Flagler County Board of Education, Training Division

1
Flagler County Board of Education, Training
Division

• Rapid Intervention and Fire Fighter Safety and
  Survival
• By
• Gerard P. Forte
• Captain
• Palm Coast Fire Department

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CREDITS GO TO...

• Firehouse.com Firefighter Survival Tactics by
  John Salka Jr.
• Staff of Firefighter Rescue Inc. to include John
  Norman, John Salka, Fred Eendrikat, Paul
  Hashagen, Bruce Newbery, Ray Maguire, Joel
  Kanasky, Donald Rowan, Frank Fee, Mark Frappied.
  Firefighter Rescue and Survival School, 2003.
  Clearwater Beach, Florida.

3
Credits also go to...

• Fire Engineering, Ten Commandments of a Safe and
  Effective Search by Robert Moran August, 2002.
• Fire Engineering.com Fire Fatalities in 2002 By
  USFA.
• Firefighter Survivability at www.ci.vancouver,wa
  .us/vfd.
• Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute at
  www.mfri.org
• Staff and members of the Palm Coast Fire
  Department.

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Primary Search

• Conducting a safe and effective primary search is
  one of the most dangerous fire ground operations
  you will be asked to carry out during your
  firefighting career.

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Primary Search

• Search with a partner
• Conduct a size up
• Carry a tool and light
• Use proper PPE
• Ensure people know where you are

• Have a plan
• Stay in contact with a wall
• Control the door
• Monitor fire conditions
• Remain orientated

6
Primary SearchSearch With a Partner

• When you have a partner, you can quickly
  communicate your every move to the very
  individual who undoubtedly will play a major role
  in ensuring your safety.
• Allows for a great deal of tactical freedom
  relative to the methods and techniques used.

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Primary SearchConduct a Size Up

• A thorough and effective analysis of a burning
  structure prior to making entry is one of the
  most valuable tools you can use to ensure your
  safety on the fire ground.
• Information such as secondary access and egress
  points of the structure, the location of trapped
  victims, window locations, and laddering points
  will give you the opportunity to develop a mental
  picture before entry.

8
Primary SearchUse of Proper PPE

• Fire ground safety starts with you.
• Materials made today burn hotter and produce more
  dangerous toxic gases than ever before.
• If you are issued PPE, wear it. If it was not
  issued to you, you would not go into a burning
  building.

9
Primary SearchCarry a Tool and Hand Light

• Every firefighter, when conducting a primary,
  must carry a tool. It will not only aid in
  searching, but will assist in saving your own
  life.
• Use a hand light that allows for hands free
  work. It is difficult to work and hold a light.

10
Primary SearchControl the Door

• Whether you are attempting to maintain control of
  a door to provide the engine company with a
  coordinated entry by confining the fire, giving
  firefighters an area of refuge, or to give
  yourself time to complete your search, control
  all doors.
• Automatic garage doors strings must be pulled to
  eliminate accidental door closure.

11
Primary SearchHave a Plan

• This strategy should be developed while at the
  fire academy, practiced throughout your
  career,and promoted by your peers.
• Thinking alike, as a team, will increase the
  efficiency and safety of the operation.

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Primary SearchStay in Contact with a Wall

• It is highly improbable that firefighters will be
  familiar with the interior of the building
  involved in fire.
• Residential structures typically follow repeated
  patterns, ie., Ranch, Split Level, Colonial, etc.
• Commercial structures are more complex. Detailed
  Pre Fire Planning eliminates the unknown and
  allows for accurate accountability.

13
Primary SearchEnsure People Know Where You Are

• Without knowing where the interior search crews
  are, IC cannot effectively direct placement of
  ladders, stretching of back up lines, venting the
  structure, and most importantly, the deployment
  of RIT teams.

14
Primary SearchMonitor Fire Conditions

• Continually reevaluate the smoke, heat and fire
  conditions in which you or others are operating.
  Monitoring the rapid change in conditions will
  allow for quick removal of you and your partners
  from a hostile environment.

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Primary SearchRemain Orientated

• Personnel must become familiar with their
  location within the building by identifying as
  much as possible any object they come in contact
  with.
• Beds will be in bedroom, toilets will be in
  bathrooms, couches and tables will be in living
  areas.
• This allows for our immediate identification
  within the structure.

