Cincinnati Fire Department High Rise Operations PDF 2020

PROCEDURES MANUAL SUBJECT: High Rise Operations NUMBER: APPROVED: 203.01.20 FIRE CHIE...

PROCEDURES MANUAL SUBJECT: High Rise Operations NUMBER: APPROVED: 203.01.20 FIRE CHIEF TYPE: Structure Fire Operations EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/2020 Page 1 of 15 REVISED DATE: 12/2020 203.01.20 Structure Fire Operations - High Rise Operations A. Purpose This topic is intended to establish a standard approach and general guidelines for use at high-rise buildings. High-rise buildings are defined as buildings more than six stories or more than 75' above the lowest level of Fire Department access. It must be recognized that the six-story building does not present problems of the same magnitude as a forty-story building. Logistics and access problems increase with height. The more stories above the fire, the more people are endangered, and the more there is to burn. B. Definitions 1. FAST ATTACK TEAM (FAT) The FAT shall consist of the first two (2) Engine Companies, first two (2) Truck Companies and first Heavy Rescue Company dispatched on the one-alarm fire response to a high-rise building and shall work as a team to place the first fire line in service and search the immediate fire area and floor. 2. BASE (Exterior) Base for High-Rise fires identifies a location where support equipment and personnel are kept on the exterior of the building. The reason for this distinction is that the Staging Area is moved inside the structure in a high-rise fire. Unless there is a possibility of moving to an exterior operation, or the fire is involving other structures, it would be unusual to amass a large force outside a high-rise structure 3. STAGING (Interior) a. In a high-rise situation, most of the reserve force is moved through the lobby, and then to the interior staging area. The Staging area is normally two (2) floors below the fire floor. The intent here is to have a reserve force close to the fire floor for replacement of operating companies without delay.  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 2 of 15 b. The duties of the Interior Staging Area Officer are enumerated as follows: i. Requests additional reserves maintaining a minimum reserve of Engine and Ladder Companies as determined by Command or the Division Supervisor. ii. An accountability of all Companies in staging and interior rehabilitation (if established on the same floor) must be maintained at all times. iii. Request and maintain an adequate supply of air cylinders. iv. Assist in setting up Interior Rehab v. Request and maintain an adequate supply of first aid equipment and medical personnel for units involved in rescue and suppression. vi. Request and maintain a supply of additional special firefighting equipment (hose, nozzles, adapters, box fans, hand tools, etc.) 4. REHAB (Interior) An Interior Rehabilitation area may need to be set up at the interior staging area for a minor incident or three (3) floors below the fire floor for a major incident. An accountability of all members in Rehab must be maintained at all times. 5. STAIRWAY SUPPORT a. Moving equipment up stairways is a necessity in high-rise fires. Elevators may become unsafe to use, damaged by the fire, or electrical power to the elevator may be disrupted. Moving supplies and manpower up 10, 20, 30 or more stories is an arduous task. b. Stairway Support is a method that has been developed for moving supplies to the fire area, in the absence of, or limited, elevator availability, by placing a firefighter on every other floor. Using this method, firefighters ascend two stories with air cylinders and other equipment, handling it off to the next firefighter. This firefighter then descends two stories, empty handed, providing a period of rest. During extended operations, involving many companies in rescue and suppression activities, it may be necessary to place two firefighters on every floor, or even move air cylinders down for refill. c. The minimum manpower requirement for Stairway Support is one (1) firefighter for every two (2) stories. 6. LOBBY CONTROL (3rd Engine) a. Control, operate, and account for elevators. b. Locate all interior stairs. c. Direct incoming Companies to the proper elevator or stairway.  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 3 of 15 d. Provide Accountability of Fire Companies entering the building and assisting the Accountability Officer. e. Locate and check alarm panel. f. Advise occupants (if necessary) via the building intercom system of important information. For example; i. Areas to shelter-in-place ii. Which stairs have been assigned as the evacuation stairway iii. A progress report (for a long incident) g. Consult with building maintenance / engineer h. Shut down HVAC system 7. ASSIGNMENT DIAGRAM FIRE FLOOR 1 FLOOR BELOW RAT 2 FLOORS STAGING BELOW (INTERIOR) 3 FLOORS BELOW REHAB GROUND LOBBY BASE LEVEL CONTROL (OUTSIDE) C. Priorities for a High Rise incident will be: 1. Life Safety 2. Fire Control (Note: Controlling the fire may have a larger impact on Life Safety than actual Search and Rescue) 3. Property Conservation D. Safety 1. Full protective clothing including SCBA shall be worn at the scene of all high-rise fires until the Incident Commander directs otherwise.  