Command and Control

Scope

This Operational Guideline provides guidance for the control of incidents and the commanding of resources.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

• Control refers to the overall direction of emergency management activities in an emergency. Authority for control is established in legislation or in an emergency plan. Control carries with it the responsibility for tasking other organisations in accordance with the needs of the situation. Control relates to situations and operates horizontally across organisations.
• Command is the internal direction of the members and resources of an agency in the performance of the organisation’s roles and tasks, by agreement, and in accordance with relevant legislation. Command operates vertically within an organisation.
• Unless specified otherwise by a local bush fire management plan (for bush and grass fires), the officer in overall command of RFS units at an incident shall be:
  • For Level 1 incidents – the officer in the first arriving appliance, where local knowledge is appropriate this may be handed over to an officer from the brigade in whose area the incident is occurring.
  • For Level 2 incidents – an officer with the capability to command multiple resources in the field.
  • For Level 3 incidents - an officer with the capability to command multiple sectors in the field and effectively liaise with other agencies.
• Except in the multi-agency situations detailed in RFS OPG - Multi-Agency Operations, the officer in overall control of the incident in a Rural Fire District (RFD), is the same officer as that specified above to be in command of the RFS units at that incident.
• A formal hand-over/take-over procedure must be followed when an officer (including from another combat agency or jurisdictional authority), is taking over command or control of an incident. The hand-over/take-over procedure is to include a briefing, a formal statement of taking over (e.g., “I have control”), and advising the changeover to those immediately above and below in the chain of command.
• The briefing (using the SMEACS acronym) from the officer handing over to the officer taking over is to include:
  • Situation – fire situation, weather, and resources;
  • Mission – objectives to be achieved;
  • Execution – strategy, tactics and tasks allocated;
  • Admin/assistance – Resources, water supply, food and fuel arrangements, support;
  • Command/control/communications – chain of command, comms, system; and
  • Safety – safety considerations.

Special Considerations

Nil.

Related Information

• Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS)
• RFS OPG - Incident Ground Organisation
• RFS OPG - Multi-Agency Operations