High Rise Structural Fire Response

Section 2 - EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

PURPOSE:

To establish a procedure for the handling of a fire incident involving fire and or significant smoke conditions in High-Rise Structures over seven stories or 75-feet in height to be handled in the jurisdiction of the Maitland Fire Rescue Department (MFRD).

Ensure that a strong, direct, and visible command will be established from the onset of the incident.

Establish an effective organization, defining the activities and responsibilities assigned to the incident commander and to other individuals operating within the Incident Command System.

Use the applicable sections of this SOG for fires in Low-Rise Structures between four and seven stories in height with a high life safety risk.

PROCEDURE:

Responsibilities of Command:

• Remove endangered occupants and treat the injured.
• Stabilize the incident and provide for life safety.
• Conserve property.
• Provide for the safety, accountability and welfare of personnel. This prior is ongoing throughout the incident.

Immediate Priorities:

• Identify the fire floor.
• Provide for an initial fire attack and search and rescue operations on the fire floor with at least three Companies.
• Provide for the life safety of persons in immediate danger.
• Evacuate the occupants as necessary.
• Provide water supply for the initial attack.
• Establish Lobby and Accountability (Passport) Control.
• Make a size-up of the fire floor and the floor above.
• Identify which stairwell is going to be used as an Attack Stairwell and which stairwell is going to be used as the Evacuation Stairwell.
• Begin to establish support systems (staging, resources, etc.).

Unit Assignments:

