#125 Additional Resources

A seasoned Incident Commander will order the necessary resources BEFORE they are needed.  Always take into consideration the time it will take for them to arrive – a 2nd alarm is ALWAYS slower to respond and arrive than the initial alarm. Also consider the fact that modern day building construction (materials & contents) requires that we establish safety and accountability systems EARLY on the fire ground. Below is a quick reference list of resources that are commonly called for at structure fires. To assist with your resource request, consider the use of the acronym 2U PERS WAR+, which translates to:

 

2 2nd Alarm: or greater, to the scene or a designated staging area.

U Utility Companies: Gas, Electric and/or Water.

P Police (Law Enforcement): for pedestrian and/or traffic control.

E EMS (Emergency Medical Services): for patient treatment and transportation (BLS/ALS).

R Rapid Intervention Crew: for fire-fighter safety.

S Safety Officer: for overall scene safety.

W Water Supply Officer: for large fire potential or remote area operations.

A Accountability Officer: for emergency responder accountability.

R Rehabilitation Officer: to established and organize a rehab group.

+  Includes all other occupancy or incident specific needs, such as Red Cross for displaced occupants; Sand or Salt for roads or sidewalks to absorb fuels or prevent emergency responders & occupants from slipping; Fire Boat or Coast Guard on waterways when needed for fire attack purposes; Office of Emergency Management (OEM) when mitigation exceeds the scope of your department; any other resources not listed.

 

If this fire evolves into a Haz-Mat or Collapse incident, refer to the Operational Guides for “Hazardous Materials Incidents” or “Structural Collapse,” in chapter 10 of Fireground Operational Guides.