Effective communication between fire control and co-ordinating groups

Significant multi-agency events, such as major incidents, are likely to require the establishment of tactical co-ordinating groups (TCGs) and strategic co-ordinating groups (SCGs), enabling commanders from relevant agencies to co-ordinate their responses. Operational personnel will form part of TCGs and SCGs, as required by the Civil Contingencies Act, as part of their responsibilities to statutory resilience forums.

Common Operating Picture

Fire control commanders will benefit from receiving regular, information from multi-agency co-ordination groups about the incident or event for which they are managing fire control operations.

Information provided will help to build a shared understanding of events, often referred to as a Common Operating Picture, which may help fire control commanders to:

• Build their situational awareness of an incident by understanding:
  • Known hazards and risks
  • The response of other agencies
  • The resources and support other agencies have available
• Provide emergency callers with accurate advice and guidance based on current information, including signposting to other Category 1 and Category 2 agencies when appropriate

Fire control commanders may be able to help build the situational awareness of fire and rescue service personnel attending multi-agency co-ordinating groups by providing them with information relevant to the incident or event, including details of:

• The capacity of fire control, including emergency call volumes
• Incidents attended by the fire and rescue service
• The availability of:
  • Operational resources
  • Operational personnel
  • Equipment
• Further resources or support required by operational personnel

Fire control commanders will benefit from a clear line of communication with fire and rescue service personnel who are part of multi-agency co-ordination groups (if they are not already present themselves). Such communication may be:

• In person
• Through telephone calls, including video calls
• Through radio talkgroups
• By electronic communication methods, such as information summaries sent by email

Information exchanged between fire control personnel and fire and rescue service personnel forming part of multi-agency co-ordination groups should be accurately recorded on relevant incident logs and decision logs.