Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline PDF

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 110-01 Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Issue Date: 06/21/2021...

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 110-01 Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Issue Date: 06/21/2021 Effective Date: 06/24/2021 PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating guideline is to establish procedures for responding to emergency and non-emergency incidents. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator SCOPE: This standing operating guideline shall apply to all Emergency Operations personnel. PROCEDURE: All personnel are responsible to remain in a state of readiness to respond quickly to emergency incidents. When incidents are dispatched, personnel shall move quickly and safely to the vehicle. 1. General a. It is the responsibility of each driver to ensure that all personnel are wearing a seat- belt when the apparatus is moving, and arrive on the scene in a safe but timely manner. b. When responding to an emergency, the vehicle’s visual and audible warning devices shall be used to alert other vehicular and pedestrian traffic. c. When responding at night, turn off “wig wags” to keep from blinding oncoming traffic. Headlights should be illuminated in normal position (low beam). d. Driving into oncoming lanes is a last resort for extreme situations and should be done with extreme caution. e. When approaching large, heavily blocked intersections, consideration should be made about shutting off vehicle lights and sirens so as not to force civilian vehicles out into the intersection at a red light. f. Units responding to emergency incidents should monitor the radio channel to gather as much information as possible prior to arrival. g. Additional driving safety information is identified in Vehicle Apparatus Safety (PPM FR-O-303). h. Refer to SOG 210-01 Communications for Mobile Data Computer (MDC) and general radio procedures. 2. Emergency Response a. An emergency response is warranted when units receive notification that an immediate threat to life safety and/or property exists. Emergency responses are generally initiated by page from the Communication Center. SOG 110-01 Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Page 1 of 4  b. The first arriving unit may advise other responding units to: i. Continue a Code 3 response ii. Slow to Code 1 iii. Proceed to Staging c. Company Officers shall have discretion to assign themselves to an incident if it is in the best interest of the incident and Fire Rescue. When self-assigning, the intent and justification shall be communicated to the Communication Center. In the event of a multi-company response, permission to self-assign must be obtained from the Incident Commander if established, or highest ranking responding Officer if Incident Commander is not yet established. d. Chief Officers may elect to respond to selected incidents within their response area. e. Vehicles used for Code 3 response shall have appropriate emergency lighting, equipment, and markings. 3. Non-Emergency Response a. A non-emergency response is indicated when there is no immediate threat to life or property reported. Additionally, as outlined below, a non-emergency response may be appropriate for second due units on certain emergency incidents. b. A Public Assist is a non-emergency request for assistance. c. While responding to a non-emergency incident, use of the visual and audible warning devices is not authorized, and all rules of driving must be obeyed. d. Non-emergency requests for assistance (ex: a cat in a tree), should be forwarded to the on-duty Fire Operations Officer. The Fire Operations Officer shall determine which units, if any, should respond. If no units are dispatched or shall be delayed, the Fire Operations Officer should contact the caller, advising the reasons why Fire Rescue is delayed or unable to respond. 4. Designated Response a. It is the responsibility of the responding units to know the response code based on the type of incident to which they are responding. Additionally, responding personnel may utilize local knowledge to upgrade or downgrade their responses. When doing so, the Communication Center shall be notified to make the proper entry in the incident history. b. A call type that changes due to supplemental information may require a response priority change as well. It is the responsibility of the Dispatch Supervisor to ensure call type changes are supplied immediately to responding units to allow them to reevaluate their response code. For example, if information is received that an incident originally dispatched as an investigation, is in reality a Wildland fire, the response priority would change from Code 1 to Code 3. Incidents that would typically require a Code 3 Response, such as a child locked in a car, are not individually listed. c. Medical Incidents i. Medical incidents require a Code 3 response. Slow second due units to Code 1 as soon as possible. SOG 110-01 Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Page 2 of 4  d. Structure Fires i. 11R – A residential structure fire requires a Code 3 response. An Arrival Report of “nothing showing” on a residential structure fire response is an indication for all responding units to automatically slow to Code 1. ii. 11C/11H – A commercial or high-rise structure fire requires a Code 3 response. Second due units shall slow to Code 1 as soon it is confirmed that no fire is present. iii. Light and Air Unit shall respond Code 1 unless otherwise requested. The reservist Canteen Unit shall respond Code 1. iv. Brush Trucks – In order to enhance available water supply while on the scene of a structure fire, each station with a Brush Truck shall take it to known areas that do not have hydrants available. The Brush Truck shall respond the same Code as the accompanying apparatus. e. Wildland Fires i. 14 – A Wildland fire during regular season requires a Code 3 response by the Engine and Brush Truck. ii. 14D – A Wildland fire during dry brush season has a Code 3 response by the first due Engine and Brush Truck. All other units shall respond Code 1 unless there is a report of any: 1. Life safety concerns 2. Threatened structures 3. Extreme weather conditions f. Code 1 Response for all Responding Units, Unless Otherwise Indicated i. 15 – Dumpster/Trash Fires – No exposures reported ii. 42 – Bomb Scare iii. 44 – Power Lines Down – No fire or life hazard reported iv. 55 – Police Assist v. 56 – Illegal Burn vi. 58 – Wash Down vii. 59 – Public Assist – Respond on Firemain (TAC 1A) viii. 61 – Investigation ix. 69 – EOD-WMD Assist – Unless otherwise requested by Law Enforcement x. 76 – Fire Alarms xi. 77 – CO Alarm – No injuries reported xii. 901 – 911 Hang ups g. Code 3 for first due Engine and Rescue – All others Code 1 i. 19 – Small LP Leak without Fire ii. 41 – Fuel Leak iii. 47 – Chemical Emergency iv. 494 – Car in Canal – No trapped victims reported h. Incidents requiring staging of units for Law Enforcement i. Fights, assaults, domestic disputes and attempted suicides shall have a Code 1 response. Once Law Enforcement secures the scene, the response shall be upgraded to Code 3. SOG 110-01 Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Page 3 of 4  ii. Shootings and stabbings shall have a Code 1 response to the Staging area. Once Law Enforcement notifies the scene is secure, the response shall be upgraded to Code 3. iii. 911 hang-ups and simultaneously activated intrusion and fire alarms should be considered Law Enforcement matters. These incidents should be investigated by Law Enforcement while Fire Rescue personnel Stage according to SOG 200-05 Staging Levels. iv. In the event that personnel responding to an emergency or non-emergency incident happen upon an unrelated incident, the following considerations should be made: 1. A 360-degree size up should be performed. 2. The Communication Center shall be contacted immediately; to coordinate the response of needed units. 3. A decision shall be made by the Company Officer as to whether to proceed to the original incident or remain on the scene of the new incident. 4. Any Fire Rescue personnel that remain on scene of the new incident shall secure the scene and render appropriate aid, to their level of training, until additional resources arrive. Supersession History 1. SOG #1309, issued 05/01/2008 2. SOG #1309, issued 06/01/2012 3. SOG 110-01, clerical 05/01/2018 4. SOG 110-01, issued 05/21/2018 5. SOG 110-01, issued 06/21/2021 SOG 110-01 Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Page 4 of 4