High-Rise Fires PDF - Chesapeake Fire Department Procedure Manual

Procedure 405 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 1 High-Rise Fires 405.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides arrival and initial procedures for Ch...

Procedure 405 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 1 High-Rise Fires 405.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides arrival and initial procedures for Chesapeake Fire Department personnel responding to a high-rise incident. This procedure should be implemented at all high-rise incidents, which are buildings with seven or more stories above ground. This seven story criteria is based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) high-rise definition. The Incident Commander may implement high-rise procedures in buildings having less than seven stories which exhibit similar problem factors found in taller structures. Corresponding Policies: 312 Elevator Restrictions During Emergencies 301 Emergency Response 302 Fireground Accountability 310 High-Rise Incident Management 300 Incident Management 303 On-Deck Operations 309 Staging 405.2 ARRIVAL OF INITIAL COMPANY The first arriving Chesapeake Fire Department unit should contact the Emergency Communications Center and provide the following information: • Unit on-scene. • Initial scene size-up. • Unit assuming incident command (IC) and the name of the command. • Announce to all companies to initiate high-rise procedures The IC should: #Refer to any existing building pre-plan for site specific information and procedures. #Initiate department personnel accountability system. #Perform or direct another member to perform a 360 assessment and report the results to the IC. The 360 assessment should include, but not be limited to, the following information: • Location of the fire control room and/or annunciator panel or fire control panel • Identification of the fire floor or division (if visible from the exterior) • Conditions on the fire floor or division and the floor above (if visible from the exterior) • For buildings with multiple standpipes, identification of which riser requires water • Floors or sectors where occupants are or may be in immediate danger Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 2 • Identification and location of attack stairs • Identification and location of evacuation stairs #Assign personnel as is practicable to make all necessary efforts to provide for the safety and evacuation of any building occupants in immediate danger. #Identification of exterior base location. #Recall all elevators to the lobby. #Call for additional resources that are required or anticipated. Consider the high level of equipment and personnel a high-rise fire demands and reflex time when requesting resources. If a working fire is confirmed, the IC shall request a second alarm assignment. 405.3 PROCEDURES 405.3.1 RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT o APPARATUS A first alarm assignment to high-rise occupancies will consist of the following: • Five engines • Two ladders • One rescue • Two medics • Two Battalion Chiefs • One Field Medical Officer Each of the first alarm companies will have predetermined assignments they should take unless direct orders are given from incident command to deviate from the plan due to abnormal conditions such as, but not limited to, high numbers of life saving rescues or unusual building layout. #First Engine • Size-up, establish command, and began IC functions described in preceding section • Ascend to the floor below the reported fire and prepare to place initial attack line into operation. Use the floor below (or a lower floor) to help familiarize with floor layout and length of hose needed for fire attack • Once sufficient personnel and resources are in place, initiate actions to locate the fire and place the initial attack line into the most advantageous position #Second Engine • Establishes a water supply for the FDC supplying the standpipe system, notifying incident command when water supply is established. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 3 • Ensure fire pump is activated if equipped • Maintain required 150 psi at all times into FDC notifying command should a problem occur. • Utilizing the attack stairwell, proceed to the floor below the fire and assist the first engine with deployment of the initial attack line or deployment of a second line. #Third Engine • Establishes secondary water supply for supplying aerial ladders, additional FDCs, or exposure protection. • Utilizing the attack stairwell, proceed to the floor below the fire and serve as On-Deck for crews operating on fire floor • If active victim rescue operations are underway, assist with rescue operations and/or provide medical care for those rescued #Fourth Engine • Assume Lobby Control functions with officer serving as lobby control unit leader #Fifth Engine • Establish third water supply (if needed) • Proceed to the floor above the fire to complete primary search and report fire conditions #First Ladder • Reconnaissance of exterior conditions, position apparatus at the front of the structure and conduct any immediate rescues or for other key aerial device uses – consider leaving driver operator with vehicle to operate aerial • Ascend to the fire floor and assist the first engine with locating the fire and conducting primary search of the fire floor. • Bring PPV fan to fire floor – coordinate ventilation with previous working companies #Second Ladder • Position apparatus opposite of the first arriving ladder, checking for any immediate rescues. Place apparatus in a manner to achieve key needed aerial device uses – consider leaving driver operator with the vehicle to operate aerial • Coordinate with Command and Lobby Control to determine if utility control efforts are necessary and pressurize stairwells using positive pressure ventilation fans • Ascend to the floor above the fire to complete primary search and report fire conditions #Rescue • Consider leaving driver operator with the vehicle to operate the truck. • Ascend to the top floor of the building and evaluate smoke and heat conditions making a report to incident command Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 4 • Perform any additional required searches or evacuations ***If the rescue company is not available, the responding battalion chief must request an additional engine to respond and designate one of the responding engines to handle rescue functions.