How is the Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) generally conducted during an evacuation?

The Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) is crucial for ensuring the safety of firefighters during emergency operations, especially during evacuations. Conducting a PAR after the evacuation is complete allows incident commanders to verify that all personnel have safely exited the hazardous area. This process provides an opportunity to account for team members, assess any potential missing personnel, and confirm that everyone is accounted for before any further action is taken.

Prioritizing a PAR at this stage helps in maintaining situational awareness and safety, as it allows for a comprehensive understanding of who is still on scene and who has successfully evacuated. This is critical in managing resources effectively and ensuring that no firefighter is left behind in a potentially dangerous situation. Conducting a PAR during or only alongside the evacuation process could lead to confusion and compromise the safety of personnel, whereas doing it before the evacuation signal would not provide accurate information about those who are still in the field.