Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) SOP - PDF

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) Effective Date: 08/01/2010 Procedure Number 04-07A Revised Date: 07/01/2019 Number of Pages 03 1. O...

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) Effective Date: 08/01/2010 Procedure Number 04-07A Revised Date: 07/01/2019 Number of Pages 03 1. Overview The following procedure defines the process for implementing and operating a Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) for lost, distressed or trapped firefighters while operating at the scene of an emergency or during training. Where applicable, this SOP will comply with procedures currently in use by other Salt Lake Valley fire departments. 2. Definitions Emergency Traffic: The term “Emergency Traffic” is used to alert all operating personnel of an on-scene emergency, imminent danger or otherwise significantly hazardous situation. Any member operating in or around the incident can request Emergency Traffic. During Emergency Traffic communications, radio traffic is limited to the use of Command and those individuals communicating the situation/hazard. When the Emergency Traffic communication is complete, Command should state “All clear, resume normal radio traffic.” Mayday: The term “Mayday” shall be reserved ONLY to report members in imminent danger. All reports of Mayday shall receive priority radio traffic. Radio traffic and communications during a Mayday transmission are limited to the use of Command and those individuals communicating the Mayday. To ensure that the message is transmitted and received, the term “Mayday” should be repeated at least three (3) times over the radio (e.g. “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”). Member: A person involved in performing the duties and responsibilities of a fire department, under the auspices of the organization. Personal Accountability Report (PAR): A report quested by and communicated to the Incident Commander from fire crews operating at the scene as to their location and situation. Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC): A dedicated crew of firefighters who are assigned for rapid deployment to locate and rescue lost, distressed or trapped members. The RIC shall consist of at least four (4) members designated and equipped to perform an immediate search and rescue operation. RIC Cache: A specified selection of tools dedicated for the RIC’s use and staged at a specific location. 3. Procedure During emergency operations and training evolutions, members may become lost, trapped, injured, run dangerously low on air or have another type of emergency that requires immediate action and intervention from the RIC. The following procedures are intended to address and mitigate these life- threatening situations. A. Staffing Procedures The following shall be the minimum staffing requirements for a Rapid Intervention Crew. 1. Minimum Staffing will consist of one (1) Officer and three (3) members. When the incident dictates, a RIC Support Officer shall be established. 2. The RIC can be expanded based on the incident size and complexity. In the event  the RIC cannot meet the minimum staffing, the RIC Officer shall notify Command. Command shall re-assign personnel to the RIC as they become available to meet the minimum staffing level. 3. Each additional alarm on all working incidents shall require a minimum of one (1) additional company to be utilized for RIC needs. 4. RIC may request additional specialty units through Command beyond this minimum standard such as Heavy Rescues and HazMat Teams. B. Equipment Staging Whenever RIC is established, a RIC-specific staging area shall be established with an equipment cache designated using a yellow tarp. The following considerations should be used when establishing the RIC staging area: 1. The staging area should offer a view of two sides of the structure and/or operational area. 2. The staging area should be near the Command Post. If this is not possible, the RIC Officer should consider remaining near the Command Post to facilitate face-to-face communication. 3. All RIC members shall be in full personal protective clothing including SCBA and have a portable radio. 4. For High Rise Fires, RIC shall be assigned to staging positions in the Resource Division, in stairwells or other appropriate locations. A secondary standby location may be in the Lobby. C. Tools and Equipment At a minimum, the RIC cache shall include: 1. Yellow Tarp 2. RIC Air Supply Bag(s) or department compatible SCBA with face piece 3. Rotary Saw with a selection of blades 4. Chain Saw 5. One set of Light Irons and one set of Heavy Irons 6. Search Rope Bag 7. Thermal Imager Camera 8. Selection of Hand Tools (wire cutters, bolt cutters, pliers etc.) 9. Portable Lights 10. SKED, Half SKED or Stokes Litter 11. Ground ladders (12’ Roof and a 24’ extension) 12. BLS medical equipment and an AED Additional equipment may be needed to provide an adequate RIC response. Depending on the type of operation and building construction, the equipment cache may be expanded. The RIC Officer will work with Command/Operations to ensure that the necessary tools, resources and expertise are assigned to the RIC to handle any situation that may arise. D. Pre-Event Procedures 1. Command Responsibilities: Command shall assign a RIC company as soon as possible during any Working Incident; ideally as part of the first alarm assignment. Command may assign more than one company if necessary. The RIC should not be used for firefighting or to provide relief for operating units/crews until the fire/incident has been declared “Under Control” by Command. Operations of a large or more complex nature may call for additional RICs to be established at each operational entry point or other tactically appropriate locations. Exceptions to the RIC requirement at Working Incidents