A PARTIAL GUIDE TO MCFRS SAFE STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING POLICY Section II Rapid Intervention
PURPOSE The purpose of this presentation is to provide clarification for when necessary and expand on the new Safe Structural Firefighting Policy 24-07 with regards to rapid intervention.
ACRONYMS RIT - Rapid Intervention Team RID - Rapid Intervention Dispatch RIG - Rapid Intervention Group RIT Air Supply - A Self-contained System For Providing Air To Injured/Downed Firefighters Without Exposing Them To The IDLH.
APPLICABILITY This manual applies to all fire and rescue department operations where personnel are required to enter hazardous environments that present an immediate danger to life and health (IDLH).
SURVIVABILITY There is a narrow window of survivability for a firefighter who is out of SCBA air supply or trapped. Individual firefighters must not delay reporting to Command if they become lost, trapped, or otherwise in need of assistance. Company officers must not delay reporting to command that they cannot account for members of their crew
WHO IS THE RIT? The fourth due engine will assume the duties of the RIT.
RAPID INTERVENTION DISPATCH When a working fire is confirmed or if ECC has sufficient reason to believe that there is a working fire, a rapid intervention dispatch (RID) will be sent. The RID replaces the safety dispatch. The RID will consist of the next closest ladder truck and the next closest rescue squad.
INITIAL ACTIONS OF RIT The fourth due engine company will report to the Command Post for instructions, secure a hose line for its use, bring its standpipe rack and officer s bag to the Command Post, and maintain control of that equipment. The officer of the fourth due engine company will handdeliver the Unit s PAT collector ring to the Command Post.
RIT SIZE - UP The Unit Officer Will : Determine the type of occupancy and building construction involved; Determine the location, extent, and likely progression of the fire. Monitor radio transmissions, observe fire conditions, and determine whether companies are making progress in extinguishing it;
RIT SIZE - UP The Unit Officer Will : Determine which companies are operating in the building, and their locations; Assess how long the fire has been burning, and what effects the fire is having on the structure s stability; Examine access and egress points of the building, noting security bars, locked doors, roll-down gates, any plywood-covered or cinder-blocked openings, etc. Report egress concerns to the appropriate division/group leader
RIT SIZE - UP The Unit Officer Will : Evaluate and identify any alternate points of access to the building, and determine whether access is possible by breaching the wall of an exposure building, etc Obtain information regarding any immediate concerns of the Incident Commander
HOW RIG IS FORMED The RIG is formed when the RIT merges with the RID. In other words when the 4th engine merges with the truck and squad from the RID. RIT RIG R I D
WHERE DOES RIG STAGE? Normally the RIG will be located near the Command Post, except at high rise incidents, when the RIG will normally move into the building and position on a floor below the fire.
RIG ENGINE BRINGS: At least 200 1 ¾ hose with nozzle & secure water supply
RIG ENGINE DUTIES: Secure an additional hose line and water source (typically a standpipe pack and a unused discharge on the first engine ensuring that the operator of the first engine allows for possible RIT needs when allocating available water) Immediately relieve the Standby Team to become the RIC. Usually, do this face-to-face. However, on larger scale incidents, this can be done by radio.
RIG ENGINE DUTIES: The RIG-E must proceed to the designated staging area, usually on the Alpha side of the structure, near but not adjacent to the command post (CP). The RIT-E will be the first member of the RIG on scene as such should report to the (IC) when the RIG has been established.
RIG ENGINE DUTIES: It is the primary mission of the RIG-E to stretch an attack line, should that be ordered by the RIG Leader or command, designed to protect the downed firefighter and those searching for him/her from fire or other by-products of combustion. The RIG-E should also take a RIT air pak with them if more than two are available on scene.
RIG TRUCK BRINGS: Halligan Bar Pick Head Axe Sledge Hammer Thermal Imaging Camera Cutters Edge or Chain Saw Stokes Basket
RIG TRUCK DUTIES: The truck officer cannot waste time or valuable resources by conducting unneeded operations or by having to return for equipment they did not bring initially.
