Toronto Fire Services - Fire Fighting Operations in Underground Facilities PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS IN UNDERGROUND FACILITIES Date Issued: January 27, 2021 Rescinds: March 29, 2019 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-FFOU PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for firefighting operations in...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS IN UNDERGROUND FACILITIES Date Issued: January 27, 2021 Rescinds: March 29, 2019 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-FFOU PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for firefighting operations in large underground facilities. RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible to have an understanding of firefighting operations in large underground facilities. Sector Officers are responsible for personnel assigned to their sector during all phases of underground firefighting. Incident Commanders are responsible to develop an initial strategy, develop an effective Incident Action Plan, and execute effective tactical operations to successfully control and neutralize the emergency incident safely and professionally. GUIDELINES 1. Considerations 1.1. For control of fires in underground areas, firefighting personnel should be familiar with factors and considerations such as the following: a) Control of; i. Lobby and elevators. ii. Stairwells for smoke migration, removal of smoke, and occupant evacuation. iii. EVAC System. iv. Entry and exit of persons and vehicles from underground (consider utilizing Police for this purpose). v. Smoke removal b) Smoke migration/contamination of many floors from the actual fire. c) Establish effective communications system, either by radio or alternate means, such as Firefighter telephones if available. d) Limiting the number of Firefighters committed to the underground until the fire is located. e) Wearing complete personal protective equipment (PPE) including SCBA. f) Reaching below grade fires can be extremely punishing to crews as they descend to the fire area. i. Stairways and hallways can act like chimneys for superheated fire gases being given off by the fire. File Code: G-FFOU Page 1 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 1.2. Thermal Imaging Cameras should be utilized to assist with locating the fire and possible victims. 2. Operations 2.1. All high rise firefighting operations shall be in compliance with Standard Operating Guidelines, and Training Notes. 2.2. If the fire location is not known, the first arriving Company Officer shall ensure an apparatus is located in the best position to determine the location and extent of the emergency and proceed with establishing the Incident Management System. 2.3. No entry shall be permitted without Entry Control. 2.4. Once the exact location of the fire is determined, it should be announced to all personnel operating at the incident. 2.5. Sprinkler and standpipe system connections shall be connected by a First Alarm Pumper at the scene. 2.6. The first arriving crew shall enter and attempt to locate and extinguish the fire. Firefighting personnel shall enter with firefighting equipment that includes, but is not limited to the following: a) 65mm Hose Packs and Standpipe Kit b) Forcible entry tools. c) Utility rope (lifeline) or hose line. d) Portable hand lighting. 2.7. In addition to all standard PPE, wherever possible, additional crews entering into a working underground fire shall be equipped with the following: a) Lifeline or rope reel. b) SCBA with 60 minute cylinder air supply. c) Thermal Imaging Camera 2.8. A first alarm apparatus shall be positioned in proximity of the roll-up doors and a hose line shall be deployed from that apparatus to the fire, if possible. 2.9. Wherever possible, doors leading directly into the building from the underground area shall be kept closed to prevent smoke from contaminating the building interior. 2.10. When it is safe to do so, hose lines should be connected to the standpipe cabinet in proximity of the fire location level and used in a manner to prevent circumstances resulting in smoke contaminating the building. The Incident Commander must give serious consideration to stretching hose lines from the apparatus, if possible. 2.11. Entry into heavy smoke in underground areas shall only be made by firefighting personnel wearing complete PPE and in constant contact with a hose line or lifeline leading to a safe area. 2.12. Whether to use more than one entry crew at a time shall be based on the life hazards involved and shall be at the discretion of the Incident Commander File Code: G-FFOU Page 2 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE and coordinated through the Entry Control Officer. 2.13. The Incident Commander shall designate a RIT crew(s) immediately. 2.14. The Incident Commander should designate a TFS member to the EVAC system assignment and ensure the EVAC system is used and periodic and timely updates are issued to occupants (refer to G-EVAC — Emergency Voice Alarm Communication (EVAC) Systems). 2.15. If firefighting personnel enter at an overhead roll down (parking garage) door, they shall ensure the power is disconnected to the electric door closer prior to entry or some auxiliary device is in place to prevent the door from closing once the crew is inside. 2.16. Company Officers of each entry team shall ensure the locking mechanism on ALL doors through which they pass are disengaged, unlocked, held open or rendered inoperative to allow for escape. 2.17. The Incident Commander shall request that building management personnel attend the Command Post with a copy of the respective building Fire Safety Plan. 2.18. Smoke removal is always challenging in underground areas. A Ventilation plan should be developed to coordinate building systems (CO and exhaust fans), stairwells (leading directly to the exterior), TFS PPV fans, and possibly including the truck mounted large volume Ramfan VX700. ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS E-PESC — Personal Protective Equipment — SCBA G-CONF — Confined Space Rescue G-EEVAC — Emergency Voice Alarm Communication (EVAC) Systems G-FFOH — Fire Fighting Operations in High Rises G-INCM — Incident Management G-RAPI — Rapid Intervention Teams File Code: G-FFOU Page 3 of 3