Fires in High-Rise Building (Hard)

High-Rise Fire Guideline

• The Spring Fire Department's guideline establishes procedures for high-rise fires in structures with four or more floors.
• Applies to all Spring Fire Department personnel.
• Aims to provide control and coordination during incidents.

Tactical Priorities

• Rescue Occupants
• Protect Exposures
• Fire Confinement
• Fire Extinguishment
• Property Conservation

Assignments

• The first arriving officer assumes Incident Command.
• If the first arriving officer is on the first arriving heavy apparatus, they will remain in command until arrival of the next equal or higher ranking officer.
• A Chief Officer is desired to be the Incident Commander.
• If fire and or smoke are visible, another alarm shall be requested.

Lobby Control Unit

• The first arriving apparatus establishes the lobby control unit.
• The Apparatus/Operator establishes a water supply.
• Lobby Control Unit responsibilities:
  • Capturing all elevators and ensuring they are in Phase I.
  • Issuing out elevator and building access key rings.
    • The Lobby Control Unit Officer will split the key rings.
  • Using the Fire Control Center (FCC) communication system.
  • Using the elevator position and status panel, recall switches, elevator door open switches, and selector switches for choosing which elevators to operate on emergency power.
  • Using controls for unlocking all stairwell doors simultaneously in newer buildings.
  • Using controls for operating the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in newer buildings.
• The FCC contains fire department boxes that may be unlocked or have a Knox Box next to them with an access key inside.
• The boxes are required to have sets of elevator and building access keys on split key rings with color-coded plastic tags.

Elevators

• Members should not use elevators if the emergency is below the fifth floor.
• Elevators are used only in fire service mode.
• The building elevator key is used to capture the elevators in “Phase I.” Phase I operations recall the elevators to their pre-determined floor with the doors open.
• To move the elevators, a building elevator key is used inside to switch to fire service (Phase II) operations.

Search & Rescue

• Rescues in high-rise structures involve either evacuation or protection in place.
• The most endangered are those on and immediately above the fire floor, the top floor, and stairwells filled with smoke.
• The building’s public address (PA) system should be used to inform occupants of the correct actions to be taken.
• Occupants who self-evacuate may become trapped in smoke-filled stairwells.
• Evacuation of high-rise structures is generally conducted through stairwells; when possible at least one stairwell must remain smoke-free.
• Open stairwell doors increase the stack effect so doors must not be propped open.
• Rescue efforts can be accomplished using the Fire Service mode of firefighter-operated elevators.

Sprinkler Systems

• Firefighters will not turn off the sprinkler system to the affected floor until the fire is verified to be out.
• Once the decision is made to turn off the system, the designated company will remain with the valve until confirmed there are no flare-ups.
• Sprinkler cut-off valves are usually located in the stairwells or in the ceiling above the ceiling tiles in the corridor outside the stairwell door.

Stairwells

• The Operations Division Officer determines which stairwell will be used for:
  • Fire Attack
  • Ventilation
  • Rescue
• The HVAC system should be used to pressurize the stairwells if equipped.
• If no HVAC is found, the fire department will pressurize the stairwells with PPV fans.

Ventilation

• Ventilation must be a coordinated effort.
• If equipped, use of the individual floor blowers and ventilation system is ideal for smoke removal.
• The fire department will provide ventilation if the building is not equipped.
• Pre-incident fire plans should be utilized to determine which stairwell has direct roof access for ventilation purposes.

Property Conservation

• Priority should be made to rooms with high valuable items such as, computers, documents and highly expensive electronics.
• 3 companies will be assigned per floor to control water run-off.
• Primary site for de-watering the building is the restroom.
• De-watering sites include:
  • Mechanical Rooms
  • Janitorial closet floor drains
  • Stairwells
• Elevator shafts shall not be used to de-water the building.