Hoffman Estates Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS – 012 January 1, 2022 SOG Title: Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS – 012 January 1, 2022 SOG Title: Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (IRIC) Revision: 5 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2026 Fire Chief 3 PURPOSE The purpose of this document is to establish guidelines for compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation 29 CFR 1910.134, requirement as it relates to IDLH atmospheres including, but not limited to, performing interior structural firefighting. DEFINITIONS Immediate Danger to Life and Health (IDLH) atmosphere: An IDLH atmosphere for interior structural fires is defined, according to OSHA, as “an advanced fire that has spread inside of the building where high temperatures, heat and dense smoke are present.” Incipient Stage Fire (29 CFR 1910.155(c)(26)): A “fire which is in the initial or beginning stage and which can be controlled or extinguished by portable fire extinguishers, Class II standpipe or small hose systems without the need for protective clothing or breathing apparatus.” Any structural fire beyond incipient stage is considered to be an IDLH atmosphere by OSHA. A Fire: Terminology used to identify any structural fire that meets the definition of an IDLH atmosphere. Initial Stages of an Incident: The period of time when tasks are being undertaken by the first arriving members with only one team assigned or operating in the IDLH atmosphere. Early Stages of an Incident: The period of time following the initial stages of an incident. This period is indicated by having more than one team operating within an IDLH atmosphere. Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC): A specifically designated team at the scene of an emergency incident beyond the initial stage of the operation, designed to provide personnel responsible for the rescue of fire department members operating at emergency incidents, if the need arises. Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (IRIC): A temporary team of at least two firefighters on standby outside the structure to provide assistance or rapid rescue, if needed. An IRIC is only intended as a temporary, stand-by crew and is not intended for long term assignment where a formal Rapid Intervention Crew should be assigned. 1 POLICY PROCEDURE When members arrive at the scene and determine that an IDLH atmosphere exists at a structure fire, the arriving unit shall advise the Dispatch Center of a fire as part of the situation report and may request that the response be upgraded to a Code 4. Members operating at an incident shall work in teams of two or more. Personnel are required to wear Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and shall at no time enter an IDLH atmosphere alone. Team members operating in an IDLH atmosphere shall be in communication with each other through visual, audible, or physical contact and remain in close proximity to each other to provide assistance in the event of an emergency. Each team shall have at least one portable radio with them for voice contact and emergency notification, if necessary. During the initial stages of an operation in an IDLH atmosphere, the first arriving ambulance company shall assume the role of the Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (IRIC), and shall remain outside of the IDLH atmosphere in full protective clothing and SCBA, with one set of irons, rescue rope, a large hand light and a thermal imaging camera (TIC) from the ambulance. One of the IRIC members shall assume the responsibility for the accountability of the members working inside the IDLH atmosphere. This shall include constant awareness of their location and maintaining communications with the interior members, and should include an ongoing evaluation of existing conditions involving the structure. The other member of the IRIC is permitted to perform other duties outside of the IDLH atmosphere, as long as these duties can be interrupted in an emergency without compromise to the overall safety of the incident in progress. Both IRIC members should be ready to enter an IDLH atmosphere at a moments notice in the event that the members of the interior crew need rescue. If the IRIC is required to enter the IDLH atmosphere to perform rescue of an interior member prior to the arrival of the Incident Commander, the standby crew shall immediately notify the Dispatch Center of the situation. The Dispatch Center shall confirm that the Shift Commander is aware of the rescue action being taken. The Shift Commander shall initiate a “Mayday Response” to the Dispatch Center. If in a non-NWCD jurisdiction, the shift commander shall elevate the incident to the next highest alarm level using the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) immediately whenever rescue of fire department personnel is in progress. Members who arrive on the scene of a fire prior to the assembly of a four-person team may initiate exterior actions to prepare for an interior attack. These actions may include, but are not limited to: performing a 360 degree walk-around size up; establishment of a water supply; laying of the attack line to the entrance; placement of ladders; or exposure protection. If warranted, a transitional attack may be considered. EXCEPTIONS If, upon arrival at the scene, members find a situation where immediate action may prevent the loss of human life or serious injury, entry into an IDLH atmosphere will be permitted with less than four members on the scene, under certain specific conditions that allow exception to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation 29 CFR 1910.134 (These exceptions also hold if there are four or more members on the scene, providing that all are required to 2 function in the rescue mode.) In these situations, the IRIC should be considered to be filled as soon as feasibly possible by the Incident Commander.  Residential Occupancies: In the absence of a report from a responsible person on the scene that everyone is out of the residence, it is to be assumed that a life hazard exists until the primary search has been completed.  Business or Commercial (Non Residential) Occupancies: The Company Officer will have to evaluate the situation, considering the occupancy, time of day, day of the week, reports from persons on the scene, signs that persons may be inside the structure and etc.  Vacant or Abandoned Structures: Entry into the IDLH atmosphere with less than the minimum four (4) persons on the scene is not allowed unless there are clear signs or a report from a responsible person on the scene that people are in the structure. Nothing in the rule is meant to prohibit rescue efforts when a human life hazard exists. However, it is mandatory that the dispatch center be informed PRIOR to entry into an IDLH atmosphere when less than four members are on the scene. In addition, the members that initiate such action must follow up with a written report to be included in the narrative section of the NFIRS Report. The report shall document what events occurred leading up to the decision to enter an IDLH atmosphere at a structure fire without establishing an IRIC, what occurred during the rescue attempt while working in the IDLH atmosphere, and what was the resulting outcome of their actions. Whether an IRIC is established by the initial arriving ambulance company, or by the second ambulance company in a rescue situation, the names of personnel assigned to the IRIC and their apparatus assignment will be included in the narrative as well. As soon as practical, following the initial stages of an incident, Command shall take the necessary action needed to establish a Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC), typically, in the early stages of the incident. The IRIC will become part of the established RIC. The specific requirements and/or duties of the RIC are described in FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS 013. RIC and Incident Safety Officer responsibilities shall be an integral part of all structural fires and these divisions / groups shall be identified as critical in the Incident Management System (IMS) used by Command for all incidents involving entry into an IDLH atmosphere. Assignment of these responsibilities must be given a high priority at all structure fires. REFERENCES End of Document 3