R.I.T.

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R.I.T.

• Rapid
• Intervention
• Team

2
Mission Statement

• Greater love hath no man than this, that a man
  lay down his life for his friends(John 1513)

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R.I.T.

• Influence Of Tragedy
• There Is No Greater Influence Of Change In The
  Fire Service Than A Line Of Duty Death Of A
  Firefighter.
• Yet, There Is No Greater Tragedy Than That Of A
  Fallen Firefighter Whose Death Prompted The
  Passage Of A Safety Policy Which May Have
  Prevented His Death..
• Author Unknown

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You have got to be kidding me, RIT!

• 10 Most Common Responses
• 10) You have got to be kidding me, R.I.T.!
• 9) What, you want us to stand here?
• 8) If you let us get out of R.I.T., well put
  this fire out!
• 7) Whos idea was this
• 6) You go,we go (nowhere).

5
You have got to be kidding me, RIT!

• 5) Ya, sure, well stand here and do R.I.T, or
  Rectal Insertion of Thumb.
• 4) We waited all year for a fire, and now we get
  to watch it from the front yard.
• 3) Leave the R.I.T. for the outstanding
  firefighters!
• 2) We can be the R.I.T for rehab!
• 1) Wow, we get to herd sheep in the front lawn
  again!

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Classroom

• Definition, Purpose, Concepts
• Why do we have R.I.T.?
• Case Studies
• Mental conditioning
• Deployment/Equipment for R.I.T. operations
• Preparing for hands on
• Hands on practical evolutions

7
Definition

• Rapid Intervention Teams are crews of at least
  two members who may be called upon to supply
  rescue techniques to other firefighters operating
  a the scene of an emergency. These crews will
  have at least the same level of training and
  protective equipment as those operating at the
  scene.

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Rapid Intervention Teams

• A function of Command
• Assembled in teams of 2 or more
• Bring rescue equipment to Command
• Perform own size-up of scene
• May do other functions as long as available
  immediately
• Most important assignment given to a company
• Protect and rescue firefighters

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Rapid Intervention Teams

• Utilized at any time firefighters are at risk
• structural firefighting
• Is to locate and rescue lost, trapped, and/or
  injured firefighters on the fire ground.
• hazardous materials response
• technical rescue
• water rescue or recovery
• during attack and hazard operations

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Rapid Intervention Teams

• Purpose
• Provide for the establishment of a Rapid
  Intervention Team (RIT) within the Incident
  Management System
• Essential function of COMMAND
• Allows for dedicated company assigned to this
  function
• Meets current federal and local regulatory
  requirements
• One of the last industries to apply rescue of our
  own to work place
• Work Place Emergency Scene

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• Concepts of R.I.T.
• The Concept is one of Attitude

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• Concepts of R.I.T.
• Attitude is everything!!!
• It doesnt take a 500,000 dollar squad to begin
  thinking and ACTING
• Do you come dressed for the party?
• Firefighters are killed surrounded by 1/2
  sheetrock.
• Dont give up! Mentality is essential!
• Who do you want coming to get you?
• Rapid Intervention Crew

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Personal Skills Required for RIT Assignment

• Size-up Skills
• Building Construction
• Fire Spread and Behavior
• Communications
• Aggressive Can-do spirit
• Use of multiple types of tools and equipment
• Ability to act fast under poor conditions

ATTITUDE
ATTITUDE
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Team Skills Required for RIT Assignment

• Must be familiar with all aspects of assignment
• Fireground is not the place to learn
• Preparation in training will begin process
• Ability to function as a team
• Identification of key tasks and positions

15
Why have this school?

• Firefighter Injuries 1995 - 94,500
• 50,640 Injuries on the Fire Ground
• Problems
• Less fires but same number of deaths
• Were described as routine fires
• Several things went wrong.
• Common factors involved.

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Why have this school?
Fatality Statistics 1997NFDC

• 43.6 Fire Ground / 40 of 94
• 13 Heart Attack
• 8 Asphyxiation
• 7 Crushing
• 5 Internal Trauma
• 3 Burns
• 1 Heat Stroke
• 1 Drown
• 1 Asthma Attack
• 1 Shot
• 43.3 caught or trapped

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Why have this school?

