The Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) is a safety procedure used primarily in firefighting to ensure the whereabouts and status of every individual on the incident scene are known. This systematic accounting of personnel is a fundamental safety mechanism designed to prevent any firefighter from becoming lost, trapped, or injured without the Incident Commander (IC) being immediately aware. The PAR system is an organized method for verifying the safety of every crew member operating in a hazardous environment. Its consistent use is a mandatory component of modern fireground management, reflecting the commitment to minimizing risk for personnel.
Defining the Personnel Accountability Report
The Personnel Accountability Report is a formal, systematic roll call conducted by the Incident Commander (IC) to confirm the welfare of all assigned personnel at an emergency incident. This structured process requires supervisors to account for their assigned crews and report the findings up the chain of command to the IC. The information reported during a PAR is specific, including the unit’s identification, the current location or sector of operation, the total number of crew members accounted for, and often the air supply status of those using self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). A PAR serves as a periodic, formal status check required at specific operational benchmarks, distinct from continuous tracking systems.
The Foundational Importance of Accountability
The PAR procedure is rooted in the core safety philosophy of the Incident Command System (ICS), which mandates a disciplined approach to managing emergency scene operations. The Personnel Accountability System (PAS), of which PAR is a component, improves the safety of emergency responders by tracking their locations and assignments. Accountability supports the calculated risk management inherent in firefighting, often summarized by the principle of “risk a lot to save a savable life.” It ensures that if a firefighter is lost or in distress, the command structure can quickly identify who is missing and where they were last operating. The system also enforces team integrity, helping to eliminate “freelancing,” the unsafe practice of operating independently.
Standard Situations Requiring a PAR
A Personnel Accountability Report is triggered by specific operational events, known as benchmarks, that indicate a significant change in scene conditions or strategy. The Incident Commander is mandated to call for a PAR in the following standard situations:
When there is a sudden, hazardous event like a flashover, backdraft, or structural collapse.
When the overall tactical strategy changes, such as moving from an aggressive interior attack (offensive mode) to an exterior defense (defensive mode).
At regular, predetermined intervals, often every 20 or 30 minutes of elapsed time during a working incident.
Any time a Mayday is called or a report of a missing or trapped firefighter is received.
When an emergency evacuation is ordered.
Executing the Personnel Accountability Procedure
The execution of a PAR is a systematic, radio-based communication procedure that follows the established chain of command to minimize radio traffic and maximize clarity. The Incident Commander (IC) initiates the process by announcing the request for a PAR to all Sector or Division Supervisors. Each Supervisor conducts a rapid roll call of the assigned companies and crew members, confirming visual contact with each individual where possible.
Once the count is complete, the Supervisor reports the status back to the IC or the Accountability Officer. A successful report includes the unit identifier, the location or division, and the number of personnel accounted for, such as “Engine 1, PAR successful, four personnel accounted for, operating on Division C.” This methodical communication verifies accountability at the task, tactical, and strategic levels.
Systems Used for Tracking Firefighters
Fire departments utilize continuous tracking systems to maintain real-time accountability throughout the incident, supplementing the periodic PAR procedure. The most common manual system is the passport or tag system, where each firefighter is issued multiple personal accountability tags (PATs) engraved with their name and unit.
Upon entering a hazardous area, or “hot zone,” firefighters place a tag on a physical board or “passport” that is monitored by an Accountability Officer near the entry point. These physical Command Boards track which companies are operating in which sector, their time of entry, and the number of personnel assigned to them. Modern departments increasingly incorporate autonomous or hybrid systems, which may use radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips, GPS, or telemetry integrated into SCBA packs to automatically transmit a firefighter’s location and air pressure to a digital dashboard.
Actions Following an Incomplete or Failed PAR
An incomplete or failed PAR is immediately treated as a confirmed emergency situation on the fireground, triggering a rapid sequence of safety actions. A failure occurs if a crew member cannot be accounted for, or if a company officer cannot confirm the visual safety of their entire crew.
The protocol mandates the immediate activation and deployment of the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), a dedicated team of firefighters on standby for rescuing lost or trapped personnel. The Incident Commander escalates the incident, and the Safety Officer assumes a focused role in the rescue efforts, often silencing all non-emergency radio traffic. The RIT is deployed to the last reported working area of the unaccounted-for personnel to begin search and rescue operations.