Provide supervision: Wildfires

Fire and rescue services should

• Consider sharing policies and procedures for wildfires, as these will help to inform other organisations about the role and activities of the fire and rescue service
• Consider developing joint policies and procedures to provide awareness and understanding of the incident command structure
• Develop multi-agency knowledge of the roles, capabilities, knowledge, equipment and procedures of each organisation, and provide access to this information for appropriate personnel
• Be aware of the level of support that can be provided by other organisations; for example, it may not be feasible for them to provide the same level of support throughout a protracted incident
• Ensure that fire and rescue service personnel have an appropriate level of awareness of the vehicles or equipment that may be used by other organisations
• Consider joint training and familiarisation exercises
• Understand how to request support from other organisations and have processes in place for fire control and incident commanders to do so
• Consider using the expertise, including knowledge of the area, of other organisations in pre-planning and developing wildfire fire plans and SSRI
• Develop a communications strategy that allows interoperability on the incident ground and at tactical or strategic command points

Incident commanders should

• Identify and use the appropriate skills, vehicles or equipment of other organisations
• Use joint decision making and apply situational awareness methodology
• Ensure all personnel are closely supervised when operating in the inner cordon
• Share information about the fire and rescue service command structure and incident ground safety protocols with other organisations present
• Agree a structure and process for communications, information gathering and/or deployment of resources from other organisations
• Deliver clear briefings to fire and rescue service personnel and personnel from other organisations before deployment
• Implement the LACES safety protocol and brief other organisations on what LACES is and how it will be implemented
• Declare the activity and appropriate system of work, for example, what PPE is required for all personnel
• Refer to specific advice or guidance, wildfire fire plans and SSRI that may involve other organisations
• Record the activities of other organisations, including where the personnel, vehicles or equipment of other organisations have been deployed
• Effectively use the local knowledge of other organisations to identify topographical and other hazards
• Consider medical support requirements, especially for remote locations, including routes, skills and equipment that may be required
• Implement effective cordon controls to assist in monitoring personnel from other organisations deployed onto the incident ground, which would support roll calls if required
• Deploy fire and rescue service personnel to accompany personnel from other organisations on the incident ground to ensure safe systems of work and good communications
• Exchange radios to enable personnel from the fire and rescue service and other organisations to communicate directly
• Use communications systems used by other organisations attending
• Brief other organisations on how the LACES safety protocols will be implemented
• Establish sectorisation based on identifiable features and landmarks
• Plan for the relocation of incident command based on prediction of fire behaviour and spread