HighRise Fires

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High-Rise Fires

• Henderson Fire Department
• Tactical Standard
• for

Officer Development School Version - 4 2009
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Objectives

• Identify type of construction
• Identify pertinent fire building codes
• Explain fire behavior in these structures
• Describe construction benefits
• Identify tactical needs
• Recognize firefighting problems in high rise
  buildings
• Explain basic offensive defensive tactics at
  high rise structures

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Objectives for Sets Reps

• Complete dispatch and en-route responsibilities
• Complete Brief Initial Report Follow-up Report
• Identify command mode strategy
• Conduct initial size-up
• Identify roles within the Valley-Wide response
  plan
• Discuss manpower needs in each of the 6 main
  components of the high rise plan
• Evaluate needs and request adequate resources
• Make appropriate assignments with tactical
  objectives
• Identify benchmarks and communicate when
  appropriate
• Conduct on-going size-up and adjust IAP
  accordingly
• Successfully work through recycle process on a
  Division
• Explain and justify command mode, strategy, IAP,
  tactics and assignments
• Identify critical factors apply RMP
• Identify the main components of the
  Communications Plan

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Overview

• Pre-Plans
• Huge Buildings
• Divided and Undivided Areas
• Limited Access
• Large Life-Hazard
• Manpower Intensive
• Elevated Fires
• Know your limitations

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Pre-Plans

• Know (Familiarize)
• The Systems
• The Access Routes
• The Basic Layout
• Construction Features
• Potential Problems

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Huge Buildings
25,000 50,000 sq. ft... 150 above ground
Big-Box.. within and under a High-Rise
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Divided Areas
Individual Rooms off of a.
..Central Hallway
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Limited Access
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Large Life-Hazard
Multiple people in each room.
X
Multiple rooms on each floor.
X
Multiple floors

A LOT of people to protect!!
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Manpower Intensive

• Division 23
• 3 Companies per line x ?? lines
• Division 24
• 1 3 Companies
• Evacuation
• 2 6 Companies
• Lobby
• 2 4 Companies

• Staging
• 1 2 Companies
• Fire Control Room
• 1 Company
• Medical / Rehab
• 1 2 Companies
• EMS Branch
• 1 - ?? Companies
• Command
• 5 10 Officers

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Elevated Fires
A fire on the 15th floor
Could have hundreds of occupants above..in
danger
Getting crews to, and water on the fire quickly
is imperative!
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Know Your Limitations

• Know the Building
• Know the Systems
• Know the Fire
• Know your Crew
• Know Yourself
• Know your Responsibilities

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Construction Features

• Type I, or Protected Type II
• Design
• Exterior Coverings
• Parapets
• Roofs
• Facades
• Partition Walls
• Stairs and Elevators

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Type I (Fire Resistive)
Type II (Non Combustible)
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Center Core Stairs and Elevators
Open floor plan
Center Hallway
Stairs
Individual spaces
Elevators
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No gaps.
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Parapets
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Ducts and Vents
Air Handlers and Piping
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Facades
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Partition Walls
Non-Combustible framing with fire rated coverings
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Codes (Life Safety Package)

• Occupancy Types
• Structural Requirements
• Egress
• Emergency Signage
• Suppression Systems
• Standpipes
• PRV PRS

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Codes (Life Safety Package)

• Fire Pumps
• Fire Protection (Construction)
• Smoke and Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
• Emergency Communication System

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Codes (Life Safety Package)

• Smoke Management Systems
• Passive Rooms and areas are designed and built
  to contain smoke and not allow it into common
  (public) areas
• Exhaust Large fans activate in an effort to
  keep the smoke 6 above the floor for 20 minutes
• Pressurization Most common methodmost
  misunderstood! Dampers are used to reduce
  pressure (.05 water) on fire floor
• Air Flow Fans and dampers are used to remove
  and replace (exchange) the entire atmosphere
  several times per minute.