• Declining number of structure fires.
• Less fire ground experience.
• PPE too protective?
• Lost or separated from team
• Hotter Fires
• Malfunctioning SCBA
• Inactivated PASS device
• Lack of knowledge of self-rescue techniques

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Common Factors Contributing ToFirefighter Injury
Fatality

• Failure to read the building - 1 overall factor
• Lack of, or incomplete size up
• Lack of knowing building construction and fire
  behavior
• No Pass device
• NFPA reports 1984-94, 173 FF fatalities
• 160 with no pass device
• 6 with pass not turned on
• only 7 with pass device turned on

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Common Factors Contributing ToFirefighter Injury
Fatality (Cont.)

• Heavy Fire on lower levels
• Walk out basements
• Floor weakened or holes burnt through
• Communications - Information between IC
  Companies
• Hackensack, NJ 5 fatalities, called for help
  over 30 minutes, 17 minutes after collapse last
  call for help.
• Indianapolis, called for help 7 times in 5
  minutes.
• WHY DONT WE HEAR?

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Common Factors Contributing ToFirefighter Injury
Fatality (Cont.)

• Accountability
• 1 factor in accountability is the officer
  knowing where his/her people are.
• 25 of all firefighter fatalities are due to a
  lack of accountability

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Common Factors Contributing ToFirefighter Injury
Fatality (Cont.)

• Hotter fires - Since 1970 fires have tripled the
  BTU output.
• Iowa (Royers) L X W X H / 100 GPM
• NFA L X W / 3 GPM
• Energy Efficient Windows
• Average apartment has over 2500 lbs... Of plastic
• Temperature inversion at flashover - 1100 at
  ceiling 1700 at floor.
• Deteriorating buildings
• Light weight and truss construction
• Light weight truss can fail as soon as 4 minutes

22
Common Factors Contributing ToFirefighter Injury
Fatality (Cont.)

• 85 - 90 of Firefighters have
• never practiced
• Firefighter Rescue

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General Information

• On the average 100 firefighters will die in the
  line of duty.
• 27 Trauma related
• 20 from asphyxia and burns
• Firefighters under age 35 are more likely to be
  killed by traumatic injuries than from medical
  cases like heart attacks.

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General Information

• 57 of deaths were members of volunteer or
  combination departments.

25
General Information

• NFPA 1500 and 1561 have established the basic
  terms of what Rapid Intervention involves.
• NFPA 1500 states, that rapid intervention teams
  are essentially risk management tools.

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NFPA Requirements for RIT
27
General Information

• According to Section 6-2.1.1,The concept of risk
  management shall be utilized on the basis of the
  following principles
• (a) Activities that present a significant risk
  to safety of members shall be limited to
  situations where there is the potential to save
  endangered lives.

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General Information

• (b) Activities that are routinely employed to
  protect property shall be recognized as inherent
  risks to the safety of members, and actions shall
  be taken to reduce or avoid these risks.
• (c) No risk to the safety of members shall be
  acceptable when there is no possibility to save
  lives or property.

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OSHA 1910.134 (2 in 2 out rule)

• A Rapid Intervention Team should fulfill the
  requirements as specified in the 29 CFR Part
  1910.134 regulation
• A minimum of four individuals is required before
  entry into the hazard area (interior operations)
  may begin
• Two of the four must be present and ready outside
  the hazard area
• Must be identically equipped
• Crews in hazard area must remain in either voice,
  visual or tethered contact with each other at all
  times
• Radio may not be substituted for direct visual
  contact

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Case Histories

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Denver, Colorado
• Columbus, Ohio
• Burr Ridge, IL
• Other of note not included in this presentation
• Hackensack, NJ
• Seattle, WA
• Philadelphia, PA
• New York, NY

