High-Rise Fire Response and Planning

High-Rise Fire SOG (Standard Operating Guidelines)

Pre-Incident Planning

• Obtain building information:
  • Floor plans
  • Occupancy types
  • Hazardous materials
  • Fire safety features (e.g. sprinklers, alarms)
• Identify potential risks and challenges
• Develop a pre-incident plan with strategies for different scenarios

Response and Deployment

• Initial response: 2-3 engine companies, 1-2 truck companies, 1 battalion chief
• Additional resources: HazMat team, rescue unit, medical unit
• Staging area: Designate a safe area for responding units to stage and deploy from

Elevator Use

• Use elevators for initial response only if:
  • They are fire service elevators
  • They have been inspected and cleared for use
  • They are not affected by fire or smoke
• Otherwise, use stairs for response and evacuation

Communication

• Designate a communication leader to coordinate radio traffic
• Use a common communication channel for all units
• Establish a command post for incident command and coordination

Fire Attack and Suppression

• Use a coordinated attack strategy:
  • Identify the fire location and extent
  • Determine the best attack route
  • Assign units to attack and support roles
• Consider using a "bucket brigade" for high-rise fires
• Use fire-resistant hoses and equipment

Search and Rescue

• Search and rescue operations:
  • Start from the top floor and work down
  • Use a systematic search pattern
  • Use a rescue team to assist with evacuation
• Prioritize evacuation of occupants with disabilities

Ventilation and Access

• Ventilation strategies:
  • Natural ventilation (e.g. opening windows)
  • Mechanical ventilation (e.g. fans)
  • Smoke removal techniques
• Access strategies:
  • Use stairwells and corridors for access
  • Consider using aerial devices or exterior stairs

Medical and Support Operations

• Medical operations:
  • Provide medical support for occupants and responders
  • Set up a medical staging area
• Support operations:
  • Provide food, water, and rest for responders
  • Set up a rehabilitation sector for responders

Pre-Incident Planning

• Obtain building information, including floor plans, occupancy types, hazardous materials, and fire safety features
• Identify potential risks and challenges in the building
• Develop a pre-incident plan with strategies for different scenarios

Response and Deployment

• Initial response includes 2-3 engine companies, 1-2 truck companies, and 1 battalion chief
• Additional resources may include HazMat team, rescue unit, and medical unit
• Designate a safe staging area for responding units to stage and deploy from

Elevator Use

• Use fire service elevators for initial response if they are inspected and cleared for use, and not affected by fire or smoke
• Otherwise, use stairs for response and evacuation

Communication

• Designate a communication leader to coordinate radio traffic
• Use a common communication channel for all units
• Establish a command post for incident command and coordination

Fire Attack and Suppression

• Use a coordinated attack strategy, identifying the fire location and extent, and determining the best attack route
• Assign units to attack and support roles
• Consider using a "bucket brigade" for high-rise fires
• Use fire-resistant hoses and equipment

Search and Rescue

• Start search and rescue operations from the top floor and work down
• Use a systematic search pattern
• Use a rescue team to assist with evacuation
• Prioritize evacuation of occupants with disabilities

Ventilation and Access

• Use natural ventilation strategies, such as opening windows
• Use mechanical ventilation, such as fans
• Use smoke removal techniques
• Use stairwells and corridors for access
• Consider using aerial devices or exterior stairs for access

Medical and Support Operations

• Provide medical support for occupants and responders
• Set up a medical staging area
• Provide food, water, and rest for responders
• Set up a rehabilitation sector for responders

High-Rise Firefighting Operations

• High-rise fires present unique challenges due to difficulties in access, complexities of construction, and the large number of occupants in these structures.

Definitions and Scope

• High-rise buildings are multi-story, fire-resistive construction buildings with internal fire protection systems (e.g., standpipes, fire pumps, sprinklers).
• St. Johns County Fire Rescue is responsible for responding to and extinguishing fire emergencies in high-rise structures within the county.

Strategic Planning

• Life safety aspects of a fire in a high-rise structure are the primary concern for command.
• Command must evaluate conditions in each area of the structure and determine the need for evacuation.
• Command must direct the decision to remove occupants, when necessary, and coordinate with the overall fire control strategy.

Establishment of Command

• The first arriving unit establishes command and directs incoming apparatus.
• Command assumes responsibility for the incident according to the Department's IMS policy.

Command Priorities

• Provide an early water supply for the attack by assigning pump operators and pumpers or additional engine companies to provide water to standpipes.
• Assign a company to check the floor above the fire floor to report on conditions above the fire.
• Establish a Lobby Sector to control the lobby area, elevators, alarm systems, and stairways.

Initial Attack

• Establish Ventilation Sector to provide positive pressure ventilation of the attack stairwell.
• The Attack Sector should take specific equipment with them two floors below the fire floor, including SCBA, irons, flashlights, portable radio, high-rise pack, and attic ladder.

Resource Sector

• Establish a Resource Sector two floors below the fire floor to supply personnel, equipment, and tools to the fire floor.
• The Resource Sector should have equipment such as 150' of 2.5" hose, smooth bore nozzle, 100' of 1.5" hose, fog nozzle, extra SCBA bottles, pike poles/plaster hooks, salvage covers, and flashlights.

Rehabilitation Sector

• Establish a Rehabilitation Sector one floor below the Resource Area to provide rehab for personnel.
• Personnel assigned to the Rehabilitation Sector should take appropriate rehab equipment with them.

Staging and Accountability

• All first due units answering the initial alarm should proceed to the building and be directed to appropriate positioning by the first arriving apparatus and/or responding Battalion Chief(s).
• Additional units dispatched should Level I stage unless otherwise directed by Command.
• Accountability will be maintained at all times, and personnel will not proceed to the various sectors without first supplying an accountability tag to the appointed officer.