REDCOM SOP 18 - Requesting Additional Resources updated Jan 2018REDWOOD DISPATCH COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
STANDARD OPERATING POLICY
18.0 REQUESTING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
18.1 Requests for additional resources are typically made in five ways:
Upgrade of assignments
Additional alarms
Strike Teams
Task Forces
Single increment resource
18.2 Upgrading assignments applies whenever a field unit wants the remaining
units of a first alarm assignment dispatched to the incident. It is essential
that the requesting unit specify the type of incident for upgrade, such as a
structure assignment, vegetation assignment or extrication assignment.
The CRO needs this information in order to make the proper request in
CAD. For example, one engine could be initially dispatched to a single
assignment for a smoke investigation. If on arrival the company officer
finds a vegetation fire, the officer should make a request for “UPGRADE
TO A VEGETATION ASSIGNMENT.”
18.3 The CAD system provides up to five alarms for MCIs, structure fires (full
assignments), and vegetation fires. Each alarm duplicates the amount and
type of resources dispatched on the initial first alarm assignment. For
example, if the first alarm for a vegetation assignment consisted of four
engines and a chief officer, then each subsequent alarm would result in the
dispatch of four more engines and another chief officer. The exception to
this is second alarms for structure fires, where a Breathing Support
(cascade) unit is normally added to the assignment. Additional alarms are
the preferred method of requesting significant additional resources
because it brings a predetermined number and type of resources and
additional overhead personnel.
18.4 Strike Team or Task Force requests are typically the next level of requests
for resources to local agency incidents beyond predetermined alarm
assignments. Strike Teams consist of five like resources and a leader in
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Approvals
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accordance with Firescope Field Operations Guide. Task Forces consist
of any combination of resources and a leader in accordance with the Field
Operations Guide.
18.4.1 Requests to the CRO for strike teams must specify the following
information:
18.4.1.1 Type of Strike Team being requested (e.g. Type I
Engines, Type III Engines, Crews)
18.4.1.2 Whether the need is IMMEDIATE or PLANNED – and if
planned, a reporting date and time
18.4.1.3 If the request is for an immediate and critical need, such
as structure defense, the requesting party should use the
following terminology: “IMMEDIATE NEED – FORM
AT THE SCENE.”
18.4.1.4 Reporting location for the Strike Team at the incident.
18.4.2 Requests from the field for Task Forces must include all of the
information specified in section 18.4.1, as well as specification as
to what resources are needed in the Task Force, such as a “Task
Force of Four Water Tenders” or a “Structure Protection Task
Force.”
18.5 Single increment resources, such as an additional ambulance, engine, truck
or overhead resource can be requested. The CRO shall direct this request
to the REDCOM Dispatcher and resources dispatched in accordance with
CAD unit recommendations.
18.5.1 Should an IC make a specific request by unit designation, then the
specified unit or resource will be dispatched if it is available.
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18.6 Either the REDCOM Dispatcher or the CRO shall provide the additional
responding resources with the incident’s Control Channel and Tactical
Channel as soon as it is established. Additional resources responding shall
also be directed to a staging area if one has been established for the
incident.
18.7 The CRO shall advise the IC of the designators of resources that have
been dispatched as a result of the request for additional resources.
18.8 Requests from the field for a police, sheriff, or CHP response should be
made using the standard term “LAW ENFORCEMENT,” the Level of
Urgency (“code 2” or “code 3”) and the nature of the request (violent
subject, intoxicated subject, uncooperative bystanders, shots fired, traffic
control, etc).
18.8.1 If responders find themselves in a situation that they need to be
more discrete in their request, they may use the following codes:
Code 6, Code 2 (Dispatch will then start Law Enforcement
code 2 for an uncooperative subject)
Code 6, Code 3 (Dispatch will then start Law Enforcement
for a violent subject)
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REDWOOD DISPATCH COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
STANDARD OPERATING POLICY
18.9 Sonoma County ALL Call Page
18.9.1 In the event of a major disaster where notification to all providers
in the county is vital, the XSN_ALL_CALL page can be utilized to notify
all agencies. The request can be made by the Sonoma County Operational
Coordinator(s), REDCOM Duty Officer, REDCOM Supervisor or Field
Incident Commander.
18.9.2 It’s imperative that whomever makes the request specify
the following to all the agencies in the broadcast:
18.9.2.1 Request personnel to report to their respective
stations and status with REDCOM equipment identifiers available for
assignment.
18.9.2.2 Identify a staging area where equipment is to
report staffed with a staging area manager.
18.9.3 Agencies will need to establish Operational Polices addressing
their internal procedures when this request is made. Each individual
agency shall adhere to internal SOP’s prior to statusing with REDCOM
their availability or responding to an incident.
18.9.4 REDCOM shall notify the CAL-FIRE ECC (Cloverdale FPD) and
City of Rohnert Park (RPDPS) of the request.
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