Must Know Info.
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Case Histories Pittsburgh 3 Firefighters Killed
Three Pittsburgh firefighters died on Feb 14,
1995 died at a dwelling fire after they were
unable to escape the interior of a building. All
three firefighters were together in one room and
had exhausted their air supplies. - 3 other
firefighter were rescued from same room,
accountability did not identify all who were
lost. - All 3 had PASS devices that were not
activated - No RIT available to rescue lost and
trapped firefighters
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Case HistoriesMemphis High-Rise Kills 2
Firefighters
2 Memphis Firefighters will killed on April 11,
1994 in a high-rise fire. Both firefighters died
when trapped on the fire floor of this building.
1 firefighter became trapped by cable TV wire
which had fallen from the ceiling area and
wrapped around his SCBA bottle. - Both
firefighters became separated from each other
and ran out of air. PASS devices were worn but
never activated. - Rescue crews lacked
understanding of position of trapped
firefighters and crawled right past one member
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Case HistoriesDenver Office Fire Kills 1
Firefighter
A Denver firefighter was killed on September 28,
1982 when he became trapped inside the structure
by the failure of lightweight construction
members. Numerous attempts at rescue from a
confined space through a window frame were
unsuccessful. - Firefighter was separated from
his crew when collapse occurred. - Rescue
crews were unable to assist firefighter through
window. - Limited visibility and victim position
were factors in the rescue attempt.
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Case HistoriesColumbus Commercial Fire Kills 1
Firefighter
A firefighter was killed when he fell through a
hole in the floor of a mixed commercial occupancy
on July 25, 1987. This firefighter was located
early into his entrapment and despite many heroic
efforts to rescue him, firefighters were unable
to remove him from the hole he had fallen
through. - Numerous attempts to pull and lift
firefighter were unsuccessful -
Self-rescue techniques did not work due to
altered mental status - Crews had to
abandon structure with firefighter
still trapped inside
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Case HistoriesPleasantview Firefighter Killed in
Single Family Dwelling
On December 6, 1989, Lt. Joseph Samec died while
battling a residential house fire in Burr Ridge,
IL. Lt. Samec and his crew tried to rapidly exit
the structure due to heavy involvement of the
basement when the floor collapsed. - Rescue
attempts included face to face and holding of
arms/hands were unsuccessful. - Lt. Samec
breached two walls in his attempt to escape but
failed to make the stairs and was found face
down on the staircase.
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Case Studies - Summary

• May Joe Samec, John Nance, Mark Langvardt, and
  the 100 other firefighters who have make the
  SUPREME SACRAFICE every year rest in peace
  forever.
• Their memory serves as a catalyst for how and why
  we train
• We must learn for these tragedies and every
  near-miss that occurs
• We must revisit these occurrences as often as
  possible

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R.I.T. is not rapid

• Phoenix Fire Department study
• Results
• -rescue crew ready state 2.50 minutes
• -Mayday to R.I.C.entry 3.03 minutes
• -R.I.C. contact with downed firefighter 5.82
  minutes.
• Total time for each crew inside 12.33 minutes.

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Phoenix Fire Department study

• The drills showed that a 3000psi bottle was good
  for 13.09 to 24.31 minutes of air.
• The average time was 18.7 minutes.
• Average time from mayday to removal was 21
  minutes.
• R.I.C. teams were running out of air during the
  removal phase.

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Front of Southwest Supermarket, March 14, 2001.
Photos courtesy of the Phoenix (AZ) Fire
Department.
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FEMA

• States in the special report Rapid Intervention
  Teams And How to Avoid Needing Them.
• Not every firefighter will be assigned to a
  R.I.T., but all members of the fire department
  should be instructed on the purpose, policies,
  and rules governing a R.I.T. and the conditions
  which it would be deployed.

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Review

• Three consistent ratios
• -It takes 12 firefighters to rescue one.
• -One in five R.I.T. members will get into some
  type of trouble themselves.
• - A 3000 p.s.i. SCBA bottle has 18.7 minutes
  of air (plus or minus 30).

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March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church -
Pittsburgh, PA
The fire continues to consume the church roof and
Pittsburgh fire crews attempt to extinguish the
fire.
As fire consumes the church roof, Safety Chief
Charles Brace, (first white helmet from the
left), observes operations trying to keep
Pittsburgh firefighters safe during this
dangerous fire.
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March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church -
Pittsburgh, PA
Heavy fire erupts from the roof of the historic
Ebenezer Baptist church as Incident Commander
Deputy Chief David Manfredo (center white helmet)
directs crews in operations. Manfredo was
seriously injured when the bell tower steeple
collapsed striking him with bricks and debris.
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March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church -
Pittsburgh, PA
Immediately after the steeple collapse,
Pittsburgh firefighters rush to the aid of their
fallen comrades. In the lower left, Deputy Chief
David Manfredo, who was the fireground Incident
Commander, is seen lying unconscious after being
struck by falling bricks and debris. He was one
of the more seriously injured firefighters and
had to undergo facial surgery.
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March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church -
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh firefighters tend to another fallen
comrade that was buried in exterior bricks and
debris.
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March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church -
Pittsburgh, PA
This is the view of the Ebenezer church after the
bell tower had collapsed killing 2 firefighters
and injuring 28.
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March 2004 - Ebenezer Baptist Church -
Pittsburgh, PA

