High-Rise Firefighting Tactics

• The study notes cover tactical assignments, building systems control, crew assignments, resource staging, elevator use, relief cycles, reporting duties, and high-rise alarm responses. Also covered are apparatus base location, engine and truck company functions, attack crew work times, incident command structure, and specific tasks for arriving units.

Tactical Assignments

• Establish command
• Determine the fire floor or area
• Verify the fire floor and extent of the fire
• Control occupants
• Control building systems
• Confine and extinguish the fire
• Address the floor above

Building Systems Control

• Fire suppression/pump system
• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
• Elevators

Initial Fire Confirmation Protocol

• Command must immediately double the assignment to the fire floor upon confirmation of a fire by the first-in crew.

Minimum Crew Assignment Before Confirmation

• A minimum of three crews (two engines and one truck) are assigned to the fire floor from the first due assignment before a fire is confirmed.

Resource Staging Area (RSA) Location

• The Resource Staging Area (RSA) is located two floors below the fire floor.

Elevator Usage

• Elevators can only be used if it is a known hydraulic elevator and the control room is on the ground floor when the fire is on the 5th floor.
• Elevators should never be taken to the fire floor but rather two floors below.

Attack Relief Cycle

• The attack relief cycle ratio is 3:1.

Floor Above Crew Assignment

• A minimum of one crew is assigned to the floor above once the relief cycle has been established.

Floor Above Crew Reporting Duties

• Report smoke and heat conditions
• Report the stairway they are using and its conditions
• Confirm if evacuation has occurred or is controlled
• Report resources needed

Compromised Stairwells Strategy

• Shelter in place strategy should be used if stairwells are compromised with smoke and heat.

High-Rise Notifier Alarm Response

• Units responding include 1 BC (Battalion Chief), 3 engines, and 1 truck (minimum 1 unit 10-39)
• Dispatch provides notifier alarm information without confirming calls.

First Alarm High-Rise Response

• Units responding include 2 BCs, 4 engines, 2 trucks, 1 ambulance, and 1 utility unit
• Dispatch provides information about possible smoke or the smell of smoke with no visible fire.

Second Alarm High-Rise Response

• Units responding include 1 AC/DC (Assistant Chief/Deputy Chief), 4 BCs, 8 engines, 4 trucks, 2 utility units, 3 ambulances, and 2 heavy rescues
• Dispatch provides information about a reported fire, visible smoke, and confirming calls.

Third Alarm High-Rise Response

• Units responding include the 2nd alarm response plus 1 additional AC/DC (2 total), 2 additional BCs (6 total), 4 additional engines (12 total), 2 additional trucks (6 total), 1 mobile command unit, 1 comms chief, and 1 DPS helicopter
• Dispatch provides information about a confirmed working fire by units on the scene.

Apparatus Base Location

• The apparatus base needs to be located a minimum of 200 feet away from the building.

Engine Company Functions

• Rescue
• Supply water to standpipes
• Deploy handlines
• Attack the fire

Truck Company Functions

• Rescue
• Force entry
• Gain access
• Ventilate
• Support engine operations
• Perform Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) duties

Attack Crew Working Time

• Attack crews generally work for about 10 minutes of operating time
• Backup teams will be ready for deployment.

Division Supervisor Assumption

• The first captain assumes the role of division supervisor if there is no chief officer on the fire floor.

First Arriving Engine

• Arrive near the entrance without blocking it.
• Gear: Full PPE, high-rise kit, building keys, dry chemical extinguisher, building phone from FCC (Fire Command Center).
• Actions: Go to FCC, mark the panel, recall elevators, locate stairways. Report panel status, determine fire location & size, initiate fire attack.

Second Arriving Engine

• Actions: Connect to standpipe, reverse lay to hydrant minimum 200’ away, hand lay 2nd line to standpipe.
• Gear: Full PPE, High-rise kit, extra equipment left at RSA.
• Roles: Engine is WS (Water Supply), engineer is WS group. Remaining crew checks standpipe valves and backs up Fire Attack (FA).

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Engines

• Parking: Park 200’ away.
• Gear: Full PPE, High-rise kit, extra equipment to RSA.
• Assignments: 3rd to fire floor; 4th checks floor above then sets up in stairwell to replace FA; 5th is initial RSA manager and prepares to replace FA team in stairwell.

Sixth and Seventh Engines

• Parking: Park at apparatus base.
• Gear: Full PPE, high-rise kit, extra equipment to RSA.
• Assignments: 6th to RSA and prepares to replace team in stairwell; 7th FA from 2nd stairwell (coordinate with initial FA) will be 2nd fire attack group supervisor.

Eighth Engine

• Actions: Reverse lay from 2nd standpipe to hydrant 200’ away (different from other engine) or 3rd line to the only standpipe.
• Gear: Full PPE, high-rise kit, extra equipment left at RSA.
• Remaining crew backs up Fire Attack (FA) in 2nd stairwell, reports to 2nd stairwell FAG supervisor.

Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Engines

• Parking: Park engines at apparatus base.
• Gear: Full PPE, High-rise kit, extra equipment to RSA.
• Assignment: Report to 2nd stairwell FAG and prepare to replace attack crew.

First Truck

• Parking: Park for possible rescue(s) or Fire Attack (FA).
• Gear: Full PPE, Truck kit, extra tools to RSA.
• Actions: Perform truck functions on the first floor, forcible entry, vent, open plenum for Fire Attack (FA), and RIT. If assigned to aerial rescue, the next truck takes truck functions.

Second Truck

• Parking: Park minimum 200’ unless aerial rescue is needed.
• Gear: Full PPE, Fan, and extra tools to RSA.
• Actions: Place fan at the base of the Fire Attack (FA) stairwell. Perform truck functions on the fire floor and RIT for Fire Attack (FA).

Third Truck

• Parking: Park minimum 200’ unless aerial rescue is needed.
• Gear: Full PPE, Fan, and extra tools to RSA.
• Actions: Place fan in Fire Attack (FA) stairwell one floor below RSA floor. Prepare to relieve Truck FA team.

Fourth Truck

• Parking: Place truck near 2nd stairwell corner for possible rescue.
• Gear: Full PPE, Truck kit, extra tools to RSA.
• Action: Truck function on 2nd stairwell Fire Attack Group (FAG) and RIT. Report to FAG 2nd stairwell.

Fifth and Sixth Trucks

• Parking: Park minimum 200’ away unless aerial rescue is needed.
• Gear: Full PPE, fan, and extra tools to RSA.
• Assignments: 5th places fan at the base of 2nd stairwell; 6th places fan at 2nd stairwell one floor below RSA. Both then go to RSA for replacement of active truck company.

HRT 1 and 2

• Parking: Park in base.
• Gear: Full PPE, RIT Cache.
• Assignments: HRT 1 establishes RIT on RSA floor. HRT 2 establishes RIT on 2nd stairwell RSA.