Kent County Chiefs Association

Standard Operating Guidelines &

Standard Operating Procedures

Subject: Incident Command

SOG # 1-1-15

Approved

July 2020

Approved by: President James L. Price, Jr.

Revised

July 2025

I.  POLICY:

  The Kent County Chiefs Association adopted NIMS and ICS Procedures, and this Policy and Guideline will standardize the key components and terminology required during all hazard multi-unit responses.

II.  PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:

  To establish standardized guidelines for departments within Kent County to conduct command functions and components in compliance with NIMS.  All Kent County Fire Company’s or Departments will follow this policy and guidelines for all hazard incidents involving a Structure Response or any incident the Commander deems necessary. Definitions of terms utilized in this Policy/Guideline are included in Attachment E. There are 5 attachments included – A: Kent County Command Board; B: Incident Commander’s Checklist; C: Building Layout Designations; D: Sample Commander Progress Report; E: Definitions

III.  GUIDELINE:

1.  Command Assignment – RE: Attachment B

  1.1. The first fire company or department member or unit to arrive at the scene not involved

          in task duties shall assume Command of the incident.

  1.2.  Command shall be designated by utilizing the District Company name (Millington

          Command) or Company or Department Number (Command 3) or utilize the common

          Place name (Kent Plaza Command), or the geographic location of the incident (Rock

          Hall Ave. Command).

  1.3.  The initial Incident Commander shall remain in Command until Command is transferred

           via radio announcement, or the incident is stabilized and terminated. A checklist is

           provided in Attachment B.

1.4.  An initial risk assessment will be performed and assessed to determine the mode of

         operations – OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE, INVESTIGATING.

1.5.  All unit officers will utilize their unit officer designation (Engine 4 Officer) until

        designated as a branch/functional group/division position via Command.  If a Chief

        Officer has a designation (EG – Deputy Chief 5), they will utilize the unit officer

         designation if they are riding the officer seat of that apparatus.

1.6.  All incoming units will be assigned based on pre-arrival assignments and/ or by the IC,

         and will report to the respective Division/Group Officer and maintain accountability

        through that Command structure.  IC will announce via radio the assignment of specific

        functions, EG – “Assistant Chief 6 is assigned as Division 1”.

1.7.   The initial unit arriving may need to pass command in order to achieve task duties.  The

         second arriving engine officer shall take Command until the arrival of a Command

         Officer, or if no Command Officer is available.

1.8.  The transfer of command shall normally take place after a face/face conversation, and the

         officer being relieved should relay the following: Incident Conditions; Incident Action

         Plan; Progress; Safety Items; Resources assigned; Needs for additional resources. The

         Officer assuming Command shall announce via radio to Fireboard the transfer of

         command upon completion of the briefing.

1.9.  Termination of Command – Command shall be in effect until the release of all units. 

        Command may be relinquished to subordinates with the appropriate transfer procedures

         as the situation is scaled down.

  2.  Initial Size Up/On Scene Reports

2.1.  Initial unit will provide a size up and on scene report consisting of the address; the

        number of floors; the type of structure; conditions upon arrival; initial actions and mode

         of operation, if different. Example – Engine 7-2 on scene 123 Main Street, a 2 story

         single family dwelling with smoke showing from Alpha side first story windows. Laying

         out from hydrant at Main and Maple for an Offensive attack.

2.2.  The Alpha Side of the structure shall be designated by a radio announcement if the

         structure layout dictates, for example, if the Alpha Side is not the address side of the

         structure or is a business/multi-family residential structure. Guides are provided in

         Attachment C.

2.3.  Command shall ensure that a Side Charlie Report, or a 360-degree report is completed.

         This report shall include the visible fire/smoke conditions, the number of floors, the

         appearance or absence of a basement, and the location of the basement access, if present.

2.4.  The CAN Designation will be utilized to encompass the Division progress reports.

         Conditions, Actions, Needs, – Describes the current conditions being presented, the

        actions that the crew/unit/division is undertaking, and the resources or requests to the

         Incident Commander for additional support.

  3.  Structure Designation/Exposures/Floor ID/Building Labeling – RE: Attachment C

3.1.  Sides of the structure will begin with the address side being Alpha, unless designated per

         Command or preplanning due to complex layout or a rail car, and work in a clockwise

         direction with Bravo, the left side of the building when facing Side Alpha; Charlie, the

         opposite side of Side Alpha, or rear of the building; and Delta, the right side of the

         building when facing Side Alpha.

3.2.  Divisions shall be designated by geographical areas per below and Attachment C.

3.3.  Identification of attached exposures will utilize the designations of B1, B2, B3, B4; D1,

         D2, D3, D4, etc. per the diagram in Attachment C. Identification of detached exposures

         will also utilize B1, B2, etc. and Command shall announce whether exposures are

         attached or not attached.

3.4.  Floor Identification will follow the standard format of the Grade Level floor of the Alpha

         side being designated as Division 1, with the additional stories following sequential

         designation as Division 2, 3, etc. and Attic, then Roof; Floors below grade will be

         deemed as Basement, Subbasement 1, Subbasement 2, etc.; or as deemed by the Incident

         Commander if there is a complex flooring layout provided by the Side Charlie report

         or per pre-planning.

