Duties By Position
Engine Company
By Lt. David Polikoff
Although not as many jobs as the truck company, the engine company has it's share of jobs to do. How can we ensure the tasks of the engine company will be accomplished? One easy way is to have an established duties by position. The title means just as it reads. There are duties to be accomplished by the engine company and we will assign said duties by our riding position.
Duties by position are in effect all over the country. This is not a new concept. Most metropolitan cities use them. Each member is assigned a duty at the beginning of the shift and that is their job for the entire tour. It does not matter if you are a career, volunteer or combination dept. the concept of duties by position can work for you.
Lets break down the engine company and apply duties by position. Please remember this is what my view is. This is not set in stone please tweak the concept to fit you dept. needs.
3 Man Engine Company
Driver- Operate the vehicle safely and run the pumps.
Officer- Obtain running route, layout supply line, bring 4' hook portable radio (if not running with a truck company bring forcible entry equipment) assist with stretching the initial attack line. Force door if needed. Lead crew. Act as backup man
Line man (3rd)-bring portable radio (if provided) pull line as ordered operate nozzle
4 Man Engine Company
Driver- Same as above
Officer-Same as above excluding layout
Line Man-Same as above
Layout (4th)-Lay a supply when ordered. Charge the supply line. Assist with feeding attack line (doorman)
5 and 6 Man Engine
Driver- Same
Officer-Same excluding layout and backing up the line man
Line Man- Same
4th (Backup Man)- Assist with the initial line stretch. Back up the line man
5th (Layout)-Layout supply when ordered. Charge the supply line
6th (Utility)- Assist driver if needed, assist with feeding hose, throw ladders, outside vent.
When running with 3 some dept. have the driver to layout and some have the line man to lay out. It is up to the dept. It is important to remember, if your truck company or rescue squad are coming from a distance you as the engine will need to engage in some truck company duties, like force entry, throw ladders, horizontal ventilation. I don't think there is a dept. out there that would sit in the front lawn and watch a house burn down because you could not get the door open.
The bottom line duties by position works. In a time where we have 2 in 2 out and RIC, crew integrity is of the utmost importance. By using duties by position you can ensure not only the tasks are being accomplished, but you also know where your personnel are operating. It is a great way to ensure the jobs on the fire ground are getting done, and also assists the incident commander with personnel accountability. It is important to ensure that your people know their duties for the spot they are riding and that they are capable of carrying out their job. Be safe.