• The Incident Commander should realize that considerable smoke or fire in these structures would require more resources than responding on the initial standard alarm. When necessary additional alarms or resources should be called as soon as possible when managing these incidents.
• The Incident Commander can and should change these assignments at their discretion based on the dynamics of the incident. Situations may dictate that you will need all hands up on the fire floors. The basic initial Groups, Divisions or single unit assignments under Command that need to be made are the Fire Floor Division, In-building staging area, Fire Control Room, Lobby Division, Entry Control Point Under Lobby Division, Accountability, RIT Group and FDC functions. More assignments can be made as resources arrive.
• Once an Entry Point is established, all units shall enter and exit through the Entry Point or Remote Entry Points unless an emergency evacuation is announced. Crews will enter through an entry control point, if established, then go directly to the person in-charge of the group or division they are assigned.
• All units will report to Command for their initial assignment prior to entering the building unless Command directs otherwise.
• Before the initial crews leave the lobby they should try and determine the fire location by reports from occupants and information from the Fire Alarm Enunciator panel. They shall travel two floors below the lowest activated fire protection device such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, water flow detectors, etc, to set-up their operation.
• Units responding on greater alarms should not request incoming orders, but instead report their arrival and stage appropriately.
• First Arriving Engine: (High-rise Equipment, Fire Phone Set (if available) and TIC)
  • Establish Command in the Lobby/First Floor area, identify and announce the Location of Command.
  • Establish and report the Entry Control Point; gather the building’s master keys, Fire Phones, guest lists, etc.
  • The Engineer may be assigned to the Fire Control Room to rapidly report his or her findings from the enunciator panel(s). The Engineer shall make periodic updates to command as to the status of the fire protection and building systems.
  • Gather size-up information to determine the extent of the incident and request additional resources if necessary.
  • Once the transfer of Command is made with the Chief Officer, this crew may be assigned as the Lobby Division.
  • Passing of Command: If the First arriving Engine officer decides to investigate the situation, he/she will announce the passing of command to the next arriving officer and proceed with those duties outlined below in place of the second arriving engine.
• Second Arriving Engine: (High-rise Equipment, Fire Phone set and TIC)
  • Report to Command
  • During a working fire incident, the entire crew should proceed to a point two floors below the reported fire floor or incident. Crews should review this floor layout, if it is similar to the reported fire floor. Observe compartmentalization features, room numbers, standpipe connections, stairwells, elevators, points of refuge and egress, etc.
  • Proceed to the fire floor, via the stairwell, and determine the plan of attack by locating the source of fire and smoke, Identifying and reporting the floors affected and quickly checking the floor above the fire.
  • Determine and report the affects of the smoke and fire on the occupants and what areas or floors will require evacuation.
  • Crews should use the internal Fire Phone system (when available) to establish a communication link with the Fire Control room and relay sizeup information to Command. Phone sets should be the primary means to communicate between Divisions and/or Groups and Command when possible.
  • When a hose line is deployed, it should be done from the stairwell and connected to the standpipe system one floor below the fire floor.
  • If the first arriving Engine Company passes Command, be prepared to establish Command on arrival and perform those duties outlined above in place of the first arriving Engine.
• First Arriving Rescue: (Medical, Fire Phone Set & Forcible Entry Equipment)
  • Report to Command
  • Establish 2-Out located one floor below the fire floor.
  • The rescue crew should review the floor layout one floor below the fire floor to acquaint themselves with the exits points, hallways, standpipe connections, etc. Crews should check for and report on any smoke or fire conditions found.
• First Arriving Truck: (Forcible Entry, Fire Phone Set, Air Monitoring & TIC)
  • Report to Command
  • If the Truck Company arrives ahead of any other officer, they will follow the appropriate sections of this EOP regarding command as covered in First Arriving Engine.
  • Command should assign the Truck Company crew to either an elevated means of egress, ventilation or to assist the crews on the fire floor with forcing doors, search and rescue while checking for fire extension using the thermal imager.
• Third Arriving Engine: (High-rise Equipment, Fire Phone set, RIT Equipment and TIC)
  • Report to Command
  • Be prepared to assume the first RIT Group.
  • Join the Rescue crew (2-Out) and establish a RIT, located one floor below the fire floor if conditions warrant.
  • Evaluate exits, stairwells, standpipes, means of egress, points of refuge, etc.
• First Arriving Chief Officer:
  • Assumes Command
  • Sets up the Command Post (CP) and announces the location on the radio. The CP should be located in an area not subject to falling debris, inside the lobby/First floor area or at least 200 feet from the structure. Any changes in location will be announced on the radio.
  • Request additional resources according to the needs of the incident.
  • Determine early on what the evacuation needs are and confirm they are being managed.
  • Make sure the following initial benchmarks are being addressed and/or completed if necessary:
    1. Ensure the Immediate Priorities (page one) are being addressed.
    2. Ensure adequate resources are available on the fire floor to safely investigate the problem and stretch an initial hose-line and conduct search and rescue operations, as required.
    3. Provide for the evacuation of the occupants in areas that are being threatened by smoke or fire.
    4. Assign a Safety Officer.
    5. Assign a Fire Floor Division during working incidents.
    6. Rapid Intervention Team RIT Group is established.
    7. The Entry Control Point is established, the location is communicated to responding crews and dispatch.
    8. The Entry Control Officer is assigned when necessary.
    9. Identify and announce which stairwell is going to be used as the Attack Stairwell and Evacuation Stairwell.
    10. The Fire Control Room is being monitored.
    11. The Lobby Division is established.
    12. An engine is set-up at the FDC.
    13. The EMS Branch or Division is established if necessary.
    14. Assign in-building staging two floors below the incident, when necessary. This is a single unit assignment and is the staging area for the Fire Floor Division, for example: If you have Division-16 the staging area will be two floors below and referred to as the “14th floor staging”.
    15. The Ventilation Group, Vent Group is established if necessary.
• First Arriving EMS Supervisor:
  • Report to Command
  • Be prepared to establish the EMS Branch or Division in the lobby.
• Fourth Arriving Engine: (High-rise Equipment and TIC)
  • Report to Command
  • Be prepared to hook into the FDC, and check the status of the fire pump.
  • The Engineer remains at this location and the remaining crew reports to Command for assignment anticipate being assigned to interior staging area, or as directed by Command.
• Squad: (Air Monitoring Equipment, and TIC,)
  • Report to Command
  • Be prepared to report to the Interior staging for the Division Area.
• Second Arriving Battalion Chief:
  • Report to Command and be prepared to assume the fire floor Division.
  • The Special Services Units (Squads) may provide Hardwire Communications between the Command Post, Lobby, and the Fire Floor Division.
• Additional Resources can be brought in for:
  • Evaluation, treatment & transport of patients
  • Evacuation of occupants
  • Controlling utilities
  • Control of stairwells, Stairwell Groups
  • Smoke control / Ventilation
  • Additional relief manpower
  • Provide auxiliary lighting
  • Supplementing the command staff
  • Elevated Rescue

BASIC HIGH RISE Groups or Divisions:

