UKFSSART is co-ordinated by the 'Operational Practices' section of HM Fire Services Inspectorate, who act under the directions of a 'Policy Group' of Chief Fire Officers. The Co-ordinator works through a 'Practioners Group' at which all participating brigades are represented. The role of the Practioners Group is to translate policy decisions into practical applications. It does this through regional working parties that delegate specific tasks to individuals or groups and bring the completed tasks back to the Practioners Group. Most team members within UKFSSART assume an administrative role at some time to ensure the work delegated to these working groups is completed in a satisfactory manner.

The following diagram illustrates the Administrative structure:

The SAR team is composed of two functional components as well as a management component that supports the Team Commander by undertaking the safety/security, information and planning, liaison and public information functions.

SEARCH FUNCTION

Each of the component teams has personnel who are trained in all aspects of technical search using thermal imaging cameras, acoustic and vibration sensitive equipment, video probes and other hi-tec search equipment. Personnel are organised into search crews under the supervision of a crew commander. The search crews can combine with dog teams and other agencies.

RESCUE FUNCTION

Other team members are organised into rescue crews in order to effect a rescue once missing persons are located. All UKFSSART team members are required to have multi-disciplinary skills in order that teams are operationally flexible. A search team may change to a rescue team easily - dependent on operational circumstances. The search function also may call upon doctors or other medical personnel within the flexible command system.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

Team Management ensures that all functional areas coordinate operations. Search and rescue crews may be grouped together in designated 'sectors' of operations where they will be supervised by a 'Sector Commander'. The Sector Commanders will in turn report to and co-ordinate with an 'Operations Commander' whose task is to control all tactical operations. The Operations Commander reports to the Team Commander whose role is strategic planning and decision-making.

The Team Commander is directly assisted by a 'Command Support' team of two or three personnel. These personnel can be drawn from component teams or assigned specifically to the role. Their role is to ensure co-ordination with other agencies including LEMA and UN OSOCC. They also deal with the documentation of events, ensuring that information released to the media is accurate and coordinated with other agencies, developing and maintaining communications plans and equipment, managing logistical supply and resupply issues, and the maintaining security of the Base of Operations.

The command and control structure is based firmly on the Incident Command System (ICS) which has been adopted by the British Fire Service and is in use across the whole of the UK.

The following diagram illustrates the Operational Command Structure: