Approach and Size Up

Scope

This Operational Guideline covers the procedures to be adopted during approach and arrival at an incident.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

• Incidents are to be approached from the safest known access point; taking into consideration the type of incident, access and egress routes, wind direction, and strength, slope and surface of terrain, and specific hazards.
• The Officer in Charge (OIC) or Crew Leader (CL) of each crew is to brief their members using SMEACS, with known details of the call, known conditions (e.g., weather), known or likely hazards and appropriate precautions; preferably while approaching the incident. Calls for further assistance may be made while still approaching the scene if needed.
• The OIC of the first arriving crew is to assume control (become the Incident Controller (IC)) and should announce their role to FireCom and subsequent crews.
• The IC is to conduct a size up of the overall situation, taking into consideration:
  • Priorities of operations;
  • Size of incident;
  • Type of incident;
  • Probable development;
  • Specific hazards and threats;
  • Support needed; and
  • Identification of safe refuge areas.
• The IC will provide a Situation Report (Sitrep) to FireCom using ITASC:
  • Incident – Type of incident - bush, grass, structure, vehicle fire, MVA etc. Location or address, future location, losses so far.
  • Threats – What is under threat now; people, property, environment? Future threats, what and when?
  • Actions – What we are doing now, e.g., offensive or defensive? What we may do next.
  • Support – What support is required (additional crews, aviation, heavy plant) now and into the future?
  • Command/Control/Communications – Name of the Incident, who is the IC, incident ground organisation now and in the future. Radio channels in use on the fireground (request for allocation of additional channels as required).
• Unless instructed otherwise by FireCom, the OICs of later arriving crews are to call the IC, using call sign: “(Name of incident) Control”, for further instructions when approaching the incident.
  • Note: In some cases, these OICs may be requested to report to the IC in person on arrival, or to report to a Staging Area.
• The IC is to determine the control objectives and strategies for the incident. The IC is to work out an overall plan of attack and pass on details to any additional crews. Tasks are to be allocated by the CL to their members in accordance with the overall plan of attack.
• The IC is to appropriately liaise with any supporting personnel/public/media.
• A formal hand-over/take-over procedure must be followed when an officer (including from another combat agency or jurisdictional authority), is taking over command or control of an incident. The hand-over/take-over procedure is to include a briefing, a formal statement of taking over (e.g., “I have control”), and advising the changeover to those above and below in the chain of command.

Special Considerations

Nil.

Related Information

• Service Standard 1.4.8 Media
• RFS OPG - Issuing Orders
• RFS OPG - Situation Reports