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 4 of 15 a. Members involved in external activities are not mandated to use respiratory protective equipment as long as they are in a clear atmosphere. b. Members involved in stairway support must have all PPE available but may not be required to wear at all times. 2. All units will work under the direction of "Command", no free-lancing. 3. All accountability Passports shall be delivered to the Accountability Officer. E. Pre-Planning 1. Building specific pre-plans will identify major concerns and prescribe what is needed to meet them, without going too deeply into step-by-step actions. 2. Pre-plans may also include apparatus placement for first-alarm Companies. 3. Pre-plans may modify this topic but should not otherwise address procedures. 4. Pre-plans are required for high-rise buildings (Refer to 202.02 Pre-Planning). F. Response 1. First Alarm – One-Alarm Structure Fire Dispatch a. Three (3) Engine Companies b. Two (2) Truck Companies c. One (1) Heavy Rescue Company d. One (1) Safety Engine e. One (1) Rapid Assist Truck Company (RAT) f. Two (2) District Fire Chiefs g. One (1) Safety Captain (SO2) h. Two (2) Medic Units – i. One (1) EMS Supervisor 2. Second Alarm – Notify Dispatch that this incident is a High-Rise Fire and request the Second Alarm “High-Rise” response. This response will consist of: a. Four (4) Engine Companies b. Two (2) Truck Companies c. One (1) Heavy Rescue Company d. One (1) District Chief e. One (1) EMS Supervisor f. One (1) Medic Unit g. Command Staff notified to respond h. Mobile Command Van  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 5 of 15 3. Once a “working fire” is confirmed in a High-Rise building, each additional alarm will be defined as a “High-Rise Alarm” and will consist of: a. Four (4) Engine Companies b. Two (2) Truck Companies G. Actions All Companies shall report with their accountability passports and deliver to Lobby Control or Accountability Officer. 1. Fire Attack Team (FAT) – First and second arriving Engine Companies, first and second arriving Truck Companies and first arriving Heavy Rescue Company. a. First arriving Companies assigned to the FAT shall relay the following information to Command: i. Obtain information from the alarm panel and building personnel concerning the location of the alarm, current building occupancy and special considerations. ii. Shall confirm the fire floor. NOTE: Determine the fire floor by actual floor number not how many floors above ground level. For example, some buildings the ground floor may be Floor #3, or it could be listed as “G” for ground level and Floor #1 is actually 2 floors above ground level. Also note, some buildings don’t have a Floor #13. iii. Shall determine the “fire attack” and “evacuation” stairwells. iv. Shall utilize stairs if fire is on the fourth floor or lower. Can use the elevator for fires on 5th floor or above. Take elevator to two (2) floors below fire floor and utilize stairs from there. While ascending stairs, check the status of each floor for smoke conditions. v. Shall give conditions, actions, and needs (CAN) report to Command. b. Shall assemble in the lobby and ascend to the fire floor as a task force. c. Instances when a responding Company(s) assigned to the FAT arrival is delayed, at the discretion of the first arriving officer, the on-scene FAT Companies shall begin to ascend to the fire floor. The delayed Company(s) shall report to the FAT’s location on arrival to complete the task force. d. Shall initiate fire attack on fire floor and primary search of fire floor. e. Reports to the Division Supervisor (2nd due in District Chief)  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 6 of 15 2. One- Alarm Companies a. First Arriving Engine i. Part of the Fire Attack Team (FAT) ii. Shall secure a water supply and connect / supply the Fire Department Connection (FDC). iii. Officer and two (2) firefighters shall report to the lobby with standpipe equipment. iv. Officer shall check the alarm panel to determine the location of the alarm. v. Shall work with the second arriving Engine Company to advance one (1) hose line to the seat of the fire. b. Second Arriving Engine i. Part of the Fire attack Team (FAT) ii. Secure a secondary water supply and FAO shall assist first arriving Engine FAO with water supply and FDC. iii. Officer and two (2) firefighters shall report to the lobby with standpipe equipment. iv. Assist first arriving Engine in advancing one (1) hose line to the seat of the fire. c. First Arriving Truck Company i. Part of the Fast Attack