AFTER THE 4TH ALARMSnohomish County

Regional Resource Training

Objectives Familiarize agencies with the Snohomish

County Fire / EMS Resource Plan Understand the differences between:

Mutual Aid County (Zone) Requests for Resources Regional Requests for Resources State Mobilization

Familiarize Snohomish County fire departments with the process of requesting resources for large or complex emergencies

Objectives Become familiar with agency responsibilities

to the county plan Understand individual responsibilities under

the county plan Understand the methods of notification to

events in which you are requested as a resource

Know how to utilize the county plan to request resources while acting as an Incident Commander

The Snohomish County Fire / EMS Resource Plan

The Snohomish County Fire / EMS Resource Plan

Purpose To provide rapid access and deployment of pre-

arranged quantities of emergency service resources for significant or multiple fire incidents; or for significant EMS incidents with a minimum effort of the requesting agency.

Participation All 28 Fire Departments in Snohomish County are

considered in this plan. There are currently 24 agencies participating in this effort, however, this does not preclude any agency from accessing and implementing all or portions of this plan.

The Snohomish County Fire / EMS Resource Plan

Overview Snohomish County is divided into three

geographical Resource Zones (9, 11, and 12. 10 is reserved for future use). There is an appointed Zone Coordinator for each Fire/EMS Resource Zone whose primary responsibility is to facilitate and coordinate his/her respective “Zone” resources.

Within these zones, there are prearranged groups of LIKE resources (Strike Teams) or groups of UNLIKE resources (Task Forces) that are designed to quickly assemble, respond and function together as a single resource unit.

The Snohomish County Fire / EMS Resource Plan

Overview (Continued) This plan can be successfully implemented for both

INTRA-COUNTY and INTER-COUNTY incidents with little or no operational modifications.

In the event of a significant incident(s) that is determined to be beyond the immediate resources of an individual agency during the initial size-up or an incident that taxes an individual agency (or Resource Zone), a request may be made for appropriate or additional resources from other zones within Snohomish County or zones in other counties.

Participating Agencies ZONE 9:

Lynnwood Fire Mukilteo Fire SCFD #1 SCFD #7 (St 76)

ZONE 11: SCFD #1 (St 13) SCFD #3 SCFD #4 SCFD #5 SCFD #7 SCFD #8 SCFD #16 SCFD #26 SCFD #28

ZONE 10: Reserved for future use

ZONE 12: Arlington Fire North County Fire Authority Marysville Fire Everett Fire Everett Navy Homeport Boeing Fire Sno. County Airport Fire (Paine Field) SCFD #15 SCFD #17 SCFD #19 SCFD #21 SCFD #22 SCFD #23 SCFD #24 SCFD #25

Snohomish County Zone Map

Definitions Assembly Areas – The pre-arranged meeting locations in

each Resource Zone where all designated Strike Team or Task Force apparatus and personnel assemble before responding as a group to a given incident.

Radio Pool – Consists of a minimum of three (3) portable radios with the ability to transmit and receive on certain frequencies listed in the Resource Plan.

Specialized Resources – Other types of resources not identified in Strike Teams or Task Forces that can be used for disaster, fire, EMS, or Haz-Mat incidents. Incident Commanders will need to request specific types (unit numbers if known) of units and the agency that possesses the resource.

Definitions Strike Team – Five of a single like resource that has

common communications, a Team Leader and that can be formed on or off an incident.

Task Force – A group or combination of single unlike resources that have common communications, a Team Leader and that can be formed on or off an incident.

Team Leader – A Fire Department Officer who shall assemble, respond and supervise a Strike Team or Task Force from their zone. Minimum qualification for a team leader are outlined in the Resource Plan under “Definitions”.

Zone Coordinator – A designated Chief Officer that shall coordinate the predetermined resources in a zone.

Composition of Task Forces Urban Task Force – 3 structural engines, 1 ladder,

1 BLS unit Rural Task Force – 3 structural engines, 2 tenders Interface Task Force – 2 structural engines, 2

wildland engines, 1 tender Ladder Task Force – 3 structural engines, 2

ladders Wildland Task Force – 3 wildland engines, 2

tenders EMS Task Force – 1 ALS unit, 3 BLS units, 1 rescue

unitNote: in addition to units listed, one “Team Leader” shall be assigned to each Task Force.

