Joint emergency services control

The emergency services response at the scene of an incident is controlled by the joint emergency services control centre which consists of the silver-level commanders of each emergency service. The fire, jx)lice and ambulance commanders will be recognisable by their identifying tabards. Within the bronze area each service has a forward commander who is responsible to the commander at silver level. 

The emergency services responses at the scene are controlled by the individual service commanders, who together comprise the joint emergency services control centre or silver command. The silver commanders report to their gold command. Ambulance, police and fire commanders will usually be appointed. A medical incident commander will be appointed in incidents involving significant numbers of live casualties. 

The first priority is to establish control of the incident site and organise an appropriate command structure. This includes the establishment of a clearly marked location as an incident control point (ICP), sometimes referred to as the Joint Emergency Services Command Centre (JESCC), where the emergency services can meet to coordinate the response. In the case of a chemical incident this should be positioned upwind of fhe chemical release area and preferably in a hard-standing covered location. Specially designed mobile major incident rooms (MMIR) may be available. 

Note that the IPCS definition above means a chemical incident that has passed the control capability of one emergency service and requires a joint response. For large-scale toxic releases, this is usually the case. 

One means of addressing civil unrest is to develop a menu approach for joint action between law enforcement and fire/emergency medical service (EMS) agencies. A list of strategies that a community may adopt as is, or interchange as needed, is compiled. Even with this approach, joint action between police and fire personnel may not be the best strategy to control a particular situation. (In some circumstances, allowing the crisis to run its course may be the best policy.)... 

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