Team (FAT) ii. Officer, two (2) firefighters, and FAO (if fire is above the 7th floor and the aerial ladder cannot be used) report to the lobby with forcible entry tools, search rope and other hand tools. iii. Officer (if arriving before the first arriving Engine Company) shall check the fire alarm panel. iv. Officer to determine attack and evacuation stairs. Relay information to Command. v. Shall proceed to the fire floor and conduct search and rescue operations. vi. Shall utilize search rope secured to a place of refuge within the fire attack stairwell. d. Second Arriving Truck Company i. Part of the Fast Attack Team (FAT) ii. Officer, FAO, and two (2) firefighters shall proceed to the lobby with forcible entry tools, search rope, and spare SCBA cylinders (place cylinders in lobby). iii. Shall proceed to the designated fire attack stairwell beginning at the fire floor and search the stairs all the way to the roof. iv. Shall direct and/or assist occupants found in the fire attack stairs to the designated evacuation stairwell.  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 7 of 15 v. Advise Division Supervisor when fire attack stairs are “clear” of occupants. vi. Ventilate the attack stairwell at the roof using scuttle or door if possible, only with approval of the Division Supervisor and after water is being put on the fire. vii. Ventilate elevator shaft if possible with approval of Division Supervisor. viii. Shall continue to sweep fire attack stairs for occupants from the top to the lowest level of smoke stratification below the fire floor. e. First Arriving Heavy Rescue Company i. Part of the Fast Attack Team (FAT) ii. Officer, FAO, and two (2) firefighters shall report to the lobby with forcible entry equipment, search rope, hand tools including ceiling hooks and spare SCBA cylinders (place cylinders in lobby). iii. Shall perform forcible entry for FAT. iv. Shall perform search and rescue operations on fire floor. f. Third Arriving Engine Company i. Park apparatus in a location not to impede the arrival of responding Companies Note: Do Not Secure a Water Supply. ii. Officer becomes Lobby Control Officer. iii. Determine the location of all stairwells. Be aware of which stairwells have been designated as “Attack Stairs” and “Evacuation Stairs”. iv. Ensure all elevators have been recalled to the lobby and placed in fire department service. Two (2) firefighters shall maintain control of at least two (2) elevators to transport Fire Companies and equipment to the designated staging area below the fire floor. v. Manage Alarm System, identify where alarms have been activated and notify Command vi. Coordinates evacuation efforts. May need to communicate with tenants through the building intercom system at the fire annunciator panel per direction of the Incident Commander. 1. Shelter-in-place 2. Evacuation announcements and the location of Evacuation Stairs 3. Updates vii. Shut down HVAC System. (Locate and direct building management to command)  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 8 of 15 g. Fourth Arriving Engine Company (Safety Engine) i. Accountability (Refer to 202.07 Accountability). ii. Accountability Officer and the Accountability Board need to be at the Command Post. h. Third Arriving Truck Company (RAT) i. Stage one (1) floor below the fire floor. ii. Officer to recon floor layout on the floor below the fire noting the location of stairs and elevator shafts. iii. Refer to 203.01.14 Rapid Assistance Teams (R.A.T.) i. First Arriving District Fire Chief i. Establishes Command ii. Notifies Dispatch that this is a “High-Rise’ Building iii. Requests a Second Alarm “Highrise Response”. iv. Considers additional alarms to Staging / Base. v. Notifies All Companies and Dispatch of the fire floor and the locations of the “fire attack” and “evacuation” stairwells. vi. Attempt to contact building personnel, specifically building fire safety and maintenance personnel. Have them remain near Command Post as advisors for current occupancy, evacuation procedures, ventilation systems and any other building systems. vii. Develop an Incident Action Plan (IAP). viii. Command Post may be outside at vehicle, in the lobby or in the building fire command room. Notify Dispatch and all Companies of the Command location. Each incident will dictate this location. ix. Command must utilize the Department Command High- Rise worksheet. j. Second Arriving District Fire Chief i. Shall be assigned as a Division Supervisor. Depending on fire conditions could be assigned to the fire floor or the floor below the fire. ii. Have a face-to face with IC prior to ascending to forward position to develop Incident Action Plan (IAP). iii. Radio designation shall be “Division + fire floor number. iv. Shall immediately confirm fire floor and notify Command of verification. v. Shall give Command a CAN (Conditions, Actions and Needs) report. vi. Shall supervise and account for all Companies operating on the fire floor including, the FAT, and also the RAT.  