SOG's 2025 Captain Fact Sheet

• These notes pertain to the 2025 Captain Fact Sheet.

Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs)

• A minimum of four personnel are required for diving operations, including three Divers Ready for Immediate Deployment (DRI) and one communications person.
• Activate the sprinkler system by completing an Incident Report and a Life Safety Activation Form.
• For sprinkler systems only, maintain 150 psi; for standpipes, maintain 100 psi, then adjust; for a combined system, maintain 150 psi to a maximum of 200 psi.
• When responding to dry brush fires, code 3 is used for the first due, and code 1 for others, unless life safety, a threatened structure, or extreme weather is involved.
• Radio transmissions follow the Military Order Model (SOG/IMS) Communications Order Model (CO Book).
• Open water/dive benchmarks involve actions for a swimmer/diver in water, locating an object, removing the object, removing the swimmer/diver, switching to rescue or recovery mode, and terminating the swim/dive.
• Progress reports should be given in early stages every 5-10 minutes or upon completion of major tasks, with Comm Center benchmarks every 10 minutes.
• Emergency Traffic Alert Tones include Emergency Traffic, Mayday, and Evacuation which should be repeated twice.
• In the USCG, channels 16, 22 Ops, and 9 Bridge are used.
• Adherence of the Personnel Accountability SOG is enforced by Chiefs and Company Officers.
• All personnel must participate in the personnel accountability system.
• A "Passport" is 2"x4", and a Unit ID is ½”x2” with specified colors for different units, along with Helmet Tags in designated colors.
• Company Officers must know the identity, location, tactical assignment, and time of assignment of all members assigned to them.
• Par is performed for a Mayday or as determined by the Incident Commander (IC), can change from offensive to defensive, or at 20-minute benchmarks.
• "2-in, 2-out" is not required for rescue profile incidents, with modified response approaches for scenarios involving defensive attacks, water supply, deployment of hose lines, and structure softening when 4 members are not on scene.
• The Mayday Orange Emergency Button activates the microphone for 20 seconds when pressed for 4 seconds.

Dispatch and IC Responsibilities for Emergencies

• Dispatch responsibilities include issuing emergency traffic alerts, relaying information to the IC or to firefighters inside, notifying the Field Operations Officer (FOO) or Dispatch Supervisor, and ensuring the Trauma Hawk is on standby.
• IC responsibilities include issuing emergency traffic alerts, obtaining a LUNAR report (Location, Unit, Name, Air/Assignment, Resources), considering additional alarms, activating Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC), conducting a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR), restructuring incident objectives, designating another Chief Officer for Mayday (ideally ISO), positioning personnel outside exits, and determining the need for an additional Tactical Channel.
• Power fires involve burning the pole until utility confirmation, coordination at ground for exposure protection, and consulting with the utility company for substations.
• Tac Stick AC is used with a high-low-front focus.
• To lockout and tagout equipment, use 6, 6, 6, and 2 multi-lock hasps to ensure zero mechanical state, with tags indicating Unit ID, Officer Name, Station Phone #, and Comm Center #.
• Traffic Operations can block 1 additional lane, as detailed in the DE Manual for 1.5 lanes.
• Cones should be placed at 15' intervals, with a maximum of 75', and a limited access of 150'.
• The first unit arriving at a Motor Vehicle Collision (MVC) should establish command, stabilize the scene and vehicle, manage patient care, and begin extrication which requires a manned hose line when there is significant threat of fire.

EMS, Elevator, and Landing Zone Procedures

• EMS Captain should use ISO-360 or medical guidelines.
• For elevators, removal should occur below 3' and rescue above 3', with the ladder extended 3'.
• Designate a Landing Zone of 120’x120’ with ground crew 50' away at 5-7-12 o'clock positions, using PPE, maintaining it for 2 minutes, and communicating on a Tac Channel.

Gas Detection and Leak Procedures

• O2 levels above 10% ensure proper operation, while HCN smells like almonds at 1-5ppm for 60-70% of people.
• HCN levels are 2.5-4.5, OV: 5-10, HS: 10-15, CO: 35-50, O2: 19.5-23.5, LEL: 10%-20% (Methane).
• Post-fire, a half-mask should show 20.9% O2 with abnormal OV, to reference ERG 20-25 on Orange pages 115-116 for propane range 2.1-9.5%, and NG range 5.3-14%.
• Pipe sizes range from ½”-30”, no Mercaptan is added if over 18”, 24” at 975psi along Turnpike and Port west to FPL Plant, with residential pipes at ½”-3/4” and non-residential at 1”-4”.
• BBQ tanks hold 20lbs, forklifts hold 33lbs, commercial standing tanks hold 100-420lbs, residential underground tanks hold 500-1,000lbs, and HQ tanks hold 30,000lbs.
• Fire impingement requires above-ground minimums of 2.5” flowing 200gpm, or a minimum flow of 500gpm for 1,000lb or larger tanks.
• Interior leaks should naturally vent until 2% LEL then you can use other means.
• Confirmed Exterior Leaks require BC/EMS, a hot zone, 2-in 2-out, water supply, 1 ¾ fog deployed minimum, lockout tag out, and comm center for the gas company.
• For Interior Leaks, use ISO, benchmarks, primary-secondary searches, and ventilation.
• Documentation should include 4-gas readings, identifying technicians, and who the scene was turned over to.

Water Rescue and Go Phases

• Water rescue involves a primary swimmer, back-up swimmer, spotter (1/swimmer), and shore support.
• An accountability officer is required if there are two or more swimmers.
• To make entry, a minimum of four fire department personnel is needed: an IC and 3 other FD personnel possessing operational capability; if can prevent imminent loss of life: 3 FD personnel.
• Go Phases are I stabilize and II Extract.

