REVISIONS TO MCFRS 24-07 Standard Operating Procedure For Safe Structural Firefighting Operations

REVISIONS TO REVISIONS TO MCFRS 24-07 MCFRS 24-07

Standard Operating Standard Operating Procedure For Safe Procedure For Safe

Structural Structural Firefighting Firefighting OperationsOperations

REVISIONS TO REVISIONS TO MCFRS 24-07 MCFRS 24-07

Standard Operating Standard Operating Procedure For Safe Procedure For Safe

Structural Structural Firefighting Firefighting OperationsOperations

CONTENTCONTENT2 in/ 2 out Rapid Intervention DispatchAreas without Municipal Water SupplyHigh Rise Structure Fires Size Up & Communications

Structure Fire Assignments

Criteria for Declaring a Mayday

Initial CommandBasement FiresCommunications for

Greater Alarms

STRUCTURE FIRE STRUCTURE FIRE ASSIGNMENTSASSIGNMENTS

5th Engine Added to All Box Alarms(already in place for high rise and rural assignments)

1st Engine – Fire Attack

2nd Engine – Back-Up Line

3rd Engine – Line Above or Horizontal Extension

STRUCTURE FIRE STRUCTURE FIRE ASSIGNMENTSASSIGNMENTS

4th Engine – Automatic RIC Upon Arrival

5th Engine – Unassigned; Report to Incident Commander

At least two Command Officers must respond

No Change in Truck or Rescue Squad Assignments (refer to the SOP for additional responsibilities)

Companies responding on a reduced assignment of

two engines and a special service will follow the SOP

for the first two engines and the first special

service as indicated by the SOP

This new provision allows the initial arriving unit greater flexibility in establishing the Standby Team.

The Standby Team may be comprised of:• any two personnel who are certified as minimum

staffing on an engine, truck, or rescue squad • a certified EMS crew that meet the above

requirements.

The responsibility is no longer specific to just the 2nd engine.

2 IN/ 2 OUT2 IN/ 2 OUT

2 IN/ 2 OUT2 IN/ 2 OUT• The 4th due engine will announce their arrival

on the scene and relieve the Standby Team of its 2 out responsibilities (preferred relief is face to face but can take place by radio).

• The 4th engine then becomes the RIC.

• The relieved Standby Team fulfills original operational responsibilities as mandated by the SOP or as directed by the IC; ex: 2nd engine becomes back-up company, ambulance crew establishes aid station.

The 4th due engine will always assume the role of the RIC Company unless reassigned by the IC. Upon arrival will:

1. Determine occupancy type and construction

2. Determine location of fire3. Monitor all tactical talk groups including

FDTA4. Know location of all companies operating

within the IDLH and monitor conditions5. Secure additional hose line

RAPID INTERVENTION RAPID INTERVENTION DISPATCHDISPATCH


• The term “Safety Dispatch” will be replaced with the term “Rapid Intervention Dispatch”

A Rapid Intervention Dispatch (RID) will consist of:One truckOne rescue squad (not more than two

rescue squads should be dispatched to the same incident unless requested by the IC)

One EMS unit (ALS if one is not already on the incident)

One command officer


• Units from the RID will combine with the 4th due engine company to form the Rapid Intervention Group or “RIG”

• PSCC or a unit on the scene will have the ability to request a RID upon confirming a working incident

AREAS WITHOUT MUNICIPAL AREAS WITHOUT MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLYWATER SUPPLY

• 1st Engine – lay initial supply line connected to clappered Siamese, determine and advise whether a tanker shuttle or relay operation will be implemented, then initiate fire attack

• 2nd Engine – position close to the attack engine and supply with tank water, then advance an attack line and back up the first due engine


• 3rd Engine Driver responsibilities for dump site

operations: Position the unit to draft from folding tanks while enabling tankers access to

fill from side dumps. Connect to the clappered siamese and

leave the supply line uncharged until ordered to do so.


• 3rd Engine cont.

Crew Responsibilities:

Support Dump Site Operations!

Driver responsibilities for Relay Operations:

Position as necessary to initiate relay.

(if the water source is within 3000 feet of the 1st engine’s clappered Siamese, a relay

operation is preferred)


4th Engine – Position uncommitted. The unit may be directed to: operate as a draft engine to support initial

attack from a static water source or begin laying supply lines for a water relay

as directed


• 4th Engine cont.

Driver Responsibilities:

Prepare to pump water to the clappered Siamese to support the attack engine and stand by for instructions from the

Water Supply Group Officer. Be prepared to assist the 3rd engine driver

with dump site operations


• 4th Engine cont.