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 9 of 15 vii. Shall assess the evacuation procedure within the building in relation to the fire conditions. The Division Supervisor must consider recommending to the Incident Commander a systematic full evacuation of the building or a partial evacuation with areas being sheltered-in-place. k. All First-Alarm Companies shall inform Command of location and task(s) to be performed. l. Radio traffic transmission examples following Engine 3 giving their Initial Radio report and assuming Command; i. “Engine 3 will be ascending to the 12th floor along with Engine 5 in the south stairway which will be the attack stairs, to advance a primary attack line onto the 12th floor.” ii. “Ladder 29 to Command, we will be performing a primary search of the attack stairway”. iii. “Engine 29 to Command, we will be Lobby Control.” 3. Division / Group Supervisor(s) a. Shall be assigned to a forward position to supervise Fire Companies operating on floors of the structure. b. Second arriving District Fire Chief shall assume a Division Supervisor position, assuming Command of the fire floor. c. Division radio designation shall be “Division + floor number” of responsibility. Example – Second arriving District Chief proceeds to the twelfth floor which is the fire floor. The second arriving District Chief becomes Division 12 and is responsible for the actions occurring within the twelfth floor, the fire attack stairwell ascent team, and the RAT. d. There may be several Division Supervisors assigned depending on the magnitude of the incident. e. Group Supervisors will be responsible for functional areas with the fire operations. Examples may include Search and Rescue Group, Evacuation Group, and Stairwell Support Group (Refer to 202.01 Incident Command System). f. SO2 – Incident Safety Officer (Refer to 203.01-Q Structure Fires / Incident Safety Officers) g. ALS Supervisor (EMS Branch Director) i. Establishes EMS Branch ii. Facilitates the establishment of Rehab three (3) floors below the fire. iii. Establishes a Triage Officer / Group iv. Establishes a Treatment Officer / Group v. Establishes a Transport Officer / Group vi. Reference Section 204.02 Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) Procedure  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 10 of 15 vii. Evaluates the need for additional EMS resources and notifies Command. h. Medic Units i. Report to EMS Branch Director ii. Report with all ALS equipment 4. Second-Alarm Companies a. Should Level 1 stage and await to be assigned a task by the Incident Commander. b. Fire Companies on the second alarm; four (4) Engines, two (2) Trucks, and one (1) Heavy Rescue. i. Recommended Assignments: 1. Back-Up Line to fire floor (2 ½” line). 2. Fire Line above the fire (2 ½” line). 3. Search the floor above the fire. 4. Search the evacuation stairway. 5. Search other assigned floors. 6. Ventilation 7. Assist or relief of other fire companies. 8. RAT Assist (usually second Heavy Rescue) 9. Other tasks deemed necessary by the Incident Commander. c. Third Arriving District Fire Chief i. Shall report to Command ii. Shall be utilized as needed by the Incident Commander. iii. Potential assignments are Accountability, Rescue Group Supervisor, Division Supervisor or any other position the IC needs filled. d. Additional Medic Units and ALS Supervisors report to EMS Branch or Group Supervisor. e. Command Staff i. Complete the ICS, consider the following positions: 1. EMS Branch positions 2. RAT Chief 3. Additional Division Supervisors 4. Rescue Group 5. Ventilation Group 6. Interior Staging / Stairwell Support 7. Logistics 8. Liaison to Building Maintenance or Supervisor 9. ICS position Aides 10. Base f. All Companies and personnel arriving after the first alarm shall bring their accountability passports to the Accountability Officer.  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 11 of 15 5. Additional Alarms / Fire Companies a. Level 2 stage at location given by the Incident Commander b. Assignments will be given by the Incident Commander or Operations Chief on arrival c. Additional assignments that may be necessary but not limited to: i. Relief of working Fire Companies ii. Interior Staging iii. Stairway Support iv. Other Search areas (Top floor then work down towards fire floor) v. Control of Fire Pump / Sprinkler Valves vi. Aides to Chief Officers vii. Accountability H. High-Rise Elevator Procedures 1. Never use an elevator for fires on the fourth floor or lower, use the stairs. 2. Never take an elevator to the fire floor, take elevator to two (2) floors below the fire floor then exit and use stairs. 3. Never pass the fire floor, use stairs. 4. Don't return in an “up” elevator except on Fire Department service. 5. Place all elevators in hoist way on Fire Department service. 