Monterey County Fire Operations Manual

1. Monterey County Fire Operations Manual HIGH-RISE FIREFIGHTING GUIDELINES

3. High Rise Firefighting Guidelines -Contents • General Operating Procedure • 1. Immediate Priorities • 2. Life Safety Considerations • 3. Initial Attack • 4. Water Supply • 5. Lobby Control • 6. Staging • 7. Base • 8. Command Priorities

4. Engine Company Guidelines • First Arriving Company – Fire Attack • Second Arriving Company – Water Supply / Fire Attack Support • Third Arriving Company – Lobby Control • Fourth Arriving Company – Staging • Fifth Arriving Company - Base

5. Command Positions • Incident Commander • Operations Chief • Plans Chief • Logistics Chief • Safety Officer • Information Officer

6. General Operating Procedures Definition: Although various definitions have been offered by many different sources, the one which is most widely accepted defines a “high-rise building as being seventy-five feet in height and designed for human occupancy. Priority of assigning resources may vary depending upon the needs of the incident.

7. 1.Immediate Priorities • The exterior of the building shields the inside. Even with “nothing showing” assume the possibility of a concealed fire. • Initial arriving units should be concerned with: • Identifying fire floor • Providing attack on fire floor

8. 1. Immediate Priorities (cont.) • Providing life safety for persons in danger • Water supply for initial attack • Establishing Lobby Control • Determining ventilations needs on fire floor and floor above fire

9. 2. Life Safety Considerations • Includes an evaluation in each area for tenability and need for evacuation. Large numbers of occupants may be involved. • The IC must direct the decision to remove occupants and the plan to relocate occupants must be part of the fire control strategy.

10. 3. Initial Attack • Should be at least two companies • Officer leading the attack should check the annunciator panel for verification, additional information, and best route to fire. • When fire floor is identified, give report of conditions to IC. • IC will establish fire floor as a Division (Floor 6 Division) • Companies on fire floor will use their unit identifiers

11. 3. Initial Attack (cont.) • With multiple standpipes, fire floor Division Supervisor advises IC where water is needed. IC will confirm water is being pumped to the appropriate riser. • Initial attack companies will ascend stairs with SCBA’s, hose packs, and basic forcible entry tools.

12. 4. Water Supply • Second arriving engine company supplies water to standpipe system. • Use additional engine companies if multiple standpipes are needed. • Once water supply is established, Officer and FF can assist with fire attack or IRIC. • IRIC will be located between Staging and the fire floor.

13. 5. Lobby Control • Lobby Control established by third arriving engine company. • Lobby Control accounts for: • All personnel and their assignments • Elevator Use • Stairwell Access • Lobby Security • Air Handling Systems • Smoke Exhaust Systems

14. 6. Staging • Staging established by fourth arriving engine company. • Located two floors below fire floor with convenient access to fire operations. • Resource area for equipment and personnel to support fire attack. • All spare equipment, SCBA’s, hose, etc. located in staging. • Firefighter Rehab located in Staging

15. 7. Base • Base established by fifth arriving engine company. • Located at least 200’ from building in open area suitable for the movement and storage of apparatus and equipment. • Base location is identified by using a geographic identifier. Usually same as Incident Identifier (“Embassy Suites Base”)

16. 8. Command Priorities • Once operations have started, the IC should focus on: • Providing a continuous water supply • Sufficient engines to pump standpipes • Providing for IRIC and RIC • Assigning a crew to check above fire floor and obtaining an accurate report of conditions above fire floor • Calling for additional resources as needed • Five additional engine companies and two Chief Officers are needed for a confirmed fire inside the building • Additional ten engines and three Chief Officers for any working fire

17. 8. Command Priorities (cont.) • Establishing an additional support system that includes: • Staging • Rehab • Increased Lobby Control • Stairwell Support • Base • Expansion of the Incident Command System

18. 8. Command Priorities (cont.) • Establishing ventilation groups • Provide positive pressure ventilation to the attack stairwell as soon as possible • Additional stairwells may also require positive pressure ventilation

19. ENGINE COMPANY OPERATIONS

20. 1. First Arriving Company – Fire Attack • Strip the following equipment from the apparatus: • Breathing Apparatus • Forcible Entry Tools • High-Rise Hose Packs & (2) gated wye • Portable Radios • Tools for Propping Open Doors • Thermal Imaging Camera • Cell Phone • Ceiling Puller • Key for Knox Box

21. 1. First Arriving Company- Fire Attack (cont.) • Make entry and proceed to fire control room • Obtain information on nature of emergency • Prior to leaving Lobby, ensure the following has occurred: • Determine what is on the panel • Obtained appropriate keys • All elevators are down and locked • HVAC system is shut off • Fire phone is obtained • Provided an initial report of conditions

22. 1. First Arriving Company – Fire Attack (cont.) • If fire is confirmed, pass command and begin fire and rescue operations • Proceed to fire floor via a safe route • Provide report of conditions on each floor during ascent * Do not use elevator for investigating a fire • Establish Staging two floors below fire floor if suitable

23. 1. First Arriving Company – Fire Attack (cont.) • Locate fire, check for vertical extension, initiate fire attack & rescue and give the following size-up: • What is burning • Are occupants endangered • Immediate resource needs • Floor conditions • Best route for resources to staging • Condition of floor above fire floor

24. 2. Second Arriving Engine Company – Water Supply / Fire Attack Support • Establish a continuous water supply • Complete water supply hook-up to appropriate standpipe(s) • Officer and FF establish IRIC two floors below fire floor if not needed to support water supply operation