include:  a. When there is a reported or suspected life hazard/rescue where immediate action by the first arriving companies could prevent the loss of life. b. When the fire is in an incipient stage that could be controlled by a portable fire extinguisher, without the use of PPE or SCBA. 2. RIC Responsibilities: RIC should identify a staging location, assemble the cache and begin pre-deployment operations. General pre-deployment RIC responsibilities include: a. Monitor all radio traffic. If operations are taking place on multiple tac channels, members may need to monitor more than one frequency. b. Assemble and ready the tool cache. c. Perform a full RIC size-up including 360-dgree walk around of the structure and operational area. Consider making a diagram of the area. d. Identify and support primary and secondary egress. Identify and secure exits, maintain clear pathways of travel, place ladders at appropriate locations/elevations, light egress points, etc. e. Establish a separate RIC water supply and hose line if applicable. f. Review the building/occupancy preplan if applicable. g. Monitor progress, situation and location of all crews operating on the fire ground. E. RIC Deployment Procedure 1. Command Responsibilities: Upon receiving a Mayday call, Command shall initiate the following Rapid Intervention procedures: a. Declare Emergency Traffic and communicate with the Mayday member. (See section F – Communications of this SOG.) b. Verify the status of the Mayday member’s crew. c. Consider radio channel options. (See section F.) d. Deploy the RIC. Consider using crews in close proximity of the Mayday member to support the RIC. Residential occupancy: deploy immediately. Large/High Rise/Commercial occupancies: consider attempting to gain more information before deploying. e. Assume or assign RIC Division or Group Supervisor. Based on that decision, retain or pass Command of the fire incident. f. Request the next higher alarm. All apparatus 10-39 to staging. g. Request additional ground ambulances and consider placing a medical helicopter on standby. h. Conduct a PAR of all companies operating on the fire ground. i. Keep the fire operation going. Make sure crews do not abandon firefighting positions already in place. Hold the fire in check while rescue efforts are being accomplished. j. Assign addition RICs, one for the fire suppression operation and one for the Rapid Intervention operation.  2. RIC Operations: RIC operations, tactics, tasks and procedures are situation- specific. However, the LAST acronym can be used as a general guideline. a. L = Locate. If the location of the Mayday member in unknown, a search must be initiated. This can be done by the RIC and/or crews in close proximity. b. A = Access. RIC must establish direct access to the Mayday member. This may include fire suppression tactics, structural collapse storing, disentanglement, below grade access techniques, etc. c. S = Stabilize. The Mayday member must be stabilized and readied for transport to a safe area. This may include correcting any air supply/SCBA issues, life-saving medical interventions and simple/rapid packaging. d. T = Transport. RIC and/or Removal Teams move the Mayday member to a safe location. If need be, transfer to the Medical Group. F. Communication Communication from the distressed member to Command and ultimately the RIC members is imperative. This should be accomplished in the simplest and most effective manner possible. The easiest way to establish communication with Command is contact via the assigned fire ground channel. Command shall answer and give this situation the highest tactical priority. 1. Member’s Responsibilities If a member becomes lost or has knowledge of another member who is lost, trapped or witnesses a member who becomes trapped, runs dangerously low on air or any other situation or event that they deem as life threatening, a Mayday shall be declared. See SLCFD SOG 04-06A. 2. Command Responsibilities Upon hearing the Mayday, Command will transmit an Emergency Traffic declaration, at which time all other radio traffic will cease. If multiple tac channels are in use on the fire ground, Command shall transmit the Emergency Traffic declaration on all channels as soon as possible. Command will communicate with the member declaring the Mayday in an effort to gain as much information as possible about the situation and status of the member(s). Command will determine to best communication course of action. Options may include: Continuing to keep all operations (fire and RIC) on the current designated fire ground channel. Keep only those involved in the Mayday operation on the current designated fire ground channel. Move all other companies and fire suppression operations to a different channel. Consider using tac channels or Channel 16. Continuing to keep all fire suppression operations on the current designated fire ground channel. Move all of those involved in the Mayday operation to a different channel. Consider using tac channels or Channel 16. Regardless of which communication plan is utilized, Command shall call for a PAR as soon as possible on the designated fire ground operations channel. 3. Individual Companies Responsibilities Upon hearing the Mayday and Emergency Traffic announcement, all units and personnel at the scene shall cease all non-emergency traffic and await the communication plan from Command. Company officers shall prepare to give a PAR when called upon. 4. RIC Responsibilities Upon hearing the Mayday and Emergency Traffic announcement, the RIC Officer shall ensure that all members of the RIC are aware of the Mayday situation and preparing to deploy. The RIC Officer should communicate with Command if needed before deployment to determine the best course of action for the rescue. This communication should be face- to-face if possible to keep the Mayday channel free of unnecessary traffic.