike team hiring list.
When needed, arrangements for relief on the 14th day of assignment,
excluding travel, is to be made by a chief officer. Relief is selected from
both on- and off-duty members who have made themselves available
via the strike team hiring list. Once identified, member(s) names,
transport vehicle type, and license plate number should be sent to the
incident for documentation purposes.
4. Documentation:
The company officer or overhead member maintains a chronological log
(Incident Command System ICS 214, Activity Log form) of the unit’s or
members activities, commencing with the time of departure until its
return to Fresno. When members are relieved at the site due to long-
term assignments, a separate log is maintained of the relieving unit’s or
members activities.
The company officer or overhead member records any injuries and
completes the appropriate paperwork, loss or damage to equipment or
apparatus, and the circumstances surrounding the incident(s). Any loss
or damage to equipment or apparatus while assigned to an incident is
to be reported to an immediate supervisor and incident reporting
procedures are to be followed. A supply number (S#) or documentation
supporting a loss must be secured from the incident commander,
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finance, ordering or the incident designee. Lost or damaged equipment
should be received from the incident supply unit while assigned to the
incident. In the event of a treatable injury or death of a member, a
battalion chief is to be notified as soon as possible.
The officer assigned to an apparatus or overhead member assigned to
an incident should contact an on-duty battalion chief daily, when
possible, to report the unit status, receive information, and provide the
estimated release date (if known). Upon release, the unit proceeds back
to Fresno. An on-duty battalion chief should be notified immediately
upon return. The required reports (Incident Command System ICS 214,
Activity Log form, OES F-42, Emergency Activity Record, Administrative
Manual, Section 106.039, Shift Replacement and Overtime Report,
Form FD-22, and Incident Command System ICS 225, Incident
Personnel Performance Rating) and fuel receipts are to be forwarded by
the member to the Department’s Finance division through the battalion
chief responsible for OES deployments.
5. Apparatus Service:
When an apparatus returns from an assignment, it should be serviced,
cleaned, and inventoried by the members of the strike team at the station
where it is to be housed. Prior to being placed in service, the apparatus
is to be taken to the Shop by on-duty members where it can be inspected
by Shop members and lost or damaged equipment replaced or repaired.
If it is in the best interest of the Department, a battalion chief may request
Shop personnel to inspect apparatus during non-duty hours. Any hours
exceeding the Cal OES Form F-42, Emergency Activity Record end time
for the purpose stated above, need to be pre-approved by an on-duty
battalion chief. Members should route an additional Administrative
Manual, Section 106.039, Shift Replacement and Overtime Report, Form
FD-22 report and memo stating the circumstances, to the Finance Division
through the battalion chief approving the overtime.
6. Equipment / Uniform:
The personal equipment needed for strike team deployment is stored in
individual position bags. These bags are stored at strike team
equipment locations and/or on strike team equipped apparatus.
Overhead bags and equipment should be signed out from Fire Station
11 storage room utilizing the checkout sheet corresponding to the
overhead numbered bag and/or equipment. Upon return, contents are
to be inventoried and re-stocked prior to placing the bag into service.
Each member being deployed or returning from an incident should
ensure any equipment is checked out and checked in. The supply
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section and/or battalion chief responsible for OES are to be notified if
item(s) are not available for re-stock or are damaged or lost.
Damaged or worn-out items should be reported by a member to their
immediate supervisor. Replacement of items should be done through
the proper channels.
PROCESS
1. Selection and Staffing:
Field or staff members’ approval may be based on Department
commitments (to include a member’s role in mandatory hiring process)
and needs of the organization as that is the priority. Staff members are
to secure approval from the respective deputy chief to accept an
assignment.
The total number of members assigned to incidents will not exceed 30
(apparatus and overhead combined) according to the following:
Up to 24 members assigned on apparatus, to include OES 314
and a REMS team.
AND/OR
Up to 12 members assigned to overhead positions.
FOR EXAMPLE: If 20 members are deployed on apparatus, the total
number of deployable overhead will be up to 10 (not including members
as identified below).
Two (2) of the overhead positions are to be held for Strike Team
/ Task Force Leader.
Members normally assigned to staff work schedules
(Headquarters) do not count towards the total overhead and/or
apparatus positions.
Members assigned as part of a REMS team will not count towards
overhead positions.
Field members who are rostered with an Incident Management
Team (IMT) count towards the maximum total overhead
positions.
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Overhead positions are filled with on or off-duty members who have
made themselves available via the overhead assignment list. Name
requests from the incident should be approved by the on-duty battalion
chief if we have not reached our maximum number of overhead
members has not been assigned. To be considered for a name request,
the chief officer approving the request must have a resource order. If a
name request is received and the maximum number of deployed
members has already been reached (as identified above or approved by
the Chief or designee); the name request will be sent back to the ECC
as “unable to fill” (UTF). In all cases, adequate back fill must be available
at the time of approval.
The selection of members is determined by using the strike team hiring
list and/or the overhead hiring list. Qualified members who desire to
compete for a strike team and/or overhead assignments are to use the
staffing program to make themselves available via the strike team and/or
overhead hiring list prior to 0800 hours each day.
