LAKEHIAWATHA FIRE DEPT.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS

VOLUME 2, CHAPTER 18

2:18-1POLICY OVERVIEW

The Lake Hiawatha Fire Department will at times respond to emergencies in which another agency will have authority or jurisdiction over. This department will be required to work with and cooperate with those other agencies. Furthermore, there will be times when the Lake Hiawatha Fire Department arrives at such incidents before the agency having jurisdiction or authority. Some of these responses may be of a routine nature, such as elevator entrapments and small hazardous materials spills. Others may be events seldom encountered and presenting incredible safety issues such as structural collapses, aircraft crashes, and acts of terrorism. It is the purpose of this policy to provide firefighters with guidance when working with other agencies at such incidents and also when arriving first at such occurrences.

2:18-2HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

A.Apparatus shall respond to hazardous materials incidents in the following order:

1.Engine 642

2.Truck 643

3.Squad 644

4.Engine 641 (Upon request of Incident Commander)

B.The Lake Hiawatha Fire Department shall respond to hazardous materials incidents as first responders with the objectives being to protect nearby persons, property, and the environment from potential harmful effects.

1.Personnel shall stop or contain small leaks or releases of hazardous materials when the substance involved has been identified and personnel are properly equipped and trained to do so.

2.Personnel shall contain larger leaks and releases or those involving unidentified substances from a safe distance, keeping it from spreading and damaging exposures.

3.When necessary, personnel shall evacuate civilians from the identified hazard area.

C.Upon arriving at a hazardous materials incident, personnel shall:

1.Approach the scene with caution in such a manner that responders do not become part of the problem.

  • Uphill/ upwind, based on nature and location of incident.

2.Establish Incident Command as per Incident Management policy.

3.Request and stage other responding units in a safe location.

4.Recognize the presence of hazardous materials and attempt to identify or classify the substance(s) involved using the following indicators:

  • Occupancy and location
  • Container shapes
  • Markings and colors
  • Placards and labels
  • Shipping papers
  • Facility documents
  • Other senses

5.Identify, establish, and isolate Hazard-Control Zones.

  • Hot Zone (restricted, high hazard area) - Immediate hazard area surrounding the problem or release site that extends far enough to prevent adverse effects to personnel outside the zone.
  • Warm Zone (limited access area, decontamination zone)- Area surrounding the hot zone and bounded by the cold zone where entry support and decontamination operations take place, including access control points to the hot zone.
  • Cold Zone (support area)- Area surrounding the warm zone that presents no hazard to emergency response personnel and equipment; reserved for emergency services support functions and the Command Post.

6.Evaluate the hazards and risks, with the primary objective of determining whether or not responders should intervene and what strategic/ tactical objectives should be pursued to control the problem. Sources available to assist in risk assessment include:

  • DOT Emergency Response Guide Books
  • Material Safety Data Sheets
  • CHEMTREC (1-800-424-9300)

7.Develop an Incident Action Plan identifying the strategic goals (rescue, spill control, spill containment, fire control, public protective actions, etc.) of the incident, the tactical objectives that will need to be accomplished, and the mode in which to operate (offensive, defensive, non-intervention).

8.Select the proper personnel protective clothing and equipment required based on the hazards encountered and the tactical objectives of the Incident Action Plan.

  • Structural firefighting clothing worn with SCBA may be used when there is not likely to be any contact with splashes of extremely hazardous substances, or when total atmospheric conditions do not contain high levels of chemicals toxic to the skin. Such clothing is not designed to offer personnel protection in a chemical environment, however, may provide limited protection in certain response scenarios.
  • Level B chemical protective clothing worn with SCBA shall be worn when vapors or gases are not suspected of containing high concentrations of chemicals that are harmful to, or can be absorbed by the skin; and when it is highly unlikely that the user will be exposed to high concentrations of vapors, gases, particulates, or splashes that will affect any exposed skin.
  • Level A chemical protective clothing worn with SCBA (used only by an HMRT) shall be worn when extremely hazardous substances are known or suspected to be present and skin contact is possible.

9.Implement the response objectives identified in the Incident Action Plan.

  • When necessary, savable victims shall be rescued providing it can be accomplished safely with available equipment.
  • Endangered civilians shall be evacuated from endangered areas.
  • Leaks may be stopped by plugging closing or up righting containers when it is deemed safe to do so with available equipment.
  • Sand or speedy dry may be used to absorb small chemical spills (gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, etc) or to create dykes to prevent such substances from spreading or reaching storm drains.
  • Absorbent booms may be used to prevent chemical spills floating atop water from spreading or flowing downstream.
  • Chemical spills may be diluted with water from hose and master streams when it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so.
  • Vapor clouds may be dispersed with fog streams when it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so.
  • Chemical fires may be extinguished using water, foam, or other agents when it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so.
  • Non-intervention may be deemed the safest and most appropriate course of action for some incidents.

10.Emergency decontamination shall be performed on anyone who was contaminated while not wearing PPE or whose PPE was breached.

