Toronto Fire Mass Crowds/Civil Unrest/Violent Situations Awareness PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE MASS CROWDS / CIVIL UNREST / VIOLENT SITUATIONS AWARENESS Date Issued: June 5, 2020 Rescinds: NEW Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-CIAW PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for responses to situations resul...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE MASS CROWDS / CIVIL UNREST / VIOLENT SITUATIONS AWARENESS Date Issued: June 5, 2020 Rescinds: NEW Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-CIAW PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for responses to situations resulting from mass crowds, civil unrest and/or violent situations. RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible for being able to recognize unsafe situations resulting from of mass crowds, civil unrest and/or violent situations. Company Officers are responsible for maintaining crews at a safe distance from potentially volatile situations. Incident Commanders are responsible for assessing risk of violence to all fire service personnel and liaising with law enforcement authorities. The Division Chief of Technical Operations is responsible for ensuring development of guidelines and training for incidents mass crowds, civil unrest and/or violent situations. GUIDELINES General It is the responsibility of the Technical Operations Division Chief to develop guidelines for TFS responses to incidents involving mass crowds, civil unrest and/or violent situations The fire department shall develop in conjunction with the local law enforcement agency/agencies, written standard operating procedures that establish a standardized approach to the safety of members and that shall govern the roles and responsibilities at incidents that involve violence, active shooters, unrest, or civil disturbance.1 This guideline provides awareness level information for crews who may be required to respond to or close to a mass crowd situation. Mass crowds are a part of everyday activity in a major urban centres. Crowds numbering in the thousands from major sporting and entertainment events are not uncommon daily. 1 National Fire Protection Association, Inc., NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, (2018 Edition), 8.10.3. Page 1 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Care always must be taken when maneuvering an apparatus in or near a large crowd. Awareness At incidents involving mass crowds, civil unrest and/or violent situations the Incident Commanders shall do the following: a) Get crews back a safe distance b) Establish a staging area c) Advise TFS Communication Centre d) Request Police e) Await Police arrival at scene f) Liaise with Police g) Follow Police direction Where fire personnel are in attendance at any incidents involving mass crowds, civil unrest and/or violent situations the TFS Communication Centre shall notify the following: a) Police b) District Chief c) Platoon Chief The Fire Incident Commander shall communicate directly with the Police at the incident scene. The Incident Commander shall determine the appropriate level of personal protective equipment to be worn at incidents involving civil unrest, disturbances and public demonstrations. Under no circumstances shall fire personnel carry weapons aboard fire apparatus. Firefighters shall not use any word, act, or expression that could provoke members of any group to become violent against fire personnel, apparatus or equipment. Personnel shall never challenge a group in any manner. Evacuation of a seriously injured Firefighter takes priority over all other firefighting activities in a civil disturbance area. Company Officers or other personnel may request Police for immediate attendance to any incident to which Police are required. “Code 1” requests for Police shall follow the protocol outlined in Standard Operating Guideline G-VIOL - Violence Related Incidents. Withdrawal Tactics- Prior to Arrival Prior to apparatus and personnel arrival at an incident scene (pre-deployment phase) withdrawal shall be the following: a) If a fire apparatus is responding into an area of civil disturbance and hostility erupts unexpectedly, the unit should not continue the deployment. b) If the first arriving Officer has reason to believe the apparatus or fire personnel will be in danger or attacked, the Company Officer shall: Page 2 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE i. Report this to the Communication Centre. ii. Stage a safe distance away from the incident. c) Direct other responding apparatus to stop and stage a safe distance away from the incident. d) Once notified of the situation, Communication Centre personnel shall immediately notify: The Communications Centre Captains and District Chief, Toronto Police, District Chief, and Platoon Chief. Withdrawal Tactics- After Arrival After apparatus and personnel have arrived at an incident scene (post-deployment phase) withdrawal shall be the following: a) In the event fire units are deployed in a civil disturbance area and hostility toward personnel or equipment is directed by either an individual or mob action, the companies shall be withdrawn by the Incident Commander. b) Fire personnel shall bring with them only equipment in their possession at the time and that does not impede withdrawal. c) No Officer shall leave the area from which they are withdrawing without personally accounting for all personnel. ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGs G-CONS - Consular (Diplomatic) Properties G-POPT - Police (Toronto) G-VIOL - Violence Related Incidents G-CIPO - Mass Crowd, Civil Unrest, Demonstrations - Public Order Operations G-CIDE - Mass Crowd, Civil Unrest, Demonstrations - Public Order Decontamination Page 3 of 3