3.5.  Groups shall be designated for functional assignments, IE – Ventilation, Search and

         rescue, Extrication, EMS, Rehab, Hazmat, De-con, Triage, Treatment, Transport, etc.

3.6.  Split Level designation – Homes that are split level, for example, those that have a garage

         and living space at ground level, this level will be referred to as Division 1; and

         bedrooms on 2nd story will be Division 2; and dining/kitchen and living areas on the Split

         Level, or between the two floors, will be referred to as the Split-Level Division. See

         Attachment C.

  4.  Communications

4.1.  All communications by responding companies or departments/agencies are to be

         channeled through Command unless otherwise designated by Command

4.2.  The report of smoke and/or fire showing by an on-scene fire, ems, or police unit, consider

          the Working Fire Dispatch or Additional Alarms or Task Force or Strike Teams.

4.3.  Working Fire Dispatch or Additional Alarms or Task Force or Strike Teams

·         Working Fire Dispatch – 2 Engine, 1 Tanker (non-hydrant area), 1 Rescue (with cascade system), 1 Ambulance and 1 County Paramedic

·         Each Alarm will consist of 4 Engines, 3 Tankers (non-hydrant area), 2 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Ambulance and 1 County Paramedic (if available)

·         Ambulance Strike Team – 5 Ambulances

·         Brush Strike Team – 5 Brush Trucks

·         Brush Task Force – 3 Brush Trucks, 1 Engine, 1 Tanker

·         Engine Strike Team – 5 Engines

·         Tanker Strike Team – 5 Tankers

·         Tanker Task Force – 4 Tankers and 1 Engine

·         RIT Task Force – 1 Engine, 1 Rescue, 1 Ambulance

4.4.  The terms that will be utilized to designate structure types are as follows: Single Family

         Dwelling – single and separate residential dwelling; For Multi-Family Dwellings – Use

         the following: Townhouse, Row house, Apartment Building with enclosed or open

         stairway, and attached/unattached exposures. Do not utilize the term “Garden Style

         Apartments” as this term has multiple meanings to describe the layout of the buildings

         and the layout of the 1st Floor Apartments.

4.5.  Fire Marshall, and Utilities are not automatic by dispatch; therefore, those requests have

         to be communicated to Kent with the specific agency name and priority level. Also See

         4.8 for 10-minute mark prompt.

4.6.  Staging units that are not immediately needed at the incident or add 1 Staging is one

         block away or the closest hydrant, and Level 2 Staging is a pre-designated parking area or

         a large parking area for multiple resources that is typically not in the line of sight of the

         incident.  The first unit Officer in Staging shall assume Staging Area Manager.  “Engine

         2 Officer to Command, I am assuming Staging”

4.7.  Incident Commander Progress reports: At the 10-minute mark an Operational mode

         assessment will be provided via radio announcement. At the 20-minute interval there will

         be a progress report and accountability check, as same at 40- and 60-minute mark. See

         Attachment D - Sample progress report attachment.

4.8.  Using the Dispatch Incident Check List, (see S.O.G. 1-1-8-Attachment B Kent County

         Dispatch Incident Check List), at 8 to 10 minutes into the emergency, Kent shall

         contact 1st Due District apparatus responding or the Incident Commander they are __

         minutes into your alarm, advise them what is responding, if the box is complete or what

         apparatus has not made the response and what their staffing is.  At 10-minutes from first

         unit arrival, Kent shall contact the Incident Commander and advise them they are  __

         minutes into your alarm and state – “Are you ready for a resource listing (or rundown)?”

         The Incident Commander may reply with “Standby”.  “Not needed”, or “Go ahead, ready

         to copy”. When the IC is ready, Kent will then provide the listing of On Scene Units,

         followed by Units that are En-route to the incident, advise the staffing, ask if they need

         utilities companies (electric, gas, etc.), ask if they need the State Fire Marshal.  At 20

         minutes from dispatch, Kent Shall contact the Incident Commander and ask if they would

         like regional cover ups (see S.O.G. 1-1-8-Attachment C – Kent County Regional

         Cover Up Policy), ask if they need state or county roads for road closures and ask if they

         need MSP or County Sheriff’s Department. At 20-minutes from first unit arrival, Kent

         shall contact the Incident Commander and advise them they are 20 minutes for the first

         unit arrival and it’s time for the first 20-minute PAR Check

4.9.  Accountability – The definition per our current operating policy is that Level 1 is that the

         tags remain with the unit as collected by the Officer of the unit. Level 2 is that the tags

         are brought to the Incident Command Post and an Accountability Board is established.

IV.  Attachments:

A – Kent County Command Board

B – Incident Command Checklist (courtesy of Loflin)

C – Building Layout Designations

D – Sample Progress Report

E - Definitions

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Renny Grapes

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief John Darling

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Charles Boyles

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Albert (Bert) Piasecki, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Chief James L. Price, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.

Chief Jason Lobley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Mike Pinder

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent County Emergency Service Board

Chair Lynn Sutton

Submitted for Emergency Service Board Approval on _____October 20th, 2025________

Compliance Date ______November 19th, 2025_______________________________________

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