Coffee Break Training (Command and Control): Incident Commander Characteristics (#CC-2013-2)

Monday, March 4, 2013

Coffee Break Training (Command and Control): Incident Commander Characteristics (#CC-2013-2)

Learning Objective: The student shall be able to list ten characteristics of an Incident Commander.

While there is no one personality type that seems to create the “perfect” Incident Commander, there are some common characteristics that are desirable.

An effective IC should

—Think and act strategically.
—Be objective driven.
—Have strong communication skills.
—Be able to delegate authority.
—Facilitate a collaborative atmosphere.
—Be trustworthy.
—Be adaptive.
—Be a multitasker.
—Be a team player.
—Remain calm under pressure.

The IC should be focused on resources, safety (responders and community affected) and making sure the event stops or goes away. The IC should be careful not to underestimate the situation and suffer the consequences that might follow by not summoning appropriate resources.
The IC should be able to list problems, issues, and concerns and apply the priorities of life safety, incident stabilization original and property conservation to come up with the list of problems that need the most immediate attention.
Finally, the IC should always be “customer centered.” The Command and the General Staff philosophy — and that of all of the responders — should be sensitive to the public’s needs. In a major emergency or disaster, the public looks to the professionals for help, understanding, direction and even compassion.
So, be quick to respond to the needs of the public, be nice and understanding when dealing with the public, and be helpful as possible in solving their problems.

USFA original article: Coffee Break Training (Command and Control): Incident Commander Characteristics (#CC-2013-2)
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cc/cc_2013_2.pdf

CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Monday, March 4, 2013