Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Rapid Intervention Crew PDF 2018

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 420-04 Rapid Intervention Crew Issue Date: 05/21/2018...

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 420-04 Rapid Intervention Crew Issue Date: 05/21/2018 Effective Date: 06/21/2018 PURPOSE: To establish guidelines and training to ensure that dedicated Rapid Intervention resources are available and on scene proactively to immediately react and respond to MAYDAY situations. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator  NFPA 1407 and 1500 SCOPE: This standard operating guideline shall apply to all Emergency Operations personnel. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: RIC Equipment PROCEDURE: These guidelines provide a basic framework for most incidents. 1. Terminology a. Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) – A company of (2) or more firefighters dedicated for firefighter rescue. The personnel assigned as a RIC shall be trained and equipped to perform the skills required in firefighter rescue. b. Rapid Intervention Group (RIG) – Using established NIMS terminology, this is a functional group assigned to firefighter rescue. A RIG shall consist of a minimum of (4) personnel or (2) companies and shall operate under a Group Supervisor. The number of personnel assigned to this group is flexible but must take into account the proven realities regarding the numbers of personnel required to rescue firefighters in distress. Consideration must be given to expanding the RIC organizational structure to include Divisions and/or Branches when the scope of the scene mandates that a Group is not sufficient. i. It is preferred that all members of the RIG meet the training standards outlined in: 1. NFPA 1407, Chapter 7–Rapid Intervention Operations Training Program 2. NFPA 1407, Chapter 8 – Required Performance for Rapid Intervention Crews (RIC) 3. Fire Recue Rapid Intervention Training Program SOG 420-04 Rapid Intervention Crew Page 1 of 5  c. RIG Supervisor – The RIG Supervisor is assigned through Incident Command and coordinates all activities of the RIG. Emphasis shall be placed on establishing a RIC/RIG Staging Area, developing an action plan and organizing RIC/RIG activities. It’s recommended that this position remain outside the IDLH and maintain accountability of all crews working for the group. 2. Recommended Number of Personnel Assigned to RIC/RIG a. The following are recommendations regarding the staffing levels of a given RIC/RIG Assignment as dictated by a “working fire” at any of the structural categories shown below. i. Small structure: Less than 3,000 square feet (sf) 1. Small-medium single family home. 2. RIC may be sufficient. 3. Consider assigning a dedicated hose line to protect the RIC. 4. Consider transitioning to a RIG if there are potentially exigent circumstances (heavy fire, attic involvement, compromised structure, below grade, etc.). ii. Medium structure: 3,000 – 6,000 sf 1. Large home or small business. 2. Consider a RIG with a supervisor and a minimum of (6) personnel. 3. Consider assigning dedicated hose line(s) to protect the RIG. iii. Large structure: 6,000 – 15,000 sf 1. Large home/mini-mansion, multi-residential/multi-story or average business. 2. Consider a RIG with a supervisor and a minimum of (8) personnel. 3. Consider dividing into multiple companies staged at separate points of ingress/egress. 4. Consider assigning dedicated hose line(s) to protect the RIG. 5. Upon calling a second alarm or greater for these structures, consideration should be given to transitioning the RIG assignment to Special Operations. iv. Very large structure: Greater than 15,000 sf 1. Mega-mansion, multi-residential, business. 2. Consider a RIG with a supervisor and a minimum of (10) personnel. 3. Consider dividing into multiple companies staged at separate points of ingress/egress. 4. Consider assigning dedicated hose line(s) to protect the RIG. 5. Upon calling a second alarm or greater for these structures, consideration should be given to transitioning the RIG assignment to Special Operations. v. Commercial or High-Rise Structure Fires: Second alarm or greater 1. Special Operations shall be automatically dispatched as a RIG. The Incident Commander should understand that these units are being dispatched for the primary function of establishing a RIG. SOG 420-04 Rapid Intervention Crew Page 2 of 5  2. If Special Operations is assigned to tasks other than the RIG function, a second Special Operations team shall be dispatched to meet the needs of establishing a RIG. 3. On-Deck Approach a. Repeated studies have shown that 2-3 firefighters are insufficient to remove a downed firefighter from a structure of significant size. The time to extricate a downed firefighter is longer in duration than the available air supply of the RIC. A high percentage of rescuers become victims themselves resulting in secondary MAYDAY calls. b. The On-Deck approach subdivides the RIG into smaller RICs and coordinates their entry into the structure under a single RIG Supervisor. c. In lieu of sending (6) crew members into a structure at one time, a 2-3 person RIC can be sent in for RECON to locate and supply air to the MAYDAY firefighter while an On- Deck RIC is holding ready in position. This assures that there are always personnel with RIC packs ready to bring in gear, assist with the removal of the original MAYDAY firefighter, or assist the Recon Crew if difficulties are encountered with the rapid intervention. d. An Accountability Officer at the point of entry is recommended. 