Crew Responsibilities:

Report to the IC and advise that you are the RIC


• 5th Engine – establish the fill site; do not respond directly to the scene (refer to the SOP for additional responsibilities)

• Special Services – no change in assignments (refer to the SOP for additional responsibilities)


• 1st Due Tanker – if staffing permits, drop off portable tank at the end of the driveway or near the clappered Siamese. Position close to the first engine and supply with tank water initially until supply from dump or relay operations have been established


• 2nd Due Tanker – The primary responsibility for this unit is to support the fire attack by immediately pumping the Siamese, and continuing to pump the Siamese until it runs out of water.

• (refer to the SOP for additional responsibilities)


• 3rd Due Tanker – Support the fire attack by pumping the Siamese until the dump site is operating. If the third due engine is in position to begin development of the dump site, the third due tanker should position to set up the folding tank and dump enough water for the third due engine to achieve a draft. When the third due engine is successfully drafting, dump remaining water into the folding tank and move to the fill site.


Four Command Officers will be dispatched with a minimum response of three

• Water Supply Group Officer (WSGO) – locate available water sources and position to coordinate water supply operations. The Water Supply Group should operate on a separate talk group


• Water Supply Task Force – upon receiving confirmation of a working structure fire, ECC will dispatch a Water Supply Task Force consisting of one additional engine and three tankers:

Engine – report to and develop a second fill site as directed by the WSGO

Tankers – support the fire attack by supplying the clappered Siamese or by dumping into portable tanks at the direction of the WSGO

HIGH RISE STRUCTURE HIGH RISE STRUCTURE FIRESFIRES

Operations at High Rise fires generally follow the same SOP’s in Structure Fire Assignments

1st Engine – Fire Attack

2nd Engine – Back-Up Line

3rd Engine – Line Above or Horizontal Extension


4th Engine – Automatic RIC Upon Arrival

5th Engine – Lobby Control Group

Four Command Officers will be dispatched with a minimum response of three

No Change in Truck or Rescue Squad Assignments

(refer to the SOP for additional responsibilities)


Divisions and GroupsThe IC should request additional units to

adequately support the suppression/emergency operation, and to

cover the required division/groups and support functions such as:

• Lobby Control Group• Interior Staging Group• Fire Control Room(refer to the SOP for specific responsibilities)

CRITERIA FOR DECLARING A CRITERIA FOR DECLARING A MAYDAYMAYDAY

All personnel must be able to recognize dangerous situations where they or their crew may be in trouble

Personnel should declare a MAYDAY if:

1. Personnel have fallen through a roof or floor and cannot be accounted for

2. Personnel are caught in a flashover3. Personnel are off a hose line or tag line

in a large open area with zero visibility4. A firefighter has become entangled,

trapped or pinned5. A low air alert activates and personnel

cannot find an immediate exit6. At any other time that a firefighter

believes the safety of a crew or a crew member may be at risk

CRITERIA FOR DECLARING A CRITERIA FOR DECLARING A MAYDAYMAYDAY

WHEN DECLARING A MAYDAY, USE THE ACRONYM LUNAR:

L = LOCATION OF MAYDAY PERSONNEL

U = UNIT NUMBER AND POSITION (E191-B)

N = NAME OF FIREFIGHTER

A = AIR SUPPLY

R = RESOURCES NEEDED

REFER TO THE SOP FOR COMPREHENSIVE MAYDAY PROCEDURES

Initial Communications

Will be made up of

Three reports:1. Water Supply Instructions

2. Initial On-Scene Report (IOSR)

3. A Situation Report

SIZE UP/ INITIAL SIZE UP/ INITIAL COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

SIZE UP AND INITIAL SIZE UP AND INITIAL COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

WATER SUPPLY INSTRUCTIONS

Given by the first and third arriving engine companies and other appropriate units via radio while en route


INITIAL ON-SCENE REPORTThe first arriving unit will give the IOSR including:

The arrival side of the building The number of stories Type of occupancy Conditions evident upon arrival with associated

geographic location using ICS terminology A request for additional resources (ex: the RID) Designate other unit assignments if deviating from

the SOP


INITIAL ON-SCENE REPORT CONT.

The first arriving unit to the side of the building opposite the first unit will give an IOSR including:The number of stories from that side of the

structureConditions evident with associated

geographic location using ICS terminology

SITUATION REPORTAfter the initial size-up, the first arriving unit will give a situation report

Advise other companies what the initial actions will be

Designate the Stand-by Team Designate the point of entry Designate the Command Mode


INITIAL COMMANDINITIAL COMMAND

This new provision provides the Initial Arriving Unit Officer

with a wider range of options in dealing with command and

control of tactical operations before the arrival of a

Command Officer

INITIAL COMMANDINITIAL COMMANDThe first dispatched Unit Officer will

operate in one of three command modes:

1. Investigative Mode: the first arriving officer maintains command by radio while investigating

2. Attack Mode: in this mode, when a situation requires immediate action, the company officer may engage to stabilize the incident

INITIAL COMMANDINITIAL COMMANDAttack Mode Cont.

