FIRESCOPE REMS Position Manual

ICS-223-12Battalion Chief Brad Darbro - Santa Clara County Fire Dept.

Battalion Chief Jeff Birchfield - San Bernardino County Fire Dept.

FIRESCOPE Taskforce Members

What is FIRESCOPE?•FIrefighting

•RESources of

•California

•Organized for

•Potential

•Emergencies

Represents all facets of local, rural, and metropolitan fire departments, CAL Fire, and federal fire agencies

Organized in 1972 in So. Cal. Consolidated to Represent all facets in California in 1986

FIRESCOPE is intended to unify these agencies into one voice and direction

Mission•Provide Recommendations & Technical

Guidances to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) on matters involving mutual aid

•Maintain the FIRESCOPE Decision Process

•Continue the Operation, Development, & Maintenance of the FIRESCOPE Incident Command System (ICS) and Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS)

Vision•To Continue National Leadership in

the Development of All-Hazard Incident Management and Multi-Agency Coordiation Systems

•To Enhance & Encourage Full Participation by the California Fire Service in the Statewide Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System

•To Provide a Common voice for the California Fire Service

Decision Process

• Board of Directors (Chief Exectuive Level)

• Operations Team (Deputy/Assistant Chief Level)

• Task Force (Battalion Chief/Manager Level)

• Specialist Groups (Standing Groups)

• Working Groups (Ad-Hoc Groups)

Membership of these include representatives from FIRESCOPE Partner Agencies, Cal Fire, USFS, BLM, NPS, County Fire Agencies, City Fire Agencies, Volunteer Fire Departments

What is a REM?

• In 2012, Rapid Evacuation Modules (REM) were developed to mitigate several safety issues that arose as part of operating on the Klamath and Rouge-Siskiyou National Forests.

• Developed by CIMT #3 Medical Unit

• The topography, weather, and smoke conditions experienced at the Fort Complex made the reliance on hoist or short-haul helicopters as the only means of firefighter rescue impractical (Never plan anything based on the need for aircraft)

• Alternative to effecting a rescue when aircraft is not an option (night, smoke inversions, etc.)

July Complex 2014 Photo from Inciweb Website

The Problem

•No consistent definition of a REM

•No clear process to order a REM thru ROSS (Position didn’t exist in ROSS)

•No standard equipment list

•No standard level of training to be a REM

September 2014

FIRESCOPE Operations Team Directed the Task

Force to Develop a Position Manual on the

REM

Process •Task Force consultation with various

MEDL on IMTs.

•Consultation with various subject matter experts in the state

•The Task Force developed a position manual

•Position manual presented to Operations Team in January 2015

•Board of Directors met April 8, 2015 where Document was approved

REM Evolved to REMS

• A Pre-Staged Rescue Team Assigned to a Wildland Fire to Provide Firefighters a Safe, Effective and Efficient Method of Egress Off the Fireline in the Event of Injury or Illness Incurred During Fire Fighting Operations

• Another Option to Reach Incapacitated Firefighters When Ideal Conditions May Not Exist Due to Heavy Smoke Inversion, Lack of Roads, Equipment Malfunctions, etc.

• Does Not Intend to Replace Ground or Air Transport

The Product• 8 Page Position Manual Created with Four Letter Designator for ROSS ordering

• Checklist to guide REMS Members when on scene

• Staffing Guidelines

• Training & Experience Requirements

• Standard Equipment List

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www.firescope.org

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