HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 501.02 NEW 6-2016_Food UnitSOG 501.02 — Managing Incident Food Services & Food Unit Activation
Effective. 6/5/2016
Revised: f� (Y-4
Replaces: III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III III
I. Guiding PhilosophX
Responders working at prolonged emergency incidents need provisions to maintain their
strength, stamina and focus. We do our best to efficiently and ethically provide appropriate levels
of food service support so that responders are able to safely and effectively serve customers, and
so that we utilize the resources we are allocated appropriately.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the management of incident food
service needs, and the parameters and responsibilities associated with Food Unit activation.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. Discuss options for managing food service needs at prolonged incidents.
B. Communicate Food Unit activation parameters and implementation process.
C. Outline Dispatcher responsibilities.
D. Outline Food Unit responsibilities.
IV. Definitions
A. CAD — acronym for Computer Aided Dispatch; software used by emergency
communications dispatchers, call -takers, and 911 operators in public -safety call
centers for call input, call dispatching, call status maintenance, event notes, field
unit status and tracking, and call resolution and disposition.
B. Food Unit — fire department members tasked with providing food services to
incident personnel during a prolonged incident.
C. Food Services — approved food and beverage items as defined by this policy.
D. Prolonged Incident — incident that has exceeded three (3) hours in duration and
expected to extend four (4) or more hours.
E. Procurement Card — a City of Beaumont credit card, with set limits and
restrictions on its use.
F. Responsible Party — the person or entity that is financially responsible for all
costs associated with the incident.
NOTES:
• During prolonged incidents, food services support may be required to insure effective
operations and worker health and safety.
• Under ICS, when the Logistics Section is stood up during a prolonged incident, responsibility for
the Food Unit is assigned to the Logistics Section Chief (or the Services Branch Director when
this position is filled).
If the Logistics Section has not been stood up, the Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for
addressing these needs, when required. The IC should consider the options outlined in this
policy for providing food services support, including activating the Food Unit, if there is no
other effective means of providing this support.
V. Options for Managing Incident Food Services at Prolonged Incidents
A. The Incident Commander should consider food service needs early in a response
that meets the definition of prolonged incident above.
The IC should begin rotating available crews to the incident for relief, if
feasible.
2. If crews cannot be relieved, the IC should consider options for providing
food service support to responders.
B. The Incident Commander's Options for Providing Food Services at Prolonged
Incidents
1. Determine whether a Responsible Party will provide canteen services if:
a. The incident is located at an industrial facility or complex.
b. Members are providing mutual aid to another jurisdiction.
2. Request the Dispatcher to (in priority order):
a. Determine the availability of Red Cross or Salvation Army
canteen services.
b. Notify the City Emergency Management Coordinator to request
food services support.
c. Activate the Food Unit utilizing personnel from the Logistics -
Support Branch.
3. As a final option, IC may task on -duty Operations Section personnel to
stand up the Food Unit (only consider if adequate Operations Section
SOG 501.02 — Managing Incident Food Services & Food Unit Activation Page 2 of 6
personnel are on -duty to cover the prolonged incident and continuity of
operations City-wide).
VI. Food Unit Activation Parameters and General Implementation Process
A. Fire department personnel will be responsible for standing up the Food Unit
during prolonged incidents only i canteen services are not available through:
1. A Responsible Party
2. Red Cross
3. Salvation Army
B. Requests for Food Unit activation will be made through the Fire -EMS
Communications Center (Services Branch).
C. Food Unit activation may only be requested by the:
1. Incident Commander
2. Ranking Officer deployed on Mutual Aid Given incidents
3. City Emergency Management Coordinator
D. The IC will provide an estimate of the number of responders requiring food
services support. The estimate should cover the following responders who are
assigned to the incident:
1. Beaumont Fire -Rescue responders
2. Beaumont EMS responders assisting with treatment and rehab operations
3. Responders from other fire or EMS organization providing mutual aid
received (those assisting the fire department per the City of Beaumont's
request)
E. When a request for Food Unit activation is received, the Dispatch Supervisor will
insure:
1. Required activation information is collected.
2. Required approvals are obtained.
3. Necessary notifications are made.
4. The request and/or Food Unit activation is properly documented in the
CAD system.