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Primary Search

• Primaries get more dangerous when staffing
  shortages, inadequate equipment and deficiencies
  in training are thrown into the mix.
• These guidelines will reduce the chances of being
  affected by these concerns, keep you safe, and
  assist you in conducting an effective primary
  search.

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According to USFA

• In 2002, 102 firefighters died while on duty in
  the United States.
• The loss of life was felt directly in more than
  86 communities, in 35 states.
• 20 Firefighters died in wildland incidents.
• 37 were Career Firefighters while 65 were
  Volunteers or seasonal.

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According to USFA

• 2 Central NY F.F.s died trapped in a basement.
• 2 St. Louis F.F.s died trapped in the interior of
  a burning business.
• 3 NJ F.F.s died in a burning residential
  collapse.
• 2 Florida F.F.s died in a training exercise.

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According to USFA

• Half the Firefighters that died on duty died of
  traumatic injuries.
• 11 died of asphyxiation.
• 2 died of burns.
• 3 were crushed
• 36 died as a result of trauma from a vehicle
  crash.

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According to USFA

• Heart Attacks continue to be the leading cause of
  firefighter deaths, killing 31 Firefighters in
  2002. This represents almost one third of the
  2002 total.

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Case Study

• Lt. John Nance, Columbus Ohio. 1987
• Fell in a hole in the floor and dropped to the
  basement.
• Other firefighters can touch him, but not pull
  him out of the hole.
• A ladder was used, he could not get himself out.
  He kept trying but he has hitting the floor
  above.
• Heavy smoke conditions were present as a result
  of an oil burner fire.

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RESULT

• Hand Cuff Drill or Love Knot
• If the downed Firefighter is alert and oriented,
  they can make the knot in the hole, apply it, and
  be pulled up by the rescue crew above them.
• If unconscious, a Firefighter can be lowered via
  the rope to the victim and place the rope around
  downed firefighters hands hands. The rescuer is
  lifted out after the victim is safely removed.

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Handcuff Knot

• DEMONSTRATE the method used to make the knot.

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Handcuff Drill

• Rope is lowered to an awaiting victims.
• It is either lowered to a conscious, or applied
  by a rescuer.

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Handcuff Drill

• Several rescuers can then pull the victim up. At
  least 4 people should be used to remove the
  victim.
• The more the merrier.

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Handcuff Drill

• Lifted straight up.

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Handcuff Drill

• A carribeaner can be used to center the victim in
  the through the hole.
• That would eliminate the problem of getting the
  victim over the edge.

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Case Study

• Mark Langquist - Denver Fire Department 1990.
• Commercial Structure with active fire.
• 2 story rear, one story front, brick veneer
  office building with wood interior.
• Fire was set in multiple areas on first and
  second floor.
• There was a partial floor collapse behind him and
  he could not get out the way he entered.

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Case Study

• He was lost and trapped and was low on air.
• He was able to signal for help with his
  flashlight.
• He was at the end of a hallway with a window.
  Windows had bars.
• The hallway was 11 feet long and 28 inches wide
  due to the cabinets and shelving units.

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Case Study

• The Window and the Firefighter -
• 20 inches wide
• The sill was 42 inches off the floor.
• He was 61 tall and dressed in full turnouts
• Weight was approximately 250 - 300 lb.

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Case Study

• What happened?
• Rescue team after rescue team entered the
  structure by ladder, only to find they could not
  lift the downed firefighter over the window sill.
• The firefighter was never left alone.
• After 50 minutes, he was dead and was removed by
  breaching the wall and removing the cabinets.

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Case Study

• End Result
• They were never able to get him over the window
  sill!
• They returned to the location afterwards to try
  other methods of removal. Same circumstances,
  they were never able to remove a firefighter in
  less than an hour.
• They needed to develop new skills and techniques
  for lifting a firefighter in a confined space.

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The Denver Drill

• Single Rescuer -
• Crawls over the victim to his legs.
• Readjusts themselves to allow the victims legs to
  be raised in the direction of the window sill.
• The victim is then pushed to the window, feet
  first.
• Rescuers outside then pull the legs while the
  interior firefighter lifts from the shoulder
  straps of the air-pack.