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Codes (Life Safety Package)

• Central Control Station (Fire Control Room)
• Emergency and Standby Power
• Elevators
• Radio Communications
• Phone Communications

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Fire Spread, Smoke Spread, Construction Problems

• Fire Spread
• Smoke Spread
• Stack Effect
• Large Open Floors v. Compartmentalized
• Drop Ceilings
• Use of Steel

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Construction Benefits

• Type I and Type II
• Up to 4-hour resistance rating
• Strong and Tight methods
• Limited fire spread (hotel type)
• Multiple Safe Refuge areas
• Suppression and Ventilation systems
• Communication systems

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Firefighting Problems with High-Rise Structures

• Access
• Life Hazard
• Ventilation
• Windows

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SNUC High-Rise

• Strategic Decisions
• Offensive
• Major Goal to remove the FIRE from the
  occupants
• - Crews operating in interior positions
• - All initial assignments designed to
  back-up, support, or protect the
  attack crews
• Tactical Objectives
• - Firefighter Safety
• - Occupant Safety
• - Fire Control / Suppression
• - Property Conservation
• - Customer Stabilization

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SNUC High-Rise ICS
Major Goal To have personnel operating at all
three levels as quickly as possible.
Command level officers, managing the Incident
Strategic
Tactical
Task
Most Important! Members in the hot Zone doing
the actual work
Supervisors in the work areas
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Strategic
Tactical
Task
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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Typical First-Alarm assignment
• 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Heavy/Engine, 2 Rescues, 2
  Battalion Chiefs
• Company 1
• - Report to the Appropriate Entrance
• - Conduct size-up, give Brief Initial Report
• - Assume Command (Leave secondary passport
  on seat)
• - Meet with security or building representative
  (if app)
• - Start ascent only when accompanied by 2nd
  Engine
• - When the first Battalion Chief assumes
  Command, become Investigations, and continue up
  to the fire floor.
• - Check status of lower floors, including
  evacuation in progress, floor layout,
  location of fire doors, standpipe outlets, and
  suitability for Staging.
• - Change Fire Attack to the appropriate Division
  (according to floor number) upon arrival
  at the fire floor.
• - Engineer may supply FDC
• Any evidence of fire should trigger a 2nd alarm

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Typical First-Alarm assignment
• Company 2 - Assemble equipment and ascend
  (entire crew) to fire floor with E 1, assist
  with fire attack (Leave extra equipment on
  staging floor)
• Company 3 Assemble equipment and ascend
  (entire crew) to fire floor to assist with Fire
  Attack.
• Company 4 - Assembles equipment and ascend
  (entire crew) to fire floor to assist with fire
  attack
• Note Two Engineers from these first four
  Companies shall be utilized to supply
  the FDC
• Note One of the Officers from these first
  four Companies shall assume the role of
  Division Supervisor. The Supervisor
  shall manage the recycle, and all other
  activities within that Division
• Company 5 - Establishes Lobby Control

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Typical First-Alarm assignment
• Company 6 Assembles equipment and ascends to
  the floor above the fire
  for Recon/Evac
  (Becomes Division ??)
• Company 7 Establishes Staging two (2) floors
  below the fire floor.
• Company 8 Reports to staging floor to check
  in. Then take up an appropriate RIT
  position
• Should be filled by Heavy if
  available
• Rescue 1 Responds to the Fire Control Room and
  establishes the Systems Control Unit.
  Assess panels, report on the status
  of, and control the building systems.
• Rescue 2 Reports to the staging floor to
  establish Fire Medical /
  Rehab

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Typical First-Alarm assignment
• Battalion 1 - Assumes Command and
  establishes Command Post
• Battalion 2 - Assumes Deputy IC role
• 10 Resources on the 1st alarm real potential
  for overloading the Incident Commander.
• Incident Command response Command Team

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Additional Considerations
• Additional Resources
• Apparatus Positioning
• Recon
• Aggressive Early
• Ventilation
• Back-Up
• Recycle / On-Deck

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Evacuation Procedures
• Identify and Announce Stairwell
• Determine marshalling point
• Below the Fire v. Out of Building
• Fire Area
• gt 2 floors above
• gt 2 floors below
• Stariways, Hallways and Elevator Lobbies on upper
  floors (top-down)
• Shelter-in-Place v. Remove
• Utilize PA System
• Provide thorough directions