• Fire Floor Division:
  • Use floor number to ID, i.e., Division-10 for the Fire Floor Division on the 10th floor.
  • Coordinates the interior attack crews in performing Fire Suppression, Ventilation, Search and Rescue.
  • When necessary an Entry Control Point may be identified for the fire floor and relayed to Command. Crews shall report to this Entry Control Officer prior to going to the actual fire floor.
• Interior Staging Area:
  • This area should be set-up two floors below the fire floor.
  • This is a single unit assignment and is the staging area for the Fire Floor Division, for example: If you have Division-16 the staging area will be two floors below and referred to as the 14th floor staging.
  • The Interior staging area provides a supply of personnel and equipment to support the firefighting operations and is managed by a single unit assignment supervised by the Fire Floor Division Manager.
  • This area supervisor shall manage the Entry Control Point if one is established.
• Medical/Rehab Group:
  • Set-up two floors below the incident from the Fire Floor located near the interior staging area.
  • This Group is responsible for monitoring the medical and rehabilitation needs of the crews operating at the incident.
• EMS Division or Branch:
  • Consider establishing the Division or Branch in the Lobby when the fire is on the upper floors.
  • With incidents involving a large number of victims an EMS Branch should be established rather than a Division.
  • Determine EMS needs and requests additional resources.
  • When necessary determine the best location for the Triage, Treatment and Transport Groups..
• Search and Rescue (SAR) Group:
  • Command shall determine early on how evacuation should be conducted. If it is determined that the occupants are safer protected in place, the occupants shall be told to stay in their rooms until told they can leave by fire department personnel.
  • Consider the compartmentalization features designed in High Rise buildings when evaluating the need for evacuation. Crews need to make sure smoke and fire doors are closed and not obstructed to maintain compartmentalization.
  • Also consider that the fire alarm system will automatically play prerecorded announcements advising the occupants to evacuate from the fire floor, one floor above and one floor below the activated fire detection device.
  • Assure that the evacuation stairwell has been identified.
  • Coordinate with the Lobby Division to determine an area of refuge for these occupants considering a convenient location providing good access and security for the evacuees.
  • Make sure the occupants are directed and/or escorted down uncontaminated stairwells (Evacuation Stairwell). Ideally the farthest from the fire.
  • When evacuation is required it is a recommended to move the occupants’ to a location that is a minimum of three floors below the smoke and fire.
  • When evacuating occupants, evacuate the most severely threatened occupants first (the fire Floor), the floor above and remaining floors or areas as necessary.
• Fire Control Room: (Single Unit Resource)
  • Establish a communication link to Command by, radio, runner, telephone, Nextel, hardwire system, etc.
  • Determine if the fire pump is operational and its status.
  • Monitor the Fire Alarm Enunciator Panels for any indication of smoke and/or fire. Make periodic updates to command as to the status of the fire protection and building systems.
  • Utilize and monitor the Fire phone/Public Address (PA) system.
    1. Use the Public Address system to alert the occupants and fire crews of important messages.
    2. When an Evacuation Order is given by command; personnel in the Fire Command Room shall repeat the order over the public address system if possible.
    3. Assure that when crews operate the fire phone system they do not leave their phones plugged in when not in use.
    4. Monitor the Elevator Panels and other building systems in the Fire Control Room.
  • Establish a telephone link directly with Orange County Communications.
• Lobby Division:
  

• Make sure the Fire Control Room is being monitored.
  • Assure an Entry Point has been established and has been announced.
  • Assure an Entry Control Point Officer is in place and operational.
  • Obtain and track master keys and issue Fire Phones to crews.
  • Obtain multiple copies of a listing of occupants, employees and Special Needs occupants.
  • Have the building staff establish a staging area for employees the business may call in to assist with the incident.
  • Direct the front desk staff to call individual rooms for evacuation.
  • Direct law enforcement to secure the perimeter of the structure to control unauthorized entry and re-entry of people.
  • Relay radio transmissions to Orange County Dispatch and Command when required.
  • Direct crews to the appropriate stairwells or elevators so they can transverse to their assigned Group or Division.
  • Assemble the Manager on Duty (MOD), Security Supervisor, and Maintenance Engineer for command.
• Rapid Intervention Team(s) (RIT):
  • The RIT shall be located one floor below the fire floor, if conditions warrant.
  • From this vantage point the team(s) shall evaluate exits, stairwells, standpipes, means of egress, points of refuge, etc.
• Stairwell Group:
  • In the event crews cannot use the elevators, a Stairwell Group will have to be established to move equipment and supplies to the Interior staging area.
  • The Group Supervisor should determine which stairwell would be best suited for this Group to move equipment quickly and safely.
  • Generally this stairwell should have access to the roof if ventilation becomes necessary.
  • Personnel assigned to the stairwell Group should station themselves at every other floor having their bunker gear and air pack with them.

