Commercial Structure Fires SOG 400-02

• This document is a Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
• SOG # is 400-02
• It concerns Commercial Structure Fires.
• It was issued on 05/21/2018 and became effective on 02/22/2022.
• The directive establishes a standard course of action for activities at commercial structure fires.
• It applies to all Emergency Operations personnel.
• The guidelines serve as a basic framework for most incidents.

General Guidelines

• Refer to the 100 series SOGs for Pre-Incident Planning, Response, and Communication Center guidelines.
• Refer to the 200 series SOGs for Incident Management System, Communication, and Accountability guidelines.
• Refer to the 300 series SOGs for General Operations guidelines.
• Refer to the 400 series SOGs, primarily the 420 series, for tactical guidelines.

Response Procedures

• The Communication Center may provide additional information, such as water supply availability and location.
• Review the Quick Access Survey if available.
• The first arriving unit may request additional units based on visible conditions, knowledge of the structure, water supply, and unusual circumstances.
• Ensure room for Aerial operations when units arrive on scene if there is a potential for aerial operations.

Responsibilities of First Arriving Unit

• Establish Incident Command and manage the incident until command is transferred or terminated (refer to SOG 200-02 Incident Command Sequence).
• Provide an Arrival Report (refer to SOG 420-01 Fire Attack Operations).
• If the Aerial is the first apparatus, the Company Officer is responsible for ensuring its efficient use (Engine or Aerial capacity).
• Due to the large square footage of most commercial buildings, the first arriving unit may need to perform a 360-degree size up.

Incident Commander Responsibilities

• Manage the incident (refer to SOG 200-02 Incident Command Sequence).
• Ensure benchmarks are performed and communicated (refer to SOG 210-01 Communications).
• Assign an Incident Safety Officer.
• Verify that all personnel on scene are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Ensure personnel accountability is in place and being followed (refer to SOG 220-01 Personnel Accountability).
• Ensure the two-in/two-out rule is followed (refer to SOG 220-02 Two in/Two out).
• Consider using multiple TAC channels for large or complex commercial structures.
• Consider assigning Assistant Safety Officer(s).
• Consider establishing Divisions or Groups to maintain span of control.

Company and Firefighter Responsibilities

• Each Company Officer is responsible for communicating benchmarks and progress reports (refer to SOG 210-01 Communications).
• Each firefighter must perform safely and follow all applicable SOGs.
• It is important to maintain situational awareness and air management when operating in large or complex commercial structures (refer to SOG 220-03 Situational Awareness).

Unit Assignments

• The assignments are the assumed assignments for commercial structure fires.
• Fire Rescue recognizes that every emergency incident is different and assignments will be determined by those differences.

First Arriving Engine

• Confinement and Ventilation is the best strategy to achieve a tenable atmosphere for evacuation.
• Use a Thermal Imaging Camera to direct Fire Attack and Primary Search due to the size of commercial buildings.
• In some buildings, sheltering in place may be appropriate; however, evacuation should always be considered.
• The first arriving Engine assignment should be Evacuation, Primary Search (when Rescue is the tactical priority), or Fire Attack (refer to SOG 420-01 Fire Attack Operations).

First Arriving Rescue

• Provide additional support functions, such as, assisting with Fire Attack, primary search, forcible entry, back-up line, laddering or softening the structure, and / or ventilation.
• Quickly identify and force open access and egress doors to allow for egress of firefighters, control all openings to limit ventilation flow paths.
• Give patient care to any identified critical patient.

Second and Third Arriving Engine

• Refer to SOG 200-02 Incident Command Sequence for transferring Incident Command: If Incident Command has been established and the Incident Commander is inside an IDLH, the second arriving Company Officer shall communicate with the Incident Commander to confirm assignment or transfer of Incident Command.
• Second Arriving Engine is assigned water supply to fixed fire protection system and/or water supply to attack engine.
• Third Arriving Engine is assigned additional support functions, such as back-up line, water supply, RIC, ventilation, and laddering of softening the structure.

Second Arriving Rescue

• Should handle additional support functions, such as assist with fire attack, primary search, medical, back-up line, ventilation or laddering of softening the structure.
• If needed, another Rescue unit shall be requested from the Communication Center.
• Medical should report to the Incident Command Post with their stretcher and medical gear.
• If Medical is not treating emergency patients as the incident progresses, they should set-up and run Rehabilitation for firefighters (refer to SOG 420-08 Rehabilitation).
• Medical and Rehab should be parked in a location and direction that facilitates departure for hospital transports.

First Arriving Aerial

• The assignment should be Aerial Operations, or truck company functions such as softening the structure, ventilation, and/or determining roof stability.
• Coordinate ventilation with Fire Attack operations.

First Arriving Chief Officer

• Assume Incident Command if the incident is escalating or unstable.
• If the incident is stable, the Chief Officer may work in an advisory capacity with the Incident Commander.

First Arriving EMS Captain

• The assignment should be Incident Safety Officer.
• If assigned to Incident Safety Officer, the EMS Captain performs a 360 degree size up of the structure and follow SOG 200-03 Safety Officer.

Second Arriving Chief Officer

• May be assigned as Command Staff, General Staff, Command Aide, Group, or Division.