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F. When the Food Unit will be staffed using Logistics Section personnel, the first
Logistics Section Chief Officer notified by Fire -EMS Communications will be
responsible for standing up the unit and adherence to Section VIII of this policy.
All Support Branch personnel are subject to call back to assist in
implementing this service.
2. During normal business hours, the Food Unit will be staffed by on -duty
Support Branch personnel using Supply and/or Training Group vehicles.
3. After hours, travel time of responding Support Branch personnel will be
considered when determining Food Unit call back and staffing.
NOTE:
After normal business hours, the IC should expect a minimum two (2)
hour delay for Logistics Section personnel to be called back to duty,
make purchases, and arrive at the incident.
G. If the IC tasks on -duty Operations Section personnel to staff the Food Unit, he/she
will insure adherence to Section VIII of this policy.
VII. Dispatcher Responsibilities
A. Dispatchers will:
1. Monitor incident duration times.
2. Prompt the IC when an operational period exceeds three (3) hours.
a. Request a forecast of expected incident duration (over 4 hours?)
b. If incident duration is expected to be greater than four hours,
prompt the IC to consider food services options.
3. Monitor status and incident duration times of responders deployed out of
the City to mutual aid given incidents. Contact the on -duty Deputy Chief
if food services will be required.
B. Dispatchers will collect and enter the following information to document Food
Unit activations in CAD:
1. Number of personnel requiring food services
2. Estimated duration of incident at the time of Food Unit activation
3. Location for Food Unit personnel to respond, if different than the incident
address
C. After receiving a Food Unit activation request, the Dispatcher Supervisor will
insure the request is approved by the (contact in priority order):
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1. On -duty Deputy Chief, and either the
2. Assistant Fire Chief, or
3. Fire Chief
D. When activation of the Food Unit is approved, the Dispatch Supervisor will insure
notification of, and provide a status report to the (contact in priority order):
1. Support Branch Director, or
2. Logistics Section Chief, or
3. Services Branch Director
E. After the Food Units is deployed, Dispatchers will provide status updates to the
IC or ranking Officer on a mutual aid given response until the Food Unit arrives
at the incident.
F. Dispatchers should monitor incident traffic for changes that may affect the
amount of food needed, and prompt the IC for this information, as necessary.
VIII. Food Unit Responsibilities
A. The ranking Officer responding to the activation will be assigned as Food Unit
Leader for the incident.
B. The items below are approved for purchase by the Food Unit in quantities
necessary to support the number of City and mutual aid responders and support
personnel assigned to the incident.
1. Bottled water or electrolyte drinks
2. Fast food meals
3. Sack lunches — deli type
4. Pizza
5. Snack items (salted peanuts, fruit, granola bars, etc...)
6. Ice (if not available at Fire Station #1 or other City Departments)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
• Items not listed above will require approval prior to being
purchased.
• No sales tax charges are allowed on procurement card purchases,
this should be clarified with vendors prior to initiating any
purchase.
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C. Options for Purchasing Food Unit Items
1. Purchase allowable items (bottled water, electrolyte drinks, etc.) from
a nearby vendor using an individually -assigned City procurement card.
2. Purchase approved items from a nearby fast food or deli type
restaurant using:
a. City procurement card (must call Purchasing to request
restrictions be temporarily lifted)
b. Personal cash or credit card (see note below regarding
reimbusement).
NOTE:
If the situation requires use personal cash or credit card and
the vendor charges sales tax, provide the details of the
situation when turning in the receipt so that reimbursement
of taxes may be properly addressed by Finance.
D. The Food Unit Leader will be responsible for keeping the Unit's status updated
with Fire -EMS Communications at all times, and will report to Command upon
arrival at the incident.
E. After reporting at the incident, the Food Unit will operate under the Incident
Command System until properly released or relieved.
F. All receipts will be maintained by the Food Unit Leader and will be provided to
Fire Purchasing no later than 1000 hours the following business day.
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