CULPEPER COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION, INC. Standard Operating Guidelines CHAPTER: Operations SUBJECT: Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) WRITTEN BY: Fire Committee SUPERSEDES: NUMBER O-09-03 PAGE: 1 of APPROVED BY: On Original EFFECTIVE DATE: September 14 th 2009 President 1. Purpose: To establish a procedure for command and firefighters to assist them with the rescue of personnel who may become trapped or missing while operating in a hazardous environment. 2. Definitions: 2.1. Trigger - an action or circumstance that initiates a given response. 2.2. Mayday - term used only to report firefighters who are lost, trapped, or in a life threatening situation. 2.3. Emergency Traffic - term used to communicate any urgent or important message other than a lost or trapped firefighter. 2.4. Heavy Rescue Capability - a fire and rescue response unit equipped to perform structural collapse rescue. This unit should be capable of cutting, breaching, and lifting light-frame or reinforced masonry building components and/or building contents such as furniture or appliances. 2.5. RIT - Rapid Intervention Team- A Team consisting of at least a three member crew, to include two firefighters and one fire officer, that is immediately available to respond to requests for help from lost, trapped or incapacitated firefighters. 2.6. PAR - Personnel Accountability Roll call. 3. Policy: This procedure shall apply to all fire and rescue departments operating in Culpeper County when operating in an immediate danger to life and health (IDLH). This policy has been established mainly for structure fires. Although it is useable in hazardous materials operations, confined space entry, structural collapses, or any other emergency incident where there is a great risk for firefighters to become lost or trapped. Page 1 of 5
4. Guidelines 4.1. Background: There is a very narrow time for survivability for a firefighter who has become lost, trapped or is running out of air. The individual firefighter and the company officer must not delay their report when they become lost, trapped or are running low on air. Command must be made aware of this immediately, and command must assume the firefighter is still missing until the firefighter can be accounted for. 4.2. Command Procedures: 4.3. Command procedures upon receipt of lost firefighter notification include: 4.3.1. Initiate a PAR check to confirm accountability of all personnel to determine total amount of missing firefighters. 4.3.2. Have the dispatch center initiate an emergency fire ground announcement that a mayday event has occurred. 4.3.3. Have dispatch center and/or command post monitor all radio channels. 4.3.4. Assign the RIT to search and rescue operations in the known area or last know area where firefighters need assistance. Assign relief crews to the RIT. 4.3.5. Immediately request additional resources to meet the needs of the event. They may include but are not limited to: Additional Command Staff, Radio Operators, PIO, and Safety. General Staff/Operations, Logistics, Planning, etc. Specialized resources-technical Rescue Capability. EMS Heavy Wrecker 4.3.6. Initiate and/or maintain fire attack positions and reinforce with extra companies as needed. 4.3.7. Expand the command organization. Request and assign additional officers of an appropriate level to the rescue area, fire attack area, command staff, and other critical command positions. 4.3.8. Withdraw and control unassigned resources from the search and rescue area. 4.3.9. Maintain strong supervision in all divisions/groups etc. Control and restrict all unauthorized entries into the structure or search and rescue area. 4.3.10. Keep ALS on scene and prepared to treat the trapped firefighter. 4.4. Additional Command Considerations: Page 2 of 5
4.4.1. Initiate/expand the EMS Group to prepare for triage, treatment, and transportation needs. 4.4.2. Assign resources to form a safety division/group to control risk taking. 4.4.3. Assess the ability to increase egress points from the building or area without spreading the fire. 4.4.4. Assign a PIO early to control release of information to the media. 4.4.5. Consider the need for an officer or law enforcement to notify the family. 4.5. Rapid Intervention Team Operational Procedures: 4.5.1. Initial assignment of RIT capability An Engine company assigned from the initial alarm on an emergency event to achieve the initial RIT capability. The trigger is an incident dispatch potentially requiring the use of SCBA. The initial RIT capability is immediately achieved by the assignment of one of the first alarm Engine Companies base on the Incident Commanders strategic priorities to the RIT function. This Engines primary role is the RIT assignment. The objectives of the initial RIT is to: 4.5.1.1.Search, re-con, and locate lost/trapped firefighters. 