Officer Assignments on Still and Box?

[redburgundy]

Today on a Chicago Still and Box (3033 S. Damen) I heard battalion chiefs assigned as the "Box Chief", the "Plans Chief", the "RIT Chief", etc. And eventually when it went to 2-11 a division chief arrived and assumed command.

Where I now come from, they assign officers to "fire attack", "safety", "water supply", etc. The RIT dispatch is a truck, a heavy rescue squad and and an ALS ambulance, without a chief.

Can someone remind me of the Chicago FD battalion chief assignments on working fires?

[werinshades]

Originally Posted by redburgundy

Today on a Chicago Still and Box (3033 S. Damen) I heard battalion chiefs assigned as the "Box Chief", the "Plans Chief", the "RIT Chief", etc. And eventually when it went to 2-11 a division chief arrived and assumed command.

Where I now come from, they assign officers to "fire attack", "safety", "water supply", etc. The RIT dispatch is a truck, a heavy rescue squad and and an ALS ambulance, without a chief.

Can someone remind me of the Chicago FD battalion chief assignments on working fires?

Box Chief is 2nd Chief to the fire and reports to Sector 3 (Rear of Building) to monitor fire progression and safety of firefighters. Makes sure a second ladder is thrown by the second truck company in the event the roof goes in.

Plans Chief reports to the Command Van and overseas and assumes communications duties.

R.I.T. (Rapid Intervention Team) Chief, and is assigned with a Truck Company, ALS ambulance, EMS Field Officer (R.I.T. Team)...the duty is to oversee and supervise in the event a firefighter is injured or needs assistance.

Hope this helps..

[redburgundy]

Thanks.
So, does the CFD have a department safety officer who responds to working fires? Or does the Box Chief act as safety officer for the entire incident?

[werinshades]

Originally Posted by redburgundy

Thanks.
So, does the CFD have a department safety officer who responds to working fires? Or does the Box Chief act as safety officer for the entire incident?

The Incident Commander (Highest Ranking Chief Officer who assumes command) is technically the Safety Officer, on all fires it's the first arriving Battalion Chief .The fire you mentioned went to a 2-11 alarm due to in-line operations. On a 2-11 a Safety Officer will automatically be notified to respond. If he/she sees something that compromises the safety of a member, than it is their duty to notify the Incident Commander. On holidays, after 1600 Hrs, their is a Safety Officer on call...or in our terminology "has the duty". Same goes for higher ranking chiefs. Don't know if you heard this part, but about 10 minutes into the 2-11, 2-1-26 arrived and stated "i'm assuming command". So if anything happened, it would have been his arse in the proverbial ringer first.

[redburgundy]

Yes, I heard 2-1-26 assume command on this incident.

Where I am, a responding official (or a captain) is specifically designated as safety officer by the incident command on a working fire until arrival of the department's on-duty safety officer.

What does "in-line operations" mean? Something related to water supply issues?

[werinshades]

Originally Posted by redburgundy

Yes, I heard 2-1-26 assume command on this incident.

Where I am, a responding official (or a captain) is specifically designated as safety officer by the incident command on a working fire until arrival of the department's on-duty safety officer.

What does "in-line operations" mean? Something related to water supply issues?

Yes...think of a conga line of engines supplying water.