202.05. Fireground Safety

Fireground Safety Policy

• The purpose of this policy is to establish general safety guidelines for operating personnel.
• The safety of firefighting personnel represents the major reason for an effective and well-timed offensive/defensive decision.

Tactical Positioning

• Positioning of operating companies can severely affect the safety/survival of such companies.
• Personnel must use caution when placed in the following positions: • In the direct flow path of the fire • Working into wind-driven conditions • Above the fire (floors/roof) • Where fire can move in behind or above them • Where position and retreat cannot be controlled • When involved with opposing fire streams • Combining interior and exterior attack • With limited access--one way in/out • Operating under involved roof structures • In areas containing hazardous materials • Below ground fires (basements, etc.) • In areas where a flashover or backdraft potential exists • Above/below ground rescue

Standard Risk Management Plan

• WE MAY RISK OUR LIVES A LOT, IN A CALCULATED MANNER, TO PROTECT SAVABLE LIVES
• WE MAY RISK OUR LIVES A LITTLE, IN A CALCULATED MANNER, TO PROTECT SAVABLE PROPERTY
• WE WILL NOT RISK OUR LIVES AT ALL FOR LIVES OR PROPERTY THAT IS ALREADY LOST

Defensive Strategy

• When operating in a defensive strategy, operating positions should be as far from the involved area as possible while still remaining effective.
• Position and operate from behind barriers if available (fences, walls, etc.).

Offensive Strategy

• An effective, coordinated interior attack operation directed toward knocking down the fire eliminates most eventual safety problems.
• The operational focus should be to get water on the fire from the most effective position available.

Fireground Operations

• Efforts must be made by Command to limit the number of personnel on the fireground to those assigned to a necessary function.
• Individuals or crews shall be restricted from wandering about the fireground or congregating in non-functional groups.

Hot Zone

• The Hot Zone is defined as any area that requires an SCBA, charged hoseline, special protective clothing, or in which firefighting personnel are at risk of becoming lost, trapped, or injured by the environment or structure.
• All firefighters working in the Hot Zone shall be in crews of a minimum of two personnel, wearing appropriate PPE, with a radio on the correct tactical channel, and must have an assigned task or function.

Warm Zone

• The Warm Zone is defined as the area just outside of the Hot Zone where the firefighters start their operations on the fireground.
• This zone is where the firefighter is not at risk of becoming lost, trapped, or injured by the environment or structure.

Cold Zone

• The Cold Zone is defined as outside of the Warm Zone where no one is at risk because of the incident.
• All operating personnel must remain vigilant on emergency incidents.

No-Entry Zone

• The No-Entry Zone is defined as the area at an incident that no person shall be permitted to enter due to an imminent hazard, dangerous condition, or the need to protect evidence.
• Operating personnel need to be informed of the No-Entry Zone.

Sectors

• The safety of firefighting personnel represents a major reason for fireground sectorization.
• Sector Officers must maintain the capability to communicate with forces under their command.

Structural Collapse

• Structural collapse has been a major cause of serious injury and death to firefighters.
• The possibility of structural collapse should be a major consideration in the development of any incident action plan.
• Signs of building collapse may include: • Cracks in exterior walls • Bulges in exterior walls • Sounds of structural movement--creaking, groaning, snapping, etc. • Smoke or water leaking through walls • Water accumulation on a roof • Windows, doors, floors, and stairs out of level • Flexible movement of any floor or roof where firefighters walk • Interior or exterior bearing walls or columns--leaning, twisting, or flexing • Sagging or otherwise distorted rooflines • Time of fire involvement

Evacuation of Firefighting Personnel

• Interior firefighting operations should be abandoned when the extent of the fire prohibits control, or the structure becomes unsafe to operate within.
• When such conditions make the building untenable, evacuate, account for personnel, regroup, recommunicate, and redeploy.

Search and Rescue

• Search and rescue should be performed according to an efficient, well-planned procedure which includes the safety of search crew personnel.

• The object of the search effort is to locate possible victims, not create additional ones by neglecting the safety of the search crew.

• Fire victims are typically killed through thermal and/or toxic exposure.

• Prior to entering the search area, all search team members should be familiar with a specific search plan including the overall objective, a designation of the search area, individual assignments, etc.### Search and Rescue Operations

• Before entering the search area, crew members may need to confer to develop and communicate a plan.

• Individual search activities should be conducted by two or more members whenever possible.

• In residential search and rescue operations, firefighters may search off the hoseline.

• Company Officers must maintain awareness of the position and function of all crew members during search operations.

Fireground Safety

• In non-residential fire operations, firefighters should not operate off of the hoseline.
• A brief look around the floor below the fire can provide a good reference for the search team, as floors in multi-story occupancies usually have a similar layout.
• When conducting a search that exposes search crews to fire conditions (especially above the fire floor), the search team should be protected with a charged hose line.