By John M. Moschella
Consider this scenario: An incident comman-der (IC) has a multiple-alarm fire in his community. As the fire rages out of control, the IC is faced not only with critical decisions that will affect the outcome of the incident but also with logistical problems. From where is the help coming? Is special equipment out there and available? If this is a long-duration incident, who is going to feed the personnel? Perhaps most importantly, how can the various agencies on-scene communicate?
These are just a few of the problems an IC will encounter at any large-scale incident. Until just recently, they were the sole responsibility of the person in charge of the incident.
In 1999, the Massachusetts fire service realized the vision of a state-funded vehicle and team that could respond to support any incident—a fully mobile incident support unit (ISU). The purpose of the ISU is to provide the local command structure with specialized resources necessary to coordinate the response of multiple agencies to significant events within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This is accomplished with an emphasis on local control and high regard for customer service.
“The ISU is a resource no individual community could provide or justify for itself. It is more than a vehicle, since it comes with a team of operators, which enhances and maximizes the mutual-aid system the fire service has in place,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan.
The ISU with its technical support team responds to requests from the IC at any incident to provide wide-ranging support for and coordination of many functions, as well as offer numerous resources. Some of the services offered include incident documentation, resource inventory control, unified command support, communication, and use of the ISU’s facilities and equipment.
The vehicle is available to support any major incident, including fires, searches for missing persons, manmade and natural disasters, large-scale public events, multiple fatality and extended duration events, as well as incidents where multiple agencies are operating. In addition, the unit can be used for nonemergency events, such as the Boston Marathon and the July 4th Esplanade Concert.
There is no charge or fee associated with the use of the vehicle and support team. Because the ISU is under the auspices of the Department of Fire Services, it can respond anywhere throughout the Commonwealth. This is a benefit when coordinating multiple state agencies, such as fire departments providing mutual aid, hazardous materials response teams, state police fire investigators, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The ISU is truly a support team and will not respond to and take control of any incident.
 Photos by Bob Soper. |
null
THE VEHICLE
The vehicle has a 40-foot-long, 11-foot-10-inch-high custom body with a 300-hp diesel engine. Its primary electrical feed is a 35,000-watt power takeoff generator, and it has an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) unit to power all the radios, telephones, and computers. A 12.5 diesel generator equipped with remote startup backs up the UPS. Also, part of the vehicle has a 200-amp entrance cabinet for hookup to public utility companies. The vehicle is located in the central part of the state at the Fire Academy in Stow and is available for statewide support.
 |
All functions inside the ISU are monitored, and two security cameras are mounted on the exterior of the vehicle. The design of the interior wiring was completed in-house with the intention of allowing easier access and troubleshooting.
 |
With more than $1 million worth of equipment onboard, the ISU offers considerable hi-tech support to any incident. The vehicle is divided into two general areas. The front portion is a fully equipped conference room, providing video, telephone, and radio communication from which to manage an incident. The rear section is the communication center. Two radio consoles provide low, high, ultra-high, and 800 frequency communication and represent the brain center of the unit. These frequencies cover all fire departments statewide, including ITAC (National Itinerant Mutual Tactical Channel), local public safety channels, and marine channels as well as such state agencies as the Department of Fire Serv-ices, Massachusetts Emergency Manage-ment Agency, State Police, Massachusetts Highway, and U.S. Coast Guard.
 |
In addition to the main consoles, the ISU has an expanding cache of portable radios. Spare batteries are available for prolonged incidents, in addition to on-board charging. An office-style phone system accommodates 20 hard-wired incoming telephone lines as well as cell phones and one satellite phone, all of which can be transferred and recorded. There is one secure phone line also available.
Incident documentation and resource inventory control use customized logging software to track the supplies. The unit also has a tagging system for supplies and resources used during the course of the incident.
The computer system, consisting of three personal computers, is networked through one server and has the ability to print, fax, and provide copies. The ISU is also equipped with a computerized weather-monitoring system.
Video recording, by way of a 30-foot mast camera, allows the command staff to monitor the surrounding area. Moreover, the vehicle has the capability to downlink from such apparatus as the state police helicopter infrared camera. Using a port-able antenna, the unit also has the ability to receive through portable-antenna thermal images and route them to monitors, both inside and outside, or project them through an LCD projector onto the panaboard in the conference room.
The ISU also has its own cameras for use, such as a digital video, two digital still, and two instant cameras. Other equipment in the vehicle includes a public address system, a megaphone, and two incident command system vest sets.
One additional benefit of the ISU is the ability to set up an outside operations center—including telephones, radios, and video monitors—under an enclosed awning. This allows for virtually separate but connected operation centers to simultaneously operate.
TEAM MAKEUP
ISU personnel are assigned to four groups of approximately 10 technicians each. The four groups are divided geographically into north, south, central, and west districts. In turn, each group is further broken down into five member teams. The response team sets up a rotating schedule for responses. Members are compensated by the Department of Fire Services for all activations and training.
There are four defined tiers of response for the ISU. A Tier One Res-ponse includes a driver and a maximum of three to four technicians. A Tier Two Response applies to a more complex operation and requires the remainder of the staff from the district and the technical support staff. In a Tier Three Response, all team members statewide are placed on alert that an incident has grown and is expected to exceed 14 hours and it is probable that other teams may be activated within 24 hours. A Tier Four Response entails multiple-team activation for long-term operations.
Team members are notified through MEMA via pagers for Tier One and Tier Two responses. Subsequent, activations are made through the ISU.
Fire chief officers from the state comprise the positions of operations chief (OC) and liaison chief (LC). The OC works in and around the ISU in a floating position and coordinates operations with the fire marshal, deputy marshal, and unit coordinator. The OC works as a buffer from the conference area to the operators in the communication area and helps to make necessary decisions pertaining to the ISU and its operations at an incident.
The LC works directly with the IC at an incident scene and is the only means of communication between the incident command staff and the ISU and its team members. The LC provides periodic briefings relative to team activity and capabilities and also provides the OC with status reports.
The Department of Fire Services has technical support personnel on call within the following areas: communications, technology, critical incident stress management, chaplain’s services, and public information. Should a specific need arise, the OC will communicate these needs to the marshal and see that the appropriate personnel are contacted.
TRAINING
All team members completed a 24-hour training program on incident support operations. This included eight hours of classroom, eight hours of skill development, and eight hours of practical application. Members’ skills were tested through a written and practical examination. All LCs were required to attend a training program that addressed incident operations. In addition, the team meets at least quarterly for training updates and changes in operating procedures.
With the arrival of new equipment, there may be a need for added training sessions. Again, it is imperative that every team member be fully familiar with all the equipment onboard.
SUPPORT FOR THE UNIT
Support for the ISU began slowly, apparently because of many chiefs’ reluctance to accept an innovation. Nevertheless, acceptance has grown with the understanding that the objective of the ISU is to support the incident rather than usurp the IC’s authority.
The prospect for the ISU is bright. Requests for the unit—not only at emergency but also regularly scheduled events—have increased. From its planning stages to its inception, the ISU has provided the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with professional and competent assistance; with the expectation of even more mobilizations and appropriate funding, it will continue to do so.
Thanks to Firefighters Chris Possi and David Houghton of the mobile incident support unit for their assistance with this article.
JOHN M. MOSCHELLA is a 24-year veteran of the Revere (MA) Fire Department, where he serves as deputy chief and group commander. A member of the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Incident Support Unit, he is a nationally certified fire inspector II and fire officer II and a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Moschella has a master’s degree in fire administration from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, and an associate’s degree in fire science and technology from Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