Task Force

Composition of Strike Teams Engine Strike Team – 5 structural engines Tender Strike Team – 5 tenders Wildland Strike Team – 5 wildland engines BLS Strike Team – 5 BLS units Personnel Strike Team – 10-12 personnel per

strike team Wildland Hand Crew – 10 personnel Special Resources – any other resource not

identified in Strike Teams or Task Forces that can be requested as needed.

Note: in addition to units listed, one “Team Leader” shall be assigned to each Strike Team.

Strike Team

Mutual Aid Mutual aid is a normal function of our work and

can either be automatic or special request. Automatic aid – Mutual aid unit(s) requested during

initial dispatch or when alarms get balanced. Special request – Request for a specific unit.

Most Snohomish County departments operate within the normal Mutual Aid parameters up to and including the fourth alarm level. Up to the fourth alarm or agency specific alarm level.

Progression of the Incident

State ResourcesState Mobilization For Fire Responses

Regional ResourcesNorthwest Region Part of the State Plan

County ResourcesCounty Resource Plan AKA – “Zone” Response

Initial ResourcesPrimary Response Own Agency/Mutual Aid up to

agency highest alarm level

Zone Response Once the agency highest alarm level is requested, a

Zone request is the next resource pool Note: In some instances it may be appropriate to request

a zone response prior to reaching the agencies highest alarm level. For example an agency may have a 2 Alarm fire and has adequate personnel and not enough water, so a request for a Tender Strike Team could be utilized in this scenario.

We used to teach to call a “Zone Away” due to the stripping of local resources with the initial alarms. Now consider the Zone next to you for speed and efficiency. Some of your mutual aid resources may have come from other Zones anyway.

Requesting Resources Strike Teams and Task Forces from any Resource

Zone in Snohomish, King or Pierce Counties may be requested for major incidents either through the Resource Zones’ Communications Center or through the respective County Department of Emergency Management. SNOPAC (Everett and North County): 425-407-

3970 / 425-407-3930 SNOCOM (South County): 425-774-3583 Snohomish County DEM: 425-388-5060 Emergency Services Coordinator Agency: 425-

776-3722

Requesting Resources Included with the request for resources, the

IC shall indicate whether there is an immediate need or an assembled need. Immediate need – Resources respond directly to

the requested location. The IC can expect individual units to arrive at different times.

Assembled need – Requires units to meet at an assembly area, then respond together as a group under the direction of the team leader. Usually requires a minimum of 20 minutes to assemble.

Requesting Resources Because the Fire/EMS Resource Plan contains

a large number of emergency vehicles and equipment, the IC – when necessary – may request several Strike Teams or Task Forces depending on the incident.

Agencies participating in the Fire/EMS Resource Plan should expect and request apparatus move-ups or fill-ins to their departments from their neighboring departments.

Long Term Issues Long term issues will arise with staging,

base control, rehab (food, water, bathrooms) Environmental issues with water run-off Moving into the concept of Operational

Periods Standard being 12 hour “shifts”, but this can be

adjusted Backfilling duty crews Rotation of crews can create its own issues and

problems

Regional Response Like Mutual Aid and Zone Responses,

Regional Responses are uncompensated. Same resources as Zone Responses, plus

one Strike Team or Task Force from within the 4-county region.

Requested by activating Regional Fire Defense Plan through SNOPAC.

Northwest Region Resources

Our region is compromised of Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan Counties.

Anytime Snohomish County utilizes all zones in Snohomish County and asks for at least one strike team/task force from a neighboring county any additional resource request beyond that state mobilization assitance shall be requested.

The request shall be through the Northwest Fire Defense Chair person Chief Eric Andrews or his on call designee. Chief Eric Andrews – 425-356-7373

Designee B/C Mike Voss – 360-840-0540 Designee Chief Travis Hots – 360-913-0351

Once that request is made, we are then at State Mobilization (according to the NW Region Plan).

Remember our unique resource is the NW Incident Management Team.

