What should an officer in charge do if an apparatus responds with less than the minimum number of qualified personnel?

When an apparatus responds with less than the minimum number of qualified personnel, the officer in charge should notify Dispatch and request an additional unit. This action is crucial because operating with insufficient personnel may compromise both the safety of firefighters and the efficiency of the response to an incident.

By requesting additional support, the officer ensures that the team can effectively manage the situation, adhere to safety protocols, and provide the necessary resources to handle the emergency appropriately. This protocol aligns with the principle of maintaining adequate staffing levels to ensure both operational effectiveness and the safety of all personnel involved.

Proceeding with operations or returning to the station would not adequately address the staffing shortfall, potentially leading to dangerous situations for both firefighters and civilians. Marking the unit as out of service would limit available resources unnecessarily if additional personnel can quickly be dispatched. Thus, notifying Dispatch fosters teamwork and enhances overall incident management.