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The Denver Drill

• The window is 42 off the floor.
• 23 wide
• At the the end of 28 hallway.

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The Denver Drill

• Victim is found head first by a window.

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The Denver Drill

• Head at the base of the window, the victim
  exhausted trying to get out the window.

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The Denver Drill

• The rescuer enters the window low, over the
  victim.

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The Denver Drill

• After the victim is placed in a supine position.
  The feet are raised and raised to the window.

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The Denver Drill

• The body is bent, naturally, to begin the roll
  out the window.

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The Denver Drill

• The rescuer then grabs the neck of the air bottle
  and the belt strap and begin to pull upward,
  toward the awaiting firefighters outside.

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The Denver Drill

• The rescuer then advances the victim high, using
  the bottle to help roll.

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The Denver Drill

• The rescuer uses the bottle to continue the role
  out the window.

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The Denver Drill

• The victim is given off the outside rescuers.

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The Denver Drill

• 2 Rescuer -
• Both Firefighters enter over the victim. One
  rescuer pulls the victim to a seated position
  with their arms, the second rescuer sits at the
  base of the window approximately 6 inches off the
  wall (behind the victim).
• The first rescuer pushes under the legs of the
  victim, while the second rescuer pushes upward
  with their legs.

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The Denver Drill

• A rescuer sits behind the victim and uses their
  legs as a pivot point.

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The Denver Drill

• The other Rescuer then pushes under the victims
  legs, while the second rescuers lifts the victim
  in a rocking motion.

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Where does this lead to?

• OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.134
• Physical evaluation and annual face piece fitness
  testing.
• Minimum 2 personnel whenever FF team is in an
  IDLH environment.
• A rescue team must be available to rescue FF
  team.
• FF team may begin SAR for known victims without a
  rescue team in place.

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Where does this lead to?

• NFPA Standard 1500, Chapter 6
• Minimum of 2 personnel available whenever FF
  team is operating in an IDLH environment.
• Rescue team must be ready to rescue FF crew
  should not be performing other duties.
• FF Team may begin SAR for known victims without
  rescue team in place.

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Concept of the Rescue Team

• Minimum of 2 personnel with sufficient training
  and equipment to perform rescue of other
  firefighters.
• Team should be positioned to be readily available
  when needed.
• Team should not be performing any other functions
  such a pump operations or position of Incident
  Command.

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Rescue Team Equipment Requirements

• Portable Radio or Radios
• Forcible Entry Tools
• Hand Lights
• Rope Bag
• Spare SCBA for quick swap out
• Charged Hose line
• Ladders at Upper Levels for Possible Egress
• Thermal Imager

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Risk Management Philosophy

• Alan Brunacini, Fire Chief Phoenix, Az.
• 1 - Risk a lot to save a life.
• 2 - Risk a little to save property.
• 3 - Risk nothing to save nothing, the property
  is already lost.

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Personal Items

• Personal Protective Equipment.
• Personal Alert Safety Systems
• Should be checked periodically.
• Operator should know how to operate in manual
  mode.
• Battery should be replaced periodically.
• Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

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FULL PPEAlways!

• Helmet?
• Tools?
• Hose line?
• Where is the ladder placement supposed to be?

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Buddy System

• Always Work in Pairs.
• Stay in Contact with Each Other
• Visual
• Voice
• Physical
• Share Senses
• Hearing, Seeing, and Feeling

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Scene Safety Zone

• Hot Zone - Area of immediate danger. High IDLH.
  Can contain toxic gases, possible explosive or
  fire hazard, potential structural collapse,
  vehicular instability full PPE is required.
• Warm Zone - Adjacent to the hot zone. Buffer
  between hot and cold zone. Protective clothing
  required.

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Scene Safety Zone

• Cold Zone - Staging area no protective clothing
  required.

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Evacuation Signals

• Notification shall be done by radio if urgency
  is required, three blasts of the air horns will
  be repeated until all personnel are evacuated
  from the building.
• Command will have Station Tones sounded to ensure
  all personnel are notified.

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Rehab Areas

• Command will have areas designated for rehab and
  make them known.
• An Advanced Life Support medical unit will be on
  location to monitor personnel after leaving the
  hot zone.
• Safety Officer will be made aware of any
  personnel needing additional assistance.

