The Communications Advisor- A tool in the Incident Commanders tool box!

The Communications Advisor- A tool in the Incident Commanders tool box. 

I have been assigned this position for the last several years and I decided to write a article that takes a look at this position and how it can increase the efficiency of  your Incident Command Post. The title varies depending on where you are at, Some of the common terms are Communication Officer, Field Communication Officer or Technician, Chiefs aid or incident command technician. 

The FDNY has been utilizing this position for years with great success. With in the last several years the M.A.B.A.S. division "Mutual Aid Box Alarm System" I work in introduced this position as a part of the I.M.T. "Incident Management Team" Which is dispatched at the Box Alarm level assignment. The team consists of the Senior Mutual Aid Advisor, Safety Officer, and the Communications advisor. I believe this Command Team concept has increased the efficiency of the over all Command of a incident. I am sure you all have heard that phrase  "there is power in numbers" when running a incident having a team manage the incident instead of one person makes all the difference. When the mutual aid program started our division saw a need to send help for the Incident commander. This Mutual aid Advisor or Senior Advisor would work beside the Incident Commander to provide assistance, advice and a checks and balances to the incident. One of the tasks they did was help manage the other radio channels the I.C. had to utilize. This sometimes distracts the Advisor from monitoring the situation as intensely as he should. When you introduce another part of the command team with addition of a  Communications officer this frees the I.C. to focus on the fire ground channel and incident at hand. This then allows the Senior Advisor to focus on the entire incident and truly give the team and extra set of eyes and ears to monitor the Incident. The Communications Advisor now handles the other radio channels, tactical work sheets, MDT's, and the accountability system. 

Training Requirements: 

One of the training tools we utilized to provide a foundation for the entire command team was the Blue Card Incident Command Training program. This simulation style training really helped us mold together into a well oiled machine on the fire ground. I recommend this program or style of simulation training to everyone. This should be a mandatory type training for all newly promoted company officers or firefighters who may act up. This style of training gives the team the realistic simulation training of managing a incident and operating the communications equipment and practicing the transition of the command post. Ideally this type of position is filled  by a Company officer, Chief Officer, Senior Firefighter with extensive Communications experience Who may also be a dispatcher, Radio Technician or Ham Radio Operator.  

Transiton of Command Position: 

Another key function we utilize this position in is the transition of command from a buggy to the command van. Once we have reached a incident that has grown into the need for a bigger command post and the decision is made to transition to a command van, This responsibility will fall on the Communications Advisor. The Communications Advisor will leave the initial I.C. enter the command van and take on the task of preparing the van's communications systems to move the I.C. to the Van. Once the Comm. Advisor is ready he will call command on the tactical channel and announce Command from command van we are ready for your transfer. Once the I.C. acknowledges the transmission The Comm. Advisor will now utilize the tactical call sign of Command and handle all traffic as the I.C. makes the transition.

Understanding your Radio System: 

We expect our Firefighters to know how to use the "irons" how to handle a nozzle and Engineers to pump our Engines. We should also have a strong grasp of the radio system we are using and how to manage it.  Where I work  we utilize VHF Analog as our main radio system. Some of our Main dispatch channels are simplex and others are repeated but all our Tactical Fire Ground Channels and main Mutual Aid Channel "I.F.E.R.N." is Simplex. Simplex is one frequency used for both transmit and receive. 

The Communications Advisor must have a in depth knowledge of the radio system utilized in his jurisdiction so he can be successful at setting up equipment in cars and vans. I am also a Radio technician so I can solve issues with equipment and come up with solutions to overcome issues.

Operating with Multiple Channels:

  The Incident Commander once a Box Alarm has been transmitted will utilize three radio channels for managing the incident. The main dispatch channel which keeps him in contact with his own dispatch center, One of six Tactical Fire Ground channels which is used for tactical work on the  assigned incident, and our statewide mutual aid channel also known as I.F.E.R.N. Inter-Agency Fire Emergency Radio Network. This mutual aid channel is used to talk with the  M.A.B.A.S. Dispatcher and all assigned mutual aid companies responding on the Box Alarm assignment. 

During a Box Alarm the I.C. has to listen to three channels and if necessary expand tactical channels for different sectors EMS, HAZMAT etc. That's too much for one person to handle during a high stress incident like a Apartment fire. Having the Communications officer handle status updates, traffic between staging, and local communications requests through the local dispatch center helps the Incident Commander focus on the tactical radio channel and the incident in front of him. This only leads to a stronger more focused Incident Commander. 

Tactical Work Sheets:

The Comm. Advisor will use Tactical Work Sheets or dry erase boards to help the I.C. to keep track of the incident, all the players, and the tactical objectives. During a escalating incident having that tactical worksheet makes all the difference. 

Take a look at your mutual aid system and see if something like this will work in your system, There is no right or wrong way and build it to work with your system. 

FDFC 

"Keep your Batteries Charged" 

Radio Discipline for the Firefighter

Radio Discipline for the Firefighter:

If you were asked what technology has evolved and grown to become common place in today's fire service, it would be hard for one not to think of the two way portable radio. 

