What is the purpose of the Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)?

The Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) is designed primarily to track personnel at incidents. This function is critical for maintaining the safety and accountability of firefighters during emergency operations. By accounting for all personnel on scene, the PAR ensures that each member is identified and accounted for, which is essential in case of emergencies such as injuries or unaccounted personnel due to changing circumstances during the incident.

This tracking process helps incident commanders maintain awareness of who is actively engaged in operations, facilitating safe practices and ensuring that all personnel can be located quickly if needed, such as during an evacuation or in the event of a critical situation. The ability to account for each firefighter contributes significantly to operational safety and effectiveness, as it allows for better coordination of resources and response efforts.