6. Wear complete PPE and bring forcible entry tools and S.C.B.A.'s 7. Do not overcrowd elevator. 8. Use elevators whose hoist way terminates below fire floor whenever possible. 9. Use elevator in another area of building away from the fire if possible, preferably in an area separated by firewalls and fire doors. 10. Never take the word of building occupants as to the fire floor. Make every attempt to determine exact fire location before ascending. This can be accomplished by: a. Identifying the floor number at the building’s entrance. IE: The entrance may be floor #3. b. Counting floors from the exterior. Note: There may be a mezzanine or no 13th floor) or, opening the top escape door and looking up the elevator shaft. 11. The elevator shall be stopped at an intermediate floor, to check floor layout (stair locations, etc.) and verify that the elevator can be stopped. 12. Exit the elevator at least two floors below the reported fire floor or two floors below the lowest level of fire alarm on the fire alarm panel. I. Standpipe Procedures for High-Rise Structures 1. Standpipe equipment shall include: a. 200’ of 2.5” lightweight standpipe hose  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 12 of 15 b. Vindicator Heavy Attack Nozzle c. 60° Elbow (2) d. In-line pressure gauge e. Spare valve wheel f. 18” Pipe wrench g. Wood door wedges h. 1 set lightweight spanners i. 1.5” smooth bore tip j. 2.5” F to 1.5” M pistol grip shutoff Note: The Vindicator and the smooth bore tips are the only nozzles to be used when operating from a standpipe system 2. The initial standpipe connection shall be made to the outlet one floor below the fire floor and stretched up the stairs to the fire floor. 3. The standpipe shall be flushed prior to connecting the hose to remove debris. 4. The hose shall be stretched into position using two engine companies. 5. The nozzle fire fighter and the back-up firefighter will advance the hose line 6. The Company Officer should be in the third position to get an overview of the conditions on the fire floor. 7. The additional fire fighters should be located at friction points along the hose line assisting with its advance. (Doors and corners) 8. One firefighter shall remain at the standpipe valve. 9. The second Company Officer should ensure proper flaking and advancement of the fire line. J. Additional High-Rise Equipment (when placed in-service) 1. KO Fire Curtain The fire curtain is designed to be deployed from the floor above the fire to block the window of the fire compartment during a wind-driven fire. The Fire Curtain requires two companies to deploy and secure. There are two fire curtains carried on each Heavy Rescue. 2. Hero Pipe Floor below nozzle The Hero Pipe floor below nozzle is designed to be utilized when fire companies cannot make access to the fire compartment due to heavy fire conditions. The Hero Pipe requires one to two fire companies to transport the equipment to the floor below the fire and for set up. The Hero Pipe is an alternative option when the fire attack cannot be accomplished utilizing a fire attack from the fire floor.  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 13 of 15 K. High-Rise Fire Information 1. Heat of the fire The intensity and size of the fire will determine how much combustion gases are heated, and how high they will rise inside the building. In lower structures, there is generally enough heat energy to cause the heated fire gases to rise to the highest level in the structure. In high-rise buildings, the smoke and toxic gases will tend to rise until they reach temperature equilibrium, then they will stratify. It is not unusual to have heavy smoke on a mid-level floor, and smoke free floors above. This stratification can endanger occupants who enter a smoke free stairway, discovering smoke several stories below. Many times, doors leading back into a floor area are locked, forcing the fleeing occupant to wait it out in the stairway or proceed through the smoke. 2. Stack Effect On a cold day, the stack effect will be positive, or cause the products of combustion to rise in the building. Tightness of the structure has much to do with stack effect. The unpredictable behavior of smoke within a High Rise is due, in large part, to stack effect. In some buildings, the stack effect is so great that it interferes with the proper operation of the HVAC. The colder it is outside, and the warmer inside, the greater the stack effect. Conversely, the stack effect can be negative on a warm day, within air-conditioned building. Actually, the heat of the fire and stack effect is interdependent. On a cold day, the chances of smoke stratification are less than on a warm day. 3. Wind a. There is a point within a high-rise structure of sufficient height, called the Neutral Pressure Plane. Below the Neutral Pressure Plane (NPP), air is moving into the building, at the NPP, forces are neutral (air is not moving in or out) and above the NPP, air moves out