SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
B. Incident Stabilization (Second priority)
The Incident Commander is responsible for determining the strategy that will minimize the impact that any
incident may have on the surrounding area and his/her jurisdiction.
C. Property Conservation (Third priority)
Property conservation means achieving our goals and objectives at an incident while minimizing the
property damage. Judicious application of water, coupled with effective ventilation and meaningful salvage
operations, will insure that the goal of property conservation is met. At times, property conservation is
neglected because of limited resources. However, no incident can be considered successfully managed if
property conservation is not given proper consideration and implemented in a timely manner.
Although the order of these priorities is crucial, it is not static. Undertaking certain life safety activities may
also contribute to the goal of incident stabilization and/or property conservation. Clearly, however, if an
activity will contribute to life safety but not to property conservation, it must be implemented.
Types of Command
A. Incident Command -- Established at all incidents by one individual having ultimate responsibility
for the tactical priorities.
The Incident Commander (IC) may be the same as the Single Commander.
This Command shall be addressed by the term “Command.” In the case of simultaneous or
overlapping incidents, each Command shall be identified by the address of the incident -- i.e.,
Keith Street Command, Ocoee Street Command.
B. Single Command -- May be applied when there is no overlap of jurisdictional boundaries or when
a single Incident Commander is designated by the agency with overall management responsibility
for the incident. This Command is addressed as “Command.”
C. Unified Command -- May be applied when the incident is within one jurisdictional boundary, but
more than one agency shares management responsibility. Unified Command also is used when the
incident is multi-jurisdictional in nature or when more than one individual designated by his/her
jurisdiction or agency shares overall management responsibility. A single Incident Commander
must be established with other agency managers reporting to Command as sector Officers. This
Command is addressed as “Command.”
D. Fire Ground Command (FGC) -- May be applied when multiple locations occur within one
incident, such as during a disaster (tornado, earthquake, flood, etc.) A Fire Ground Commander is
responsible for Command at a particular location and reports directly to the Incident Commander.
These Commands shall be identified by their location -- i.e., Keith Street Command, Ocoee Street
Command.
E. Sector Officers -- May be designated at any incident to help divide the emergency into smaller and
more manageable parts. The use of Sector Officers expands the span or control of the Incident
Commander or the Fire Ground Commander. The Incident Commander shall establish sectors or
areas using the standard geographic designation System that has been adopted by the department.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 148
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley