High Rise Fire Operations: SOG 407 ultra

Purpose of High Rise SOG 407

• To standardize operations at High Rise Fires

Scope of High Rise Fires

• A structure fire in a high rise building is a complex emergency.
• The Signal 25 SOG (406) priorities serve as a foundation.
• Specific company assignments are modified for high rise scenarios.
• SOG 407 serves as a guide for modifications at High Rise fires.

Definition of High Rise

• A building with 4 or more floors is considered a high rise, regardless of fire location.

Initial Operations

• SOG 401 first alarm assignment:
  • 5 Engines
  • 3 Ladders
  • 4 Suppression Chiefs
  • 1 Rescue Chief
  • 2 Squads
  • 2 Rescues
  • Special Operations Team

First Arriving Units

• Command must be established, and an initial report transmitted per SOG 403.
• Assume a concealed fire if nothing is showing on arrival.
• Initiate a second alarm if smoke or fire is showing.
• Limit offensive actions to information gathering if the first arriving unit is not an Engine, Ladder, or Squad, unless occupants are in imminent danger.

Lobby Entry Actions

• Obtain information from building management/security regarding the emergency extent.
• Obtain fire alarm control panel history if actively alarming.
• Secure building plans and the fire control plan (if available).
• Obtain fire phones (if available).
• Obtain master keys to rooms, stairwell doors, elevators, and windows, with Building Representative deactivating electric locks.
• ID initial ascent method.
• Create fire attack teams with at least 5 engine company personnel, including an OIC.
• The Engineer of the first engine company parks near the FDC without blocking Ladder Companies, serving as a "locator” and a pump for the FDC.
• The Engineer then proceeds to the fire alarm panel as "Panel Control,” monitoring the panel and emergency communication systems.
• The Panel Control position may be assigned to an officer as the incident escalates.
• The Engineer at Panel Control directs incoming crews until a "Lobby Control" officer is designated.
• Knowledge of the building and the initial attack team's ascent method is valuable.
• If conditions indicate elevator safety, follow the "Elevator Operations Appendix" guidelines.
• Use stairs for initial ascent if the fire is below the 7th floor.
• The elements of 407.03.01 provide a base for any interior offensive operation and must be completed before the Initial "Fire Attack Team" advances toward the fire.

Fire Attack Teams

• The "Initial fire Attack Team" includes the first and second arriving engine companies
• The first engine company enters the lobby with high rise equipment, and the second brings a duplicate set, joining the first ASAP as a "backup only"
• Only one set of high rise equipment is needed past the lobby per attack team.
• The radio designation is "Attack One”, with paired engine companies forming additional teams ("Attack Two”, Three, etc).
• Panel Control relays communications between fire attack teams and Command, using fire phones if available, in case of radio malfunction.

"Attack One" Priority

• Verify the first Engineer is at Panel Control and engaged per 407.03.01.
• Ensure fire phones and master keys are secured (if available).
• Advance to two floors below the fire, checking conditions on lower floors while ascending.
• A mandatory brief stop must occur two floors below the reported fire location.
• Survey the floor plan, note the standpipe valve type, and determine the feasibility of using it as a "Forward Staging Area".
• Report conditions, actions, and needs upon arrival at the fire floor; use fire phones for mandatory safety communications in case of radio malfunction.
• Direct all efforts towards placing the first hose line in service for fire suppression.
• Follow the Ladder Company's lead if they locate the fire before the Initial Fire Attack team, possibly crossing to the opposite stairwell or requesting a 2nd Attack Team.
• Coordination is key, and pushing fire towards an unprotected Ladder Company is forbidden.

Ladder Company Priorities

• Ladder Companies should support the "Fire Attack Teams" through forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, and extension checks.
• Ladder Companies maintain their normal radio designation, unless paired with another Ladder company by Command.

1st Ladder Company Actions

• The first arriving Ladder Company sets up for aerial use and assesses exterior ladder operations.
• If immediate use isn't possible, the crew proceeds to the fire floor while dropping a cordless PPV fan with a 50' cord at the building's front for the Initial Fire Attack Team.

2nd Ladder Company Actions

• The second arriving Ladder Company parks for secondary ladder operations on the opposite side if possible and assesses use of exterior operations..
• If immediate use isn't possible, the crew proceeds to the fire floor while dropping a cordless PPV fan with a 50' cord at the building's front for the Initial Fire Attack Team.
• Upon reaching the fire floor, the 1st and 2nd Ladder Companies enter with a tag line from opposite stairwells iftenable; should a Ladder Company locate the fire, it is announced over the radio for "Attack One."
• If conditions at the stairwell door aren't stable, the companies wait for the Initial Fire Attack Team.
• Coordinating with "Attack One" is key, and the 1st and 2nd Ladder Companies act as "forward eyes", constantly checking doors as they ascend and briefly stopping two floors below the reported fire.

