EAST FORK FIRE AND PARAMEDIC DISTRICTS

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EAST FORK FIRE AND PARAMEDIC DISTRICTS

• RAPID INTERVENTION TEAMS
• SAVING OUR OWN
• PART 1

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About this program
This program is intended to provide training for
the concept of SAVING OUR OWN. During this
program, a variety of training areas will be
addresses that are vital to crews who are
assigned to the Rapid Intervention Team.
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The What...
What is a Rapid Intervention Team? The Rapid
Intervention Team is a team of
firefighters who have a common leader,
goal, training, and communications,
that has been assigned for special
tactical mission of rescuing firefighters.
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The Why ...
Why Do We Need This Training? In 1999, 112
Firefighters lost their lives, yet the total
number of structure fire responses
was down from the preceding
year.
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Some Statistics...
In 1995, 50 of the firefighter fatalities
occurred on the fire ground In 1995, 39 of the
firefighter fatalities occurred in 1 and 2 family
dwelling units In 1998, 20 firefighters died in
building collapse or after becoming lost during
search and rescue operations In 1999, 21
firefighters died in building collapse or after
becoming lost during search and rescue
operations So far in 2000, 5 firefighters have
lost there life due to building collapse or
during search and rescue operations.
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Acronyms For Team Activation..

• RIT - Rapid Intervention Team
• RIC - Rapid Intervention Crew
• FAST - Firefighter Assist and Search Team
• RAT - Rescue Assist Team
• IRT - Immediate Response Team
• FRAT - Firefighter Rescue Available Team
• RDU - Rapid Deployment Unit

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Reasons for implementation

• Firefighter death case studies
• Rapidly deterioration conditions
• Poor Communications
• Inexperienced Officers
• Failure to wear SCBA
• Water loss
• Failure to identify problems
• Energy efficient buildings
• Failure to use PASS
• Poor training
• Freelancing

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Some Common Factors...
Failure to read the building - 1 FACTOR Lack
of a complete size up Lack of knowing building
construction and fire behavior Lightweight
construction Hotter Fires NO PASS
Devices Seattle - 4 Fatalities 2 firefighters
failed to activate PASS Devices Pittsburgh - 3
Fatalities No PASS Devices activated San
Francisco - 1 Fatality / 2 Serious Injury - No
PASS Devices activated Indianapolis - 2
Fatalities No PASS Devices activated
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More Common Factors...
Heavy Fire on Lower Levels or below Roof
Operations Firefighters falling through floors
and roofs Communications Hackensack - 5
Fatalities - Calls for help continued for over
30 minutes and 17 minutes after the initial
collapse Accountability 25 of fatalities can be
related to lack of fire ground accountability
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Some Common Characteristics...

• Failure to follow procedures and orders
• Lack of awareness and communications
• Lack of Command, coordination, accountability and
  knowledge
• User failure to routinely check PASS

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Standards and Regulations
NFPA 1500 Personnel must be provided for member
rescue One or more teams must be assigned Each
team must have a minimum of two rescuers All
personnel must be wearing the proper PPE Special
operations considerations
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Standards and Regulations
NFPA 1561 Fire Departments shall provide for the
rescue of individuals operating at emergency
incidents. A minimum of two rescuers must be
provided.
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OSHA and 2 IN - 2 OUT
Under the OSHA interpretations, the 2 IN - 2 OUT
requirements applies to all incidents where an
IDLH atmosphere is present.
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Situations Requiring RIT...

• Sudden hazardous events
• Lost or trapped firefighters
• Unaccounted for firefighters
• Flashover/Backdraft
• Rapid fire increase
• Explosion
• Collapse

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RIT Implementation...

• RIT implementation must be pre-planned
• RIT implementation will require an SOG
• RIT implementation will require modification in
  dispatching
• RIT implementation may require additional
  equipment and multiple teams

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Use of Rapid Intervention Teams
When do we use and apply the concept of Rapid
Intervention Teams? Working Structure
Fires Offensive Operations Special
Operations Hazardous Materials
Response Confined Space Rescue
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Basic RIT Concepts...

• Attitude is EVERYTHING
• It doesnt take a 500,000 squad to implement the
  RIT Concept
• Personal Protective Clothing is a MUST
• Saving our Own begins with YOU
• EVERYONE has a responsibility to SAFETY

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Team Composition...
The basic Rapid Intervention Team is best
composed of four (4) trained firefighters
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Team Responsibilities
The Rapid Intervention Team Is Responsible
For Locating themselves near the Incident
Command Post Making verbal and visual contact
with the IC Staying clear of incident
operations Maintaining team discipline Assemble
the necessary equipment Evaluate building
construction Locate entrances and exits
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More Team Responsibilities
Monitor Communications Evaluate special needs
and equipment Throw ladders is
applicable Extend additional hose lines if
necessary Identify EMS area and
personnel Evaluate the need for additional RIT
Teams
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Plain and Simple
The Rapid Intervention Team must be able to see
through the panic and confusion that will follow
a MAYDAY call. Paul Stein, Retired
Division Chief Santa Monica Fire Department
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Rapid Intervention Team Training
Training levels and specific prerequisites may
vary by department but the following are examples
of the type of training desired Basic Entry
Level Firefighter Training Specific Search and
Rescue Training related to Structural
Firefighting EMT Basic Training Special
Training in the use of Rope Rescue, Confined
Space, and Heavy Rescue
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Saving Yourself

• Call for HELP - MAYDAY
• Give details of the problem
• Activate PASS Device
• Stay with your Company
• Search for openings
• Conserve Air Supply
• Shine handlight upward
• Key up Radios

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After The MAY DAY...

• Assume the worst
• Consider last know location
• Listen for PASS and Radios keyed up
• Open all Exits
• Conduct Search
• COMMUNICATE

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Incident Command Responsibilities...

• Control Communications
• Commit the Rapid Intervention Team
• Initiate PAR (Personnel Accountability Report
• Possibly direct a withdrawal
• Check and verify strategy and tactics

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Basic Duties and Procedures...
To better understand the function of the Rapid
Intervention Team, the concept has been
subdivided into five components 1 Arrival 2 Place
ment 3 Preparation 4 Activation 5 Demobilization
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Arrival...

• The Rapid Intervention Team arrives on scene
• The team leader informs the Incident Commander
  that they are present and are awaiting
  instructions

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Placement..

• The team leader will usually try to position the
  teams base of operations near the Incident
  Command area
• The team will try to stay near the action but out
  of the way of operations

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Preparation...

• While waiting, the RIT goes into an
  information-gathering mode
• The team surveys the fire ground and looks for
  equipment and materials that may be useful in the
  event that a firefighter rescue is necessary.
• The team assembles the necessary tools and
  equipment
• The team will recon the fire and structure
• The team will monitor communications
• The team will STAY ALERT!

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Activation

• Should a firefighter go down, usually all
  firefighters in the structure are pulled out. At
  that point, the IC will order the RIT into action
• The team commander will send team members into
  the nearest entry point.
• The team leader will remain remain in control of
  the team
• One team member will serve as an anchor point
  keeping the life lines of the entering unit clear
  and transporting additional equipment to the
  entry point
• The team leader will keep in contact with the
  entering unit, directing their progress and
  communicating with the IC
• Assuming the rescue has been successful, the team
  will transport the the fallen firefighter to a
  safe location and to the EMS area

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Demobilization...

• Demobilize only upon the orders of the Incident
  Commander
• Demobilize only after PAR

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Be Safe...
NO Firefighter should have to leave the scene of
an incident in this manner BE SAFE