• This cartoon was originally featured in the
  Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
  
• Created by Randy Bish, this cartoon is an
  excellent tribute to the sacrifice that Battalion
  Chief Charles Brace and Master Firefighter
  Richard Stefanakis made fighting the Saturday,
  March 13, 2004 fire at the Ebenezeer Baptist
  Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Both firefighters lost
  their lives when the bell tower completely
  collapsed onto them.
• A special thanks goes to Randy Bish for creating
  this cartoon which honors the lives of Battalion
  Chief Charles Brace and Master Firefighter
  Richard Stefanakis. We appreciate his permission
  to allow us to post it on RapidIntervention.com.
• Cartoon courtesy of Randy Bish, Pittsburgh
  Tribune-Review

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A member of the USAR team called to the scene
salutes as the body of one of the fallen
firefighters is removed from the debris.
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Mental Conditioning

• Firefighter Survival TacticsLearning How to Stay
  Out Of Trouble
• Lets take at look at these five tactics.
• I. Staying Oriented
• II. Staying Low
• III. Monitoring Conditions
• a) Visually keep track of the smoke density
  and fire.
• b) Tactilely monitoring heat conditions
• IV. Monitoring the Radio
• V. Staying Calm

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Self Rescue Concepts

• Before Rapid Intervention even begins,
  firefighters must posses the ability to begin to
  remove themselves from mechanisms that have
  trapped them
• Wires
• Debris
• Occupancy

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Skills Necessary for Self Rescue

• Knowledge of Building Construction
• Fire Spread and Fire Behavior
• How to Call for Help
• Mayday, Emergency Traffic
• Where are you in building
• How to find the FASTEST way out
• Turnout gear protects for only seconds in
  flashover
• Low air means time to get out
• No more primary, secondary or firefighting
  operations

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• Concepts of Firefighter Rescue (Cont.)
• Anticipate problems - Everyone must be looking!!!
• Read the building
• 360 degree survey
• Throw ladders
• Engineers
• Stand by companies
• Clean out windows
• Think Forcible EXIT Tools.

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• Concepts of Firefighter Rescue (Cont.)
• Ensure Operation of PASS when dismounting
  apparatus
• Watch your air
• Point of no return
• SCBA Emergencies
• Consider level of activity
• Listen to the radio. (Lapel Mics)
• Communicate to IC
• Declare MayDay w/ CO. I.D. and best known
  location
• Activate PASS
• Turn on Flash Lights
• Inform IC of noises heard, ie. Saws, Fans, Crews,
  etc.
• Tap or Beat on Surroundings

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• Concepts of Firefighter Rescue (Cont.)
• Ensure Operation of PASS when dismounting
  apparatus
• Watch your air
• Point of no return
• SCBA Emergencies
• Consider level of activity
• Listen to the radio. (Lapel Mics)
• Communicate to IC
• Declare MayDay w/ CO. I.D. and best known
  location
• Activate PASS
• Turn on Flash Lights
• Inform IC of noises heard, ie. Saws, Fans, Crews,
  etc.
• Tap or Beat on Surroundings

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Mental Conditioning

• MAY DAY
• The U.S. Navy is an aggressive organization and
  it continually drills on Abandon Ship.
• Fire Departments should regularly drill on
  getting out of buildings.
• May Day universal distress signal and should
  trigger immediate radio silence.

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Mental Conditioning

• Managing YOUR MAY DAY
• Orient Yourself
• Communicate with Your Crew
• Alert Command
• Solve the Problem
• Activate Your PASS
• Solve the Problem
• If You Can't Solve The Problem

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Mental Conditioning

• MAY DAY Training Sessions
• Find a Hose line and Follow to Safety
• Alert Command activate PASS Device
• Additional Training...
• Every firefighter, and department, should
  participate in Get Out Alive and Rapid
  Intervention Team training. Sending firefighters
  into structures without providing them training
  to respond to their own emergencies should not be
  allowed. Sending, or assigning, rapid
  intervention teams that have not trained to
  perform rapid intervention skills is like not
  having a rapid intervention team at all.