3rd Ladder Company Actions

• Proceed to building's front to initiate PPV and RIT with a cordless PPV fan and 50' cord.
• Use PPV stockpile to immediately pressurize the building, including stairwells.
• Pair with the 2nd Squad one floor below the fire for RIT after PPV setup.

Squads: 1st Squad Company

• Enter the Building, announce a stairwell, and then ascend to the roof counting victims if tenable.
• Upon reaching the roof, visually check all sides of the building for visible fire and victims trapped on ledges.
• Conduct a primary search of the top floor and descend the opposite stairwell counting victims.
• Announce completion and request another assignment as feasible

2nd Squad Company

• Form the RIT one floor below the fire floor (per SOG # 408), and join the 3rd arriving Ladder Company after initial PPV.

1st Suppression Chief

• Assume Command, ensuring a Level -1 MCI and 2nd and 3rd alarms are initiated if fire is confirmed.
• Establish a Level II Staging Area, remembering only two engines and one ladder are dispatched per additional alarm as firefighting personnel.
• Be guided by the responsibilities in the Incident Command SOG 403.
• Water supply into FDC must be established.
• The Incident Commander must ensure the following assignments are made:
  • RIT (per SOG 408)
  • Safety Officer (per SOG 442)
  • EMS Group
  • Fire Floor Chief (radio designation "Forward Ops'')
  • "Lobby Control Chief"
  • Assign a suppression officer to "Panel Control"
• Coordinate stairwell use via Lobby Control always

Expanding Operations

• Establish an IC Aide at the Command Post and forward staging Officer two floors below the fire.
• Command must ensure that all elements of 407.03.07 are addressed before expanding, ensuring resources are adequate for the operation, and assessing incident needs.

Extra Alarm Companies

• Extra Alarm Companies report to exterior staging (Level II) per Incident Command SOG 403.

Primary Search and Evacuation

• All occupants must be accounted for, and a primary search and evacuation of the affected area is critical, following the "Search/Evacuation Appendix" guidelines.

Rapid Ascent Team (RAT)

• If needed, assign one suppression company to each stairwell for repeated searches for occupants who need removal assistance.
• RAT will coordinate with Fire Attack and Ventilation Teams, obtaining master keys (if possible) before ascent.
• RAT radio designation will be RAT 1, RAT 2, etc., reporting stairwell conditions periodically.

Ventilation/HVAC

• A ventilation team must rapidly clear the building of smoke and gases through coordinated efforts, with a radio designation of "Vent 1, 2" as needed, following Appendix C Ventilation guidelines.

Fire Attack, Radio Designations

• The Fire Attack Team should get reinforcements, with continuous relief for working teams.
• High Rise Fires should be reported on a designated B-Flight (B-1, B-5, ETC.).
• Portable radio malfunction triggers use of a portable Radio Repeater, assigning a Repeater Channel to all "Interior Crews" using Portable Radios.
• All "Apparatus Radios" and personnel with portable radios assigned to "Exterior Assignments" keep using the designated Bravo Channel, following Appendix D guidelines.

EMS/Triage

• All evacuees and patients should be moved to a safe triage location, treated per MCI SOG 413, with the radio designation “EMS GROUP”, managed by the Rescue District Chief on scene.

Elevators

• Designate a firefighter operator in Fire Service Mode with SCBA, a radio, and a set of irons for any elevator used beyond initial ascent, coordinating transport with “Lobby Control” and “Forward Staging”.
• The operator must remain with the car at all times.

Safety Perimeter

• A safety perimeter must be established around the structure ASAP, with law enforcement responsible for maintaining its integrity.

Secondary Priorities

• Complete the following assignments and tasks as soon as manpower allows, due to the size of the incident:

Rehab

• Establish a forward rehab area ASAP, ideally two floors below the fire with an equipped, staffed ALS component, managed by a Rescue District Chief with a Forward Staging Officer.

Utilities

• Secure and monitor all building utilities, requiring the assistance of a building engineering department member:
  • Electric
  • Gas
  • Back-up power supply
  • Mechanical rooms
  • Fire sprinkler systems

Secondary Search

• A throughout secondary search should be conducted of all floors, elevators and the exterior.

Salvage

• Implement salvage, addressing water removal with proper techniques and turning off sprinkler valves with the plan to reopen if required, due to the multi-story design making labor intensive.

Logistical Support

• Form a stairway support group with minimal PPE if elevator use isn't feasible and the Forward Staging is above the 7th floor, and do not allow personnel into hazardous conditions.
• Maximize efficiency by rotating personnel every three floors.
• Best resupply with SCBA cylinders is to commit personnel to transport full cylinders to the lobby and empty ones to the Air Supply Unit with transport methods determined by Lobby Control.
• Using air hose for a remote fill station is lower than the mobile unit, allowing filling at the lower rate in a location within the building.
• Assess medical needs/patient count for additional units, as upper floor patient movement will be personnel-intensive.