ELEVATOR USE

• General Elevator Use:
  • Elevators should only be used after it is determined that there is no smoke or fire in the elevator lobbies, shafts or elevator mechanical rooms. This may be difficult for the first due companies to determine.
  • The crews shall check the elevator shaft for smoke by looking between the elevator car and elevator lobby threshold using a hand-light.
  • When crews are riding elevator cars they shall be wearing their protective gear and SCBA. They also shall have a radio, Fire Phone, and basic tools, during active fire operations.
  • If the officer has any doubts to the serviceability or hazards of the elevators, use the stairway, do not use the elevator.
• Elevators with Fire Service (Fireman) Feature:
  • Engage the Fire Service feature in phase one (Lobby switch) and phase two (Elevator Car Switch). Both switches must be turned on for the elevator to operate properly in the Fire Service mode. If you cannot turn both of these switches on do not use the elevator car.
  • When the phase one switch is turned on, all the elevator cars in that bank will go to the first floor and the doors will open, unless the fire is detected on the first floor. Search all the elevator cars for incapacitated occupants when cars arrive in the elevator lobby and report to Command which elevator cars do not return to the lobby.
  • Test the elevator operation to assure the elevator car is operating properly; if it is not operating properly do not us that elevator car and then mark it do not use.
  • Take the elevator car to the floor two floors below the smoke of the suspected fire floor.
  • All occupants in the elevator car shall have all of their protective equipment on; when the elevator arrives at the destination floor all occupants are to be breathing off of their SCBA’s when the doors are opened.
• Elevators without the Fire Service (Fireman) Feature:
  • First arriving units shall not use elevators that do not have the Fire Service feature.
  • These elevators should only be used after it is thoroughly investigated and determined that there is no potential threat of smoke or fire in the elevator lobbies, shafts or elevator mechanical room.

Communications

Crews will report to command or their Division or Group Supervisor, anytime there is any significant change in their location within the building (change in floors, major area, etc)

• Radio Communications:
  • Two-way radio communications may be difficult inside some high-rise buildings because of the density of the building’s components.
  • When available utilize vehicle and portable repeaters as necessary with company approval.
  • Crews will have to utilize the talk around channel for communication when they encounter radio communication problems. This in conjunction with the internal Fire Phone/Public Address System will allow crews two-way communication with the Fire Control Room. The person in the Fire Control Room can then relay the information on the Fire Department Talk Group.
• Fire Phone/Public Address System:
  • Personnel will identify themselves (individual, unit, Group or Division) and their specific location within the building every time they initiate a conversation on the fire phone set so the person in the command room will know where they are and who they are talking with.
  • The fire phone/public address system is an internal hardwire communications system that provides crews two-way communication to the Fire Control Room.
  • Use the Public Address system to alert the occupants and fire crews of important messages.
  • Fire crews can be alerted over the public address system to contact the fire control room using their fire phone handset.
  • When an evacuation order is given by command, personnel in the Fire Command Room shall repeat the order over the public address system, if possible.
  • Assure that when crews operate the fire phone system they do not leave their phones plugged in when not in use.
  • Use runners to send messages between points when necessary.

SEARCH MARKINGS:

• Markings:
  • Lieutenants and/or Division or Group Supervisors should use discretion when deciding to mark doors.
  • When crews are assigned to search rooms or areas of buildings, the crews should mark all the doors or entryways that lead into the rooms or areas that have been searched.
  • When a crew prepares to enter a room for the primary search, they should make a diagonal line on the door or entryway with the unit designation.
  • When units discover this single diagonal line with a unit designation they will know that a primary search is being conducted in that area and which unit is doing the search.
  • These lines should be at least eighteen inches long and made with a lumber crayon. These marking should be made in the middle of the door or entryway.
  • E-45 / (This indicates Engine-45 is conducting a primary search.)
  • Once the primary search is completed the crew should make another diagonal line completing the “X”. This will indicate that a primary search has been completed for that room.
  • E-45 X (Indicates Engine-45 has completed the primary search.)
  • When the crew completes the secondary search, they will place their unit designation below the crew that did the primary search.
  • Q-47 (Quint - 47 completed the secondary search)