25. 2. Second Arriving Engine Company – Water Supply / Fire Attack Support • Strip the apparatus of the following equipment: • Breathing apparatus • Forcible entry tools • High-rise hose packs (2) and gated wye • Portable Radios • Tools for propping open doors • Cell phone • RIC Bag if establishing IRIC

26. 2. Second Arriving Engine Company – Water Supply / Fire Attack Support • If assigned, proceed via a safe route to fire floor to assist with fire suppression and rescue operations

27. 3. Third Arriving Engine Company – Lobby Control • Strip the following equipment from the apparatus: • Breathing apparatus • High-rise hose packs (2) and gated wye • Portable radios • Extra air bottles • Key for the Knox Box

28. 3. Third Arriving Engine Company – Lobby Control (cont.) • Proceed to lobby area or designated point of entry • Obtain fire alarm information from panel or fire control room • Obtain elevator / stairwell keys • Establish check-in / check-out procedure • Take control of elevators

29. 3. Third Arriving Engine Company – Lobby Control (cont.) • Call all elevators to lobby and lock them out • Do not allow elevator use unless approved by Operations or IC • If personnel use the elevators, they will have the following: • Breathing apparatus • Portable fire extinguisher • Portable radio • Forcible entry tools • Elevator control key

30. 3. Third Arriving Engine Company – Lobby Control (cont.) • Manage stairwell access • Locate ground floor stairwell openings • Verify from Fire Attack the safest stairwell for use to Staging • Control entry and exit of stairwell • Provide the following information for persons using the stairwell: • Reported location of fire • Status of elevators • Specific route to staging including stairwell • Additional important information

31. 3. Third Arriving Engine Company – Lobby Control (cont.) • Control HVAC and smoke exhaust systems • Shut down HVAC system • Make sure smoke exhaust system is operating • Make contact with the Building Manager / Engineer

32. 4. Fourth Arriving Engine Company - Staging • Strip the following equipment from the apparatus • Breathing apparatus • Forcible entry tools • Portable Radios • Extra air bottles • Medical Aid Kit

33. 4. Fourth Arriving Engine Company – Staging (cont.) • Obtain “Staging” high-rise kit provided by requesting agency • Determine location of Staging from Operations or IC. • Two floors below fire floor if possible • In large room or area next to stairwell • Obtain from Operations or IC the amount of resources to remain in Staging • Use elevators only if approved by Operations or the IC

34. 4. Fourth Arriving Engine Company – Staging (cont.) • Divide Staging area and identify the following areas: • Reserve personnel • Rehabilitation • Reserve equipment • Full air bottles • Empty air bottles

35. 4. Fourth Arriving Engine Company – Staging (cont.) • Maintain record of companies and equipment in Staging • Check-in procedures for Staging include: • Check-in time • Company number and agency • Officer in Charge • Number of company members • Equipment brought to Staging

36. 4. Fourth Arriving Engine Company – Staging (cont.) • Check-out procedures for companies assigned or released include: • Check-out time • Company number and agency • Officer in charge • Number of company members • Division or group assignment / or release • Equipment taken out of Staging

37. 5. Fifth Arriving Engine Company - Base • Contact IC to verify location of Base • Use geographic identifier • At least 200’ from building • Not to interfere with Command Post operations • Report location to County Communications • Establish a security perimeter around Base • Coordinate with law enforcement agencies to secure Base and establish an unrestricted path to Lobby or point of entry

38. 5. Fifth Arriving Engine Company – Base (cont.) • Establish a check-in / check-out procedure for arriving resources • Base arrival time • Company number and agency • Officer in charge • Number of company members • Type of equipment • Assignment given when leaving Base

39. 5. Fifth Arriving Engine Company – Base (cont.) • Park apparatus in an orderly fashion • Advise IC of resources in Base • Coordinate smooth flow of personnel and equipment from Base to Lobby or point of entry • Establish an equipment pool and locate in a secure area • Consider a traffic flow that will facilitate unloading of equipment and transportation to Lobby • Obtain Base high-rise kit from requesting agency

40. Command Positions

41. 1. Incident Commander • Responsible for management of all incident operations • Plans and directs the overall strategy of the incident • Establishes the organizational objectives necessary to manage the incident

42. 2. Operations Chief • Manages all suppression and rescue activities • Consults with IC on overall strategy and tactical objectives • Assigns and supervises Fire Attack, Staging, and Division & Group Supervisors • Normally operates from a location above ground near the fire suppression activities

43. 3. Plans Chief • Assists the IC in planning the overall strategy for containment of the incident • Supervises and coordinates the activities of Situation Status and Resource Status

44. 4. Logistics Chief • Supervises and coordinates the activities of Lobby, Base, Stairwell Support, Water Supply, Communications, and Medical Unit • Location of Logistics Section Chief will be determined by the needs of the incident

45. 5. Safety Officer • Identifies and mitigates hazardous situations • Informs the IC in matters affecting personnel safety • Investigates accidents that occur during the incident

46. 6. Information Officer • Provides liaison between the media and the Incident Commander • Consults with the Command Staff regarding any constraints on the release of information and prepares media information releases

47. High Rise Firefighting Guidelines • Monterey County Fire Operations Manual – High Rise Firefighting Guidelines • Power Point Presentation created November 27, 2009 • Prepared by Dan Gearhart, Division Chief