Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Risk Benefit Analysis Go or No Go You Make The Call! Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

10 Rules of Engagement for Structural Fire Fighting Acceptability of Risk 1.No building or property is worth the life of a firefighter. 2.All interior fire fighting involves an inherent risk. 3.Some risk is acceptable, in a measured and controlled manner. 4.No level of risk is acceptable where there is no potential to save lives or savable property. 5.Fire fighters shall not be committed to interior offensive fire fighting operations in abandoned or derelict buildings Risk Assessment 1.All feasible measures shall be taken to limit or avoid risks through risk assessment by a qualified officer. 2.It is the responsibility of the incident commander to evaluate the level of risk in every situation. 3.Risk assessment is a continuous process for the entire duration of each incident. 4.If conditions change, and risk increases, change strategy and tactics. 5.No building or property is worth the life of a fire fighter. 10 Rules of Engagement for Structural Fire Fighting Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

Risk Assessment/Rules of Engagement Fire Fighter Injury/Life Safety Risk High Probability of Success Marginal Probability of Success Low Probability of Success Low Risk Initiate Offensive operations. Continue to monitor risk factors Medium Risk Initiate offensive operations. Continue to monitor risk factors. Employ all available risk control operations Initiate offensive operations. Continue to monitor risk factors. Be prepared to go defensive if risk increases Do not initiate offensive operations. Reduce risk to fire fighters and actively pursue risk control operations High Risk Initiate offensive operations only with confirmation of realistic potential to save endangered lives. Do not initiate offensive operations that will put fire fighters at risk for injury or fatality Initiate defensive operations only

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS At a minimum the risk analysis for a structure fire shall consider: –Building Characteristics Construction type and size Structural condition Occupancy and contents Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS –Fire Factors Location and extent of the fire Estimated time of involvement What are smoke conditions telling us –Risk to Building Occupants Known or probable occupants Occupant survival assessment –Firefighting Capabilities Available resources Operational capabilities and limitations Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS Everyone is familiar with the saying-“there is a fine line between aggressiveness and recklessness”. This is the “gray” area of risk management decision making that ALL of us are responsible for. Some risks we can avoid some risks we can pass off to other agencies, and some we have to face. We do work in a dangerous profession, but one that demands effective management of risk. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

Aggressiveness is a relative term and each of us has a different tolerance level. Over aggressiveness is not a reflection of manhood, machismo, professionalism, bravery or courage. Controlled and managed aggression; in concert with proper incident analysis and risk management decision making by each of you, is a direct reflection of your dedication, professionalism, and determination to do a good job. RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS The FRD is in the process of developing a template for conducting a Risk Benefit Analysis. These are considerations all personnel should utilize for training and review. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department DRAFT

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Two-In, Two-Out What does it mean to You?

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Two-In, Two-Out The term “two-in, two-out” refers to incident scene operations where the minimum number of firefighters (two) may enter an IDLH while a minimum number of firefighters (two) remain outside the IDLH area as the “standby team” to monitor the activity of the interior crew and effect rescue if necessary. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

Two-In, Two-Out This minimum number applies during the initial stages of operations and may be increased, but never decreased, unless justified by the unit officer in charge (OIC) based on a known or perceived life hazard. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Everyone is out of the house! Are you going to do a blind search?

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department It is imperative that all firefighters operating within any hazardous area always operate in teams of two or more to maintain constant communication with each team member through: Visual Audible Physical Safety device Maintain close proximity to each other to provide assistance in case of an emergency. Two-In, Two-Out

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Two-In, Two-Out Officers must apply effective size up skills before committing a crew with less then four members on-scene. indicators of life hazardIf indicators of life hazard are present, rescue and support functions may be initiated. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS Go or No-Go, You Make The Call!

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Go or No-Go, Go or No-Go, You Make the Call! What you need to do: –Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. –List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. –Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? –Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

You Make The Call! Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread. List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building. Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you? What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk? Is this a Go or No Go situation? Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS We should never take short cuts because we feel it is a nothing “call”. If we habitually lay out supply lines, pull attack lines, wear our PPE properly, carry all the tools, chock the doors open, ladder the windows for firefighter egress, then we will not be caught by surprise if the situation deteriorates. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS Complacency kills firefighters! When we let our guard down we allow the situation to control us. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

RISK BENEFIT ANALYSIS Where do we fail on the emergency scene? –Lack of strong and visible command. –Failure to control the actions at the scene. –Failure to coordinate the use of resources. –Breakdown in the communications process. These are all contributing factors to a line of duty death! Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

Don’t Become a Statistic