Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management & Roadway Incidents Procedure PDF

Procedure 406 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure - 1 Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Proced...

Procedure 406 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure - 1 Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure 406.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides arrival and on-scene procedures for Chesapeake Fire Department personnel responding to motor vehicle collisions and vehicle fires and operating at roadway incidents. Corresponding Policies: 301 Emergency Response 302 Fireground Accountability 904 High-Visibility Safety Vests 300 Incident Management 309 Staging 906 Apparatus/Vehicle Backing 911 Vehicle Seat Belts 600 Fire Apparatus Drive/Operator Training 406.2 FIRST FIVE MINUTES The first arriving Chesapeake Fire Department unit should contact the Emergency Communications Center and provide the following information: • Unit on-scene • Confirm a law enforcement response if law enforcement is not yet on-scene • Initial scene size-up • Advise incoming units as to the best route to approach the scene, considering response time and safe operation. In some cases the best route may be from the opposite direction and/or by use of exit ramps to enter the roadway and approach the scene • Unit assuming incident command (IC) The IC should: #Perform or direct another member to perform a 360 assessment of the incident and report results to the IC. The information gathered should include, but not be limited to: • Physical size and length of the incident including number of lanes which may have to be closed in each direction to allow for safe operation. • Number and type of vehicles involved. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure - 2 • Estimated number of victims and initial triage of severity of injury. • Whether the incident includes any special hazards, hazardous materials, fuel leaks, electrical hazards, fire, extrication, and medical treatment. Follow appropriate procedures for any such situation. #Establish the department accountability system for all personnel on scene. #Determine location of the occupants of the vehicle(s) and other potential victims. #Check the stability of the vehicle(s) and order any reasonable and practicable stabilization efforts including, but not limited to the use of: • Chocking or wedging for tires • Step chocks • Box cribs • Struts and braces #Take reasonable steps to ensure that: • Vehicles are in park. • Keys are removed. • Parking brake(s) have been set, if possible. • Battery cables are cut. #Locate areas for incoming units to establish a temporary traffic control (TTC) zone which should include the following: • An advanced warning area where motorists should see that there is a roadway incident ahead. • A transition area where motorists should be directed around the roadway incident. • An activity area located away from the traffic path where responding personnel should be able to work as safely as is practicable. • A termination area where motorists should be directed back into normal flow of traffic. #Develop an initial Incident Action Plan (IAP) based on available information and visible conditions. #Consider establishing a unified command (UC) depending on the location, size, and complexity of the incident. #Contact the Emergency Communications Center to update any information and request any required additional resources. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure - 3 406.3 PROCEDURES 406.3.1 RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT Resources deployed during response to a traffic collision or vehicle fire should use the following procedures: (a) Apparatus 1. When practicable, apparatus should be placed uphill and upwind of the incident when fire, smoke, or hazardous materials including leaking fuel is or may be present. 2. Whenever practicable, apparatus should be angled on the roadway with a "block left" or "block right" to minimize exposure of the crew and driver/ operator to approaching traffic and maximize the safe activity area. Leave space for additional resources including but not limited to heavy rescue units and Emergency Medical Services. 3. On multi-lane roadways, the incident lane plus at least one additional lane should be blocked. 4. When reasonably available, additional apparatus should be used to block traffic on higher-volume roadways. 5. Apparatus traffic direction devices should be activated and apparatus placed to enhance their visibility to motorists. (b) Personnel 1. Personnel should be in personal protective equipment (PPE) that is appropriate for the on-scene hazards unless otherwise advised by the IC. (a) For a vehicle fire, PPE should include a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). (b) High visibility garments approved for roadway use should be worn by all personnel when not directly engaged in fire suppression activities. (c) Whenever practicable, personnel should avoid facing away from traffic. (c) Traffic Control Devices 1. Temporary traffic control devices (TCDs) should be deployed from the rear of apparatus blocking the scene toward approaching traffic to create advanced warning and transition areas as well as to buffer the incident area from the TTC zones and warn approaching motorists of the scene ahead to create, as is as reasonably possible, a safe activity area for responders. 