RIG TRUCK DUTIES: Their function is to perform additional ventilation to support rapid intervention operation, provide other/additional means of egress to support the rapid intervention operation, to enlarge openings, or create new openings in the structure.
RIG TRUCK DUTIES: Crews must always be engaged and thinking. Creativity within the guidelines of the policy is encouraged. The RIG-T should take a RIT air pack with them if they make entry into the building.
RIG RESCUE SQUAD BRINGS: Rescue Saw (metal blade) RIT Bag with 2-50 sections of rope with carabiner RIT Air Supply Bag with: Air cylinder with extension hose (or a spare SCBA w/ face piece) Lineman s pliers Assorted hand tools 2 Pulleys 50 section of rope Search rope bag AED on high rise incidents
RIG RESCUE SQUAD DUTIES: This unit is charged with locating, securing the air supply for, and preparing the packaging for the downed fire fighter. RIG-RS must be well versed in PASS guided search procedures, manual search procedures, thermal imaging, and patient packaging.
RIG RESCUE SQUAD DUTIES: The easiest and best practice for conducting the search is arguable. Each situation will demand different tactics and squad crews should be well versed in all of them. At the very least crews should be able to perform a PASS guided search, and a quick but thorough manual search of a given structure.
RIG OTHER TOOLS: Lifting Tools Hydraulic Extrication Equipment SKED Additional Hand Tools Cribbing/Shoring Equipment Cutting Torches Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus Revolving Distributor Nozzles Attic Ladder Sump Pumps
RIG ACTION PLAN: Develop a rescue action plan to include the search parameters for lost firefighters: 1. Last known location 2. Listen for potential radio communications from trapped members 3. Listen for PASS unit operation 4. Information from other operating units 5. Use of thermal imaging cameras 6. Physical search
RIG ACTION PLAN: Initiate actions to place protective hose lines and establish ventilation in area where firefighter is trapped. Identify a primary rescue plan and optional rescue plans (such as a direct approach through existing openings or by breaching walls, floors, etc.).
RIG ACTION PLAN: Assignment of the additional Battalion Chief or a Command Officer of an appropriate level as the Rescue Division/Group Officer. Assignment of a separate radio channel for rescue. Coordinate rescue operations with fire fighting operations and other incident scene operations.
RIG ACTION PLAN: Identify support needs and request additional resources from the IC. Identify or create access openings to the trapped firefighters. Develop capability to supply air to trapped firefighters from all jurisdictions involved, and accounting for differences in SCBA equipment.
RIG ACTION PLAN: RAPID INTERVENTION Anticipate patient extrication requirements and assign tasks. Anticipate patient packaging and removal requirements and assign tasks.
RIG ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: RAPID INTERVENTION There may be occasions when an element of the RIG may locate a trapped or downed firefighter, and conditions may not allow rapid extrication from the hazard area. In such cases the RIG is to protect the trapped firefighter in place until the fire can be controlled or more resources are gathered to complete the rescue.
RIG ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: RAPID INTERVENTION A search line should be deployed, if indicated, directly to the location of the trapped/downed firefighter. This will allow other crews a rapid way in and out of the hazard area. A separate air supply system (spare SCBA, RIT Air Supply Bag) should be brought to supplement/replace the breathing apparatus of the downed firefighter.
RIG ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: RAPID INTERVENTION 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, thus hampering rescue efforts.
RIG ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: RAPID INTERVENTION Sump pumps may be needed to keep the area around the firefighter from flooding. This is likely to occur in low elevation areas such as basements. Request command to order the reduction or elimination of firefighting streams if they are causing life-threatening flooding situations in the rescue area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Assistant Chief Michael Clemens; MCFRS PSTA Training Officer Captain Derrick Anthony; MCFRS In-Service Training Coordinator Lieutenant Charles Bailey; MCFRS NEMT-P Master Firefighter Eric Fessenden; MCFRS Firefighter Robert Faas; MCFRS