P-424 First arriving crew-less than 4

Issued By: OPERATIONS
Approved By: Fire Chief William H. Mosher
Date of Issue: 1997/01/07
Date: 2007/08/17; 2008/06/19; 2009/01/16; 2010/01/21

PURPOSE: 

To define the initial operational response functions of the first on scene crew at structure fires, when there are fewer than 4 qualified personnel on scene.

OBJECTIVE:

To ensure the safety of HRFE members when responding to structure fires with crews of less than four personnel. 

SCOPE:

This policy applies to career and volunteer firefighters with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency.

DEFINITIONS: 

•    Hazardous Area: The area where members might be exposed to a hazard or hazardous atmosphere. A particular substance, device, event, circumstance, or condition that presents a danger to members of the fire department. (NFPA Standard 1500 “Standard on Fire Department Occupational Health & Safety Program”, 2007 edition, paragraph 3.3.42)

POLICY: 

It is the policy of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency to have a sufficient number of personnel on scene to mitigate an emergency in the most efficient and safe manner possible, and to minimize the potential for firefighter injury or death, as outlined in NFPA 1500, Chapter 8:

8.5.7* In the initial stages of an incident where only one crew is operating in the hazardous area at a working structural fire, a minimum of four individuals, including at least one Officer, shall be required, consisting of two individuals working as a crew in the hazardous area and two individuals present outside this hazardous area available for assistance or rescue at emergency operations where entry into the danger area is required.

A.8.5.7 The assembling of four members for the initial fire attack can be accomplished in many ways. The fire department should determine in their response plan the manner in which they plan to assemble members. The four members assembled for initial firefighting operations can include an officer, chief officer, or any combination of members arriving separately at the incident. Members who arrive on the scene of a working structural fire prior to the assembling of four persons can initiate exterior actions in preparation for an interior attack. These can include, but are not limited to, actions such as the ladders, the laying of the attack line to the entrance of the structure, or exposure protection. If members are going to initiate actions that would involve entering a structure because of an imminent life-threatening situation where immediate action can prevent the loss of life or serious injury, and four members are not yet on the scene, the members should carefully evaluate the level of risk that they would be exposed to by taking such action. If it is determined that the situation warrants such action, incoming companies should be notified so that they will be prepared to provide necessary support and backup upon arrival.

8.5.17 Initial attack operations shall be organized to ensure that if, on arrival at the emergency scene, initial attack personnel find an imminent life-threatening situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life or serious injury, such action shall be permitted with less than four personnel when conducted in accordance with 8.5.5.

8.5.5 Crew members operating in hazardous areas shall be in communication with each other through visual, audible, or physical means or safety guide rope, in order to coordinate their activities.

8.5.17.1 No exception as permitted in 8.5.17 shall be allowed when there is no possibility to save lives.

8.5.17.2 Any such actions taken in accordance with 8.5.17 shall be thoroughly investigated by the fire department with a written report submitted to the fire chief.

Further, it is the policy of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency that, under no circumstances will a crew of two (2) or less enter a structure fire to carry out any interior action(s).


PROCEDURE:

 The following procedures shall be followed in all instances:

•    Prior to commencing operations, the Incident Commander shall complete a risk assessment based on the information received and observed, and the resources on scene including levels of training. 

•    The Incident Commander shall request additional resources or technical support as required, including but not limited to: Technical Rescue and Hazmat, or other agencies such as Police or EHS. Responding apparatus shall have the ability to upgrade their response or add additional resources as the situation dictates. This can be based on prior knowledge of the building or complex, or can be based on the information received from dispatch.

•    For structure fires, initial actions shall include, but are not limited to, size up, a 360° evaluation of the scene (unless access to all sides is impossible), establishment of safety zones, emergency traffic management, and initial evacuation zones.

•    Limitations on activities conducted at structure fires by the first arriving unit or units shall be determined by the number of initial on scene crew, in accordance with NFPA 1500 A.8.5.7. The IC must not permit entry into the hazardous area until four firefighters are assembled. The hazardous area includes any area where respiratory protection is required, where smoke or flames are present, or where rapid progress of smoke or flames is likely. In a single family residence, the entire structure shall be considered hazardous. In larger buildings, the IC may allow entry into areas of the building which are not subject to smoke or heat. For example, an initial crew could check the alarm panel in an unaffected part of a commercial building or occupy the stairwell or floor below the fire floor in a high rise building.

•    Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, due to the diversity of its membership, recognizes that the assembly of four (4) members at a structure fire can occur in many different ways. The four members who are assembled for initial fire attack can include any combination of members arriving by various means at an incident. Personnel or apparatus shall, upon arrival at a scene, report to the Staging Officer or in the event Staging has not been set up, then to the Incident Commander.

Rescue Procedure - Crew of 3

If only three (3) qualified personnel are on scene, including the Incident Commander, and the I/C determines there is an imminent life-threatening situation as provided for in NFPA 8.5.17, prior to commencing an interior rescue attempt, the I/C shall:

1)    Evaluate the incident by a thorough size-up and risk analysis with due consideration for the extent and duration of the fire, and the possibility of back draft, flash over, rollover, smoke explosion or collapse.

2)    Determine if there are any immediate rescue options available and the associated risks to personnel. 

3)    If the evaluation process identifies a course of action that if implemented immediately, can safely prevent the loss of life or serious injury, the Incident Commander may initiate that course of action, provided that: 

a)    Interior rescue must not be attempted until all PPE including SCBA is in place to provide full protection to the personnel so that the job can be performed safely.

b)    All actions shall include the deployment of a charged hose line for the protection of the rescuers.

c)    All responding apparatus are advised of the action being taken and the support required.

d)    All responding apparatus confirm their ability to provide the support required and an estimate of their time for arrival. It is imperative that the Incident Commander consider the plan’s likelihood of success.

Non Rescue Procedure - Crew of 3 or less
If only three (3) qualified personnel are on scene, including the Incident Commander, and the I/C determines that NFPA 8.5.17 does not apply or that the requirements to initiate a rescue have not been met, or if there are only two (2) qualified personnel on scene, personnel shall confine themselves to action in the nonhazardous or exterior area only.

The Incident Commander, based on a thorough size-up and risk analysis shall consider implementing the following actions in the nonhazardous or exterior area:

a)    Calling for assistance.
b)    Establish a water supply.
c)    Raising of ladders and exterior rescue.
d)    Laying of attack lines to doorways or other points of entry.
e)    Exposures protection.
f)    Exterior fire attack.
g)    Assigning tasks to responding apparatus.
h)    Care and assistance to affected persons on the exterior of the building.
a)    5 i) checking of alarm panel
i)    Hooking up interior standpipe lines below the hazardous area
j)    Removing affected persons who are not in the hazardous area (i.e. on floors below)

Personnel engaged in fire-fighting or support operations at a structure fire must be trained in structural fire-fighting, and must be equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suitable for the operations they are assigned to or are engaged in.

RELATED POLICIES/OPERATING GUIDELINES:

•    OG 4021 Carbon Monoxide Incidents
•    OG 4044 Command Modes- Structure Fires

POLICY REVIEW:

This policy shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the initial operational response of the first on-scene crew (less than 4) at structure fires.