Suppression Emergency (Notes)

BOOK: Operations I SECTION: Suppression Emergency (SERGEANT NOTES) Page 1 of 15

Suppression Emergency Operations
(Updated through 8/7/04)

ADN/001 STOPPING AT RED LIGHTS

• All emergency fire equipment responding Code 3, will make a complete stop at all RED signal lights and stop signs.
• Disciplinary action will be taken against any driver and/or officer who has an accident caused by running a RED light Code 3 without stopping.

ADN/002 Fire Department Functions where Fatalities are Involved (Updated 10/30/00)

• Give immediate first aid to all living victims and request ambulances for transport.
• Notify Dispatch of fatality, who will in turn notify PD, who will in turn notify the Medical Examiner.
• Notify PD on scene of fatality.
• FD should not search victim for identification. PD will do that.
• The IC, Public Information Sector Officer, or PIO are the only personnel allowed to release victim(s) names (next of kin notified first).
• Moving of body is PD or Medical Examiners responsibility, unless to preserve the body, then FD can assist.
• Use extreme caution in salvage/overhaul to preserve the scene.
• Do not start salvage operations until area has been released by proper authority (investigator/PD).
• When FD has completed immediate functions, they should assemble outside the secured area.
• IC should leave only required personnel needed to complete the operations.

ADN/003 Emergency Lock-Out Procedure (UPDATED 10/30/00)

• OCFD responds as a service to citizens of OKC to gain entry to autos or structures in "emergency situations".
• Dispatch will determine if a lock-out is an emergency, caller has other keys available, locksmith notified by caller?, exact location, make, model, and color of vehicle, get callback number, inform caller to stay at scene, and to inform caller they will be required to sign a release form.
• Car clubs that provide lock-out assistance at no charge are AAA, Allstate, Amoco, & Montgomery Wards.
• Only ONE fire company will be dispatched on all lock-outs.
• Dispatcher should never leave a lock-out calling party without assistance.
• Company responding to lock-outs will go Code 3 unless notified otherwise.
• Company officer will assess the least damaging way to enter.
• Prior to entry, owner should read, understand, and sign Permission to Enter Vehicle or Structure form.
• Officer will verify vehicle info (insurance verification, name, address, insurance company, etc.) or structure info (driver's license, address, neighbors, etc.) with citizen to verify validity of property.
• Questions on lock-out procedures should be directed to the District Officer.

ADN/004 DUE TO DELETION - THIS SECTION IS BLANK (UPDATED 10/30/00)

ADN/005 Damage to Private Property

• Examples of damage include: cutting fence, chains on fences, lock/window damage.
• Company Officer will notify District Officer and homeowner.
• Minor damage should be repaired if possible before leaving the scene.

ADN/006 Requesting Additional Equipment from the City

• District Officer will be dispatched to scene if heavy equipment is requested from another City department.
• District Officer will notify the Deputy, who will notify Dispatch who will make the appropriate arrangements.

ADN/007 Civil Unrest

• Purpose of policy is to provide procedures for safety during incidents involving violence, unrest, or civil disturbances such as fights, riots, violent crimes, drug-related situations, family disturbances, deranged individuals, and people interfering with FD operations.
• Violence: Any aggressive act by civilians toward a FD member or another City official while in performance of their respective duty.
• Civil Disturbance: Any domestic emergency such as a riot, and/or public panic, that has the potential of causing casualties or major damage to property.

Civil Disturbances

• FD roles at a civil disturbance are the same as responding to violent incidents, however, tactical issues may change.
• FD responsibilities include fire protection, rescue, and EMS.
• The FD is not responsible for maintaining or attempting to maintain order of citizens at a civil disturbance.
• Response levels will be determined by the Fire Chief or his designee and will be based on info obtained from the OCPD Incident Commander.
• Fire dispatch will notify all FD facilities of the response level and area involved by circuit, telephone, or MDT.

Response Levels

• Level 1 (Threat): Increased state of readiness for specific facilities, stations, or districts where conditions of disturbance exist.
• Level 2 (Actual Disturbance): Actual physical violence against property or human life on a large scale.

1. Reserve apparatus will be taken with regular apparatus.
2. Microphones, radios, chargers, and PPE will be removed from building.
3. Medical supply locker contents taken.
4. Main electrical switch to building turned off and backup generator disabled.

Setting Incident Response Priorities (guidelines)

• Reports of life in danger in occupied exposures.
• Occupied structures.
• Vacant structures with occupied exposures.
• Vital public utility structures.
• Other incidents as resources permit.

