SOG 1-03 ENGINE COMPANY OPERATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A. Scope:
This operational guideline shall be utilized for Engine Company Operations. Firefighters must
possess the skills required to fulfill their designated riding assignment and assume that
responsibility when boarding the apparatus to ensure a safe, coordinated, and effective fire
ground operations.
B. Guidelines:
1. Radio Designations:
a. The radio designation for all positions will be the title of the riding
positions preceded by the apparatus number; i.e. Engine 14 Irons or
Engine 14 Officer, etc.
b. It is imperative that the full designation is used and not just “14 Officer or
14 Irons” as other apparatus have the same riding assignments.
2. Apparatus Placement:
a. The IC or Company Officer may order engine companies to locate
differently due to preplans, building size, scouting reports, access, etc.
b. The first arriving engine will pull past or stop short of the fire building
ensuring significant room for the first arriving ladder company.
c. The second arriving engine will proceed to the closest water supply unless
otherwise ordered.
d. Later arriving engines should consider staging away from the fire
incident until Incident Command has assigned fire attack and water
supply orders.
e. Additional considerations of the Engine Driver should be:
i. to minimize obstructing pathways to the fire building for incoming apparatus.
ii. to move supply lines to the side of the road before charging.
iii. to not park behind apparatus impeding ground ladder or
equipment removal.
iv. to allow for apparatus movement once orders are assigned or changed and/or to stay outside the fire building collapse zone.
3. Engine Company Responsibilities
a. The first arriving Engine Company will:
i. Respond and if necessary and if possible, lay a supply line from the
closest/best hydrant and proceed to pull just beyond the fire building
ii. Give a preliminary report on the nature and conditions of the event
and if a fire is confirmed, notify County Communications Center to
dispatch the “All Hands Operating” box assignment.
iii. Assume Incident Command until an Officer arrives and assumes
command as the “Officer in Charge” of the incident.
iv. Effect rescue as necessary.
v. Establish a water supply (if hydrant available) and stretch an
appropriate size hose line to the fire.
vi. Proceed to extinguish the fire and perform other engine company
operations.
b. The 2nd arriving Engine will typically:
i. Secure a water supply for the 1st Due Engine.
ii. Aid the 1st Due Engine with placing attack line in operation.
iii. Perform all the same riding assignments but on the secondary or
back up line.
c. The 3rd and 4th arriving Engine Companies will typically:
i. Shall perform duties as ordered by the Incident Commander
ii. Deploy a back up hose line to protect attack crews,
iii. Securing additional water supplies,
iv. Recon in exposures or on non-fire floors,
v. Deploy an attack hose line to other areas of the incident such
as above the fire floor,
vi. Relieve initial attack crews, perform searches, salvage and overhaul
4. Engine Company Riding Assignments
a. Driver
i. Tool Assignment
(a) SCBA (if conditions dictate)
(b) Radio
(c) Light
(d) Vest
(e) Cones
ii. Responsibilities
(a) Safe arrival at the scene
(b) Proper apparatus placement
(c) Secure a water supply
(d) Secure the FD connection when needed
(e) Operate the pump
(f) Coordinate an additional water supply (as needed)
(g) Establish lighting and immediate traffic control measures
b. Officer
i. Tool Assignment
(a) SCBA
(b) Radio
(c) Light
(d) Thermal Imaging Camera
(e) Flathead Axe (Irons team with LINEMAN)
ii. Apartment or High-Rise Operations
(a) 3” Supply and Gated Wye
iii. Responsibilities
(a) Establish command if not already established
(b) Perform initial size up
(c) Report nature and conditions
(d) Effect obvious rescues
(e) Select the size and length of attack line
(f) Coordinate the line deployment and fire attack
(g) Ensure accountability
c. Nozzle man
i. Tool Assignment
(a) SCBA
(b) Radio
(c) Light
(d) Hose line
ii. Apartment or High-Rise Operations
(a) High Rise Pack
iii. Responsibilities
(a) Effect obvious rescues
(b) Deploy and position the first 1/3rd of line
(c) Operate nozzle and direct fire attack
(d) Confine and extinguish fire
d. Lineman
i. Tool Assignment
(a) SCBA
(b) Radio
(c) Light
(d) Halligan (Irons team with OFFICER)
ii. Apartment or High-Rise Operations
(a) High Rise Pack
(b) Rabbit Tool (On Squad 14 only)
iii. Responsibilities
(a) Effect obvious rescues
(b) Assist the OFFICER with size up
(c) Perform any initial force entry as needed
(d) Ensure line is flaked out and no kinks are present
(e) Position behind the NOZZLE MAN once entry is made
(f) Ensure movement of attack line between NOZZLE MAN and CONTROL MAN
e. Hydrant man
i. Tool Assignment
(a) SCBA
(b) Radio
(c) Light
(d) Hydrant Bag (hydrant and spanner wrenches, rubber
mallet, adapters)
(e) Supply line
(f) Hand tool (upon entry into fire building)
ii. Responsibilities
(a) Secure the hydrant water supply
(b) Flush Hydrant
(c) Charge the hydrant when ordered by the DRIVER
(d) Assist DRIVER/CONTROL (as needed)
(e) Effect obvious rescues
(f) Assist with hose line advancement
f. Control man
i. Tool Assignment
(a) SCBA
(b) Radio
(c) Light
(d) 6’ Hook
(e) PW Can
ii. Apartment or High-Rise Operations
(a) High Rise Pack
(b) Standpipe bag (crescent wrench, gated wye, spanner wrench, pressure gauge, 20’ leader line – (1 . )
(c) Connect and manage the standpipe and hose
iii. Responsibilities
(a) Ensure that all of the line is deployed from its bed
(b) Ensure movement of attack line between the apparatus and
the LINEMAN (Last 1/3rd of line)
(c) Ensure no kinks and line movement in/out
(d) Maintain secondary egress for hose team
(e) Effect obvious rescues
g. Exterior Firefighters
i. Tool Assignment
(a) Radio
(b) Light
ii. Responsibilities
(a) Assist with hose deployment
(b) Hydrant command
(c) Assist with deploying equipment
(d) Assist driver with operations
(e) Deploy cones and assist with traffic
(f) Assist with SCBA exchange
(g) Assist with Firefighter rehab
(h) Assist IC with operations
Safety, Accountability, Radio Monitoring, Staging
NOTE: Assignments can be amended by the orders of the Truck Company, Officer or Incident Commander as incident needs arise.