of the building. The heat of the fire and stack effect affects the NPP. Wind also plays a major role. Ground level winds are not always a good indication of wind direction and speed high above the ground. Downtown areas of large cities, containing large numbers of High Rise buildings, are like giant canyons. Wind entering the high-rise canyon is redirected and becomes very turbulent. This gustiness also prevails high above the ground, but  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 14 of 15 possibly in another direction at a higher velocity. Wind passing over a roof opening has a pulling effect. In addition, the wind will push smoke back into the building on the leeward side, and tend to help on the windward side. Therefore, the wind will effect ventilation in three ways, moving the NPP, pulling smoke through a roof opening, and pushing or pulling smoke from a window. In reality, it is impossible to predict the wind factor accurately. Wind direction and velocity can change dramatically, even when atmospheric conditions are not changing significantly. b. If the window to the fire compartment fails there is the possibility of having a wind driven fire. c. Prior to opening the apartment door from the hallway, pierce the eyehole of the door with the point of the haligan tool. If fire under pressure emits from the hole, there is a good possibility of a wind driven fire. Do not open the door. Immediately relay information to Command or Division Supervisor. Use an alternative approach to attack the fire. d. If the fire appears to be wind driven and firefighters cannot make an attack on the fire consider deploying the KO Fire Curtain and placing the Hero Pipe in service. Note: Wind driven fires have caused firefighter fatalities throughout the fire service by trapping firefighters in the path of the wind driven fire 4. Search and Rescue a. The Incident Commander must obtain the building pre-plan and determine if the building will conduct a full or partial evacuation of the building. The Incident Commander will rely on reports from the Division Supervisor on the fire floor regarding the necessity of a systematic full building evacuation. Many high-rise buildings within Cincinnati only conduct partial evacuations. b. Search efforts must be systematic and include a complete primary search of the fire floor and floors above the fire. As search and rescue teams proceed with a systematic search, they must provide status reports to their Division Supervisor and mark areas searched using the chalk marking system as described in 203.01G. Search teams must utilize the wide area search rope secured in the stairwell to provide a lifeline to safety. The tenability of floors above the fire must be assessed if the building has not been fully evacuated. c. Search Priorities: i. Fire Floor ii. Attack Stairwells to Roof  STRUCTURE FIRE OPERATIONS - HIGH RISE OPERATIONS SECTION 203.01.20 12/20 Page 15 of 15 iii. Floor above the fire iv.Evacuation Stairs to the roof v. Top floor vi.All floors in between top floor and the floor above the fire working from the top down. d. Occupants may display "convergence cluster" behavior by gathering in certain rooms, thought to be safe and for the feeling of safety gained when others are present. Searching firefighters may not find anyone in several rooms or on an entire floor area, while one room may contain far more victims than anticipated. e. Helicopter rescues are extremely dangerous and in most cases unnecessary. Few cases warrant the use of a helicopter in removing occupants from a roof. There is no agreement in place for helicopter rescues. Note: It is imperative to notify the Division Supervisor or Command of cleared floors and apartments during search operations. It is also extremely important to notify them of areas / apartments where sheltering-in-place is occurring. This eliminates unnecessary duplication of search efforts. 5. Fire Control a. In a high-rise building, confining and extinguishing the fire will do more to save lives than any other single factor. Once the fire is extinguished, the toxic products of combustion are no longer being produced, and the whole operation becomes more manageable. b. THE PRIMARY RESCUE TACTIC IS A WELL-PLACED, AGGRESSIVE INTERIOR ATTACK. c. Firefighters conducting fire attack operations shall remain in contact with the hose line at all times. The hose line shall serve as a lifeline to the safety of the stairwell. 6. Ventilation a. Coordinate with the fire attack. b. Ventilate stairways as soon as appropriate. Start with “Fire Attack” stairs. Utilize building pressurized stair ventilation system if possible. c. Breaking glass is difficult and can’t be undone. Other hazards of breaking windows are falling glass can cut hose or people on the ground. 7. Staging (Interior) / Base (Exterior) Always have a ready reserve of staffing available at Base and Staging. Consider additional alarms to meet this need.