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Firefighter Safety and Survival

• PCFD Standard Operating Guideline
• Accountability
• Checking in and tag system or Riding Lists.
  Apparatus must have all personnel accounted for,
  command will receive apparatus designation each
  morning at shift change.
• Each Firefighter will have 2 ID tags.

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Firefighter Safety and Survival

• Accountability cont.
• Officer Controls the Crew
• Crew Works in a Team
• Officer Directs Work
• Reports Details on Progress to Command
• PAR Reports Given in a Timely Interval

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Command Controls Operations
• Orders Specific Tasks in Specific Areas
• Communicates with Officers
• Assigns Sector Commanders
• Gets the BIG PICTURE

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Radio Designation
• Command establishes working channel(s) to assign
  crews work.
• Engines will be designated as a working company.
  E-211 is pumping to the fire211 is the inside
  crew. Tower is on scene. Tower 2 is working as
  O/V. RIT 1 or RIT 2
• Officers will be designated as assigned safety,
  rehab, interior command, etc.

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Radio Designation cont.
• Fire Building Exposure Designation
• Front of the building is A side.
• To the left is the B side.
• Rear is the C side.
• To the right of the front is D side.

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• May Day
• Definition
• An immediate call for distress by a firefighter
  in imminent danger.

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• When would you call a May Day?
• Firefighter is unconscious or suffering life
  threatening injury (most important).
• You are aware that a firefighter is missing.
• Firefighter is trapped. This is transmitted by
  themselves or a witness.
• An indication of possible collapse or structural
  collapse has occurred.
• Fire has cut off a firefighter.
• Firefighter lost in smoke.

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• May Day Procedure
• May Day, May Day, May Day Engine_______to
  Command May day
• Command will clear all radio traffic.
• Command will immediately contact the May Day to
  determine firefighters condition.

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Command will ascertain...
• Where you are operating?
• What Floor?
• Front, Middle, or Rear?
• Who were you with and what is their condition?

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Command will Ascertain
• How did you get there?
• What doors did you use?
• Fire Escapes?

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Can You Hear Anything?
• Is a saw going or windows breaking out?
• Can you hear firefighters forcing a door?
• Do you hear fire apparatus running?

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Can you feel anything around you?
• Are you on tile or rug?
• Do you feel a bed or a sofa?
• Can you see or feel office cabinets or or are you
  in the warehouse area.

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• What is your Air Supply
• What are your Fire Conditions

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Firefighters Safety and Survival

• Command will then develop a 2-prong attack to
  find or assist the firefighter.
• The firefighter must remain where they are.
• The firefighter must activate the PASS devices
  and listen for the RIT Crew.

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MAY DAYS

• SOMEONE IS MISSING WHEN THEY CAN NOT BE LOCATED.
• ESTABLISH CONTACT AND CANCEL THE MAY DAY.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationPersonal Survival
Tips

• Communicate May Day.
• Activate Emergency Button on Radio (if
  available).
• Shine light on ceiling or out windows.
• Turn PASS device on manual, let it ring.
• Consider personal survival techniques.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationInterior Wall
Breaching

• Locate wall studding.
• Locate the space between the studs.
• Push forcible entry tool through wall to be
  certain the wall is able to be breached, and
  where you are going is better than where you are.
• Force hole every 6 inches and clear out just
  enough to clear you and the air pack.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationInterior Wall
Breaching

• Locate the wall studs.
• Push a forcible entry tool through the space
  between the studs to check the next room.
• Make holes enough to get your body through.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationInterior Wall
Breaching

• The studs may be too tight to pass.
• Low profile or air pack removal may have to be
  used.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationInterior Wall
Breaching

• Conditions are so that you need to breach a wall,
  try to get through the hole without removing the
  pack.
• TIME, TIME, TIME.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationLow Profile Wall
Passage

• Size up the area to pass.
• Loosen the belt buckle and remove the right
  shoulder strap extending it as it is removed.
• Shift the belt buckle to the right and place the
  bottle under the left armpit.
• Move through the obstacle, and return the air
  pack to proper donning. (You may have to lean to
  the right to drop the shoulder strap into
  position.)