*** #Medic Units • Establish triage and treatment area for patients as a result of the fire or evacuation • Request additional medical needs through incident command #First Battalion Chief • Assume incident command and announce the location of the command post • Establish formal accountability system • Assign branches, divisions, and groups as needed along with other needed command staff #Second Battalion Chief • Report to the Command Post in full PPE • Report to the fire floor to serve as Division Supervisor #Field Medical Officer • Assume role of medical branch director if needed • If medical is not needed, assist incident command as staff o PERSONNEL 1. All responding personnel should be in full structural firefighting PPE, including SCBA and emergency egress system, and remain with their assigned crew. 2. Companies not involved in initial fire attack should report to the base area for assignment. 3. Companies ascending stairwells should ensure entry doors to stairwells on all floors are closed. 4. Elevators should only be used by personnel in accordance with any existing Chesapeake Fire Department elevator policy. 5. Personnel should gather and have with them all tools and resources reasonably anticipated as necessary to engage in high-rise firefighting operations. When a crew ascends up to the staging floor this equipment should move with them unless otherwise directed by command or a branch/division supervisor to take substitute items based on operational needs These include, but are not limited to: (a) Hand lights (b) One Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) for each crew or team Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 5 (c) Forcible entry tools to include tools for breaching walls and ceilings (d) Spare SCBA cylinders – The movement of SCBA cylinders is a key factor in efficiently operating on a high-rise incident. Companies should always carry additional full SCBA cylinders when reporting to staging (e) High-Rise Packs, which should include the following; 1. Two sections of 2.5" hose 2. Pipe wrench 3. Two spanner wrenches 4. Standpipe inline pressure gauge 5. 2.5" smooth bore nozzle 6. 2.5" double male and double female adapters 7. 2.5" to 1.5" gated wye 405.3.2 OPERATIONS (a) Tasks 1. In addition to the initial predetermined assignments, the IC should consider the following task assignments for additional crews based upon scene and fire conditions: (a) Assigning units to continue evacuation for the safe exit of building occupants. 1. Types of Evacuation to Be Considered (a) Full Evacuation - Total removal of all occupants from the high- rise due to immediate life threatening concerns (b) Partial Evacuation – The evacuation of occupants from certain locations within the structure (c) Protect-in-Place – The non-evacuation of occupants during an incident. 2. Priority Evacuation (a) Fire Floor (b) Floor directly above the fire floor (c) Upper floors (b) Assigning units to search and rescue. (c) Assigning units to establish a Medical Branch (with sufficient resources) early in the incident to meet the needs of civilians evacuating the building (d) Assigning units to ventilation and fire flow control. Utilize building HVAC systems when so designed. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 6 (e) Coordinating support activities such as portable lighting, SCBA cylinder refill, and rehabilitation for crews (b) Coordination of Operations 1. The IC should maintain communications between all of the following units to coordinate all efforts and, as much as is reasonably possible, control how the actions of these units impact the safety and effectiveness of the other operations: (a) Fire attack (b) Search and rescue (c) Evacuation (d) Ventilation (e) Water supply (c) Assignments 1. Lobby Control (a) Control all points of access to the building, only allowing personnel authorized by command to enter (b) Identify, obtain, and distribute building keys (c) Establish control of all elevators. Assign an individual to elevator control as soon as possible. Account for all elevators and make sure they are checked for trapped occupants. (d) Collect passports of crews entering the building to assure accountability (e) Monitor and re-evaluate fire alarm panel (f) Establish liaison with building representative maintenance to assist with internal systems 1. Air handling systems – some air handling systems, particularly in sprinklered buildings are designed for smoke removal and fresh air supply. If air handling systems are not designed for this use, it should be shut down. 2. Communication Systems – these systems provide a method of sounding alarms or making announcements on individual floors or to the entire building. 