  • Victims shall be rinsed thoroughly with water, preferably a fog stream from a hose.
  • Efforts shall be made to contain water run-off.

11.Mass decontamination will be provided when large numbers of potential victims have been exposed to hazardous chemicals.

  • A corridor shall be created between an engine and truck.
  • The aerial ladder shall be raised so that the tip is between the two apparatus and the nozzle is pointing down and opened to a fog stream, creating a shower effect.
  • Fog nozzles shall be placed on pump discharges facing the corridor and opened, creating a spray effect from both sides.
  • Potential victims shall disrobe and walk through the water streams and proceed into a secured, private area.
  • When possible, plastic bags should be provided for victims to place their clothing and personal items into and should be marked and secured.
  • When possible, at least two such decon corridors shall be created and males and females should be kept separate during this process.
  • Victims shall be provided clean clothing as soon as practical.
  • Efforts should be made to contain or control water run-off during this process.

12.Technical decontamination shall be performed under the direction of the HMRT during advanced hazmat operations.

13.All tools and equipment used during the operation shall be cleaned in a manner and using appropriate cleaning agents given the hazardous materials involved.

14.When necessary, equipment will be discarded via a licensed hazardous materials clean up company or professionally cleaned.

15.Responders who have entered the hot zone shall be medically evaluated immediately upon exit from the hot zone and being decontaminated and again 10-15 minutes later.

16.After all strategic and tactical objectives have been accomplished, the incident may be terminated.

  • Command of the incident shall be transferred to the agency responsible for any continuing clean-up efforts, if needed.
  • An incident debriefing should take place informing responders of the possible hazmat exposures as well as signs and symptoms; identifying equipment damage or unsafe conditions requiring immediate attention or isolation; and summarizing the activities preformed by each section or sector.
  • A post-incident analysis shall be conducted and should include command and control, tactical operations, resources, support services, and plans and planning.
  • For any hazardous material transportation incidents which cause death, serious injury, property damage in excess of $50,000, or a continuing threat to life or property, notification must be made to the NationalResponseCenter (1-800-424-8802).
  • All hazardous materials spills shall be reported to the Parsippany-Troy Hills Hazmat Coordinator and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via Fire Dispatch.

D.For hazardous materials incidents that require training or equipment beyond that provided by this Department, a Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) shall be requested to respond.

1.Fire District 5 shall be requested to respond with their HMRT first.

2.The Parsippany-Troy Hills HAZMAT Coordinator shall be advised of any such incident via Fire Dispatch.

3.Other area HMRTs may be requested as needed:

  • MorrisCounty Hazmat Team
  • Picatinny Arsenal Hazmat Team
  • Whippany Fire Department Hazmat Team
  • Decon trailers shall be requested through the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, when needed.

E.At such operations where a HMRT is requested, a Hazmat Group shall be established within the Incident Management System.

1.The Hazmat Group shall be operate under the direction of the Hazmat Group Supervisor, who will report to the Operations Section Chief or Incident Commander.

2.The Hazmat Group shall be responsible for:

  • Hazmat Group safety
  • Entry and Back-Up Teams to operate in the Hot Zone
  • Decontamination of personnel, victims, and equipment
  • Site access control
  • Information gathering and research
  • Needed secondary support functions
  • Medical monitoring of Hazmat Group personnel
  • Resource tracking

2:18-3CONFINED SPACE OPERATIONS

A.A confined space shall be defined as a space that is not designed for continuous human occupancy, but is large enough for a person to enter and has limited or restricted means of entry and egress.

1.Until proven otherwise, all confined space environments shall be considered IDLH environments.

B.The Lake Hiawatha Fire Department shall respond to confined space rescue situations as first responders and take action consistent with their level of training and equipment.

1.For all confined space rescues within District 4 (other than those involving a working fire), Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, Car 69, shall be requested to respond, and shall assume Incident Command upon their arrival.

C.The first arriving company or officer at a confined space incident shall:

1.Conduct a size-up of the situation, obtaining the following information:

  • Potential number of victims
  • Probability of survival
  • Potential hazards to rescuers
  • Available points of entry/ egress

2.Identify the hazard area and control access to it.

3.Consider potential rescue plans which may be initiated by on scene personnel that would not involve entry into the confined space.

  • Ropes and/or harnesses may be lowered to victims for victim assisted rescue.
  • SCBA may be lowered to conscious victims to provide respiratory protection.
  • The confined space may be ventilated with fresh air from fans outside the IDLH.

D.Lake Hiawatha Fire Department personnel may make a limited confined space entry and rescue under certain conditions.

1.All of the following conditions must be present for a limited confined space entry and rescue.

  • The victim(s) are visible from a safe area and appears to still be alive.
  • It is believed the victim will suffer permanent damage or death if they remain in the confined space for the amount of time it will take for better trained and equipped personnel to arrive.
  • When there is a portal large enough for firefighters equipped with full PPE and SCBA to make entry and egress through.

