High Rise Fires: Standard Operations

Purpose

• Standardize operations at High Rise Fires

Scope

• Structure fires in high rise buildings are complex
• Signal 25 SOG (406) serves as a foundation
• Certain company assignments are modified
• This SOG guides those modifications at all High Rise fires

Definition

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

Initial Operations

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

First Arriving Units

• Establish command and transmit initial report (Per SOG 403 Incident Command)
• Assume a concealed fire if nothing is showing on arrival
• Initiate a second alarm if smoke or fire is showing
• Offensive actions for first arriving units that are not Engines, Ladders, or Squads should be limited to information gathering
• The only exception to that rule is occupants in imminent danger

Lobby Actions

• Take the following actions upon entering the lobby:
  • Gather information from building management/security regarding the extent of the emergency
  • Obtain fire alarm control panel history if actively alarming
  • Obtain building plans and the fire control plan where available
  • Obtain fire phones if available
  • Obtain master keys to rooms, stairwell doors, elevators, windows, etc. (if available), and have electric locks deactivated by a Building Representative, if applicable
  • Determine the initial means of ascent
  • Form fire attack teams with a minimum of 5 engine company personnel, one of whom is an OIC (officer in charge)
• The Engineer of the first engine company parks the apparatus near the FDC, without impeding initial Ladder Companies to serve as a "locator” and a pump for the FDC
• The Engineer proceeds to the fire alarm panel, which becomes "Panel Control”, monitoring the fire alarm panel and its emergency communication system, including Fire Phones & Intercom System
• The Panel Control position may be assigned to an officer, with the Engineer as an aide, as the incident escalates, but radio designation will not change
• The Engineer serving Panel Control must be prepared to direct incoming crews until a "Lobby Control” officer is designated by Command, considering building features, roof access, and stairwells
• They should be valuable in informing later arriving crews of the initial attack team’s ‘’initial means of ascent’’, for example stairwell or elevator
• Follow the guidelines in the “Elevator Operations Appendix” if conditions indicate elevators are safe to use
• Use stairs for initial ascent if the reported fire location is below the 7th Floor
• Complete the elements of 407.03.01 before the Initial “Fire Attack Team” advances toward the reported fire location

Fire Attack Teams

• The “Initial fire Attack Team” is formed by the first and second arriving engine companies
• The first engine company enters the lobby with their high rise equipment
• The second engine company brings a duplicate set of high rise equipment as a ‘’backup only’’ and joins the first company ASAP
• Only one set of high rise equipment is required past the lobby per Attack team
• The radio designation shall be ‘’ Attack One’’, with paired Engine Companies being Attack Two, Three, etc.

Panel Control Notes

• Panel Control will relay all communications between the fire attack teams and Command via fire phones if available, in the event of radio malfunction

Attack One Operational Priority

• Ensure the first Engineer is in the designated location (Panel Control) and engaged (PER 407.03.01)
• Ensure that fire phones and master keys have been secured (if available)
• Advance to the landing two floors below the reported fire location, periodically checking conditions on the lower floors while ascending
• Mandatory brief stop two floors below the reported fire, to survey the floor plan and take note of the standpipe valve type, to determine the feasibility of this location being used as a ‘’Forward Staging Area’’
• Upon arrival at the reported fire floor, report conditions, actions, needs, using fire phones if radio malfunction occurs, as communications are mandatory for safety
• Direct all efforts around placing the first hose line in service for fire suppression
• If one of the initial Ladder Companies locates the fire in advance of Initial Fire Attack team, follow their lead, potentially crossing over to the opposite stairwell or requesting that Command send a 2nd Attack Team to ascent the opposite stairwell, to use a closer standpipe outlet and obtain a shorter hose stretch
• Coordination is key
• Never push fire down a hallway towards an unprotected Ladder Company

Evacuation Notes

• Evacuation/rescue may take priority over fire attack, but more lives are usually saved by an aggressive attack on the fire

Initial Ladder Company Operational Priorities

• Ladder Companies are to support the efforts of the ‘’Fire Attack Teams’’
• Their top priorities are forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, and checking for extension
• They shall retain their normal radio designation and will not be paired with another Ladder company unless directed by Command

Ladder Companies

• The first arriving Ladder Company sets up use of aerial and conducts rapid needs assessment. If no immediate use, the entire crew shall proceed to the fire floor, dropping a cordless PPV fan with a 50’ cord at the front of the building upon arrival
• The second arriving Ladder Company parks in a location for secondary ladder operations on the opposite side, if possible and conducts rapid needs assessment. If no immediate use, the entire crew shall proceed to the fire floor from the opposite stairwell, dropping a cordless PPV fan with a 50’ cord at the front of the building upon arrival
• The 1st and 2nd Ladder Companies shall enter (attached to a tag line) from opposite stairwells if conditions are tenable
• Announce over the radio for the benefit of ‘’Attack One’’ if the fire is located, but wait for the Initial Fire Attack Team to arrive if conditions are not tenable at the stairwell door

Ladder Company Notes

• The 1st and 2nd Ladder Companies are often the ‘’forward eyes’’, constantly checking doors on ascent and stopping briefly two floors below the reported fire, and coordination with ‘’Attack One’’ is key
• The third arriving Ladder Company initiates PPV and RIT and brings a cordless PPV fan with a 50’ cord.
• Use the stockpile of PPV fans to immediately pressurize the building from the outside at the ground floor, pressurizing the stairwells, then pairs up with the 2nd Squad (one floor below the fire floor) for RIT