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Mental Conditioning

• Lessons learned
• For the MAYDAY call to be completed it must be
  received by someone in communications, then
  communications must repeat back to the
  firefighter the information reported. This is the
  only way the person calling the MAYDAY will know
  their message was received correctly.
• The hands free feature of the radio is useful,
  but if the mike is turned facing the
  firefighter's coat the message will become
  muffled.
• The firefighter must speak loudly, clearly, and
  distinctly to be heard and understood.
• If LUNAR is not the normal day to day
  communications sequence for talking on the radio
  it may not come naturally to firefighters under
  MAYDAY conditions.

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Mental Conditioning

• In some cases the radio EIB did not reset
  correctly. The next time the EIB was pushed the
  three beeps sounded indicating the open mike was
  on but there was no transmission.
• It was learned that AACOFD communications could
  reactivate the captured channel and open the mike
  for an additional 20-seconds and repeat opening
  it as needed.
• The AACOFD is working on purchasing user-friendly
  firefighting gloves. This will help in using the
  radio.
• Situational awareness can be compromised very
  quickly in a zero visibility environment.
• The fact that you decided to call a MAYDAY can
  tax your higher cognitive thinking, like where
  you are and what you are doing, which are
  important facts for the RIC.

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PROCEDUREFirefighters who are Missing, Lost, or
Trapped.
In or around the structure or incident should
attempt to perform the following
functions 1. On the companies portable radio,
declare a May Day along with your company ID
and location or the best known location to the
I.C. 2. Activate PASS devices to assist rescue
crews in their search. 3. Point flashlight beams
in the direction of rescue crews or straight in
the air to alert rescuers of your
location. 4. Keep the I.C. informed to noises
heard to aid in their search, i.e., overhead
ventilation efforts with saws, etc.
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PROCEDUDRE cont.
5. Kick legs or move arms to attract
rescuers. 6. Tap or beat on the
surroundings. 7. Shout for help. 8. Take every
measure necessary to increase survivability.
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PROCEDUREIncident CommandsResponsibility
I.C. shall perform the following
functions 1. Ask Dispatch Services to send out
an alert tone on the Emergency Scene channel to
get the attention of all companies in the Hot
Zone. 2. Announce emergency traffic. 3. Declare
a May Day on the fire ground to all companies
on the radio and advise them of the
following A. What company members are missing,
lost, or trapped B. How many firefighters are in
the missing company C. The firefighters last
known location on the fire ground
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PROCEDURE Cont.
4. Assign the RIC to initiate a rescue at the
last known location of the missing
firefighters. 5. Call for the next greater alarm
level. 6. Activate the emergency withdrawal
procedure, if necessary. 7. Assign companies to
assist or support the rescue effort. 8. Conduct a
PAR of all companies to confirm the number of
missing, lost, or trapped firefighters.
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MAY DAY

• In 2000, the Chesterfield, VA Fire Department
  conducted a lieutenant's test. Part of the
  testing included a field activity.
• Seventeen candidates for lieutenant were taken to
  a large abandoned building, 80 x 120 with an
  open floor plan.
• One at a time, in full turnouts, SCBA with less
  the 700psi, portable radio, and Nomex hood on
  backwards covering their face mask, each
  candidate was taken into the building and told
  the following.
• "You are the OIC of the first engine operating at
  a fire in a Shopping Mall.

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MAY DAY

• You and your crew are stretching a 1 3/4 hand
  line at the top of the escalator on the second
  floor and you encounter "cold" smoke and zero
  visibility. While maintaining voice contact with
  your crew, you have been searching for the fire.
  You no longer have voice contact with you crew
  and are now lost and disoriented. This is not a
  training scenario, your life depends on your
  actions!" (By Heather Casey. Test asks Can you
  Survive? Firehouse.Com News, Sept. 28, 2000).

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MAY DAY

• The correct actions to take were
• Declare an emergency on the radio
• Activate the emergency button
• Announce Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Emergency
  Traffic
• Activate the PASS device
• Successfully merge with the RIT

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MAY DAY

• Of the 17 candidates, only four took the correct
  action immediately. The fastest times to complete
  the tasks were four to five minutes. Some of the
  candidates never called Mayday (Personal
  communications Capt. Dave Daniels, Chesterfield
  FD Sept. 25, 2001).