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Personal Survival /EvacuationLow Profile Wall
Passage

• Loosen the shoulder straps and belt buckle.
• Remove the right shoulder strap and slide the
  regulator to the right.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationLow Profile Wall
Passage

• Place the bottle under the left arm and proceed
  through the wall opening.
• Continue through to allow for your partner
• Return to proper position.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationAir Pack Removal

• Loosen both the shoulder straps on the SCBA.
  Disconnect and extend the belt buckle.
• Remove the air pack off the right shoulder and
  bring around the back to the left side. NEVER
  RELEASE THE LEFT SHOULDER STRAP.
• Pass tools, radio, and helmet through the
  opening.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationAir Pack Removal

• Place the air pack in front of you and advance it
  through the opening. Keep the regulator close to
  your mask.
• Lay on the floor and use your arms and feet to
  maneuver through the opening.
• Place the air pack back in proper position and
  continue.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationAir Pack Removal

• Loosen the air pack straps and disconnect the
  buckle and extend it.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationAir Pack Removal

• Remove the air pack off the right shoulder and
  NEVER let it out of your left hand.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationAir Pack Removal

• Pass tools, helmet, and radio through the opening.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationAir Pack Removal

• Place the air pack in front of you and slide the
  bottle regulator last through the opening.
• Lay on the floor and use your feet and arms to
  pull you through the opening.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationAir Pack Removal

• Don the air pack when you clear the opening.
• All your equipment should be directly in front of
  you.
• Gather and advance to allow your partner room to
  pass through.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• A - Airway ensure the firefighter is able to
  breath. If they still have air, reposition head
  to allow for air movement. If air is depleted,
  get more air or remove mask. If they are out of
  air, they will suffocate with the mask on their
  face.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• B - Buckle remove the belt buckle and wrap
  around the right leg of the downed firefighter

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• C - Chest Strap secure the chest strap by tying
  the tabs in the center. An overhand safety knot
  can be placed on the shoulder strap to keep from
  slipping.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• D - Drag the firefighter as far as you need, to
  get to an area of refuge.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• Floor Drag - 2 Person
• First rescuer pulls the downed Firefighter by the
  SCBA strap, headed in the direction of the area
  of refuge.
• Second rescuer lifts the right leg of the victim
  and places it over their left shoulder. The
  rescuer then pushes the victim like a tackling
  block.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag
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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• Stair Drag - 2 person

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• The rescuers arrive to the bottom of the stairs.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• Both Rescuers then grab the SCBA should straps
  and are pulling upward with the straps.
• The downed firefighter is placed on the second
  stair by both rescuers

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• The second rescuer is below the victim with the
  legs of the victim over their shoulders.
• The second rescuer is thrusting upward.

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Personal Survival /EvacuationFirefighter Drag

• This is done no more than 2 steps at a time.

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Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• Baltimore FD
• Heavy Black smoke is thickening as a firefighter
  enters a room for a quick search. Ladder is in
  the proper location

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Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• Rushes to the window as the smoke turns to flame

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Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• The room ignites.

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Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• Jumps into the arms of a brother,

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Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• Safely out of the room.

105
Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• Find the ladder at the base of the window.
• Bail out and guide yourself out with your feet.
• Advance yourself rung by rung.

106
Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• Insert your arm through a rung and lock in at the
  elbow.
• Reach ahead to the next available rung with the
  opposing hand.
• Control the descent with your feet in the higher
  rungs.

107
Personal Survival / EvacuationLadder Bail

• Throw your head over short arm side of the
  ladder, your feet will go the opposite direction.
• Slide around on your hip until you find the
  ladder.

108
Rapid Intervention Teams

• Definition - A Standby unit, specifically
  dedicated to protecting committed fire units,
  operating at a scene should the unexpected occur.

109
Rapid Intervention Teams

• IT IS TOO LATE TO LEARN RAPID INTERVENTION
  TECHNIQUES WHEN A FIREFIGHTER BECOMES LOST!

110
Rapid Intervention Teams

• Missing, Injured, or Trapped Firefighter.
• May Day
• Collapse, Flashover, Backdraft, Explosions
  Extending Fire Conditions.
• Sudden fire extension threatens operations unit.
• The unexpected may not have anything to do with
  the fire.