The company officer will supervise the crew, and have command responsibilities by radio. This mode of command is limited to a few minutes and will end when:– The situation is stabilized– The situation has not been stabilized and

the company officer withdraws to establish a Stationary Command Post

– Command is transferred to another company officer or to a Command Officer

INITIAL COMMANDINITIAL COMMAND33. Stationary Command Post: : this is a

formal command post with a geographic name


TRANSFER OF COMMANDA command officer will establish a

formal command post on all structure fire assignments where

five or more units are operating on the fire ground. The transfer to a formal command post is made in

one of the ways indicated.

INITIAL COMMANDINITIAL COMMANDTRANSFER OF COMMAND Cont.

The first arriving Command Officer will assume Command by radio when units are operating in the Investigative or Attack Mode.

The first arriving Command Officer will communicate by radio to the Unit Officer with Command obtaining a situation report then establish a stationary Command Post.


TRANSFER OF COMMAND Cont.• Assumption of Command by the

first arriving Command Officer will take place if the unit officer with Command cannot be contacted face to face or by radio.


TRANSFER OF COMMAND Cont.

Command may be passed only once from Unit Officer to Unit Officer.

On the arrival of the first arriving command officer, that officer will assume Command, either via radio, or face-to-face. All other transfers of Command will be made face-to-face at the Command Post.


TRANSFER OF COMMAND Cont.

A Company Officer in charge of a Stand-by Team can provide the Command function until the arrival of a Command officer

BASEMENT FIRESBASEMENT FIRESThis SOP applies to fires in the basements of

single family, duplex, and townhouse structures.

If the fire is known to be in the basement, the first arriving engine officer must quickly determine if there is exterior access to the basement by visually checking, or through confirmed reports from other units.

BASEMENT FIRESBASEMENT FIRESPrimary objectives when attacking the

basement fire are to protect the primary search and protect against vertical extension.

Normally, the first due engine will stretch the first line to the first floor, close the door to the interior stairs or in its absence use a fog stream directed at the top of the interior stairs for protection, then notify the IC that the line is in place and that they are maintaining their position.

BASEMENT FIRESBASEMENT FIRES• No Hose Stream Will Be Directed

Downward Into The Stairwell

• The IC will direct the second or third due engine company to advance a hose line to the exterior basement entrance for attack.

(it must be emphasized that the attack does not begin until it is confirmed that the first due engine is in place and not advancing down

the interior stairs)

BASEMENT FIRESBASEMENT FIRESIf the first due engine company’s position

becomes untenable, it must notify Command so that any companies operating above it can be evacuated before the engine’s withdrawal.

If, upon arrival, the first due engine company determines that there is no exterior entrance, they may descend the interior basement stairs for fire attack but only after determining:

BASEMENT FIRESBASEMENT FIRES

1. Whether it is safe to descend the interior stairs

2. Whether the structure is stable (lightweight construction)

3. The current life hazard

4. The current fire and heat conditions at the top of the stairs

BASEMENT FIRESBASEMENT FIRES

If the fire attack is initiated via the interior stairs, the officer will

transmit this information to the IC who will ensure that no other hose

lines are advanced through, or operated into any exterior

basement openings from opposing positions.

COMMUNICATIONS FOR GREATER ALARMS

ECC will assign units dispatched on task force or greater alarms to a separate talk group from the incidents operations talk group

Units responding on greater alarms must monitor this talk group and not transmit on the tactical talk group until assigned to the incident

Units on greater alarms will stage at a designated staging area; the first arriving engine company to the staging area will assume the role of the Staging Manager in the absence of a command officer

The Staging Manager will be the only person in communication with Command from the staging area

REVIEWREVIEWStructure Fire Assignments2 in/ 2 out Rapid Intervention DispatchAreas without Municipal Water SupplyHigh Rise Structure FiresCriteria for Declaring a MaydaySize Up & CommunicationsInitial CommandBasement FiresCommunications for Greater Alarms

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Division Chief Philip Guercio; MCFRS Division of Operations

• Assistant Chief Michael Clemens; MCFRS Public Safety Training Academy; Training Officer

• Captain Derrick Anthony; MCFRS Public Safety Training Academy; MCFRS In-Service Training Coordinator

• Captain Lee Silverman; MCFRS Public Safety Training Academy; MCFRS EMS Training Coordinator

END

REVISIONS TO MCFRS 24-07 Standard Operating Procedure For Safe Structural Firefighting Operations

Documents

engine company

attack engine

assignments5th engine

rapid intervention group

ric company

relieved standby team

initial supply line

rescue squad assignments