2. If available, an approved advance warning sign should be used to identify the advanced warning area. Whenever practicable, the sign should be located at the following distances from the transition area unless the conditions reasonably call for a shorter or longer distance; (a) Urban low speed roadways - 100 feet from the transitions area (b) Urban high speed roadways - 350 feet from the transition area Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure - 4 (c) Rural roadways - 500 feet from the transition area (d) Highways and interstates - 1000 feet from the transitions area 3. Portable traffic control devices (TCDs) should also be deployed (cones, flares, etc.) to separate and buffer the activity area from traffic moving through the incident and terminations areas. TCDs may include, but are not limited to traffic cones, road flares, and warning lights. 406.3.2 OPERATIONS Traffic collision and vehicle fire response may involve the following operations: (a) Vehicle disabling and immobilization. 1. When practicable and reasonable, the vehicle should be disabled: (a) Place vehicle in park and turn off ignition. (b) Disconnect the 12-volt battery (c) If the key is located, remove from the ignition. If equipped with a keyless start, move the key at least 20 feet from the vehicle to prevent unintended engagement of any proximity functions. 2. When practicable and reasonable, the vehicle should be immobilized: (a) Approach the vehicle at an angle to avoid bumpers and other parts launched by high pressure systems and tires that may explode. (b) Chock the wheels. (c) Set the parking brake. (d) Place vehicle in park transmission in park. (b) Traffic collision with injuries 1. Standard EMS protocols for patient treatment and transport should be followed. 2. Responders should avoid placing themselves between the patient and any undeployed airbags that may be located within the vehicle passenger compartment. 3. Personnel should be aware of and look for cracked or overheated high voltage batteries as they can release toxic materials and fumes. (c) Vehicle Fire 1. A water supply should be established before beginning operations. At least one 1 ¾-inch hoseline should be deployed. 2. Personnel should approach the vehicle from the side or at an angle to avoid bumpers and other parts launched by high-pressure systems and exploding tires. 3. All vehicles will have a thorough Primary and Secondary search conducted, including trunks, cargo areas, and passenger compartments in commuter Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure - 5 vehicles, and sleeper areas and container areas for commercial Freight Transport units to assure there are no occupants. (d) Extrication 1. If extrication is required, personnel should refer to the Vehicle Extrication Operations Procedure. 406.4 UNIVERSAL PRACTICES 1. Personnel should not assume a scene on a roadway is completely safe from approaching traffic. Personnel should remain aware of traffic. When reasonably practicable, a spotter or look out should be placed between the incident area and oncoming or passing traffic when engaged in operations. 2. Depending on the roadway, multiple lanes or multiple sides of the incident may need to be protected using fire apparatus, law enforcement vehicles, official vehicles from other responding agencies, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) vehicles or additional TCDs. Whenever practicable, have these resources in place before starting fire suppression or rescue operations. 3. The scene should be surveyed with a thermal imaging camera (TIC) to determine the location of any victims. For example, victims may have been ejected from a vehicle, landing away from the crash scene or hidden by trees and brush. 4. When practicable, foam should be used as an extinguishing agent for vehicle fires. 5. A thorough Primary and Secondary search will be conducted involving vehicle fires and Freight Transport units . 6. When practicable, scene preservation practices should be used to preserve evidence in case law enforcement determines a criminal investigation is required. Personnel should disturb only what is necessary to complete rescue and fire suppression operations. For example, liquor bottles or drug paraphernalia found in a vehicle should be left undisturbed or moved only to complete operations. 7. When reasonably practicable, members should load patients into ambulances from within an area protected from traffic with the patient compartment doors angled away from moving traffic to protect personnel and patients from approaching motorists. 8. The IC should take reasonable steps to ensure that adequate gross decontamination is performed before releasing units from any scene where personnel were exposed to potentially harmful substances including: • Smoke • Soot • Body fluids • Hazardous Materials Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Traffic Incident Management and Roadway Incidents Procedure - 6 406.5 PROCEDURE DECISION TREE