2.A limited confined space entry shall require a minimum of three rescuers:

  • A company officer to supervise the operation
  • One primary rescuer to make entry
  • One backup rescuer to stand by in case the primary rescuer needs assistance

3.When making entry into the confined space, personnel shall wear a complete set of turn out gear and SCBA (which shall be used during the entire time in the confined space).

4.The rescuer making entry must be attached to a safety rope or harness that can be used to remove him in case of an emergency.

5.The rescuer making entry must remain visible to the officer and backup rescuer at all times.

2:18-4STRUCTRUAL COLLAPSE OPERATIONS

A.When responding to all structure fires and gas leaks, command and operating personnel shall consider the possibility of structural collapse when formulating the Incident Action Plan and when operating within and around a structure; and should periodically assess the structure for collapse indicators, such as:

1.Occupancies with unusually heavy floor loads

2.Structures with truss or lightweight construction

3.Heavy fire in a building for more than twenty (20) minutes

4.No significant water runoff from heavy streams operating on the building

5.Cracks or bulges in walls

6.Water or smoke seeping through solid walls

7.The roof pulling away from the wall(s)

8.Sagging or spongy roof

9.Any obvious movement of the floor, walls, or roof

10.Cracking sounds from the building

B.Whenever the possibility of a structural collapse has been recognized, collapse zones shall be established.

1.All personnel shall be evacuated from within the building immediately.

  • The order to evacuate shall be delivered over the fireground radio frequency.
  • Apparatus air horns will sound three long blasts, wait approximately ten (10) seconds, and repeat three long air horn blasts.

2.All personnel and equipment outside the structure shall be withdrawn a distance from the building at least equal to the height of the building.

  • When possible, the distance should be 1 ½ times the height of the building.
  • For buildings with bowstring truss construction, the designated collapse zone shall be at least 2 ½ times the height of the building.
  • Aerial master stream devices must be kept out of the arc of the collapse zone.
  • When necessary, personnel and equipment may work from the corners of the involved building.
  • Attention shall also be given to trees, utility poles, overhead wires, chimneys, and other structures within the collapse zone.

C.When dispatched to the scene of a structural collapse, apparatus should respond as they would for a structure fire.

1.The first arriving officer or company shall establish Incident Command.

  • A command post must be established
  • A size-up of the situation shall be made
  • A staging area must be designated
  • A preliminary report must be given to dispatch and other responding units.

2.Upon confirmation of a structural collapse, the following additional resources shall be requested, if not already responding:

  • Sufficient EMS for the expected number of victims and for emergency workers operating at the scene (establish an EMS Branch)
  • All involved utilities (gas, electric, water)
  • Parsippany Rescue and Recovery
  • Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, requested via Morris County Office of Emergency Management
  • Township Engineering Department (evaluate for further collapse danger)
  • Sufficient police personnel for crowd and traffic control
  • Mutual aid fire departments, as needed

3.The first and second arriving engine companies should establish water supplies from a hydrant and position themselves on opposite ends of the block (off the actual block of the collapse).

  • The apartment line from each engine should be stretched to the collapse building with the accompanying hose packs.
  • Any fire actively burning in the rubble should be extinguished.
  • Exposed buildings should be protected and any burning vehicles in the vicinity should be extinguished.

4.The first and second arriving truck companies should respond into the block of the collapsed building and position at the corners of the building.

  • Any victims on the surface of the debris pile shall be removed and turned over to EMS for treatment.
  • Crews shall be assigned to turn off all utilities to the building, if possible.
  • The atmosphere shall be monitored for the presence of natural or propane gas.

5.After utilities have been secured and all surface victims have been removed, void spaces at the top of the rubble are to be searched.

  • Personnel shall not tunnel into the void spaces or cut any structural elements when checking these voids.

6.Any additional search and rescue operations may only be performed by personnel who are properly trained and equipped to do so (debris removal and tunneling).

7.An officer and sufficient personnel shall be assigned to victim tracking and shall be responsible for:

  • Attempting to identify victims who are removed from the collapse and track which hospital they were transported to, and by which ambulance.
  • Confirming that persons reported missing were, in fact, in the building at the time of the collapse.
  • Determining where in the building individual victims most likely would have been.
  • Checking with nearby hospitals and first aid providers to assure that missing victims weren’t transported there by means other than ambulance.

8.Upon the arrival of the USAR team, a Rescue Branch shall be established within the Incident Management System with the ranking member of the USAR team being designated Rescue Group Supervisor.

  • USAR personnel shall be responsible for selected debris removal and tunneling/ trenching for living victims.
  • Once it is certain that there are no further survivors in the debris, general debris removal will be conducted under the direction of the Rescue Group.
  • All debris removed during this stage must be searched for victims.

9.Once it is determined that no survivors or victims remain in the debris, the operation may be turned over to the appropriate contractor for clean up.

2:18-5ELEVATOR EMERGENCIES

A.Upon being dispatched to any elevator entrapment within District Four, Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, Car 69, shall be requested to respond, if not already done so, and shall assume Incident Command upon their arrival.