Monterey County Fireground Safety System Revised April 2003

Why? Several firefighter fatalities at “routine” fires Several firefighter fatalities at “routine” fires Confusion of missing firefighters Confusion of missing firefighters Inability to rescue distressed firefighters Inability to rescue distressed firefighters Poor accountability & “freelancing” Poor accountability & “freelancing” Adopted & tailored to suit the needs of Monterey County fire departments Adopted & tailored to suit the needs of Monterey County fire departments Auto Aid / Mutual Aid - compatibility Auto Aid / Mutual Aid - compatibility

6 Components Firefighter Accountability System Firefighter Accountability System Building Emergency Evacuation Signal Building Emergency Evacuation Signal Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) Missing Firefighter Procedure Missing Firefighter Procedure Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (IRIC) Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (IRIC) Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC)

Purpose Improve firefighter safety through accountability Improve firefighter safety through accountability

System Description Passport Overview Passport Overview System Hardware System Hardware Nametags - personal Nametags - personal Passports – crew members Passports – crew members Status Boards – Overhead vehicles Status Boards – Overhead vehicles Helmet ID tags – Unit Numbers Helmet ID tags – Unit Numbers (Appendix A) (Appendix A)(Appendix A)(Appendix A)

Pre-Incident Procedures Passport set-up Passport set-up Update & keep accurate Update & keep accurate Proper order Proper order Helmet ID Tags Helmet ID Tags Accurate to apparatus Accurate to apparatus

Emergency Incident Procedures Initial crews leave passport in apparatus Initial crews leave passport in apparatus Next crews check in with IC w/ passport Next crews check in with IC w/ passport Vol. check-in w/ respective engines Vol. check-in w/ respective engines Maintain accountability on status board of all assigned personnel at incident Maintain accountability on status board of all assigned personnel at incident

Accountability Officer’s Checklist (Appendix B) (Appendix B)

Building Emergency Evacuation Signal Provide a uniform signal to alert personnel of dangerous conditions that requires them to immediately leave the building Provide a uniform signal to alert personnel of dangerous conditions that requires them to immediately leave the building IC’s responsibility to initiate once determined conditions have deteriorated to point it is too dangerous to continue inside IC’s responsibility to initiate once determined conditions have deteriorated to point it is too dangerous to continue inside IC must conduct post-incident analysis if this signal was activated IC must conduct post-incident analysis if this signal was activated

Signal Procedure IC initiates “Building Emergency Evacuation Signal” IC initiates “Building Emergency Evacuation Signal” Shall consist of 3 components: Shall consist of 3 components: Radio message from IC Radio message from IC Transmitted on all frequencies of incident Transmitted on all frequencies of incident “Attention all units on the ____Incident, standby for emergency traffic, clear the building” “Attention all units on the ____Incident, standby for emergency traffic, clear the building” Evacuation Signal – Engine at scene gives short blasts of airhorn for ten seconds followed by ten seconds of silence for 3 cycles Evacuation Signal – Engine at scene gives short blasts of airhorn for ten seconds followed by ten seconds of silence for 3 cycles May need to be transmitted on each division May need to be transmitted on each division Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) IC initiates a PAR to confirm “all clear” IC initiates a PAR to confirm “all clear”

 Upon activation of the “Building Emergency Evacuation Signal” all radio traffic shall cease except that which is pertinent to the rescue efforts or obtaining a PAR  The term “Emergency Traffic” will be utilized & have priority  Use clear text and report the following:  Location of emergency  Number of missing or injured  Identity if known  What happened?  Special equipment?  Specific hazard?

Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)  Roll call to ensure personnel safety Hazardous events occur Hazardous events occur Tactical objectives are achieved Tactical objectives are achieved At designated timed intervals At designated timed intervals

Benchmarks for PAR  Report of missing or trapped firefighter  Sudden hazardous situation  Change from offensive to defensive  Crews reporting an “all clear” on a search  When fire is declared controlled  Any time IC deems necessary to initiate roll call  10 minute elapsed time intervals

Elapsed Time Notification Firecom / ECC shall notify IC every ten minutes after arrival at scene until incident is controlled or IC cancels timer Firecom / ECC shall notify IC every ten minutes after arrival at scene until incident is controlled or IC cancels timer 10 minute – used to keep track of fatigue, structural integrity, progress, etc. 10 minute – used to keep track of fatigue, structural integrity, progress, etc. 20 minute – PAR checks 20 minute – PAR checks  “IC, Monterey…(10, 20, 30, etc.) minute elapsed time notification”

Missing Firefighter Procedure 1) Initiate PAR immediately 2) Assume firefighter is lost in hazard area until proven otherwise 3) Immediately send RIC crews to last reported work area of missing firefighter 4) Immediately call for additional resources, including a medical component 5) Location & rescue of the missing firefighter must become the top priority at the incident

Initial Rapid Intervention Crew (IRIC) Purpose Whenever interior operations are initiated in an IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health) atmosphere, an IRIC shall be established to be immediately available to effect rescue of a lost, trapped or injured member of the IDLH operations crew(s).