4. Staging for RIC/RIG a. RIC/RIG Staging– This is a staging area for RIC’s and equipment. RICs may be used for proactive tasks, but shall not perform any function that shall delay their immediate response to a call for assistance. This area may serve as the central location for checking in and out RIC resources at the RIG Supervisor’s discretion. Consideration for a Staging Area Manager at this location is recommended. b. RIC/RIG Staging for High-rise – The RIG Supervisor shall evaluate the need for additional RIC’s and the location needed for those RICs. The RIC Unit Leader should stage close to the location most likely to be used in the event of a MAYDAY. This location can change based on the information gathered during the incident. c. RIC members shall remain in full PPE (bunker gear, SCBA) with their SCBA mask off, but ready for immediate donning. RICs should maintain situational awareness and crew integrity (refer to SOG 220-03 Situational Awareness). 5. RIC Actions prior to emergency (Proactive) a. 360-degree size up: At a minimum, all RIC members shall perform a 360-degree size up of the building. b. Radio monitoring: One member of the crew shall be assigned to monitor all radio traffic with particular attention directed towards crew location and nonverbal cues of potential firefighter(s) in distress. c. Additional supportive actions: i. Laddering secondary egress locations. ii. Softening the structure 1. Forcing entry for secondary egress locations. 2. Removing hazards that may lead to a firefighter MAYDAY situation. SOG 420-04 Rapid Intervention Crew Page 3 of 5  iii. Other actions that could help prevent a firefighter emergency on the fire ground. d. NO action or assignment shall prevent the RIC from being available to immediately deploy. 6. Upon a Mayday activation a. All non-RIC/RIG personnel should refer to SOG 200-04 Mayday for responsibilities. b. RIG Supervisor responsibilities i. Immediately deploy the RIC/RIG. ii. Obtain a LUNAR (see SOG 200-04 Mayday). iii. Instruct the MAYDAY firefighter to activate their PASS alarm. iv. Ensure the ON-Deck RIC is staged appropriately (see ON-Deck approach). v. Immediately deploy the ON-Deck RIC upon the request of the RIC performing recon and/or at the “MAYDAY firefighter(s) located” benchmark. vi. Consider an Accountability Officer to minimizes radio communications. vii. Monitored the status of the RIC at all times via progress reports. c. Accountability Officer responsibilities: i. Should be located at the RIC point of entry for face to face PARs. ii. Communicate PARs and progress reports to the RIG Supervisor or Incident Commander. This should be done face-to-face in order to preserve the emergency channel for the MAYDAY firefighter. d. RIC/RIG responsibilities i. Search 1. The RIC primary goal is to locate and remove the Mayday firefighter(s). ii. Progress reports 1. Progress reports shall be communicated in accordance with SOG 210- 01 Communications. During RIC operations, progress reports should include air supply levels. iii. MAYDAY Firefighter(s) Located 1. The benchmark “MAYDAY Firefighter(s) Located” shall be used when the mayday firefighter is located. 2. This should only be given when the RIC has actually made physical contact with the MAYDAY firefighter(s). 3. The RIC Unit Leader shall not give this information prematurely. 4. Upon this benchmark, the RIG Supervisor shall immediately deploy a second RIC (On-Deck RIC) to assist in removal of the downed firefighter. 5. Dependent on scene situation and building size, the RIG Supervisor may deploy the On-Deck RIC sooner. iv. MAYDAY Firefighter ID Confirmed 1. The benchmark “MAYDAY Firefighter ID Confirmed” shall be used when the mayday firefighter ID is confirmed. 2. The identification of the downed firefighter(s) shall be confirmed and transmitted to the RIG Supervisor or Incident Commander as soon as it is known. SOG 420-04 Rapid Intervention Crew Page 4 of 5  3. All communications of this nature should be done face to face if possible, yet not cause a delay in confirming the downed firefighter(s) identification. v. MAYDAY Firefighter out 1. The benchmark “MAYDAY Firefighter out” shall be used when the mayday firefighter is out. 2. Given when the downed firefighter that initiated the MAYDAY has been successfully removed from the IDLH. Supersession History 1. SOG #1520, issued 10/01/1997 2. SOG #1520, issued 04/11/2016 3. SOG 420-04, clerical 05/01/2018 4. SOG 420-04, issued 05/21/2018 SOG 420-04 Rapid Intervention Crew Page 5 of 5