Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)

What Is Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)?

A Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) is a roll call, conducted by radio, in which each company officer or crew leader confirms to Incident Command that all personnel assigned to their unit are accounted for. Incident Command calls for a PAR at defined intervals, after any significant event (flashover, partial collapse, a Mayday declaration, or a change in strategy from offensive to defensive), and before crews are released from an assignment, as required under the incident's personnel accountability system (NFPA 1550).

Why Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) Matters on the Fireground

A PAR is the mechanism that turns a general assumption that everyone is fine into a confirmed fact; calling for PAR immediately after a Mayday or a sudden change in fireground conditions is often what first reveals that a specific crew is unaccounted for, which is the trigger for RIT deployment before a delayed, informal head count would have caught it.

Relevant NFPA Standards

• NFPA 1550: Standard for Emergency Responder Health and Safety

Field Procedures & Tactical Steps

1. Incident Command calls for PAR at defined intervals, per department SOP.
2. Call for an immediate PAR after any Mayday declaration, flashover, partial or full collapse, or strategy change.
3. Each company officer/crew leader confirms all assigned personnel are accounted for by radio.
4. Any crew that cannot confirm PAR triggers immediate follow-up and potential RIT activation.

Common Context & Application

Called by Incident Command at routine intervals and immediately after any significant fireground event; a missing PAR from any crew is a direct trigger for RIT deployment.

Frequently Asked Questions about Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)