Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT)

Section 2 - EMERGENCY OPERATIONS _ FIRE SUPPRESSION

210.13 Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT)

(1) PURPOSE:

• The purpose of rapid intervention is to be immediately available for rescue of a member or team who becomes trapped in an emergency incident, and to provide the means of emergency egress. This guideline is intended to increase safety for members operating at hazardous emergency incidents by ensuring the presence of a dedicated Company or team for rescue of members. A RIT shall consist of a minimum of 3 personnel, including one officer. The team size should be increased to 5-6 personnel as soon as resources are available.

(2) DEFINITIONS:

• RIT team – A RIT team is an on-scene crew properly equipped, positioned and prepared to take immediate steps to locate and rescue firefighters in trouble.
• RIT Officer - The RIT Officer is the highest ranking officer assigned as a member of the RIT Team.
• RIT Liaison - The RIT liaison is an individual from each RIT Team assigned to the command post to coordinate radio messages between RIT and Operations radio tac’s.
• RIT Group Supervisor – A RIT group supervisor is an Officer placed in charge when multiple RIT teams are assigned.
• May Day - A May Day is an emergency event involving firefighters in distress.

(3) ASSIGNMENT OF RIT:

After Command establishes a need for RIT it should be assigned within the initial first alarm assignment. RIT may be assigned to any company or companies responding within the first alarm.

(4) RIT STAGING & LOCATION:

Upon arrival the RIT officer shall report to Command to be briefed on the location and ID of the operating units. Command may select/recommend the staging location of RIT. The RIT(s) shall be set up outside the building or hazard area, in a location that provides the best access to entry points used by crews operating in the building or hazard area. On multistory buildings, the RIT(s) shall be staged one story below the fire floor, or the closest lower floor or location that provides a safe area for rapid and unobstructed access to the crews operating on the fire floor.

(5) RIT ACTIONS:

The RIT Officer shall review the building features, floor plan and preplans. The RIT Officer should be familiar with what Units are operating, and their locations in the building or hazard area. The RIT Unit shall perform an exterior size-up, considering primary hazard, building construction and fire conditions. The RIT shall ensure a secondary means of egress for operating crews. As the incident expands in size, complexity, or in unusual operations, RIT may be positioned at additional locations as determined by the Incident Commander. The RIT Unit shall be ready to take immediate action as directed by the Incident Commander.

(6) RIT TOOLS & EQUIPMENT MINIMUMS:

6.1 The Basic RIT bag should contain the following minimum equipment:

• SCBA with Mask
• 100’ of Search rope w/ Carabineer
• Extra Carabineer
• Nylon webbing 15’ with sewn 10” loops on each end
• Marker lights/light sticks/hand lights
• Wire Cutters/Side cutters
• Quick Fill air transfer hose

6.2 The basic tools and equipment to be staged shall include:

• RIT bag
• BLS Equipment
• Axe & Halligan
• 8’ Pike pole
• Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC)
• Hand lights
• Spare SCBA cylinders (Complete SCBA pack if available)
• Extra batteries for TIC and portable radios
• If the crew has air-monitoring equipment it shall be staged as well.
• RIT Board
• A dedicated hose line equal in size and length to the original line deployed.
  Example (pre-connected cross-lay or high rise pack)

(7) RIT DEPLOYMENT:

RIT shall be deployed by command, anytime a Mayday event is declared.

7.1 Anytime a RIT is deployed :

• Command shall request an additional alarm assignment. and assign an additional RIT Group and RIT Group Supervisor.
• Command shall assign all activated RIT’s to another channel. Anytime a RIT is moved off the fire ground channel, a RIT Liaison shall be assigned to the Command Post to coordinate the radio messages between the two channels. Unless directed by Command the firefighter(s) in trouble will not change radio channels.
• Command shall evaluate the complexity of the incident including both the ongoing operations and the Mayday event and take the following actions as deemed appropriate:
• Command shall request any additional or specialized resources needed to control the incident, in addition to the automatic 2nd alarm (or greater alarm) initiated at the onset of the Mayday event.
• NOTE: A dispatcher may not be monitoring the RIT channel, and communications should flow through the RIT liaison at the command post.
• Command shall replace the deployed RIT with another RIT to support any ongoing operations that cannot be suspended.
• Command shall assign a back-up RIT to support the deployed RIT.

7.2 Command shall establish a ready and waiting Rescue capable of rapid transport, which will be assigned to the RIT Group.

• Assign one Rescue for each missing or endangered firefighter.

7.3 The RIT officer shall immediately meet with the Incident Commander, or RIT Group Supervisor if established, to receive specific direction and information to include:

• Name of firefighter(s) in trouble, to include their unit IDs.
• Details known about the emergency that created the Mayday.
• Last known location and assignment of firefighter(s) in trouble. Remember, the closest point to the downed firefighter(s) may not be via their initial entry point.
• Fire/Incident size-up (where the fire is and where it’s going)
• Hazards and structural stability.
• Confirm RIT radio assignment (confirm everyone on the team makes the change to the alternate radio channel).
• The person the RIT will be reporting to (Command or RIT Group Supervisor).
• The RIT will mark the best-known location of the downed firefighter, or last known location of the missing firefighter and leave the RIT board at the staging area for the backup RIT, and then enter the structure or hazard area with the appropriate equipment to affect the rescue.
• The RIT will provide regular updates to command, or the RIT Group Supervisor if established, as to their movements, conditions encountered within the building and completion of the following benchmarks.
  1. Locate the lost, downed, trapped or missing firefighter.
  2. Place the firefighter(s) on air (if not already on air).
  3. Remove the firefighter(s) from the building or hazardous area.
• The RIT will utilize search ropes or hose lines to establish their exit route as they move through the building, even when current conditions provide for adequate visibility.
• All RITs will be deployed with a TIC.
• The back-up RIT(s) will review the RIT board and any other information available in preparation of entering the building to assist or replace the first team.

The RIT Group Supervisor may assign additional resources to one or more of the RIT teams to support their rescue efforts. Command shall assign all activated RIT teams to another channel.

• At The End of RIT operations the Incident Commander shall notify all units and Communications of a return to normal operations and the end of the Mayday Event.