Spring Fire Department Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Guideline PDF

Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024...

Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024 Approved by: MISSION Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 CRITICAL Reviewed by Operations Scott C. Seifert Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) 1. Executive Summary a. Establishing an Incident Command Post (ICP) and Unified Command structure is key to a methodical and thorough response. Quickly establishing an ICP and communicating this location to dispatch is imperative. b. The lead organization will be the agency that has authority or responsibility for the geographic location in which the event occurs. That agency may decide to pass the lead to another partner agency if appropriate. c. To facilitate radio interoperability, a communication plan must be established. The initial response communications will occur on a dedicated tactical channel until the Unified Command establishes additional channels as necessary. d. A Level II staging area needs to be established quickly to address over convergence. The second arriving District Chief, or chief officer, should be the initial staging officer. e. Priorities for Unified Command include "Stop the Killing" (neutralize the threat), "Stop the Dying" (provide lifesaving triage and treatment), and evacuation and systematic search utilizing appropriate resources. f. Rescue Task Force Teams (RTFs) should be formed and deployed to provide lifesaving triage and treatment to injured persons. SFD.086 Uncontrolled if printed Page 1 of 7  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024 Approved by: MISSION Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 CRITICAL Reviewed by Operations Scott C. Seifert Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) 2. Purpose a. This guideline establishes a standard approach to safe practices for all personnel when responding to an ASHER emergency. 3. Policy Statement a. This guideline applies to all personnel responding to and operating at a scene that may involve an active shooter and/or an active attack. 4. Scope a. This guideline applies to all members. 5. Definitions a. See Glossary. 6. Procedures and Responsibilities a. Incident Organization i. Establishing an Incident Command Post (ICP) and Unified Command structure is key to a methodical and thorough response. Quickly establishing an ICP and communicating this location to dispatch is imperative. Having an established location where incoming agencies can check in for vital intelligence and deployment assignments is key to increasing lifesaving capabilities, reducing duplicated efforts, and enhancing communications. ii. The lead organization will be the agency that has authority or responsibility for the geographic location in which the event occurs. That agency may decide to pass the lead to another partner agency if appropriate. iii. Once an Incident Command Post is established, each responding agency must send a supervisor to liaise with the Unified Command structure as needed. If Spring FD is not the lead agency, a District Chief must be the representative at the Unified Command post. iv. To facilitate radio interoperability, a communication plan must be established. The initial response communications will occur on a dedicated tactical channel until the Unified SFD.086 Uncontrolled if printed Page 2 of 7  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024 Approved by: MISSION Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 CRITICAL Reviewed by Operations Scott C. Seifert Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Command establishes additional channels as necessary. If radio functionality is interrupted by the building or structure, radios should be switched to the talk-around function. v. To address over convergence, a Level II staging area needs to be established quickly. The second arriving District Chief, or chief officer, should be the initial staging officer. Traffic control and a large outer perimeter must be established rapidly to ensure roads remain open for vehicles to access the scene. vi. Upon notification of an AHSER incident occurring, OEM should be notified by dispatch. b. Priorities for Unified Command: i. “Stop the Killing” - Law enforcement must neutralize the threat. ii. “Stop the Dying”- Provide lifesaving triage and treatment to injured persons. RTFs should be formed and deployed to provide lifesaving triage and treatment to injured persons. iii. Evacuation and systematic search utilizing the appropriate resources for the given threat. iv. Form Rescue Task Force Teams v. Perimeter Establishment and Control vi. Resource Staging vii. Criminal Investigation/ Crime Scene viii. Notification and Reunification SFD.086 Uncontrolled if printed Page 3 of 7  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024 Approved by: MISSION Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 CRITICAL Reviewed by Operations Scott C. Seifert Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) c. d. INCIDENT RESPONSE i. Fire Response 1. Upon notification of the event, the appropriate fire department units will be dispatched to the scene. 2. Additional arriving units should identify and respond to the Level II staging area. The first arriving officer will assume the initial staging officer until relieved by a chief officer. 3. First arriving fire apparatus: a. First fire apparatus shall respond to the scene and establish an ICP and Level II staging area. b. ICP and Level II staging area must be out of range and safe from any incident threats. SFD.086 Uncontrolled if printed Page 4 of 7  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024 Approved by: MISSION Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 CRITICAL Reviewed by Operations Scott C. Seifert Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) c. Request law enforcement representatives to report to the staging area as well as the ICP. ii. Rescue Task Force 1. RTFs are established and disbanded in staging. 2. Medical units and fire apparatus will be placed in the staging area. Units may be assembled into RTF teams or triage, treatment, and transport, based on the needs identified by Unified Command. a. Communicate with the staging officer upon arrival and await assignment. b. Retrieve Ballistic Protection from the designated agency prior to entering the Warm Zone. c. Retrieve Active Shooter Kits from the district chief or safety officer vehicle. d. RTFs will assume sequential radio designations (i.e. RTF1, RTF2, etc.) until reassigned by the Unified Command. e. Once inside the crisis site, the RTF will be the “eyes and ears” of the Unified Command post. CAN reports with location are important to keep the Unified Command post informed. iii. First Rescue Task Force Team shall: 1. Enter the Warm Zone upon receiving permission from Unified Command. 2. Establish a CCP(s) in the Warm Zone, if needed, and begin life-saving treatment and evacuation of patients. 3. CCP(s) in the Warm Zone will inform the Medical Branch Director of a patient count and any need for additional RTF teams or other medical needs. iv. First Chief Officer: 1. Report to the ICP and assume Incident Command. a. Once a unified command post is established, the chief officer will assume the Fire Branch Director. 2. If no fire operations are underway, assist the Medical Branch as needed. v. Second Chief Officer: 1. Establish a Level II staging area. vi. As Casualty Collection Points are established additional resources will be deployed to these areas. vii. Triage and treatment areas will be established by the Medical Branch in the cold zone as designated by the Unified Command. SFD.086 Uncontrolled if printed Page 5 of 7  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024 Approved by: MISSION Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 CRITICAL Reviewed by Operations Scott C. Seifert Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) 7. References & Related Policies a. This section provides references to applicable laws, standards, or other related internal policies or guidelines. NFPA Applicable State or Federal Statutes OSHA Spring FD TCFP CPSE PI ISO TFCA Other: 8. Contact Office a. The appropriate contact office for questions or comments on this SOG is: i. Company Officer 1. District Chief a. Deputy Chief of Operations i. Assistant Chief 1. Fire Chief 9. List of Changes Revision Approved Effective Description of Changes No. by Date 1 First version Davenport 8/21/2024 10. Errors See something wrong? Click here or use this QR code to submit an error or inconsistency. SFD.086 Uncontrolled if printed Page 6 of 7  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.086 Revision No. 01 Issue Date 21 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 21Aug. 2024 Approved by: MISSION Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 CRITICAL Reviewed by Operations Scott C. Seifert Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) This policy is for internal use only and does not enlarge a member’s legal duty or civil liability in any way. This policy should not be construed as creating a duty to act or a higher duty of care, with respect to third-party civil claims against members or the department. A violation of this policy, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing member discipline. SFD.086 Uncontrolled if printed Page 7 of 7