Firefighter Survival

1. Firefighter Survival Welcome

2. Firefighter Survival This course is presented in two parts designed to help the fire service re-think its approach on lost or trapped firefighters. Unit I – Classroom Unit II – Hands-on Skills Lets Save Our Own!

3. Firefighter Survival Course Requirements This course requires students to perform a number of practical evolutions with Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. It is highly recommended to the “Authority Having Jurisdiction” that all participants in this class have a baseline physicals before committing to participate.

4. Firefighter Survival Unit I Course Objectives: • The firefighter will be able to describe common factors that may require self-survival actions. • The firefighter will be able to describe what actions he/she should take in the event of initiating a “MAYDAY” • The firefighter will be able to describe the basic rules for survival.

5. Firefighter Survival Unit II Course Objectives: • The firefighter will be able to describe and/or demonstrate techniques commonly used for self-survival on the fireground.

6. Firefighter Survival Unit I Surviving a Bad Situation “The Need”

7. Firefighter Survival Baltimore, Maryland

8. State Fire/Rescue Training

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11. State Fire/Rescue Training

12. State Fire/Rescue Training

13. State Fire/Rescue Training

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15. State Fire/Rescue Training

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17. State Fire/Rescue Training

18. State Fire/Rescue Training

19. State Fire/Rescue Training

20. Firefighter Survival Libertyville, Illinois

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22. Firefighter Survival Connecticut

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25. Firefighter Survival Summary of Incident On March 1, 2002, a 21-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (the victim) died after becoming separated, disoriented, and lost as he, the Chief, and other firefighters were trying to escape from the interior of a fully involved house fire. Two fire fighters eventually pulled the victim out of the house into the front yard, but he was unresponsive and not breathing. The victim received cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was transported to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

26. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues • Ensure that Incident Command (IC) conducts a complete size-up of the incident before initiating fire fighting efforts, and continually evaluates the risk versus gain during operations at an incident. Departments should also ensure that the first officer or firefighter inside evaluates interior conditions and reports them immediately to Incident Command. • Ensure that adequate numbers of staff are available to operate safely and effectively. • Ensure that a Rapid Intervention Team is established and in position immediately upon arrival.

27. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues • Use evacuation signals when command personnel decide that all firefighters should be evacuated from a burning building or other hazardous area. • Ensure that a separate Incident Safety Officer, independent from the Incident Commander, is appointed. • Ensure that team continuity is maintained. • Ensure that ventilation is closely coordinated with the fire attack.

28. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues • Instruct and train firefighters on initiating emergency traffic (Mayday-Mayday) when they become lost, disoriented, or trapped. • Ensure that backup lines are equal to or larger than the initial attack lines. • Ensure that firefighters are equipped with a radio that does not bleed over, cause interference, or lose communication under field conditions.

29. Firefighter Survival Building Diagram

30. Firefighter Survival Three Pittsburgh Firefighters died on February 14, 1995, when they ran out of air and were unable to escape from the interior of a burning dwelling “8361 Bricelyn Street … The Last Alarm”

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34. Incident Command The first arriving company did not establish command. The Acting Battalion Chief was coming from another call and had a delayed arrival. All first alarm companies had self-committed before the Acting Battalion Chief assumed command of the incident. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues

35. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues Accountability Accountability procedures were not implemented. The Incident Commander did not know the locations and functions of companies operating inside the house. It was not realized that members were missing.

36. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues Crew Integrity All crews did not function as single tactical units. Some of the individual members from these companies performed unrelated tasks and were not under the supervision of their company officers. Most of the personnel were working in temporary assignments for that shift.

37. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues Emergency Survival Actions The actions of the three victims when they realized they were in trouble are not known; however, they do not appear to have initiated emergency procedures that could have improved their chances of survival or made other firefighters aware of their need to be rescued.

38. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues Rapid Intervention Teams Some fire departments have adopted procedures to assign a rapid intervention team at working fires. The objective of this team is to be ready to provide immediate assistance to Firefighters in trouble.

39. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues Communications There was a lack of effective fireground communications at this incident. There was no exchange of information with the interior crews after they entered the dwelling. All of the first alarm companies were operating before the Acting Battalion Chief arrived and assumed command. The Incident Commander did not receive any progress reports from these companies.

40. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues Portable Radios Although two of the three firefighters who died had portable radios, they do not appear to have attempted to use them to summon assistance. (One of the radios was found to be inoperative after the incident.)

41. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues Interagency Coordination The communications problems were complicated by the fact that EMS units on the scene of a fire report to their own supervisors and communicate on their own radio channels. The interaction and communications between fire and EMS units was inadequate.

42. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues SCBA Maintenance Examination of the SCBA units used by the three victims and one of the injured fire fighters indicate that improvements are needed in maintenance, inspection, and testing programs.

43. Firefighter Survival Summary of Key Issues PASS Devices All three victims had PASS devices, however they were not turned on. It is likely that a functioning PASS device would have alerted other firefighters in the immediate area to the unconscious victims.

44. Firefighter Survival On April 11, 1994, two Memphis firefighters were fatally injured while fighting an arson fire in an 11-story apartment building located at 750 Adams Avenue in Memphis, Tenn.. Both firefighters died of smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and asphyxia. “750 Adams … The Last Alarm”

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46. Firefighter Survival Reasons firefighters get into trouble Prior to response • Failure to prepare • Training • Equipment • Not expecting the unexpected • Lack of physical fitness

47. Firefighter Survival Reasons firefighters get into trouble Lack of knowledge of response area. • Pre-fire planning • Company inspection • Changes in building/occupancy

48. Firefighter Survival Fire Behavior Dynamic Situation • Type of Construction • Fuel Load • Installed system • Flashover • Backdraft

49. Firefighter Survival Building Construction New Construction • Truss Construction! • Wood/Steel • Bowstring • Parallel Cord • LWIB (laminated wood I beams)

50. Firefighter Survival Building Construction