Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Standard Operating Guidelines 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Subject: Truck Company Operations Adopted: Effective Date: October 23, 2009 Last Revised Date: November 10, 2023 Revision Number: 2 Due for Revision Date: November 2026 Table of Contents 1041.0...

Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Standard Operating Guidelines 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Subject: Truck Company Operations Adopted: Effective Date: October 23, 2009 Last Revised Date: November 10, 2023 Revision Number: 2 Due for Revision Date: November 2026 Table of Contents 1041.09.01 Glossary 1041.09.02 Purpose 1041.09.03 Scope 1041.09.04 Overview 1041.09.05 Assignment of Personnel 1041.09.06 Truck Company Functions 1041.09.07 Equipment 1041.09.08 Safety Considerations 1 of 7 # 1041.09.00 1041.09.01 AC BC CO DC DO FAP FDC IAP IC IMS IRIC OIC OPS PIO RIT SOG Glossary Assistant Chief Battalion Chief Company Officer Deputy Chief Driver Operator Fire Alarm Panel Fire Department Connection Incident Action Plan Incident Commander Incident Management System Initial Rapid Intervention Crew Officer in Charge Operations Public Information Officer Rapid Intervention Team Standard Operating Guideline 1041.09.02 Purpose The purpose of this guideline, when combined with the officer’s training and experience, is to provide a framework for safe, efficient, and effective truck company emergency scene operations. Guidelines should not be used as a substitute for good judgment by the company officer. It should be understood that even though engine and truck company functions differ, crews must remain versatile and be ready and willing to overlap functions. 1041.09.03 Scope This SOG applies to all BSFC&RD personnel who may be assigned to a truck company or who have the potential to perform truck company operations on the emergency scene or during training. 1041.09.04 Overview A ladder truck is a specialized piece of fire apparatus. The personnel assigned will be called on to perform a variety of tasks on the emergency scene. These tasks may include, but are not limited to, elevated rescue using the aerial device or ground ladders, elevated master streams, search/rescue and victim removal, vertical or horizontal ventilation, forcible entry, checking for fire extension, utility control, property conservation, overhaul, air monitoring, emergency scene lighting, and special operations incidents. Truck company functions might, at times, overlap with engine company functions. 2 of 7 1041.09.05 Assignment of Personnel Due to the specialized nature of truck work and the functions the crew may be called on to perform, personnel assigned should be highly trained and experienced. Four firefighters should be assigned to a truck company as staffing permits. Riding/Work Assignments A. The four-person crew of the ladder truck will be split up into an inside and an outside group. The inside group will consist of the company officer and the firefighter riding directly behind the company officer position. The outside group will consist of the driver/operator and the firefighter riding directly behind the driver/operator position. These inside and outside groups will be responsible for the following: B. Inside Group 1. Force entry for engine company crews as necessary 2. Search and rescue a) Remember to stay together at all times 3. Ventilation 4. Search for fire extension, vertical and horizontal 5. Property preservation 6. Overhaul 7. Any other assigned duties C. Outside Group 1. Laddering the building 2. Proactive forcible entry 3. Ventilation 4. Determine fire location 5. Utility control 6. Use of aerial device 7. Search for fire spread outside of the fire building, exposures 8. Emergency scene lighting as needed 9. Any other assigned duties Key point: Notify Ops Chief or IC upon completion of any tactical objective or change in conditions 1041.09.06 Truck Company Functions The truck company will perform but not be limited to the following functions: A. Size-up B. Apparatus positioning C. Aerial operations D. Search for fire extension E. Property conservation F. Laddering G. Search & Rescue H. Ventilation I. Elevated master streams 3 of 7 J. K. L. M. Forcible entry Utility control Overhaul Other functions as necessary or as directed by the IC Size-up A. While enroute and upon arrival the Company Officer (CO) and crew will size up the incident. Size up and information gathering can be done by the entire crew, but it is the CO’s role (along with the IC) to put this information into operational tactics. The truck company should keep the following in mind as they respond and arrive on scene. 1. Dispatch information 2. Weather considerations 3. Personal observations 4. Pre-plans 5. Apparatus placement and positioning 6. Occupancy type 7. Building construction 8. Utilities 9. Need for immediate rescue 10. Need for more resources 11. Mode, offensive or defensive 12. Hazards 13. 