Catalog Description

Prerequisite: Completion of FIRE 242 with grade of "C" or better
Hours: 16 lecture
Description: Covers command and general staff, unified command, major incident management and area command within the Incident Command System national training curriculum. (pass/no pass grading) (not transferable)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Describe the issues that influence incident complexity and the tools available to analyze complexity.
  • CSLO #2: Explain the major steps for planning a fire service event.
  • CSLO #3: Describe the four expansion options for incident/event organization and the conditions under which they would be applied.
  • CSLO #4: Explain the differences between Area Command, Unified Command, and multi-agency coordination entities.

Effective Term

Fall 2019

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

16

Outside of Class Hours

32

Total Student Learning Hours

48

Course Objectives

1. Compare types of agency(ies) policies, guidelines, and agreements that influence management of incident or event activities;
2. Investigate issues that influence incident complexity and the tools available to analyze complexity;
3. Diagram the process for transfer of command;
4. Outline the primary guidelines and responsibilities of the Command and General Staff positions;
5. Analyze the major steps in the planning process;
6. Evaluate the purposes and responsibilities of agency representatives or technical specialists, reporting relationships, and how they can be effectively used within the incident organization;
7. Defend the advantages of Unified Command and list the kinds of situations that may call for a Unified Command Organization;
8. Critique how Unified Command functions on a multi-jurisdiction or multi-agency incident;
9. Assess the principal factors often found in or related to major and/or complex incidents/events;
10. Separate the four expansion options for incident/event organization and describe the conditions under which they would be applied;
11. Create a description of Area Command;
12. Outline the principal advantages of Area Command;
13. Hypothesize how, when, and where Area Command would be established;
14. Diagram the Area Command organization;
15. Analyze the six primary functional responsibilities of Area Command;
16. Assess the kinds of incident/event management problems that can occur due to a lack of multi-agency coordination;
17. Formulate guidelines for establishing and using multi-agency coordination groups and systems;
18. Assemble examples of the different levels at which multi-agency coordination is commonly accomplished;
19. Diagram the primary components of a multi-agency coordination system;
20. Develop and discuss examples of multi-agency coordination entities;
21. Investigate the principal positions within a multi-agency coordination system; and
22. Compare and contrast the differences between Area Command, Unified Command, and multi-agency coordination entities.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
      • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
        • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

          Articulation Information

          • Not Transferable

          Methods of Evaluation

          • Classroom Discussions
            • Example: In small group discussions, students are to identify and give specific examples of the primary functional responsibilities of area command in various emergency scenarios. Grading based on industry standard for correct responses.
          • Objective Examinations
            • Example: Students will take a multiple-choice examination on incident expansion and activation. Standard Grading. Example Question: Multi-agency coordination centers may be established through, A. Expanding an existing function, B. Activating a structure based on interagency agreements, C. Its mission, D. All of the above.
          • Projects
            • Example: Create a diagram of the necessary command and general staff needed in a unified command system to resolve a hazardous material incident on a railroad track through a university campus within the city limits of a city.

          Repeatable

          No

          Methods of Instruction

          • Lecture/Discussion

          Lecture:

          1. The instructor will lecture on unified command and area command systems. Class time will then be spent with the students analyzing which type of system would be best to implement for provided scenarios.
          2. The instructor will lead a discussion on expanding incidents. Students will then be broken into teams and provided scenarios and will answer what are the incident priorities, how will the organization be structured, how will the Operations section be set up, what facilities will be activated, how will the Incident Action Planning be done, and what are the top three management challenges? These answers will be shared in a classroom discussion.

          Typical Out of Class Assignments

          Reading Assignments

          1. The student will read the information in the text about agency representatives and develop a list of problems that an agency representative would be able to resolve. 2. The student will read the material in the text about the roles of deputies and assistants within the incident command system. They will then be prepared to discuss in class when deputies and assistants should be appointed for incidents and events.

          Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

          1. Develop an algorithm showing the flow of information from the Incident Commander down to the Strike Team Leader within a unified command system. 2. Develop an area command system for a provided simulated collapsed structure scenario.

          Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

          Required Materials

          • Advanced ICS I-400
            • Author: National Wildfire Coordinating Group
            • Publisher: US Government Printing Office
            • Publication Date: 2006
            • Text Edition:
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • National Incident Management System Principles and Practice
            • Author: Walsh, Christen, Lord, Miller, Maniscalo, Callsen, Dolan
            • Publisher: Jones & Bartlett
            • Publication Date: 2012
            • Text Edition: 2nd
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills
            • Author: International Associatioin of Fire Chiefs & National Fire Protection Association
            • Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Learning
            • Publication Date: 2017
            • Text Edition: 3rd
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:

          Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.