SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
The factors previously listed are the elements of the situation that the Incident Commander has to link
together into a Plan of Action. The Incident Commander must realize that his/her Plan of Action can
influence or alter some of the factors and that this is the main objective of the Plan of Action.
The Incident Commander must constantly review the progress of his/her entire Plan of Action to see if
progress is being made and to make sure that the organization is doing its job. The Plan of Action has to be
reviewed continually to insure that it is still effective.
The Incident Commander must also realize there is a difference in the various fire ground factors based on
whether they are fixed or variable. Some factors are fixed, such as the weather or the size of the building.
Other factors are variable, such as the size of the fire or resources.
The Incident Commander must focus his/her attention on the variable factors since these are the ones that
the action plan can change to produce positive results.
The fire ground factors illustrated above are generally considered as the input into the action plan. The
action plan is usually based around obtaining progress toward Tactical Priorities.
Benchmarks
The Incident Commander must know when to move from one tactical priority to the next. The Incident
Commander must constantly monitor fire ground factors and compare these to progress toward the
completion of the tactical objectives. To assist in recognition of completion of a tactical priority, the
Incident Command System includes a set of Benchmarks, or signals, that the objectives of a tactical priority
have been achieved. Operating units and Sector Officers must keep the Incident Commander informed, on a
continuous basis of progress toward the benchmarks.
The benchmark signals are as follows
ALL CLEAR -- This is the signal that informs the Incident Commander that the primary search has been
completed and that the rescue tactical priority has been completed. Until the (All Clear) is received by the
Incident Commander, all operations must support rescue operations.
UNDER CONTROL -- This is the signal that the forward progress of the fire has been stopped. The fire is
not necessarily out, but it is not expected to involve any additional property, and it can be controlled and
extinguished by the forces on the scene.
LOSS STOPPED -- Indicates that loss to the property caused by fire control efforts has been stopped. There
will be more damage done by indirect causes such as water damage or overhaul activities.
The Incident Commander must coordinate units operating on the fire ground, in order to complete
operations aimed at the completion of the tactical priorities, in accordance with size-up and preplanning
information. It is also the responsibility of the Incident Commander to make sure operations in support of
any of the tactical priorities are being performed with the safety of personnel as an important part of those
operations.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 160
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley