When should PARs be conducted during operations in a dangerous building?

Conducting a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) is critical in maintaining safety and ensuring that all firefighters are accounted for, especially during operations in an inherently dangerous environment like a building fire. The practice of conducting PARs at every 20-minute interval strikes a balance between vigilance and operational efficiency.

Regularly conducting PARs every 20 minutes allows incident commanders to ascertain whether all personnel are safe and have not become trapped or incapacitated. This timeframe allows enough time for significant progress on operations while also ensuring frequent checks that minimize risks.

Establishing a set period for PARs is essential in situations where conditions can change rapidly, and the risk to firefighters is heightened. While shorter intervals might provide even more immediate accounting, they could result in unnecessary disruption to operations or prevent fire crews from completing tasks effectively. Likewise, longer intervals could increase the risk of accountability lapses, potentially endangering personnel. Therefore, the choice of conducting PARs every 20 minutes aligns well with established protocols for maintaining personnel accountability without compromising operational effectiveness.