The IRIC shall:  Consist of min. 2 trained firefighters in full PPE w/ SCBA trained in RIC operations thru MCFTOA  1 member must remain at point of entry monitoring #, identity, location and function of interior crew ready to initiate rescue  Other IRIC member may perform other duties such as IC, pump operator, ventilation, accountability, etc. so long as task may be abandoned to assist in rescue  Be immediately available with radio communications  Be equipped with RIC bag

RIC BAG  RIC bag must have “RIC” in 4” letters on the side and consist of a minimum of the following: 2 hand-held lights 2 hand-held lights 2 door wedges 2 door wedges Safety line – 100’ of 3/8” in a rope bag with carabiner at each end Safety line – 100’ of 3/8” in a rope bag with carabiner at each end 10’ loop of 1” or 2” webbing for rescue 10’ loop of 1” or 2” webbing for rescue 1 pair of wire cutters 1 pair of wire cutters 1 pair of trauma shears 1 pair of trauma shears

Consider the following:  Thermal Imaging Camera  Forcible entry tools  Airbags / cribbing  Hydraulic rescue tool  Chainsaw / rotary saw  Additional safety line (tag line)  Chalk  Ladders  Additional door wedges / latch covers

IRIC must also:  Have one complete SCBA with mask  Have backup / rescue hoseline immediately available.  Be assigned by the IC  Be assigned to IC or Ops directly  Stage at “point of entry” unless otherwise assigned

Deployment of IRIC  Upon activation of “Emergency Traffic” signal, IC shall deploy IRIC to last known location of distressed firefighter  IRIC at point of entry will establish positive physical connection to pt of entry  Initiate S&R with necessary RIC equip

Deployment of IRIC (Cont)  Maintain positive physical connection at all times  IC will announce IRIC deployed. IRIC ops will always have communications priority  IC consider reassigning other resources to support IRIC effort  IC consider ordering more resources including EMS for shift in strategy

Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) Purpose IC deems appropriate due to complexity IC deems appropriate due to complexity Large residence, commercial, high rise, etc. Large residence, commercial, high rise, etc. RIC intended to replace IRIC & meet 2 in / 2 out requirements RIC intended to replace IRIC & meet 2 in / 2 out requirements

Differences – IRIC vs. RIC  Establishes a leader  Minimum 4 firefighters, preferably 5 firefighters  Minimum of 2 at door  Other members conducting RIC related tasks Est. egress / access points Est. egress / access points Secure utilities Secure utilities Firefighter accountability Firefighter accountability Deploy ladders Deploy ladders

IRIC / RIC Duties (Appendix C) (Appendix C)

Rapid Intervention Crew Tactics Review

An Effective RIC is: PreparedPrepared EquippedEquipped TrainedTrained Properly placedProperly placed Expected to overcomeExpected to overcome

RIC is a combat position A dynamic working crewA dynamic working crew Not a rehab positionNot a rehab position Will be busyWill be busy All personnel trained as RICAll personnel trained as RIC Must have full PPE and proper equipment required for any potential search and rescue operationMust have full PPE and proper equipment required for any potential search and rescue operation

The RIC Officer CompetentCompetent Has guidelines to followHas guidelines to follow Disciplined & focusedDisciplined & focused Trained to meet RIC expectationsTrained to meet RIC expectations Understands:Understands: –If something goes wrong, you’re it! –EMS protocol Get to victim in 4-6 minutesGet to victim in 4-6 minutes

Role of Rapid Intervention Crew Our highest priority... Firefighter Rescue Officers or members assigned to RIC shall not get involved with routine firefighting activities, but remain in a state of readiness keeping company members together and ready for deployment

RIC Size-Up Type of buildingType of building Extent of fireExtent of fire Type of occupancyType of occupancy Level of alarmLevel of alarm Special hazardsSpecial hazards Monitor radio to gather infoMonitor radio to gather info On approach, what do you see?On approach, what do you see?

Report to OperationsReport to Operations –IC if Ops is not assigned Know strategic mode & tactics being deployedKnow strategic mode & tactics being deployed Understand radio & unit IDUnderstand radio & unit ID –“RIC” or “DIV 3 RIC,” etc.

RIC Size-up is Ongoing Take a lap around buildingTake a lap around building Anticipate fire spreadAnticipate fire spread Locate alternate entrances & exitsLocate alternate entrances & exits Place additional ladders, if appropriatePlace additional ladders, if appropriate Look for anything that might make your job harder or easierLook for anything that might make your job harder or easier

RIC Size-up Continued Anticipate firefighter rescueAnticipate firefighter rescue Establish crew position, tools needed, & planEstablish crew position, tools needed, & plan On going processOn going process

RIC on the Fireground RIC size-up similar in function to Safety Officer

Questions?