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Primary Search Markings

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Secondary Search Markings

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Typical 2nd Alarm Upgrades
• 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Heavy, 2 Rescues, 1 BC,
  Mobile Air Unit
• - Engineer from 1st arriving company to establish
  Base
• Incident Commanders shall deploy resources from
  the 2nd and greater alarms to match the tactical
  needs of the incident. The following is a sample
  deployment of a 2nd alarm
• 3 Companies to Staging
• 2 Companies to establish Evacuations Group under
  Fire Branch.
• 1 company to supplement RIT
• 1 company to supplement Lobby
• - Rescues can be used to fill in, but should be
  considered to staff EMS Branch, or supplement the
  Fire Medical / Rehab unit in the Staging area

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Typical 2nd Alarm Upgrades
• Battalion 1 to establish and assume
  leadership of Fire Branch
• Battalion 2 to assume the role of Deputy
  for the Fire Branch Director
• Battalion 3 to assume Incident Command
• Arriving Chief Officer/Aide to fill the role of
  Deputy IC
• Additional Chief Officers and Support Staff to
  report to Incident Command Post for assignment.

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Strategic Level
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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Typical 3rd Alarm Upgrades
• 3 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Rescue, 1 Battalion Chief
• Incident Commanders shall deploy resources from
  the 2nd and greater alarms to match the tactical
  needs of the incident.
• Priority should be given to supporting units on
  and above the fire floors, and units actively
  working on evacuation.
• Battalion 3 to establish and assume leadership
  of the Operations (Ops) Section
• Battalion 4 to assume the role of Deputy
• Operations Chief
• Deputy Chief 1 Assume Command
• Arriving Chief Officer / Aide to establish and
  assume leadership of the Logistics Section
• 4th and subsequent alarms shall mirror 3rd
  alarm resources, and shall be assigned at the
  discretion of the Incident Commander.

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Strategic Level
46
SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Communications Plan
• IDLH radio traffic can be extreme
• Multiple Channels
• Operations (Ops)
• Logistics (Log)
• EMS
• Dispatch
• Personnel flow through Incident
• Equipment flow through Incident

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Communications Plan by Assignment
• First Alarm
• Company 1 (Command gt Investigations Group gt
  Division ??)
• Company 2-4 (Going aloft with Investigations
  Group)
• Company 5 (Lobby)
• Company 6 (Division ??) 1 floor above the Fire
• Company 7 (Staging) 2 floors below the Fire
• Company 8 (RIT) Good Tactical Location
• Rescue 1 (Systems Control Unit) in the Fire
  Control Room
• Rescue 2 (Fire Medical) in the Staging Area

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SNUC High-Rise ICS

• Communications Plan by Assignment
• Second Alarm
• Base (First Engineer)
• Evacuations Group
• EMS Branch

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High-Rise Communications Plan
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SNUC High-Rise

• Strategic Decisions
• Defensive
• Major Goal to remove the OCCUPANTS
  from the fire
• - Crews operating in interior positions
• - All initial assignments designed to
  back-up, support, or protect the
  attack crews
• Tactical Objectives
• - Firefighter Safety
• - Occupant Safety
• - Fire Control / Suppression
• - Property Conservation
• - Customer Stabilization

51
Basic Defensive Assignments

• Divisions A, B, C, D
• Evacuation Group
• Safety
• Medical
• Rehab
• Staging
• PIO

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Strategic Changes

• Communicate Clearly
• Withdraw all Companies
• Withdraw v. Abandon
• Accountability

53
High RiseSet Reps

• Objectives for Sets Reps
• Complete dispatch and en-route responsibilities
• Complete Brief Initial Report Follow-up Report
• Identify command mode strategy
• Conduct initial size-up
• Identify roles within the Valley-Wide response
  plan
• Discuss manpower needs in each of the 6 main
  components of the high rise plan
• Evaluate needs and request adequate resources
• Make appropriate assignments with tactical
  objectives
• Identify benchmarks and communicate when
  appropriate
• Conduct on-going size-up and adjust IAP
  accordingly
• Successfully work through recycle process on a
  Division
• Explain and justify command mode, strategy, IAP,
  tactics and assignments
• Identify critical factors apply RMP
• Identify the main components of the
  Communications Plan