TFD Post-Fire Operations Policy

• TFD's policy on post-fire operations is outlined in this document.
• Procedures are not included in this document.
• The policy is for all TFD uniform personnel involved in overhaul and post-fire operations, including Fire Inspectors.
• This document combines TFD Policy 5024: Overhaul Safety and TFD Policy 5025: Overhaul and Post-fire Decon, both policies were dated November 2001.
• There are no forms associated with this document.

Related TFD Policies

• Policy 4004: Hazardous Materials Emergency Response
• Policy 5016: Personal Protective Equipment for Structural Firefighting
• Policy 5020: Thermal Imager
• Policy 5028: Electrical Hazards
• Policy 6005: Fire and Arson Investigations
• Crime Scene Protocols

Responsibilities for Overhaul and Post-Fire Operations Include:

• The Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety is responsible for maintaining this document.
• The Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for fires being overhauled as per guidelines.
• The IC is resposible for ensuring potential crime scenes are preserved and investigated before overhaul by the agency having jurisdiction.
• The IC is responsible for ensuring personnel, equipment, and patients are decontaminated according to guidelines, and that post-fire incidents and fire watches are scheduled as necessary
• The IC is responsible for property being released to a responsible party after TFD conclusion, and documenting the release of fire property according to the guidelines.
• The Incident Safety Officer (ISO) is responsible for ensuring safety surveys are conducted before overhaul.
• The ISO is also responsible for informing TFD personnel of hazards, ensuring personnel wear protective clothing and gear, and ensuring hazards are properly barricaded or monitored.
• Battalion Chief vehicles must have a supply of Tyvek coveralls.
• TFD Company Officers are responsible for identifying and handling asbestos-containing materials.
• Company officers are responsible for ensuring their crews wear protective clothing and equipment and decontaminate.
• Company officers are further tasked with securing buildings and conducting post-incident inspections.
• TFD Fire Inspectors must wear protective clothing and equipment at the incident scene as per guidelines.
• All TFD uniform personnel must wear protective clothing and equipment, remaining aware of hazards at an incident scene.

Definitions

• A 360 survey is a top-to-bottom visual inspection to check for safety hazards in the surrounding area.
• Asbestos is a human carcinogen mineral that causes lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
• Chemical exposure is accidental contact with hazardous chemicals through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.
• "Contaminated" refers to the presence of nuisance materials or infectious substances like blood or hazardous waste.
• Contamination is the process of hazardous material transfer from a source to people, animals, the environment, or equipment.
• Decontamination is the physical or chemical process reducing the spread of contamination.
• Defensive operations involve a firefighting strategy that does not involve placing people in the fire area or structure.
• A Façade is an architectural feature that may become unstable under fire conditions.
• A face piece is a full face respirator with lens using a filter or air supply for protection from gases or dangerous atmospheres.
• Fire watch is the assignment of a company to monitor an extinguished fire location to prevent rekindling and preserve evidence.
• Full protective clothing includes turnout gear: helmet with earflaps down, hood deployed, turnout coat, turnout pants with liners, gloves, and boots.
• IRS is an Incident Reporting System.
• MMR is a mask mounted regulator.
• Overhaul is the portion of suppression searching for hidden fires or smoldering material.
• PPE is Personal protective equipment.
• A pipe chase is an enclosure constructed to contain pipes.
• A plenum is a space between the structural ceiling and drop-down ceiling for HVAC.
• Positive pressure ventilation relies on fans to push clean air into a structure.
• Rekindle is to ignite from remnants of a previous fire.
• SCBA is a self-contained breathing apparatus.
• A soffit is the underside of a building component like an eave, overhang, or stairwell.
• Structural deficiencies are compromises to a structure's integrity, such as damage to walls, ceilings, or support beams.