4.5.1.2.Remove the firefighters to a safe location if possible or provide an air supply to the trapped firefighter. 4.5.1.3.Communicate with command on resource requirements needed to protect and rescue the trapped firefighter. 4.6. Planning requirements of Initial RIT Report to and confer with the IC. 4.6.1. Perform a reconnaissance of the structure. 4.6.2. Assess emergency conditions and forecast potential rescue problems. 4.6.3. Confirm location of all units working in hazard zones. 4.6.4. Retrieve and review building preplans ( if available) 4.6.5. Assess building construction features 4.6.6. Determine all access points into the building including placement of ladders. 4.6.7. Determine the most rapid access to units operating in hazard zones (to include wall breaching etc.) 4.6.8. Perform the initial action needed for rapid access/egress i.e. place ladders, force doors, remove window/door bars 4.6.9. Establish a RIT tool staging area for RIT tools 4.6.10. Locate near the command post if applicable ( side A or front yard) 4.6.11. Monitor all radio traffic Page 3 of 5
4.6.12. Perform periodic secondary reconnaissance 4.6.13. Plan where to acquire and deploy protective hose line if needed for a rescue. (If extra hose lines are available, deploy them early). 4.7. RIT - Rescue Action Plan Develop a rescue action plan to include the search parameters for lost firefighters. 4.7.1. Last known location 4.7.2. Listen for potential radio communications from trapped firefighters 4.7.3. Listen for PASS devices 4.7.4. Information from other operating units 4.7.5. Use of thermal imaging cameras 4.7.6. Physical search 4.7.7. Initiate actions to place protective hose lines and establish ventilation in area where firefighter is trapped. 4.7.8. Identify a primary rescue plan and optional rescue plans (such as doors/windows or if breaching of walls/floors is necessary, etc.) 4.7.9. Assignment of an additional Command Officer of an appropriate level as the Rescue Division/Group Officer. 4.7.10. Assignment of a separate radio channel for rescue. 4.7.11. Coordinate rescue operations with fire fighting efforts and other incident tasks. 4.7.12. Identify support needs and request additional resources from the I.C. 4.7.13. Identify or create access openings to the trapped firefighter(s) 4.7.14. Develop capability to supply air to trapped firefighters from all jurisdictions. Make sure you have the capability to hook into different brand SCBA if necessary. 4.7.15. Assign ALS units, outside of the hazard zone. 4.8. RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM ALTERNATE PROCEDURES: 4.8.1. There may be occasions when the RIT may locate a trapped or downed firefighter, and conditions may not allow rapid extrication from the hazard area. The RIT will protect the trapped firefighter in place until the fire can be controlled or more resources are gathered to complete the rescue. 4.8.2. A search line should be deployed directly to the location of the trapped/downed firefighter. This will allow other crews a rapid way in and out of the hazard area. 4.8.3. A separate air supply system (spare SCBA, RIT Air Supply Bag) should be brought to supplement/replace the breathing apparatus of the downed firefighter. In situations where a lengthy entrapment is anticipated, consideration should be given to bringing in supplied air breathing apparatus for a backup air supply. Page 4 of 5
4.8.4. Once the firefighter has been located, a hose line should be brought to the location and positioned to protect the area. Use caution when utilizing large volumes of water. Flooding may occur making rescue efforts more difficult. 4.8.5. Sump pumps may be utilized around the firefighter to keep the area from flooding. This is likely to occur in low elevation areas. Request command to limit or cease firefighting streams if they are causing life threatening flooding. 4.8.6. Fire blankets if available may be utilized to protect the trapped firefighter. 4.9. Equipment 4.9.1. A tool staging area is to be established for RIT Operations. 4.9.2. The tool staging area should be positioned in an area that allows the quickest access to where potential problems have been forecast during the reconnaissance. The tool staging area will be built up as the RIT capability is built up. The tools needed but not limited to: PPE/SCBA Hand lights and Radios Forcible entry hand tools ( Irons, Hydro rams, etc) Lifeline pack ( Rope bag) Chain saw ( Regular and rotary) Battery operated reciprocating saw Thermal Imaging Camera RIT Air Supply Bag Reeves and/or other patient packaging devices SCBA Units, with extension hose and buddy breathing capabilities Assess supplied air availability Page 5 of 5