At 0800 hours each day, a report is emailed to all battalion chiefs with
the members who have placed themselves on the strike team and
overhead hiring lists. Battalion chiefs use these lists to determine which
on- or off-duty members should be selected for deployment at the time
a request is received from the Fresno County Operational Area.
Members may place themselves on the strike team and overhead hiring
lists after 0800; however, members on the list prior to 0800 have priority
regardless of hours. Members assigned to a 40-hour work week should
ensure they can meet the response time and have supervisor approval
to participate in strike team/overhead assignments prior to placing
themselves on the list.
a. Contacting Members:
On-duty members are contacted by the on-duty battalion chief at
the time of the request. The battalion chief contacts members at
assigned duty station, or if necessary, by radio or cell phone.
Members assigned to Department incidents, mutual/automatic
aid incidents, on special assignment or other situations at the time
of the request, should not automatically be ruled ineligible for the
assignment. In these circumstances, the battalion chief should
make a reasonable effort to arrange for that member to
participate in the strike team or overhead assignment; however,
if members cannot meet the commitment/reporting time, they are
to be excluded from the deployment.
Off-duty members are contacted by the on-duty battalion chief at
the time of the request. While filling requests for strike team or
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overhead assignments, the battalion chief will attempt contact
using the primary phone number listed in the staffing program. If
contact is unsuccessful the battalion chief is to leave a minimum
of one (1) voicemail briefly stating the nature of the call before
moving down the list to fill the vacancy. Should the member make
subsequent contact with the battalion chief, and a vacancy still
exists, the member may be afforded the strike team or overhead
assignment.
Note: Under extreme circumstances after all policies have been
adhered to, a battalion chief has the discretion to replace
a member unable to meet the commitment/reporting time.
2. Battalion Chief Responsibilities:
During fire season or when needed, the designated battalion chief pre-
determines the first and second out strike team apparatus for initial
attack and immediate need requests. The designated apparatuses are
contacted by the battalion chief for the day(s) they are designated first
or second out. The selection of strike team equipped apparatus is at the
discretion of the battalion chief. Priority should be given to available 300
series designated engines.
The company officer of the station where the designated apparatus is
stationed should confirm the apparatus is in a ready condition with no
outstanding requisitions, which may interfere with its immediate
response or affect its operation while on assignment. If problems are
noted, the battalion chief should be notified immediately to assign
another apparatus without delay. The battalion chief should email all on
duty battalion chiefs as well as the duty chief with the following
information:
Qualified acting engineers and captains may be considered for staffing
if there are not enough members of the appropriate rank.
First and second out strike team designated engines
List of members assigned to each of the above engines
List of any additional members if available
During fire season or when requested, the designated battalion chief
should update the MACS 405 each morning before 0900 hrs. and as
resource availability changes. The MACS report should contain the
following information:
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Number of available apparatus including type
Number of deployed resources including type
Available overhead including position qualifications
Primary and secondary contact number for ECC
Immediately upon the dispatch of any Department resource under the
State Fire and Rescue Mutual-Aid System, the battalion chief should
email a copy of the resource order to executive staff, all battalion chiefs
and the Finance Division which includes the following information:
Unit(s) dispatched
Type of request – engine/overhead
Incident and request number
Incident name and location
Strike team number designation
Date and time of dispatch
Incident reimbursement type
The battalion chief should email a copy of the resource order to
members responding to requests for strike team or overhead
assignments which include the following information:
Type of request
Incident and request number
Incident name and location
Incident contact numbers
Date and time of dispatch
Vehicle procurement information
INFORMATION
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Request Received from Fresno County Op Area ECC/ OES Region 5 ECC
Phone # 559-294-6830
Initial Attack
Usually Code 3 response for protection of life and property
On Duty Crews on Designated Apparatus
Designated ST Engines
1. 1st Out
2. 2nd Out
3. 300 Engine
4. ST Engine
5. Closest Resource
Immediate Need
Directly to the Incident Verbal confrimation within 5 minutes and response within 30 minutes
Immediate Need
Rendezvous prior to departure
On Duty Crews from Strike Team Hiring List
Designated ST Engines
1. 1st Out
2. 2nd Out
3. 300 Engine
4. ST Engine
Strike Team Equipped Apparatus
E304, E305, E315, E316, E317, OES 314,WT-13 (Op Area Only), BE-3, BE-15,
(Brush Engine Type III, P-2, P-7, P14, P-17 (Patrols are TypeV / VI)
Planned Need
Departure within 1 hour
Planned Need
Departure time greater than 1 hour
On or Off Duty Crews from Strike Team Hiring List
Designated ST Engines
1. 1st Out
2. 2nd Out
3. 300 Engine
4. ST Engine
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DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
Fresno County Operational Area Plan
California Incident Command Certification System
Administrative Manual
Section 103.004, California Incident Command Certification System (CICCS)
Section 106.039, Shift Replacement and Overtime Report, Form FD-22
Standard Operating Procedures Manual
Section 205 Uniform Policies
Incident Command System
ICS 214, Activity Log form
ICS 225, Incident Personnel Performance Rating
Office of Emergency Services
OES F-42, Emergency Activity Record
Mutual Aid Agreement between Fresno City and CalFire Fresno Kings Unit:
Agreement for Local Government Fire and Emergency Assistance to the State of
California and Federal Fire Agencies: California Fire Assistance Agreement