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MAY DAY

• Survey Results 339 Respondents
• MAYDAY DECISION PARAMETERS SINGLE FAMILY
  DWELLING DETACHED, 1 or 2 STORY WITH OR WITHOUT
  BASEMENT IDLH ENVIRONMENT SCBA IN USE

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A firefighter must call a mayday for themselves under these conditions. A firefighter must call a mayday for themselves under these conditions.
said YES Possible Mayday Conditions
98 Tangled, Pinned, or Stuck low air alarm activation, Mayday
94 Fall through roof, Mayday
92 Tangled, Pinned, or Stuck and do not extricate self in 60 seconds, Mayday
89 Caught in flashover, Mayday
88 Fall through floor, Mayday
82 Zero visibility, no contact with hose or lifeline, do not know direction to exit, Mayday
69 Primary exit blocked by fire or collapse, not at secondary exit in 30 seconds, Mayday
69 Low air alarm activation, not at exit (door or window) in 30 seconds, Mayday
58 Cannot find exit (door or window) in 60 seconds, Mayday
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RIT Dispatch

• IC should establish the RITS whenever FD
  personnel are required to operate under hazardous
  conditions.
• The composition and structure of RIT should be
  flexible based on the size and complexity of
  operations. The IC shall evaluate the situation
  and risks to operating teams and shall provide
  more teams commensurate with the needs of the
  situation

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Rapid Intervention Teams

• In the early stages of an accident, the RIT shall
  be either
• On scene personnel designated and dedicated as
  RIT
• On scene personnel performing other functions but
  ready to redeploy to perform RIT functions
• As the incident expands in size or complexity,
  the RITs shall be on scene personnel dedicated
  to that function

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Rapid Intervention Teams

• Reporting
• Companies designated as RIT will bypass staging,
  and report directly to the IC
• Companies designated as RIT must park their
  apparatus so as not to interfere with fireground
  operations

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Rapid Intervention Teams

• If used for other tactical assignments, the RIT
  must be replaced by another team
• If the need for rescue is diminished, the RIT may
  be assigned to other tasks

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Rapid Intervention Teams

• Respond to any firefighter reported in distress
• Assess the need for ground ladders
• Monitor radio and maintain contact with IC for
  quick response if needed
• Assess where ff personnel are located in the
  structure and any special tasks
• Size up structure, if possible, walk bldg.
• Appropriate tools carried by members

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THE RIC OFFICER ENROUTE

• Officer has a different role!
• Responding for firefighter rescue, not
  suppression.

• The chief officers must have high expectations of
  their RIC Officers

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Equipment For R.I.T. Operations
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Personal Equipment
Suggested Equipment for Self-Survival
Should be available to EACH firefighter
91
Equipment For R.I.T. Operations
92

• Flat head axe/halligan tool
• Sledge hammer or maul
• Search rope, 150 minimum
• Portable saws
• Hand lights
• Ground ladders
• Oxygen/EMS
• Portable radios
• SCBA complete
• SCBA spare bottles

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• Key word is RAPID. Dont overload the personnel.
  Equipment must be available and R.I.T.s have
  priority to use it.

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5.00 - 10.00
Self Rescue Scenarios
Cable TV, Phone, Ceiling Support, Flex Duct
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RIT Size-up Skills

• Building Dimension
• Occupancy
• Construction Type
• Placement of windows, doors, escapes, porches,
  etc.
• Tactics
• Offensive, Defensive, Defensive to Offensive
• Command Operations in place
• Ladders and Truck Operations
• Time of Operations

Fire Eng. Jan 1998, R. Lasky, B. Hoff
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Other Size-up Considerations

• Check with rehab officer on condition of
  firefighters
• Check with Safety Officer and compare information
• Relocate or add another RIT
• Potential collapse and collapse area
• EMS for the RIT available

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Tips from the Pros
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Preparing For Hands On

• RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM CHECKLIST SIZE-UP
• o 1. Building dimensions (length 2 width 2
  height).
• o 2. Building occupancy.
• o 3. Building construction type Wood frame.
  Heavy timber. Ordinary. Noncombustible. Fire
  restive.
• o 4. Placement of windows, doors, fire escapes,
  porches, and so on.
• o 5. Potential danger of high-security doors,
  barred windows, building modifications. TACTICS
• o 6. Offensive, defensive, defensive-to-offensive.
  
