Incident Scene Management

Derived from: Fireground Strategies By: Anthony L. Avillo, Deputy Chief North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire & Rescue

The “what-ifs” of decision making

• Definitely won’t happen • Probably won’t happen • Probably will happen • Definitely will happen • Is happening (and I’m prepared or I’m not prepared)

Battalion Chief position and duties at fires

• Any experienced officer can be assigned this role • Use this person to your advantage – Not standing beside the IC – Use a non-suppression person as an aide – Use this person as the “eyes” of the IC in areas that are not readily in-sight of the IC

Battalion Chief position and duties at fires

• “Roving Recon” – Exterior, Defensive incidents • Assignment to problem areas such as: the rear, the roof of exposures, interior of exposures, etc.

• Lessens the burden of reporting the condition on personnel operating in those areas – Interior, Offensive incidents • Interior Division Supervisor • Interior Safety Officer • Interior position that is close to the action, but not in the way

Battalion Chief position and duties at fires

• Large Incidents – Operations Officer • Takes the burden of directing tactical actions off of the IC

Safety Officer

• Monitors and assesses safety hazards and unsafe situations • Develops measures for ensuring personnel safety • Choose someone reliable • Not a “safety cop” who micromanages the scene

Safety Officer

• Priorities – Accountability is being done – RIC is in place and ready – Access to and from roof and/or upper floors – Access to and from the building – Reading Smoke – Breathing Air Supply – Lighting – Rehab

Rapid Intervention Crew

• If there is a large commitment of manpower, consider the assignment of multiple RICs • RIC must not get side-tracked and involved in firefighting • Stay current on crew location and assignments from Accountability/POE Officer

What does the RIC do outside?

• Report to IC/Point of Entry for assignment • Wear/carry equipment in a readiness state • 360 ° survey of the building – Familiarize yourself with the environment in which the crews are working • Determine how many crews/people are inside and wear they are assigned • Act as a second set of “ears” for the IC, listening to radio transmissions coming from the crews working on the inside

What does the RIC do outside?

• Make the building “Firefighter Friendly” – Set up “four-point scene lighting” – Proactive laddering (multi-story buildings) – Proactive security bar removal

RIC Responsibilities

• RIC Team #1 (Recon/Search Team) – Locate downed, trapped member – Establish a tractable means of access – Provide air supply/Determine additional needs – Begin extraction process, if possible • RIC Team #2 (Stabilization/Removal Team) – Provide equipment and personnel as requested from RIC Team #1 – Begin extraction process, clear debris for rapid egress • RIC Team #3 (Support Team) – Provide external support as requested by initial teams – Provide personnel to support/relieve initial teams

Accountability/POE Officer

• Establish a person as the point of contact for all in-coming personnel • Person responsible for accountability • All personnel report in to IC for assignment of duties, then to POE for accountability • All personnel report back upon completion of tasks • Use non-suppression personnel when possible • Must do this at

EVERY CALL

Thermal Imaging Camera Considerations

• Uses are limited by your knowledge, experience, and imagination – Locating downed firefighters – Locate fire victims – Detect hidden fire during size-up/recon and overhaul – Search light fixtures for defective ballast – Determine fire and heat conditions in “structural” areas – Searching for a possible victim ejected from a vehicle

Thermal Imaging Camera Considerations

• Avoid a false sense of security because you can see • Someone on the crew must remain oriented to the building (the oriented firefighter) • The Titanic used the latest technology and still hit an ice burg

Master Stream Considerations

• Announce strategy changes to all personnel • Establish and maintain collapse zones if you are going to “surround and drown” • Don’t start the master streams until everyone is confirmed to be out of the area of application • Keep firefighters still on the interior out of the area of operation • Consider where the water is going (or not going)

Master Stream Considerations

• Keep the aerial device away from the fire • Anchor down ground-mounted master streams • Hit the fire only • Be careful around parapets, chimneys, and slate/tile roofs • Let the building settle after master stream use • If building integrity if doubtful, DO NOT ENTER

Emergency Fireground Communication

• “Top-Down” Emergency Transmissions – Example: Evacuation Signals • “Bottom-Up” Emergency Transmissions – Example: Firefighter Down/May Day Transmissions – Step 1: Manually activate PASS – Step 2: Key radio for transmission – Step 3: Place keyed radio next to PASS for several seconds – Step 4: Turn PASS back to “arm” position – Step 5: Broadcast “May Day” message