Companies within Perimeter:

• Company integrity and accountability maintained (radio contact at all times).
• When riding in apparatus, full PPE including helmet must be worn and windows must remained closed.
• Company officers and drivers must prevent apparatus from becoming entrapped.
• Do not engage in PD actions (no hose streams to disperse or control crowds).
• Personnel should avoid confrontation and are not permitted to carry weapons other than the one's commissioned by the FD, because of normal job duties.
• Be alert for traps and ambushes.
• Keep time inside perimeter to a minimum.

Abandoning Violent Areas:

IC will determine abandonment based on the following:

• Safety of personnel beyond acceptable risk?
• Is PD abandoning position?
• Is violence directed toward FD?
• PD not in control of situation?

If abandonment is to take place:

1. IC will make announcement over radio.
2. Drivers will sound air horn: 3 short blasts, a 2-second pause, 3 short blasts, a 2-second pause, and 3 short blasts.
3. Personnel will pick up equipment and leave area ASAP.
4. Personnel will report to IC when companies are clear of area.

General Information:

• Use unified command system between Fire, PD, EMS when possible.
• Normal strategies may be altered to provide for additional safety of personnel.
• Companies should work for a quick fire knockdown using deck guns and ladder pipes.
• No personnel should be positioned on a aerial ladder's tip.
• Incident may be a diversionary tactic for another, larger, incident.
• Secure PD protection before entering.
• Ensure PD protection for staging area.
• For long duration incident, consider housing, feeding, and rehab.
• Be alert for suspicious people and/or packages.

ADN/008 Ambulance Calls Procedures (UPDATED 7/04)

• Fire or PD who have been resuscitating a patient may continue upon arrival of EMSA if the EMSA attendant judges the personnel to be providing correct and adequate care.
• EMSA personnel have the primary responsibility of care of the patient.
• If EMSA is on scene, prior to FD's arrival, inquire if additional help is needed. If not, return to service immediately.
• A decision to transport a patient will be made by the patient or family, not by Fire Department.
• Complaint's regarding EMSA personnel are to be forwarded to the Chief's office in writing.

OPS/001 DUE TO DELETION - THIS SECTION IS BLANK (UPDATED 10/30/00)

OPS/002 RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPANY AND OFFICER

• Responsibilities of company and officer includes High Rise operations, Commercial Response operations, Residential Fire Alarms, Medical Calls, Water Rescue operations, and Single Company operations.
• The company officer is responsible for size-up on every incident.

OPS/002.1 RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPANY OFFICER

• The Company Officer is responsible for preventing damage to all OCFD property during emergency responses.

OPS/002.2 RESPONSIBILITIES OF APPARATUS OPERATOR

• The Apparatus Operator will advise the Company Officer of any unsafe condition or failure of equipment that develops during emergency operations.

OPS/002.3 RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIREFIGHTER

• Firefighters should ensure efficient team operations by performing all emergency operations safely and professionally.

OPS/002.4 RESPONSIBILITIES OF INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER (UPDATED 9/1/00)

• The ISO has the authority to suspend any activities that are unsafe or involve an imminent hazard.
• The ISO should notify the IC of actions taken to correct imminent hazards.
• The ISO should report conditions, operations, and hazards that do not present an imminent danger to the IC for mitigation of the hazard.
• The Assistant ISO has the same authority as the ISO.
• An ISO can be the IC, individual appointed by the IC, or OCFD Fire Safety Officer.
• ISO's must wear "lime-green" vests containing the words "SAFETY OFFICER".
• Safety officer vests and Incident Safety Field Operations Guides can be found on all Suppression Battalion Chief's vehicles.
• ISO monitors conditions so that they meet the OCFD Emergency Scene Site Safety Plan and Field Operations Guide.
• The ISO will ensure that the IC establishes a rehab area.
• The ISO ensures established safety zones, collapse zones, hot zones, and hazard areas are communicated to all personnel.
• The ISO "GO BAG" contains tools for identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing control measures.
• An Emergency Response Site Safety Plan must be completed on all incidents with an IC appointed ISO.

OPS/002.4 ISO Field Operations Guide

EVERY EMERGENCY

• The ISO guide consist of WHITE pages (required on all emergencies), YELLOW pages (for structure fires), PINK pages (for HazMat, Water, & Special Ops), and BLUE pages (for ISO equipment use).
• Site Safety Plans include physical hazards, health hazards, risk evaluation, control measures, and diagram of division/crew assignments.

