When should personnel accountability reports (PAR) be conducted?

Personnel accountability reports (PAR) are critical for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of fireground operations. They should be conducted after significant operational changes to assess the accountability of all personnel on scene. Significant operational changes can include events such as transitioning from an offensive to a defensive strategy, changes in command, or when there has been a deployment of resources that could affect the number of personnel in a particular area.

By performing a PAR at these crucial junctions, the incident commander can verify that all firefighters are accounted for and ensure that the safety of personnel is maintained. This practice helps to avoid confusion and enhances overall situational awareness, allowing for timely adjustments in strategy and resource allocation. Conducting PARs only at the beginning or end of shifts or incidents does not address the dynamic nature of firefighting operations where conditions can rapidly change, necessitating real-time accountability measures.