Escalation of Levels The following outlines a probable escalation that uses the

County plan, the Region plan and State mobilization plan. A jurisdiction in Snohomish County is dispatched to a

Brush fire. On arrival the fire department officer in charge calls for 2nd, 3rd and 4th alarms as the incident grows, (Or agencies highest alarm level entered into CAD). As the incident grows to a point that the normal mutual aid of this jurisdiction is not able to control the situation the officer in charge will activate a zone request for resources. This will usually result in requesting a zone that has not been affected by the mutual aid request of the first four alarms. It is important to note the zone request may come from a neighboring county as well as from inter county.

Escalation of Levels As the incident continues to escalate and the zone requests have been

exhausted (there may be more than one zone request at the previous level). The next level of resources is the regional resources. Snohomish County is located in the Northwest Region which includes Island, Skagit, San Juan, and Whatcom Counties. The state is divided into nine regions. The activation of a regional response requires and utilizes County and State Department of Emergency management agencies.

As the incident continues to escalate and the regional resources of at least one strike team or task force have been requested from outside of Snohomish County, any additional requests from that point forward a request from the Washington State Fire Mobilization plan will be requested from our region cooridinator or his designee. Financial/coordination resources of the state become available upon state mobilization approval.

Prior to the incident going to a State Mobilization the NW Region Cooridnator, Chief Eric Andrews or his designee (B/C Mike Voss or Fire Chief Travis Hots) must do a scene survey to confirm the need for state mobilization needs.

Regional Map

Responding to a Zone Response Request

Strike Team and Task Force Assembly Areas

Each Fire/EMS Zone Coordinator has designated “primary” assembly areas. Zone 9 PRE-ARRANGED ASSEMBLY AREAS

PRIMARY -- Snohomish County Fire District #1 - Sta #21 16819 13 Ave W, Lynnwood ALTERNATE – Mountlake Terrace Sta #19 5902 232nd St SW, Mountlake Terrace ALTERNATE -- Snohomish County Fire District #1 - Sta #16 8429 196th St SW, Edmonds

Zone 11 PRE-ARRANGED ASSEMBLY AREAS For Responses East over I-90: Monroe Shell (Fuel) Station – 19376 State Route 2, Monroe For Responses East over SR-2: Mt. View Gas & Deli – 33902 State Route 2, Sultan For Responses North or South: SR2 and SR9, Northwest Corner, Snohomish

Zone 12 PRE-ARRANGED ASSEMBLY AREAS NORTH – 76 Gas Station, Island Crossing, I-5 Exit 208 west side of the Freeway, 1801 Pioneer

Hwy, Arlington SOUTH – Station 11, 12310 Meridian Ave, Everett EAST - SR2 and SR9, Northwest Corner, Snohomish

An immediate need request shall negate the need to assemble. The Communication Center for each Zone shall announce at the time of tone-out one of the following: “Units are to respond and assemble at (primary assembly area).” “Units are to respond directly to (location requested by IC).”

Assembly Area

Resource Request Zone Response Units

When a zone response is requested all agencies that are on the zone response including the alternates will be dispatched.

The Dispatch center will send a generic page to each participating agency in the specific response, it is the agencies responsibility to determine what station within that organization shall deploy for a zone response.

If a agency is unable to provide a resource for the response it is the agencies Battallion Chief or designee responsibility to notify their dispacth center that they are unable to respond.

In this event the first alternate will respond in its place. Agencies that are dispatched as the alternate need to ensure

that they are listening to their radio, and be available to respond in the event that the alternate is needed. (Remain ready to respond with the exception of handling emergency responses within own agency)

Resource RequestIC Responsibility

The IC shall determine what resources are needed and inform dispatcher. Ex: Wildland ST, Urban Task Force, Engine ST, etc.

IC needs to determine if there is an immediate need with no assembly requried or a need for units to assemble and inform dispacther. IC Determines assembly location if assembly is

required, based on County Plan and inform dispatcher.

IC must inform dispatch what frequency the requested resources are to respond on.

Resource RequestDispacther Responsibility

Receive after mentioned information from the IC requesting the zone respone.

What strike team/task force is being requested and from what zone.