Squad Companies

• The first company enters the Building, announces a stairwell and ascends to the roof accounting for victims, if tenable
• Visually check all sides and ledges for victims, do a primary search of the top floor and descend the opposite stairwell accounting for victims, and requests another assignment if feasible, upon completion
• The second forms the RIT (one floor below the fire floor), per SOG # 408, and pairs up with the 3rd arriving Ladder Company one initial PPV has been established

Suppression

• The 1st Suppression Chief assumes Command, ensures a 2nd and 3rd Alarm as well as a Level -1 MCI has been initiated if a confirmed fire, and establishes a Level II Staging Area, remembering that only two engines and one ladder are dispatched on each additional alarm as firefighting personnel
• Incident Commander (Radio designation “Command”) is guided by the command responsibilities outlined in the Incident Command SOG 403

Incident Commander

• The IC must ensure that the following tasks and assignments are assigned to the remainder of the 1st Alarm Assignment:
  • Water supply into FDC has been established
  • RIT (Per SOG 408)
  • Safety Officer (Per SOG 442)
  • EMS Group
  • Assign Fire Floor Chief (radio designation “Forward Ops’’)
  • Assign ‘’Lobby Control Chief’’
  • If necessary: Assign suppression officer to “Panel Control”
• Coordination of stairwell use must be ensured, via Lobby Control

Expanding Operations

• Command establishes the following, to properly manage the extra alarm companies:
  • IC Aide (Location: Command Post)
  • Forward Staging Officer (Location: 2 Floors below fire)
  • Exterior Staging Officer (Location: Level II Staging / Per ICS SOG 403)
• All elements of 407.03.07 must be ensured prior to expanding operations
• Command also ensures sufficient resources requested for successful operation
• Assess incident needs and consider age, occupancy, and height of the high rise structures, as operational demands can vary tremendously

Extra Alarm/ Search and Evacuation

• Extra Alarm Companies report to exterior staging (Level II) per Incident Command SOG 403
• All occupants must be accounted for, conducting a primary search and evacuation of the affected area
• Follow the guidelines of the “Search/Evacuation Appendix”

Rapid Ascent Team

• If a Rapid Ascent Team (RAT) is required, assign one suppression company to every stairwell in the buildings to repeatedly search for occupants and assist, coordinating with Fire Attack and Ventilation Teams (opening, closing doors, roof, etc.)
• The RAT should report conditions in the stairwell as well, obtaining master keys (if available) prior to ascent
• The radio designation for RAT will be RAT 1, RAT 2 or as needed

Ventilation/ Communication

• A ventilation team must rapidly clear the building of smoke and gases, requiring a coordinated approach, designating them “Vent 1, 2”, following the guidelines of Appendix C Ventilation
• The Fire Attack Team should be reinforced (see 407.03.01), with consideration made for continuous relief of working teams
• High Rise Fires shall operate on a Designated B-Flight (B-1, B-5, ETC.) In the event of a Portable Radio malfunction (lack of reception), the I.C. shall activate a portable Radio Repeater
• Once activated, the I.C. assigns a Repeater Channel to all ‘’Interior Crews’’ using Portable Radios
• "Apparatus Radios" as well as all personnel (utilizing Portable radios) assigned to "Exterior Assignments" continue to utilize the designated Bravo Channel, following the Guidelines of Appendix D

EMS, Elevators and Safety

• All patients and evacuees shall be removed to a safe triage location, either inside or outside the structure
• All patients & evacuees will be treated per MCI SOG 413, radio designating the function as “EMS GROUP”, managed by on scene Rescue District Chief
• The Rescue Chief must ensure a reserve of stair chairs and bariatric drag blankets available based on occupancy type
• If elevators are used in any capacity other than initial ascent, they shall have a Firefighter operator assigned and be in the Fire Service Mode with an SCBA, radio and set of irons remaining with the car at all times, to coordinate transport of personnel and equipment with “Lobby Control” and “Forward Staging"
• A safety perimeter shall be established around the structure, with law enforcement responsible to to maintain integrity

Secondary Priorities

• The assignments and tasks below are important for overall management, but considered secondary priorities due to incident size, and completed as manpower permits:
  • Establish a forward rehab area ASAP, two floors below if the fire is high up, with ALS component, managed by a Rescue District Chief coordinating with Forward Staging Officer
  • All utilities within the structure must be secured and monitored, and a building engineering department member should assist firefighters
    • Electric
    • Gas
    • Back-up power supply
    • Mechanical rooms
    • Fire sprinkler systems
  • Conduct a through secondary search of all floors, elevators and exterior areas
  • Salvage can be labor intensive due to the large amounts of water needing removal, proper salvage techniques, sprinkler valves needing shutoff, and quantities of salvage covers

Logistical Support

• If elevator use is unavailable and Forward Staging is above the 7th floor (created by Lobby Control), consider establishing a Stairway Support Group
• These personnel should have minimal PPE and not be allowed in hazardous conditions with patient or material moved only three floors, for efficient action
• Resupply of SCBA cylinders may be best accomplished by personnel transporting full cylinders to the lobby and empty ones to the Air Supply Unit, with methods of transport to and from the Forward Staging area determined by Lobby Control
• The remote fill station by way of air hose has a lower CFM ability than the actual mobile unit, allowing filling at the lower rate in a location within the building
• The EMS Group shall evaluate medical needs and account for patients on scene, as movement from upper floors will be personnel intensive, requiring consideration when requesting additional units