As the fire ground evolves into a technology assisted operation, the potential for technology-assisted problems evolve. 
Over the last few months, my department taught the Advanced Firefighter certification for in-house personnel and a few neighbors, this allowed us to do a lot of live fire training and company-level drills. As we moved through the different burn and practical evolution's, we were presented with one of the ugly technology induced problems:  Loud, ear- piercing audio feedback!

 As advancements in technology have allowed each firefighter to be equipped with a life saving device as the portable radio, Radio Discipline becomes VERY IMPORTANT.

During these opportunities I always like to evaluate my crews as they move through these different drills to see what our strengths and weaknesses are and address them at later drills. When we work as a company; whether you’re the Engine Company advancing an attack line, or the Truck Company doing a search of the floor above, the company officer is the link to the incident commander.

All communications go through the company officer. So why does every firefighter feel the need to have their audio blasting when they are  literally feet apart from each other ? 

We must always stay in verbal contact with each other when working as a crew, That means we should be able to hear the officer’s radio loud and clear. 

When our officer needs to communicate information, we need them to communicate a clear message to command. We have enough noises on the fire ground, Our radios needing to overcome audio feedback from the line firefighters shouldn't be one of them. 

Firefighters need to keep their audio turned to a low level that simply covering there speaker with a glove while their officer transmits his message will prevent audio feedback. 
These are critical messages being transmitted back and forth between the I.C. and companies. 
Being delayed or misunderstood can cause dangerous problems on the fire ground.

Officer’s before you go to transmit the radio report announce to your crew what your about to do. This will give them the opportunity to cover their speaker microphones to prevent feed bad.  

Follow these three simple recommendations to help solve the radio feedback problem

•   First, Firefighters keep you’re audio turned down low.
•   Second, Use your glove to cover your speaker microphone while the Officer transmits a status message.
• Three, Officer’s give a heads up to your crew before you transmit a message allowing them time to cover their speaker microphone.  

DON’T FORGET KEEP YOUR BATTERIES CHARGED!

FDFC

The Fire Service Voices in my Head!

 I have these voices in my head and I'm not sure which one to listen too. Now let's make this clear I'm not crazy, though a few may argue that. What I am talking about is the Safety fire service voice and The Aggressive fire service voice that has been waging war inside my conscience for the last few years!

The American fire service is constantly changing mostly for the better. New tactics and strategies for our modern day combustibles and new light weight construction.

We have advances in PPE design, Communications equipment, and technology in general taking us to new heights not even imagined by my Father 30 years ago. 

I also think there has been a steady attack on the soul of the American Fire Service.

I grew up in a home where our Christian faith was the center of our living and the Volunteer Fire Service a close second. I was raised to believe that helping others was more important than ones own self. 

My father lived that out very well as a Volunteer Fire Fighter, community member, and church member. Helping others was just what we did if that meant sacrifices of our own that was just accepted as part of our way of living. My father always stopped and helped the injured or sick or someone just in need of general assistance.  As a young child that leaves a lasting impression on you that for me I have carried for the rest of my life.

A bible verse that has carried me through life and my career in the fire service has always Been John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  When I joined the fire department I knew this was my calling, what I was meant to do. 

Now I am constantly bombarded with messages of "I am supposed to be number one" and "the customer or people in need of help are now number two". 

This puts a pretty disgusting feeling in my stomach. Last time I check the entire reason we are here is because when someones world is spinning around and about to come crashing down, we step in and prevent it from crashing and burning. 

As FDNY Lt. Ray McCormick said in his keynote speech at FDIC "this will cause the single greatest lost to the American Fire Service the lost of public trust". 

I believe that being a Firefighter is a privilege not a right. I am entrusted by the public with the greatest responsibility ever, to protect them at all costs.

Yes if that means giving our lives to save another that to me is an acceptable loss. 

This doesn't mean we are reckless at what we do, or become dangerous. It means we learn how to adapt and overcome. We spend the time to learn to be warrior's against our enemy.

It means aggressively understanding the modern day fire combustibles the latest training and techniques to combat them. It means learning the building construction in our area and understanding how they burn under the new combustibles. It's about knowing where we can go and where we can't. 

Standing outside doing nothing cause it's safer is not the answer. The asnwer is teaching our people to understand what enemy they are facing and how to properly combat that enemy. Writing the citizens off we swore an oath to protect cause we refuse to learn to be good competent interior firefighters cause it's too dangerous is unacceptable. 

I am a seasoned firefighter and newly promoted company officer. I have recruited and brought into the fire service some of my closest friends. Now those friends are married starting their own families and this now weighs very heavily on me. 

As a company officer I could calm my fears by playing it safe, writing everything off and never doing what we are called to do all in the name of making sure everyone goes home. That would be the easy way out while disgracing everything the fire service stands for.

What I am going to do is make sure we stay at the top of our game. I'm gonna make sure we are "Warrior Ready". We will do this by making sure everyone is focused on understanding the enemy we are up against and how to be the best at combating it. I think that as a company officer this is the least I can do.

I am responsible for not only my life and the lives of my crew but their families. I won't let incompetence, poor training, and lack of education ever be a factor. I think that's a pretty good answer for the voices in my head.

FDFC

A first step

This is my first step towards a blog!