General Guidelines for Post-Fire Operations

• The objectives are to extinguish fire, prevent damage and loss, protect property, stabilize and secure the scene, and ensure health and safety.
• Primary emphasis is ensuring the safety of TFD personnel.
• TFD personnel must wear full protective clothing and SCBA during overhaul, while removing debris to prevent re-ignition, when there is potential asbestos contamination, and when harmful airborne particulate or gases are present.
• TFD Fire Investigators must wear protective clothing and equipment based on hazards at the scene and SCBA when airborne hazards are present.
• Contaminated PPE must be laundered per TFD Policy 5016.
• TFD apparatus must carry Tyvek coveralls: Fireboat (5), Medic units (3 each), Battalion Chief vehicles (10 each).
• The last Incident Commander (IC) leaving the scene ensures the fire is extinguished.

Safety Survey Guidelines

• The IC assigns an officer to survey buildings for safety, structural, and health hazards prior to overhaul.
• The Incident Safety Officer (ISO) informs personnel of hazards.
• The ISO ensures hazards are corrected or barricaded/marked with fire line tape.
• Downed electrical wires must be marked off and monitored according to TFD Policy 5028.
• TFD personnel engaged in overhaul must report structural deficiencies, fire extension, hidden fires, and potential asbestos to the IC.
• If a building is unsafe the Company Officer secures it to prevent unauthorized entry and the IC must post a fire watch.

Evidence Preservation Guidelines

• The preservation of evidence outweighs immediate removal of debris/fire extinguishment.
• Spot fires may need to be monitored until a TFD Fire Investigator arrives.
• The Incident Commander ensures evidence is preserved according to TFD Policy 6005.
• TFD minimize disruption to scenes with injuries or fatalities until investigators gather evidence, covering evidence when possible.
• Death scenes are treated as crime scenes and the IC must follow TFD Policy 6005.
• Evidence removal should be directed by a TFD Fire Investigator.

Overhaul Operations

• Perform overhaul to minimize TFD personnel exposure to asbestos/toxic materials.
• Overhaul in dangerous, condemned, or soon-to-be-demolished buildings is limited to defensive operations.
• Overhaul includes searching for and extinguishing hidden fires/hot spots to prevent rekindling.
• Only the minimum necessary overhaul is conducted prior to fire investigation, with all fire areas overhauled after an investigation.
• Incident Commanders must ensure TFD personnel wear protective clothing and SCBA during overhaul operations.
• The IC may rotate/call in relief crews for overhaul assistance.
• Company Officers must identify materials likely to contain asbestos, and limit damage to structural members necessary to prevent rekindling.
• TFD personnel must check floor, wall, ceiling areas.
• The TFD must also check heating and air conditioning vents/registers, areas around light fixtures/electrical outlets, construction voids, under debris, plenum spaces, soffits, and pipe chases.
• TFD personnel must be aware of problems posed by attics, like rekindle hazards from insulation, and the potential for rapid fire spread.
• TFD must wear protective clothing and SCBA, avoid creating dust from asbestos, and be aware of weakened structures, sagging beams, dangerous objects, and unstable chimneys/facades.
• Thermal imagers, axes, pike poles, and Halligan tools may be used.
• Take precautions to avoid contaminating the face piece and MMR when exchanging SCBA cylinders.

Owner/Occupant Access

• Fire personnel may escort owners/occupants through the fire area when deemed appropriate by the Incident commander.
• Allow owners/occupants to remove possessions/valuables if it can be done safely, the items are not evidence, and they have an escort.
• Fire Personnel may be assigned to pack and remove possessions.

Securing The Structure

• Fire personnel use plywood or plastic to cover roof holes and broken windows and board up doors/windows to prevent further loss.
• Fire personnel must remove glass shards before covering windows. They also must identify hazards that cannot be removed before leaving the scene.

Fire Watch Essentials

• The IC assigns fire watch duties, and FCC personnel manage the schedule and notifications.
• Officers assigned to fire watch must verify a water source is available, apparatus is positioned for visibility, a 360 survey is conducted, personnel remain alert for rekindle, and assistance is requested if needed.

Property Release Protocol

• The last IC releases property to a responsible party, explaining the fire has been extinguished as much as possible, but burned structures are unstable, directing them to call 9-1-1 if needed.
• The IC must document the name of the responsible party and precautionary instructions in IRS, documenting the situation in IRS if no a responsible party is found.

Post Incident Inspections

• The IC schedules post incident inspections, and personnel conduct a 360 visual survey, look for smoke or hot spots, and avoid entering unsafe areas.