• o 7. Command operations Check tactics sheet or
  board. Check accountability system.
  Communication/incident commanders.
• o 8. Ladders and truck operations.
• o 9. Fireground time vs. progress.

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Preparing For Hands On

• EQUIPMENT o 10. Stage equipment based on
  construction type Examples
• Wood Frame/Heavy Timber/Ordinary
  Noncombustible/Fire Resistive
• o Pickhead axes and pike poles
• o Halligan bars
• o Circular wood-blade saw
• o Sledgehammers
• o Ventilation chain saw
• o Circular metal-blade saw
• o Halligan bar and sledgehammer
• o Torch
• o Search rope o Search ropes
• o Emergency air supply or SCBA o
• o Charged hoseline
• o Ground ladder(s)
• OTHER OPERATIONS
• o 11. Check with rehab officer/condition of
  firefighters. o
• 12. Check with safety officer/compare
  information. o
• 13. Relocate or add another RIT. o
• 14. Potential collapse and collapse area. O

100
Hands on practicals

• Once the firefighter is located the safety team
  must provide a detailed report to the IC of the
  condition of the firefighter in question. This
  report must include
• Exact location of firefighter in distress.
• Whether firefighter is conscious or not.
• Information concerning the fact that the search
  rope is deployed as a path to the distressed
  firefighter.
• If any special tools are required at the
  location.
• If additional assistance (personnel) are required
  at the location.
• If an alternate route of escape is possible and
  if it will be used.
• If the firefighter is alone or if additional
  firefighters are in need of assistance.

101
Objectives of the course

• Downed firefighter assessment and preparation.

102
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103
Downed firefighter removal across floors,
up/down stairs
104
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105
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106
Downed firefighter removals through holes, on
ladders
107
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108
Objectives of the course

• Downed Firefighter Removals
• Below grade via charged hoseline or ropes
  Ladder removals high point and low point Wall
  breaching and enlarged openings Collapse
  operations Technical and specialized rescue
  tools saws, torches, air bags, etc.

109
below grade via charged hoseline
enlarged openings
110
below grade via rope
111
below grade via rope
112
below grade via rope
113
below grade via rope
114
Ladder removals high point and low point
115
Wall breaching
Without a Tool
116
Collapse operations
117
Technical and specialized rescue tools saws,
torches, air bags, etc
118
Objectives of the course

• Actual Team Search Deployment In-depth
  firefighter rescue operations Advanced downed
  firefighter removal techniques The ultimate use
  of all techniques and tools available

119
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120
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121
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122
Firefighter Survival Skills Training

• Quarterly review of these lifesaving skills is a
  must
• Donning / Doffing of SCBA (Reduced Profile
  Maneuver)
• Other product specific advanced SCBA techniques
  quick fill
• Tying of basic rescue knots
• Bowline around self
• Handcuff knot
• Activation of RIT
• Mayday or Emergency Traffic
• Release from obstructions techniques
• Swim Method for wire, use of sidecutters
• Hose direction identification by couplings

Safety and Survival Drills
123
Thanks to the following
124
Rapid Intervention Teams

• MABAS Division 10
• Policy and Procedures
• Division 10 created policy December 1996,
  approved and under implementation
• Referenced from NFPA 1500, 1992 Edition
• Now in use nationwide as the ultimate in
  firefighter life safety procedures

125
Saving Our Own
Arlington Fire Department
This course was developed by the Illinois Fire
Service Institute. The course was taught by
members of the Chicago, Schaumburg Fire
Department members. This was initially a 16 hour
train the trainer course taught to members of
AFD that had been selected by the training staff.
The course was modified to meet the immediate
needs of the AFD. Additional components of this
course will be incorporated into future training
sessions.
Saving Our Own
"Techniques for Firefighter Rescue"
126
Firefighter Survival Course

• Instructors
• B/C Forest Reeder
• Lt. Mike Grazian
• FF/PM Ken Brucki

Course References

• Illinois Fire Service Institute - Saving Our Own
  Program
• Firefighter Survival - John Sulka, FDNY
• Firefighter Safety and Survival -
• USFA / NIOSH / NFPA Reports
• Personal Experiences and Case Studies
• Training