111
Sudden Fire Extension

• Typical Residential Job.
• Heavy smoke from the front door.

112
Sudden Fire Extension

• Thicker black smoke builds

113
Sudden Fire Extension

• Flash

114
Sudden Fire Extension

• The Engine has not yet arrived.
• Consider a bystander (cop) could have tried a
  rescue.

115
Sudden Fire Extension

• Total involvement in seconds.

116
Could this be unexpected?

• What was he assigned to do?
• Where was the ladder?

117
VERY UNEXPECTED!

• Who is going to do the work of the guy on the
  bottom?

118
What will this do for the rest of the operation?
119
RIT Crews

• RIT is not a new idea. For years they have been
  incorporated in other areas of the fire service.
• Haz-Mat
• Confined Space
• Back up hose line

120
RIT Crew

• We are more likely to encounter a dangerous
  environment at a structure than at a confined
  space or Haz-Mat Call.
• SAR at a house fire requires immediate attention.
  We automatically enter the environment if life is
  in jeopardy.
• Haz Mat requires distance monitoring for safety.

121
RIT Officer

• Must report to the command post / ops post.
• Maintain information updates on operation.
• Maintain team control.
• Monitors communication.
• RIT will not be involved in work that requires
  commitment, as they must be able to hear all
  radio transmissions.

122
RIT Officer

• Standby Mode
• Requires deep-seated discipline. Has to keep
  control of the event while others want to enter
  the scene.
• Must get the team in standby mode after RIT
  assignment/rescue is completed.

123
RIT Tools and Equipment

• Portable radio or radios
• Forcible entry tools
• Hand lights
• Rope bag
• Spare SCBA for quick swap out
• Charged hose line
• Ladders at upper levels for possible egress
• Thermal imager

124
Size Up for the RIT Team

• Building Type
• Wood frame or block.
• Residential or Commercial.
• Sprinkler or non-sprinkler.
• Time of Day
• Middle of the night at a residence.
• Mid-day at a factory.

125
Size Up for the RIT Team

• Initial Report
• What was the call dispatched as?
• What was the initial fire report?
• What was the condition when IC took command?
• The RIT leader can then analyze progression of
  the fire?
• Smoke Color
• Black, white, colors? Is it changing.

126
Size Up for the RIT Team

• Fire Location
• Basement.
• Attic.
• Bedroom.
• Placement of the ladders
• All egresses have a ladder at the window. Ladder
  to the roof.
• Exposures
• The potential fires

127
Size Up for the RIT Team

• Hose-line Placement and Availability
• How many lines, where are they going, who is on
  them?
• Which apparatus are supplying the lines?
• Is the water supply adequate for the flow?

128
Other Functions for RIT

• Set ladders at windows before they are needed.
• Foot ladders.
• Set jacks for aerial apparatus.
• Move hoses into position to protect firefighters.
• Short assignments that can be completed quickly.

129
RIT Can Set a Ladder and Return to Standby Mode

• Good ladder placement!

130
RIT Can Set a Ladder and Return to Standby Mode

• RIT can throw a few ladders in a small period of
  time with little effort and commitment.

131
RIT Can Foot a Ladder and Return to Standby Mode

• RIT can foot the ladder so firefighters can
  safely enter the building. Again, not a long
  commitment.

132
RIT Can Defend a Ladder and Return to Standby Mode

• RIT can quickly hold a fire in check when
  firefighters are descending on a ladder.

133
RIT Team?

• Lots of people on the roof, but no ladder.
• If they are pulling the ceiling on the first
  floor, was there fire?

134
What is This Firefighter Saying?

• Put down the camera and get me a ladder!

135
Self - Survival Tactics

• One of the most effective ways to survive the
  hostile environment and dangerous conditions
  encountered at interior structural fire
  operations is to prevent yourself from getting
  into a serious life threatening predicament in
  the first place! John J. Salka
  Jr. BC FDNY

136
Self - Survival Tactics

• Just thinking about what you are doing and why
  you are doing it can have a tremendous effect on
  most fire ground operations.
• NOT Thinking, but just performing certain tasks
  because you have been instructed to do so, is a
  dangerous way to go through your firefighting
  career.
• If you dont know why youre performing a
  function or tactic and you run into trouble or
  cant complete a job, you wont know what the
  consequences are to yourself or the other
  firefighters on the scene.

