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SOG 2-04    PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM

A. Scope:

This operational guideline shall be followed during all operations to include training and emergency situations or any other situation where an officer deems it advantageous for safety and/or operational effectiveness. 

B. Guidelines:

1.Two (2) Personnel Accountability Tags (PAT) will be issued to each firefighter. 

2.PATs will both be affixed to the front of the firefighter turnout coat. 

3.Upon entering the apparatus, firefighters will attach a PAT to the assignment board

4.Upon entering a structure, firefighters will leave the 2^nd PAT at the entrance door.

5.Multiple points of entry and exit

a.  An Entry Control Officer (ECO) may be appointed at each entry point.               

b.   The chauffeur of the first apparatus assigned to each geographic side of the fire building will be responsible for acquiring PATs until an ECO is assigned.

c.   Companies should exit the fire building through the same point they enter whenever possible.

d.  The Company Officer shall advise the ECO at the initial entry point that the company exited at another entry point and is no longer inside the fire building.

 C.  Responsibilities:

1. Company Officer

a.  Ensure that crew integrity is maintained.

b.  The location and function of each crew shall be communicated to the                                                    Incident Commander (IC).  

c.  Shall notify the IC any time a company’s assignment, location, or status                                               changes.

d.  When a PAR is announced all companies will:

      i. Take a head count to ensure all Company members are accounted for.

      ii. Cease all radio communications except for emergency radio                                                                  communications.

      iii. Announce status (i.e. Engine 14 all accounted for) to the IC upon request.

      iv. The Incident Commander shall be notified immediately if any personnel are missing.

2.Incident Commander

a.  Ensure that the tracking of the personnel accountability function is done.

b. May assign the personnel accountability function to the safety officer or to another qualified firefighter

c.   The Incident Commander will call for a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR):

 i. If there is a report of a firefighter down or missing.

ii.   When the emergency evacuation signal is ordered.

 iii. When the situation is declared under control.

 iv. When changing attack modes (i.e. offensive to defensive).

v. Any time the Incident Commander feels it necessary to conduct a PAR.