Residential vs Commercial Fires

• During residential fires, the 1st Engine focuses on primary search and fire attack
• 2nd Engine focuses on back-up line, water supply, RIC, ventilation, and ladder/soften operations.
• Aerial support includes aerial operations, softening, ventilation, and determining roof stability.
• 1 Rescue unit focuses on assisting fire attack, primary search, back-up line, RIC, ventilation, and ladder/soften operations.
• 2 Rescue unit focuses on assisting fire attack and providing medical support, conducting primary search, setting up a back-up line, RIC, and ventilation.
• During commercial fires, the 1st Engine focuses on evacuation, primary search, and fire attack.
• 2nd Engine focuses on water supply.
• 3rd Engine focuses on back-up, water supply, RIC, Ventilation and Ladder/Softening.
• 1 Rescue unit focuses on assisting fire attack, primary functions, performing forcible entry, setting a back-up, and ladder/ventilation.
• 2 Rescue unit focuses on assisting fire attack, providing medical support, conducting primary searches, and ladder/ventilation.

High-Rise Standard Operating Procedures

• IC, Base, Lobby Control, Planning, Logs, Staging Ops, Div/ Group track responsibilities.
• SSG is in the first alarm 2.Confined room fog at 30*.
• An open floor plan measures 100x100 or larger.
• Sprinkler systems should maintain 150 PDP. Standpipe only should maintain hose lay +/- elevation, +25 psi SP FL. Combined systems should maintain 150-200psi.
• Static ventilation should be maintained under 25 floors/ little flow above 25 floors. Ground to roof opening should be 3-6 mph.
• Horizontal ventilation should have additional blowers if above 25 floors.
• Lexan windows-Pebbles-In corners.
• Creating problems at high-rises involve size/complexity of interior ops, limited access, extended travel/ response time.
• Staging should be 2 floors below, with the base outside, and an Area of Safe Refuge 4 floors below the fire with 3 companies per line.
• Elevators should be used if above 7 stories, with hoist checks every 5 stories.
• 2nd arriving companies should prioritize establishing water supply, back-up, and RIC (asst. F/A, B/U or if not needed-RIC in stair on fire floor).
• The priority order for additional command staff is Fire Floor division, Lobby Control Unit Leader, Floor Above Division, ISO, Operations (2 floors below).
• Wildland Arrival report includes acreage involved, access routes, direction of fire spread, exposures, and types of vegetation.
• Crews should look out, communicate, have escape routes, and safety zones, with rotations scheduled for every 30 minutes.
• A working fire notifies Admin, DC, Investigator and FPL.
• Operating from a water tank should not exceed 200gpm.
• A relay engine is required if the distance is greater than 500'.
• Water Supply Officer should be considered for tenders used or more than 2 relay engines.

Fire Attack and Rescue Operations

• For structure fires, one room requires 1 ¼ 150gpm, a larger area requires 2.5” 200gpm and exposure lines 2.5” 200gpm within 30'.
• Deck guns should be used for a quick attack (20-30 sec) and transitional attack (15 sec), and with a cooling time of 30-60 sec, and a softening time of 30-90sec.
• Large area searches should have a minimum of 5 people, RIC should have 2 or more fire fighters.
• Small is less than 3,000, medium is 3,000-6,000, large is 6,000-15,000 and very large is 15,000 plus
• RIC: Small 6, Medium 8 and Large 10
• NFPA 1407 involves RIC Chap 7 Training- 8 Performance.
• Ventilation 3 principles: safety, containment, property conservation.
• Ramfans should be 13,000 cfm, placed 4-10' from the door, with an exhaust opening 1-2 times the size of the opening.
• 5 signs of pre-flashover are high heat, thick turbulent black smoke, rollover, uncontrolled fire, and auto ignition.
• The minimum number of personnel on the roof is enough to complete the task for a flat -7-9-8. Pitch Bay and Louver at a minimum of 16sqft 4'x4'.
• Gear cleaning is done under NFPA 1851.
• Non-rated bridge: Rescue under 20,000lbs Brush Truck 28,500.
• Brush Truck Equipment has 3” 800-1,000', 1 ¼ 200', and 2 SCBA's.

Water Supply, Medical Incidents, and Special Situations

• 1 ¼ acre lot: 200′. Single Family Home Flow: 250-500gpm. Total Gallons: 2,000-10,000.
• There are 4 means of rural water supply: Relay, Nurse Tender, Modified Direct Pumping, Dump Tank.
• Use Relay if preferred, with Modified Direct Pumping yielding 6,000 gallons- brush truck within 50′. For Nurse Tenders arrive in first due and small fire. Dump Tank should have 3,000-3,500 gallons, a minimum of 2 Tenders, and two tanks for flows over 300gpm.
• MVC assessments involve greater than minor damage, no restraint, + airbag, steering wheel damage, other occupant injury/ death, or appearance, behavior, or emotional state not normal.
• MCI levels are I: 5-10, II: 11-20, III: 21-100, IV: 101-1,000, and V: Over 1,000, requiring action from CISM at III or higher.
• To report FL Abuse: 800-96-ABUSE. Minor or vulnerable adults are reported with LE, PBCVS for SART, FL Abuse, or EMS Captain.
• Adults not wishing to report to law enforcement use LE- PBCVS without identifying information and MIH if the patient consents.
• You cant refuse if life threatening: SPO2 <94, COPD<90, syncope, head injury with loss of consciousness, fever over 100.5, severe pain, hypotensive/ shock, and stroke.
• Hazmat training involves 5 levels- Awareness, Operations, Technician, Specialist IC.
• RIP-NOT (Hazmat): Recognize and Identify, Isolation, Protection, Notification.