137
Self - Survival Tactics

• Every action you take, every tactic you employ
  and every move you make on the fire ground should
  be well thought out and understood.
• If you know what to do but dont know why, ASK at
  an appropriate time!

138
Self - Survival Tactics

• There are literally hundreds of activities going
  on at working structural fires.
• Engine Companies - Search and Rescue, stretching
  hose, laying supply, operating master streams,
  advancing to interior fires, etc.
• Ladder Companies - Search and Rescue, forcible
  entry, ventilation, overhaul, etc.

139
Self - Survival Tactics

• There are some tactics that firefighters can take
  at all fire operations to reduce their chances of
  being injured in sudden dangerous occurrences or
  getting into a situation that they are not able
  to escape from.

140
Self - Survival Tactics

• There are FIVE basic tactics that, if performed
  at every interior structural fire operation, will
  dramatically increase a firefighters chance of
  surviving the operation.

141
Self - Survival Tactics

• Staying Oriented
• Staying Low
• Monitoring Conditions
• Monitoring the Radio
• Staying Calm

142
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Oriented

• Simply put, this means knowing where you are,
  where you came from, where you are going and how
  to get out rapidly at any moment.
• Many firefighters killed inside structural fires
  just got lost. They may run out of air
  frantically searching for a way out, panic and
  rip their mask off, or fall into a shaft /
  opening.
• The importance of knowing exactly where they are
  inside a burning building is paramount in
  assuring their survival when things go bad.

143
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Oriented

• There are several levels of orientation to be
  understood before a firefighter can truly know
  where they are at any given time.
• First is the general location within the
  building. What floor are we on? What section of
  the building.

144
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Oriented

• The second level of orientation that must be
  understood is the room layout that the
  firefighter is operating in.

145
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Oriented

• The third level of orientation a firefighter must
  realize is their exact location in the room.

146
Self - Survival Tactics

• Staying Oriented
• Staying Low
• Monitoring Conditions
• Monitoring the Radio
• Staying Calm

147
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Low

• One of the biggest mistakes made by firefighters
  today is not getting down on the floor when
  operating at fires.
• Advancing hose into a structure or beginning SAR
  operations. Firefighters operating inside
  structural fires are much safer when they take a
  position close to the floor.

148
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Low

• Where is the heat?
• Where is the smoke?
• Where is the fire?
• Common sense should tell you to stay as low as
  possible to operate in the most conducive
  atmosphere where the heat and smoke conditions
  will be at their lowest levels.

149
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Low

• Visibility - Should be at its best lowest to the
  floor.
• Visibility - Most victims found inside burning
  buildings are found on furniture such as beds and
  couches or on the floor.
• Rarely documented instances show victims of fire
  standing up in the room! They wont be there!

150
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Low

• A firefighter that is suddenly exposed to high
  heat or flame spread in a room will have those
  few extra seconds to think and react if they are
  low to the floor.
• The same firefighter standing up will be severely
  exposed and burned if the upper atmosphere they
  are in ignites.

151
Self - Survival Tactics

• Staying Oriented
• Staying Low
• Monitoring Conditions
• Monitoring the Radio
• Staying Calm

152
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• Many of the firefighters who are injured or
  killed at interior structural fire operations
  were never aware of the dangerous conditions they
  were in until it was too late.
• Being aware of the conditions around you inside a
  burning building is vital to a firefighters
  survival.

153
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• Awareness is not just taking note of the obvious
  happenings.
• It is the deliberate monitoring of every possible
  condition that could suddenly increase
• Increase in Heat.
• Decrease in Visibility.
• Direction of Travel.

154
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• The actual monitoring of conditions begins with
  the dispatch call. What did it sound like when
  the initial call came in?
• It then progresses to the on scene arrival
  reports from the company officer, followed by the
  incident commander.
• How did it change? What variables are now
  progressing?

155
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• Monitoring conditions can be a very localized
  tactic that may vary from floor to floor and room
  to room inside a structure.
• For this reason, every firefighter must be
  continuously performing this tactic while
  operating inside.

