A dozen volunteer firefightersfrom Cut Knife received certificates on the successful completion of the ICS 100 course June 20.
ICS stand for "Incident Command System", and it is a 17-module, self-study course, that is part of the Emergency Preparedness Training Program.
ICS Orientation is intended for personnel assigned to an incident or event, who have a minimum requirement for understanding ICS, and where they learn the principles of the incident command system and to acquaint them with the basic ICS structure and terminology.
This course also provides enough information about the incident command system to enable firefighters to work in a support role at an incident or event, or to support an incident from an off-site location.
This course was developed through the National Training Working Group after the need was identified by the resource management working group (comprised of member agencies of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre), for an incident management system that not only harmonizes operations across Canada, but was consistent with US agencies. The primary modifications made to the Canadian Curriculum are in the areas of specific terminology, for example, FAA to Transport Canada, use of metric measurement and in the site support elements to reflect Canadian usage of emergency centres.
An ICS is based on a flexible response organization providing a common framework within which people can work together effectively. ICS is also designed to give standard response and operation procedures to reduce the problems and potential for miscommunications on such incidents.
ICS has been summarized as a "first on scene" structure where the first responder to a scene has charge of the scene until the incident has been declared resolved, a superior-ranking responder arrives on the scene and receives command, or the incident commander appoints another individual incident commander.
Incidents are defined within ICS as unplanned situations necessitating a response. Here are a few examples of suchincidents: emergency medical situations; hazardous material spills; terrorist attacks; natural disasters such as wildfires, flooding, earthquakes or tornadoes; man made disasters such as vehicle crashes, industrial accidents, train derailments or structure fires; and search and rescue operations, to name a few.
The firefighters of Cut Knife completed the first of the 17-module course, and plan to complete the whole course. Way to go, firefighters. We are proud of you.