Dispatcher enters the correct fire response list (FRL/Run Card) for the specific request.

Dispatcher assigns response frequency as determined by the IC. Notify agencies whether this is an immediate need to

respond directly to the incident scene providing incident address, or to respond to assembly area as directed by the IC.

Dispatcher ensures that appropriate agencies deploy .

Resource RequestStrike Team/Taskforce Responsibilities

Check pre-assigned resource list. Ready apparatus to respond. Change placards to zone response identification. Make sure crew members can be committed for

a minimum of 24 hours. Contact dispatch center to inform them that you

are responding. Within 5 minutes respond to assembly point and/or

the scene if indicated bythe IC. Respond CODE unless otherwise advised. Monitor the assigned frequency.

Resource RequestStrike Team/Taskforce Responsibilities

Upon arrival at assembly point or incident scene park apparatus in designated area.

Provide team leader passport/tags. Inform team leader of apparatus capabilities. Company Officer to report to the briefing area.

Resource RequestStrike Team/Taskforce Responsibilities

Know your route of travel and advise the crew.

Know your communication assignment. Know your apparatus position order in

the team. Coordinate all dispatch communications

through the team leader/Strike Team/Task Force.

Operations at the Scene The Team Leader of a Strike Team or Task

Force that is responding directly to an incident scene shall report to the IC.

Unless otherwise directed, the Team Leader shall provide the only radio communications except during an immediate response situation.

When an assembled request is used, every effort shall be made to keep all Strike Team or Task Force units together.

Fill-In or Standby Strike Team or Task Force units that are

utilized for “fill-in” assignments might be allocated as a team to a single fire station or split up and sent to other fire stations to cover a larger area.

If the Strike Team or Task Force is split up, apparatus should be paired up with personnel from the host Zone when possible and respond to incidents together.

Fill-In

E68 on a fill-in assignment at Cal Fire, California 2007

Pre-Planned Resources

Pre-Planned Resources N.W. Regional Coordinator

Fire Chief Eric Andrews – SCFD #26/7 Snohomish County Resource Plan Coordinator

Fire Chief Travis Hots – SCFD #22 Zone 9 Coordinator

Assistant Chief Brad Reading – SCFD #1 Zone 11 Coordinator

Fire Chief Merlin Halverson– SCFD #5 Zone 12 Coordinator

Deputy Chief Darryl Neuhoff – Marysville Fire

Zone 9 Pre-Planned Resources Strike Teams

Engine Strike Team – 1 BLS Strike Team – 1 Personnel Strike Team – 1

Task Forces Urban Task Force – 1 Ladder Task Force – 1 EMS Task Force – 1

Special Resources Technical Rescue Team – 1 Haz-Mat Team – 1

Zone 11 Pre-Planned Resources Strike Teams

Engine Strike Team – 2 Tender Strike Team – 1 Wildland Strike Team – 1 BLS Strike Team – 2 Personnel Strike Team – 1 Wildland Hand Crew – 1

Task Forces Urban Task Force – 1 Rural Task Force – 2 Interface Task Force – 2 Ladder Task Force – 1 Wildland Task Force – 1

EMS Task Force – 2 Special Resources

Mobile Compressor – 1 High Angle Rescue – 1 Swift Water Rescue– 1 Mobile Lights– 1 Motorized River Boat – 2 Rehab Unit – 1

Zone 12 Pre-Planned Resources Strike Teams

Engine Strike Team – 1 Tender Strike Team – 1 Wildland Strike Team – 1 BLS Strike Team – 1

Task Forces Urban Task Force – 1 Rural Task Force – 1 Interface Task Force – 1 Ladder Task Force – 1 Wildland Task Force – 1 EMS Task Force – 1

Special Resources Mobile Compressor – 1 Haz-Mat Tech – 2 Water Rescue – 2 Ice Rescue – 1 Technical Rescue – 2 Hovercraft – 2 Foam Unit (3000 gal.) – 2 MCI (60 Person) – 1

Reference Material

For more information on the Snohomish County Resource Plan, go to the link below:

http://www.snocountychiefs.org/documents/30-01-10_sno_county_resource.pdf

Last Revised 4/4/2012