2. Staging (a) The staging area should be located at a minimum of two floors below the designated fire floor, as long as the atmosphere is tenable (b) Location of staging when established should be announced on the tactical radio channel (c) The staging area when possible should be a large, uncongested location with convenient access to stairways/elevators for easy ingress and egress Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 7 (d) An interior staging officer must be established (reporting to Logistics Support Branch) with primary responsibilities as follows: 1. Maintain a list of personnel and equipment 2. Ensure equipment is available to support fire operations and request additional equipment be brought to staging as needed 3. Develop a process to rotate air cylinders from staging to the refill location and back. 4. Establish a medical treatment/rehabilitation area for incident personnel 3. Base (a) Base is an exterior staging area utilized for the marshaling of apparatus, resources, and equipment prior to assignment in the incident. (b) Base should be located a minimum of 200 feet from the building to prevent injury and damage from falling debris (c) A Base Manager will be assigned by the IC reporting to the logistic branch if established. Duties of the Base Manager are as follows: 1. Select and maintain a suitable location to establish base 2. Maintain accounting of the resources in base 3. Direct crews and equipment to designated locations as requested 4. On-Deck Crew (a) An On-Deck crew should be established on the floor below the fire floor so long as it is tenable. The On-Deck officer and crew should use the floor below to become familiar with the layout of the fire floor and all ingress/egress points from the fire floor for rapid access and extrication of a distressed firefighter. For larger, more intense fire operations, multiple crews should be assigned on deck with consideration of established a group. 405.4 UNIVERSAL PRACTICES 1. Ensure adequate resources are requested early in the event as high-rise incidents are time- and labor-intensive. Also consider the time needed for assigned crews to reach assigned work area, especially those ascending to the staging or fire area. 2. Maintain awareness of varying wind conditions and flow paths that may be present during a high-rise incident. These changing conditions can impact personnel working in the building. 3. Environmental and atmospheric conditions can vary dramatically at different heights within a high-rise structure. Consider using wind control devices, such as high-rise fire curtains, and high-rise nozzles when appropriate. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 8 4. Rehab should be set up on the staging floor in an area removed from ongoing operations and free from an IDLH environment. 5. Radio Communication 1. There is a tremendous amount of radio communication generated during high- rise incidents. Communications is necessary to command and control a high-rise fire. Radio discipline is vital and concise information is important. Department cell phones, building phones, and other building communication systems are additional available tools. 2. The construction of most high-rise buildings will tend to shield radio transmissions. If there is difficulty reaching repeaters, take a position as close to a window as possible. 6. Stairwells 1. Establish a stairwell for fire attack, and a stairwell for evacuation. At least one stairwell should be kept clear to provide access to, or escape from, floors above the fire. 2. The importance of keeping stairwell doors closed cannot be over emphasized. The flow path of any fire will be towards the stairwell making the control of the stairwell critical. Stairwell doors should be maintained closed as much as possible. 3. Positive pressure ventilation introduced into a stairwell will clear trapped smoke and prevent smoke from entering the space. 7. Safety Considerations 1. Be alert to backdrafts and other hostile fire events. High-rises are tightly sealed buildings and have many compartments. Feel metal jambs when assessing interior doors. 2. Be cautious of open shafts and windows and barricade all openings as soon as possible. Visibility may be reduced causing these hazards to be harder to detect. 3. Maintain 200 foot perimeter around the building due to possible falling debris. 4. Do not store equipment in the stairwell as it will be a trip hazards for firefighters and civilians descending or ascending. 5. Monitor air closely to ensure adequate air supply for standard operations and/or emergency egress. Escape routes could require significant time and distance, and members should maintain adequate air supply in case such situations occur. If operating in a remote area of the building, take spare SCBA cylinders as part of crew equipment cache. 405.5 PARKING STRUCTURES Parking structures often accompany larger commercial occupancies such as high-rise buildings. Command and tactical procedures involving incidents within these structures will closely follow procedures involving high-rise structures with the following considerations: Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 9 A. The first arriving Chesapeake Fire apparatus should position on the exterior of the parking garage closest to the attack stairwell. Fires on ramps of parking garage structures should be approached from floor/ramp descending down to the fire. B. Tires on vehicle fires in parking garages should be chocked to prevent movement of the involved vehicle. C. First due ladder should position their apparatus on the exterior of the structure in a position that enables them to use the aerial as an elevated standpipe. D. Subsequent arriving units will position their apparatus out of way unless directed by command for assignment. E. The FDC should be supplied by second arriving engine (if not established by first engine). F. A plan must be developed to contain runoff from firefighting operations inside parking structures. G. Consider the use of class B foam on flammable liquid fires. These fires can quickly spread to multiple levels of the garage. H. Remember all tactical benchmarks must be completed. (Primary search, fire control, Secondary search, Fire out). AS THESE STRUCTURES CAN HAVE CLEARANCES AS LOW AS 7', FIRE APPARATUS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ATTEMPTING TO ENTER! Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual High-Rise Fires Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department High-Rise Fires - 10 405.6 PROCEDURE DECISION TREE