Structure Fire Response Procedure PDF - Chesapeake Fire Department

Procedure 404 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Structure Fire Response - 1 Structure Fire Response 404.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides arrival and on-scene...

Procedure 404 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Structure Fire Response - 1 Structure Fire Response 404.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides arrival and on-scene procedures for Chesapeake Fire Department units responding to a structure fire. Corresponding Policies: Proc 201 Incident Command 302 Fireground Accountability 301 Emergency Response 300 Incident Management 303 On-Deck Operation 400 Fireground Communications 404.2 FIRST FIVE MINUTES The first arriving department unit should contact the Emergency Communications Center and provide an Initial Radio Report (IRR) including, but not limited to, the following information: • Unit on-scene • Building Description o Size o Height o Occupancy Type • Problem Description o Smoke/Fire Conditions o Location of the problem • Initial Incident Action Plan (IAP) o Initial Company's; Task Location Objectives • Declaration of Strategy o Offensive or Defensive • Determine needed resources • Assume and name Command Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Structure Fire Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Structure Fire Response - 2 • Identify Accountability Location The IC shall evaluate the risk to personnel with respect to the purpose and potential results of their actions in each situation. The concept of risk management shall be utilized on the basis of the following principles: 1. We will risk our lives a lot, and in a calculated manner, to protect that life which can be saved. 2. We will risk our lives a little, and in a calculated manner, to protect that property which can be saved. 3. We will not risk our lives at all to protect life or property already lost. The IC shall evaluate the risk to personnel concerning the purpose and potential results of their actions in each situation. In situations where the risk to emergency response personnel is excessive, as defined above, activities shall be limited to defensive operations. The risk to emergency response personnel is the most important factor considered by the IC in determining the strategy that will be employed in each situation. First arriving crews on a working incident (smoke or flames showing) should only engage in exterior attacks and operations until an On-Deck crew has been established. When there is an imminent rescue, first arriving crews may initiate an interior rescue operation without an established On-Deck crew. A thorough risk analysis must be performed before entry. An announcement will be made on the tactical channel by the crew going interior, announcing a rescue operation is in progress to include the crew identity, location, and a PAR. (e.g. "Engine 1 is initiating an interior rescue operation on the Alpha side, PAR-3.") The interior rescue crew will exit as a full crew while removing occupants or exit after completing a search and declaring an all clear. An announcement will be made on the tactical channel they have exited and give their location and PAR. (Engine 1 rescue complete, exterior on the Alpha side PAR-3") They will remain exterior until an On-Deck crew has been established before re-entering for additional interior operations. Later arriving units will support the rescue in progress if the crews have not completed the rescue prior to their arrival, to include an On-Deck crew and a back-up line. Once the On-Deck crew has been established the interior rescue crew may remain interior for other operations once the rescue or search is complete. The Incident Commander (IC) should: #Establish the department personnel accountability system. #If fire or smoke is visible, declare a working incident and request any additional fireground radio channels needed. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Structure Fire Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Structure Fire Response - 3 #Perform or direct another member to perform a 360 assessment of the incident and report the results to the IC #Contact the Emergency Communications Center and provide Follow-up Report with the findings from the 360 Assessment including, but not limited to the following information: • Number of stories from the rear • Any immediate Life Safety Issues • Basement type (if identified) • Significant hazards not seen from the Alpha Side • The ventilation profile of the structure (the identification of flow paths or potential flow paths) • The safest, most appropriate attack position • Life safety profile of the incident • Any changes made to the IAP #Assign critical tasks. #Call for any additional resources as appropriate. #Consult a building pre-plan, if available. #Direct units as to the best way to approach the scene as needed. #Refer to the Unified Command Procedure if the incident involves multiple jurisdictions or multiple agencies/organizations within a single jurisdiction. #Develop an initial incident action plan (IAP) and, based upon resources, prioritize and assign tasks to incoming units. Task assignments should include, but are not limited to: • Scene safety • Primary search and rescue • Initial fire attack • Water supply • Ventilation • On-Deck Crew(s) #Establish a hot zone with boundaries determined by the specific hazard. Restrict entry to personnel as appropriate. #Contact Emergency Communications Center for updates on response levels and/or to request additional required resources, including but not limited to On-Deck Crews. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Structure Fire Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Structure Fire Response - 4 404.3 PROCEDURES 404.3.1 RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT (a) Apparatus 1. Apparatus should position according to a building pre-plan, if available, or as directed by the IC while maintaining the ability to secure a water supply and accountability location. 2. To prevent unsafe or ineffective positioning or the need to reposition, apparatus positioning should follow staging levels: (a) Level 1 Staging: As determined by department policy, only one or two pieces of apparatus should proceed directly to the scene along with any responding chief officers. Any other unit responding should stop one block away from the incident in the direction of travel and report its location. (b) Level 2 Staging: This is where all second or greater alarm or mutual-aid companies report. The location should be announced when the additional resources are dispatched. This is the cue to establish the Staging Area Manager function. (c) The IC should consider a stage-away option when there may be a violent encounter. 3. The IC should include, but not be limited to, the following considerations when ordering apparatus into a scene: (a) Water supply (b) Fire attack (c) Aerial operations (d) Collapse zones (e) Potential for backdraft or explosion from the structure based on fire behavior and known building contents (f) Access to tools and equipment (g) Space for incoming units needed for immediate operations (b) Personnel 1. All Personnel should be in full personal protective equipment (PPE), including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), tools, and a portable radio 2. Crews entering will be a minimum of two consisting of an Officer or Acting Officer and other qualified member/members 3. Personnel should remain with assigned crew and enter the hot zone only when directed to do so by the IC. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Structure Fire Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Structure Fire Response - 5 4. Personnel should remain with assigned crews when exiting the hot zone. 5. Command will be notified when crews are entering and exiting the hot zone including a PAR. 6. No personnel, regardless of rank, should enter an immediate danger to life and health (IDLH) atmosphere without full PPE,self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and portable radio. 404.3.2 OPERATIONS (a) Continuing scene size-up 1. The IC should conduct size-up continuously at every fire to account for changes at the scene, including but not limited to: • Resources available • Scene conditions o Weather o Fire location, flow and size 2. The results of additional scene size-up should be communicated to the Emergency Communications Center. (b) Fire Suppression. Whenever practicable, these operations should take place in sequential order: 1. Locate the seat of the fire. • As assigned by the IC, personnel should determine the location and extent of the fire. Equipment and tools used for this task include, but are not limited to: o Thermal imaging cameras. o Entry and access tools. o Hand lights. 2. Identify the flow path. • As assigned by the IC, personnel should, as is reasonably practicable, determine any flow path. The presence of a flow path should determine coordinated ventilation and suppression operations to, as much as is reasonably practicable, limit fire growth and protect personnel and building occupants. 3. Cool the space from a location that allows for brief, rapid water application to cool or reset the fire when high heat may exist in spaces where occupants may be trapped and/or personnel may have to operate. (a) From a location determined to best account for size, location and flow path of the fire, water should be applied for a period of 10 to 30 seconds to reduce high thermal conditions and energy levels of the fire. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Structure Fire Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Structure Fire Response - 6 (b) Fire reset operations should be communicated to operating units before starting and when completed. After completing a fire reset, task assignments should be communicated to operating units. 4. Extinguish. • After the fire has been reset, the IC should direct personnel to extinguish the fire as directly as reasonably practicable under the conditions. (c) Additional fireground tasks that should be considered based on scene conditions. 1. Search and Rescue • The IC should consider the assigning personnel to search and rescue tasks based upon information from: o The Emergency Communications Center. o Witnesses on-scene. o Occupants who have exited the structure. o Visual or auditory identification based upon scene size-up, 360 assessment and/or personnel engaged in operations. 2. Property Preservation and Salvage (a) Personnel should make reasonable efforts to preserve property and reduce the potential for property damage from smoke, fire and firefighting operations. This includes but is not limited to: o Checking to see if doors and windows are unlocked before engaging in forcible entry. o Closing doors of rooms not directly impacted by firefighting operations. o Moving contents from rooms where firefighting operations are taking place or are otherwise affected by firefighting operations. o Grouping contents into one area and covering with tarps. o Isolating rooms and areas where fire exists from other rooms or areas of the structure. 3. Ventilation (a) Personnel should engage in ventilation activities only at the direction of the IC. Ventilation should be coordinated with all other fire suppression and search and rescue operations to minimize unanticipated change in flow path and to protect, as much as is reasonably practicable, personnel and occupants.