2 in 2 out rule Apparatus Positioning A. The truck should be positioned at the front (A side) or fire in front of the building unless it is needed at or directed to another location. The second truck should position on C-side if possible, unless directed otherwise. B. Considerations for Truck positioning: 1. Use of aerial device for elevated master stream 2. Rescue purposes 3. Roof access 4. Secondary egress for fire crews, or exposure protection 5. Ease of equipment deployment and use. 6. Fire and smoke conditions Aerial Operations A. Rescue- Positioning the aerial for rescue purposes must be done safely and rapidly. When positioning, setting up, and operating the aerial device truck company personnel must consider the following: 1. Consider overhead power lines 2. Condition of the fire building 3. Ground should be relatively level and stable 4. The aerial device will always be operated per manufacturers recommendations so as to promote safety and prevent damage 4 of 7 B. Elevated Master Streams - Elevated master streams should be used for fire attack or exposure protection as directed by the Ops Chief/IC. Fire extension A. It is the function of the truck company to open up walls, ceilings and concealed spaces in search of fire extension. The engine company should be standing by with a charged hose line to extinguish extending fire. B. The extinguishment of concealed fire extension needs to be a coordinated operation between truck and engine companies. Engine crews might have to do both opening concealed spaces and extinguishment depending on availability of crews. C. Checking for and extinguishing fire extension should be done during the initial fire fighting stage and should not be confused with overhaul. Property Conservation A. The main objective of property conservation is to minimize the effects of smoke and water damage. B. Property conservation (as a tactic) ranks behind life safety and extinguishment. C. Fire fighters should never be put in grave danger in an attempt to save property. Laddering A. The aerial device and/or ground ladders will be used for rescue as necessary. B. When interior crews are operating on upper floors, ladders will be placed on the fire floor and floor above, when possible. C. When operating on a roof, ladders will be placed on opposite sides of the building roof for emergency egress. D. IC/OPS will be notified when laddering is in progress or completed. Search & Rescue A. The interior team will be responsible for interior search and rescue operations. 1. Search areas of known or suspected victims first, and then proceed with an appropriate search pattern. 2. Locate the seat of the fire and advise IC/OPS. 3. Direct engine company crews to fire location. 4. Consider ventilation while searching and advise IC/OPS. B. Advise IC/OPS when a victim(s) is located and where you will be exiting the structure. C. Advise IC/OPS when primary and secondary searches are complete. Ventilation A. Ventilation shall be done in coordination with interior search and extinguishment operations. B. The interior team will consider horizontal ventilation as they search. C. The exterior team will provide horizontal (window removal), vertical (roof opening) or PPV fan ventilation as needed. D. IC/OPS will be notified when ventilation is in progress or completed. 5 of 7 Forcible Entry A. The Truck Company will provide forcible entry for the engine company if needed. B. The exterior team will conduct proactive forcible entry opening locked exterior doors or windows which can be used for secondary egress or victim removal. C. IC/OPS will be notified when forcible entry is in progress or completed. Utility Control A. The Interior Team will control utilities on the inside of the structure by shutting off electrical breakers or gas valves to individual appliances as needed. B. The Outside Team will control utilities on the exterior of the structure by shutting off the main electric switch or the main gas shut off to the affected structure. C. IC/OPS will be notified when utility control is in progress or completed. Overhaul A. The main purpose of overhaul is to make certain that no trace of fire remains that might rekindle. B. Overhaul will be done in full PPE including SCBA while operating in the hot zone. C. Overhaul should be performed by rested crews after the fire is out. D. ICS, Accountability, and RIT must remain in place during overhaul operations. Other Assigned functions A. Operating as an engine company when necessary, i.e.: first due structure fires or alarms, car fires, vehicle accidents, etc. B. Provide medical care when necessary. C. Scene lighting. D. Other items as assigned by command. 1041.09.07 Equipment A. The crew assigned should carry the following equipment at a minimum: 1. Full PPE including SCBA (on air) while operating in the hot zone and/or any IDLH atmosphere. 2. Radio (on proper TAC channel) and flashlight. 3. A set of irons, pike pole and a water can. 4. Thermal Image Camera (TIC), inside and outside teams 5. All personnel will wear a ladder belt while operating from the aerial device. 6 of 7 1041.09.08 Safety Considerations The safety of BSFC&RD personnel shall be the highest priority on any emergency response scene. All personnel will keep in mind the following risk/benefit model: A. Operating the aerial apparatus on the roadways requires a high level of skill by a safety conscious operator. Considerations such as the vehicles size, weight, high center of gravity, and greater stopping distance must be taken into account. B. Truck company functions can be accomplished without the protection of a charged hose line. If this is the case, take a water can and request a charged hose line as soon as possible. IC/OPS should be advised. C. Truck group must remain on air during overhaul unless cleared by atmospheric testing or advised by IC/OPS and or Safety Officer. D. The inside team must stay together at all times. E. The outside group may separate as needed but must maintain radio contact. F. When personnel are climbing the ladder and/or in the bucket, helmet, gloves, and harness are required at all times. DO NOT operate master streams into buildings with fire crews inside. DO NOT move the aerial device with personnel on the ladder portion unless it is an emergency. WE WILL RISK A LOT TO SAVE A LOTWe will risk our lives in a calculated manner to save a life. WE WILL RISK A LITTLE TO SAVE A LITTLEWe will cautiously risk our lives in a calculated manner to save valuable property. WE WILL RISK NOTHING TO SAVE NOTHINGWe will never risk our lives to save that which is already lost. 7 of 7