STRUCTURE FIRES

• At structure fires, the ISO will report to IC, be briefed on action plan, and pick up ISO GO bag.
• A 360 degree size-up will be made by the ISO.
• The ISO will check for collapse indicators such as little or no progress on fire after 10-12 minutes, fire under large spans, severe burning of walls, floors, or ceilings, distortion of building members, reinforcement stars, and other indicators.
• The ISO will check exterior operations for holes, trenches, overhangs, and other employee hazards.
• The ISO will check interior operations for full PPE, including SCBA and PASS, 2 routes of egress, utilities secured, crews rotating, and CO readings.
• The ISO will check for backdraft (yellow/gray smoke puffing, tar-like substance running down inside of window) and flashover (significant free burning/heat buildup) indicators.
• The ISO will check roof operations for excessive loads, 2 means of egress, and safe ladder operations.

HAZMAT

• The HazMat Site Safety & Health Plan should include current and forecasted weather conditions.
• The HazMat Commander, Safety Officer, and Intervention Officer may NOT perform more than 1 job function.

• Personnel leaving the exclusion zone must be thoroughly decontaminated.
• The decon area should be 80 feet long by 30 feet wide.
• The ISO must determine the level of protection (A,B,C,or D) of personnel in the exclusion zone, the decon area, evacuation group, and other personnel.
• Environmental monitoring of a HazMat scene may include equipment such as combustible gas indicators, oxygen sensors, colormetric tubes, HNU/OVA, PIDs, FIDs, and pH paper.
• Heat stress monitoring is mandatory above 70oF.
• Personnel in the Exclusion Zone must remain in constant radio contact or within sight of the Intervention Group Leader.
• Failure of communications while in the Exclusion Zone requires evaluation of whether personnel must leave the zone.
• 3 Horn Blasts is the emergency signal for all personnel to leave the Exclusion Zone.
• If an injury occurs in the Exclusion Zone, 3 Horn Blasts shall be sounded (if required by HazMat Safety Officer). No persons will re-enter the Exclusion Zone until injury/symptoms are determined.
• The HazMat Safety Officer will assess any injuries to personnel in the Support Zone.
• If an injury increases the risk to others, 3 Horn Blasts will be sounded to tell personnel to stop activities until risk has been removed/minimized.
• In the event of equipment failure, no persons will re-enter the Exclusion Zone until cause of equipment failure is determined.
• When an on-site emergency results in evacuation, conditions must be corrected, hazards and Site Safety Plan must be reassessed/reviewed, and personnel must be briefed on changes in the Site Safety Plan.
• If there is known or possible asbestos contamination, HazMat 5 will be requested.
• Run-off water at a fire involving asbestos does NOT need to be contained.
• Smoke from fires containing asbestos should be limited with fire streams.
• A lab contractor should be called for sample pick up and analysis of possible asbestos.
• Crews/equipment working at fires involving asbestos must be decontaminated.
• PPE (bunkers) should be bagged after decon (in asbestos fires) for vendor pick-up.
• Upon detecting a possible drug lab site, company should withdraw, noting any containers, chemicals, cylinders, or odors as you leave.
• Dispatch should be contacted via MDT to request OCPD on possible drug labs and pass command to OCPD when they arrive.

• HazMat 5 and District Chief should be requested on all suspected drug labs.
• SPECIAL OPERATIONS
• Readings should be obtained on confined spaces from air surveillance equipment every 5 minutes.
• If the C.A.R.T. air supply is used, call AIR 1 to the scene.
• Slip, fall, mechanical, and engulfment hazards should be noted on High/Low angle rescues.
• High-rise structure fire groups may include Attack, Back-up, Base, Exposure, Lobby Control, Rehab., Rescue, Evacuation, Safety, Salvage, Staging, Stairwell Support, Standpipe/Sprinkler, Ventilation, Maintenance, ONG, OG&E, and Water.
• Hazards assessed in structural collapses should include the presence of flammables, toxic atmospheres, oxygen levels, temperature, electricity, water, slip, fall, mechanical, and engulfment hazards.
• Possibility of secondary collapse should be closely monitored.
• The order of action for structural collapse is 1) survey/reconnaissance of area with trapped victims, 2) immediate rescue of surface victims, 3) removal of victims by exploration of voids, 4) selected debris removal (non-structural debris), 5) general debris removal, 6) structural debris removal.

• Park apparatus a minimum of 100 feet from trench or excavations.
• Sources of vibration should be shut down within 300 feet of trench.
• Spoil piles for trenches should be at least 2 to 4 feet back from lip.
• Tunnel rescues should employ the same precautions as a confined space rescue.
• Site information gathered at Dive/Water incidents should include: water depth, water temperature, time of incident occurrence, type of bottom, and cause of incident.
• All personnel within 10 feet of water will wear a PFD.
• There should be a minimum of 5 divers on scene at a rescue.

ISO EQUIPMENT USE