156
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• Basic Observations-
• Smoke behavior, movement.
• Smoke density and fire is simply watching the
  level of visibility immediately upon entering the
  building. From there, is it
• Improving
• Worsening
• Staying the same

157
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• If conditions are remaining the same as you
  advance towards the fire, you can continue to
  advance and monitor.
• If you are advancing and conditions are becoming
  more severe, you must begin to consider other
  factors such as heat levels and the direction
  from which the heat and smoke are coming.

158
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• Monitor Heat Conditions
• Knowing how hot it is will not only help us
  decide whether or not to enter an area but it
  will be a deciding factor of when we may have to
  evacuate or retreat from an area.

159
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• This is a tremendous area of concern.
  Firefighters are accustomed to operating in high
  heat conditions. Our protective equipment does
  well in insulating and protecting us from that
  heat.
• How do we know how hot hot really is?

160
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• A way to check the heat in a structural fire
  operation is to reach up into the area overhead
  and make a very tight fist with the gloved hand.
• This allows the glove to tighten around the back
  of hand and knuckles and allows the heat to
  penetrate to some degree onto the firefighters
  hand.

161
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• Another method that is not recommended is to
  partially remove the back of the glove to
  slightly expose the skin to the temperature in
  the room.
• This can be dangerous as it is partially removing
  the glove to expose skina violation of safety
  and frowned upon by standards and safety.

162
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• Whatever method you employ, monitor the heat
  conditions that you are operating in and under in
  order to give yourself those few extra seconds to
  retreat to an area of refuge.

163
Self - Survival Tactics

• Staying Oriented
• Staying Low
• Monitoring Conditions
• Monitoring the Radio
• Staying Calm

164
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring the Radio

• Portable radios, when worn by firefighters at
  interior structural operations, give that member
  a direct audible connection to every other member
  on the fire ground that also has a radio.

165
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• The fire ground network allows firefighters to
  transmit important information from their area of
  operations to other firefighters or to Incident
  Command.
• This also allows Incident Command to be informed
  of rapidly changing events.

166
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• From a survival point of view, a radio may well
  be the one piece of equipment that makes the
  difference between the life and death of a
  trapped or disorientated firefighter.
• It is not uncommon for firefighters working in
  teams to become disorientated or separated from
  from each other while operating under extreme
  conditions.

167
Self - Survival TacticsMonitoring Conditions

• If a firefighter does become lost, disorientated,
  or suddenly confronted with a dangerous
  condition, they can immediately call for
  assistance if they are radio equipped.
• Now the IC can ascertain the floor , building
  side, fire condition and firefighters major
  difficulty instantly.

168
Self - Survival Tactics

• Staying Oriented
• Staying Low
• Monitoring Conditions
• Monitoring the Radio
• Staying Calm

169
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Calm

• There are as many different types of people in
  the fire service as there are in every other walk
  of life.
• Some firefighters react excitedly simply by
  hearing about or being assigned to respond to a
  working fire.

170
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Calm

• Mastering the tactics such as Staying Low,
  Staying Oriented, Monitoring Conditions, and
  Monitoring the Radio will do absolutely
  nothing for the firefighter who panics.

171
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Calm

• Being excited while responding to and operating
  at routine, non eventful operations gives a
  pretty good indication of the probable response
  this same firefighter would have to a sudden
  dangerous situation inside a burning building.

172
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Calm

• A firefighter that panics will not be able to
  remember the important steps that must be taken
  to escape that situation.
• Instead, their mind will be racing through
  hundreds of random thoughts with none being
  brought to conclusion.
• All thoughts are probably good ones recalled from
  training, but they are being replaced so quickly
  by the next thought that no one idea is ever
  completely acted upon.

173
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Calm

• What we, as firefighters, need to do is to be
  prepared to insert ourselves into ongoing
  and escalating emergency situations with an
  eye towards regaining control of the
  situation.

174
Self - Survival TacticsStaying Calm

• When the fire department arrives with a calm,
  professional attitude they will
• Become a conditioned response
• Will be demonstrated not only at routine
  operations but it will be the automatic response
  for all calls
• Training that firefighters will fall back on when
  confronted with sudden hostile conditions.

175
The difference between 'involvement' and
'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast
the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was
'committed'. - unknown