Toronto Fire Services Overhaul and Salvage Operations PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE OVERHAUL AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS Date Issued: March 29, 2019 Rescinds: December 1, 2008 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-OVER PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for overhaul and salvage operations. RESPONSIBILI...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE OVERHAUL AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS Date Issued: March 29, 2019 Rescinds: December 1, 2008 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-OVER PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for overhaul and salvage operations. RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible for maintaining an understanding of proper overhaul and salvage operations and utilizing effective practices. Officers are responsible for maintaining high standards of customer service and effectively conducting overhaul and salvage operations. Incident Commanders are responsible for ensuring property has been sufficiently overhauled to prevent the rekindling of fire and salvaged to protect property and contents. GUIDELINES 1. Overhaul 1.1. The primary reason for overhaul operations at firefighting incidents should be the prevention of rekindling of fire. 1.2. Overhaul should be considerate of fire investigation and cause determination. While the fire fighters have a responsibility to control and extinguish the fire and then check for fire extension, they are also responsible for the preservation of evidence. These two responsibilities may appear to be in conflict and, as a result, it is usually the evidence that is affected during the search for hidden fire. However, if overhaul operations are performed in a systematic manner, both responsibilities can be met successfully. 1 1.3. Overhaul operations should be extensive but never reckless in the treatment of property. 1.4. Overhaul operations should be complimented by extensive salvage efforts to protect property and contents. 1.5. Customer service is of the utmost importance to Toronto Fire Services and therefore accommodation of the public is a priority. The state of a building and the way it is left by TFS personnel is often the measure of the performance of personnel despite an exemplary firefighting initiative. Incident Commanders shall 1 National Fire Protection Association, Inc., NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, (2008 Edition), 16.3.5.3.2(B). File Code: G-OVER Page 1 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE be responsible for ensuring property is left in a satisfactory state. 1.6. Overhaul operations should be based upon the situation of the moment. Considerations given to the time and resources provided to overhaul should include, but not be limited to the following: a) Safety of personnel b) Safety of the public c) Volume of incidents being managed by the Communications Centre d) Security of the scene e) Preservation of evidence f) Cause investigation 1.7. After incident overhaul operations are complete, the Incident Commander should transfer responsibility for the incident property to a responsible individual. This person should be all of the following: a) Adult b) Obviously responsible c) Have a connection to the property 1.8. TFS personnel may advise owners or occupants of the role a contractor may play in restoring a property but shall not at any time recommend contractors or service providers by name or contact information. 1.9. Officers in doubt as to the resources that should be spent on overhaul operations should consult Officers up the chain of command. The Incident Commander should request or consult with these Officers in order to determine overhaul efforts. 2. Salvage 2.1. Incident Commanders shall direct on scene personnel in salvage operations for protection of property and building contents. 2.2. Salvage operations should be conducted so as to reduce damage due to exposure to harmful elements. 2.3. Salvage operations should be ongoing during firefighting operations. 2.4. Salvage operations shall include, but not be limited to the following: a) Relocating property. b) Using; i. Salvage covers. ii. Plastic sheeting. 2.5. Salvage operations should be considerate of fire investigation and cause determination. The movement or removal of artifacts from a fire scene can make the reconstruction difficult for the investigator. If the investigator cannot determine the pre-fire location of the evidence, the analytical or interpretative value of the evidence may be lost. Moving, and particularly removing, contents and furnishings or other evidences at the File Code: G-OVER Page 2 of 3  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE fire scene should be avoided until the documentation, reconstruction, and analysis are completed. 2 2.6. Windows that are open due to the breakage of glass during firefighting operations should be covered with plastic sheeting before apparatus clear the incident scene. 2.7. Roofs opened for ventilation or other purposes during firefighting operations should be covered with plastic sheeting before apparatus clear the incident scene if exposure has potential to cause further damage to the building or its contents. 3. Reporting 3.1. All overhaul and salvage operations shall be thoroughly and accurately reported in the Emergency Incident Report. ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS G-CELL — Cellulose Insulation G-EVID — Evidence Protection G-FCAU — Fire Cause Determination G-FFOG — Fire Fighting Operations – General G-INCM — Incident Management 2 National Fire Protection Association, Inc., NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, (2008 Edition), 16.3.5.3.3. File Code: G-OVER Page 3 of 3