Upper Leacock Fire Company SOG's

Section 9    Rapid Intervention Team (R.I.T.)
 

1.    R.I.T. - is a rapid intervention team, which consists of two or more people available to rescue a crewmember if the need arises. R.I.T. Members are expected to be in full turnout gear and equipped with specialized equipment needed to perform a rescue. R.I.T. members should remain at an assigned sector ready to deploy immediately if needed.

2.    Other acronyms for R.I.T.

• FAST - firefighter assist team
• RIC - rapid intervention crew
• IRT - immediate response team
• RDU - rapid deployment team

3.    Why we need R.I.T.

• Too many Firefighter accidents/deaths
• N.F.P.A. standards
• O.S.H.A. standards

4.    Causes of Firefighter deaths

• Inexperience
• Water Loss
• S.C.B.A. failure
• Free lancing
• Lack of Accountability
• Failure to recognize changing conditions
• Poor training
• Lack of Incident Command
• Cardiac Emergencies

5.    N.F.P.A. 1561 standards requirements

• Fire Department shall provide personnel for the rescue of its members
• One or more teams will be assigned
• Minimum of two members per team

6.    O.S.H.A. 29 CRF 1910.134 standard requirements

• A minimum of two Firefighters outside a hazard zone when two or more Firefighters are in the hazard zone
• Must remain capable of rapid rescue for interior teams
• Must account for the interior team

7.    Implementation of R.I.T.

• Should be preplanned and part of SOG (Standard Operating Guideline)
• At working structure fires, Haz-mat incidents, Confined space rescue, or any other type incident that presents a special hazard to Firefighters
• R.I.T. should ALWAYS be able to maintain visual or verbal communications with the Fire Chief or Officer in charge.

8.    Duties of R.I.T.

• Personnel SHALL be in full turnout gear (PBI coat, pants, nomex hood, gloves, helmet with ear flaps down, S.C.B.A. with mask on face but not hooked up to air while standing by).
• Perform size up structure
• Monitor fire ground radio traffic
• Deploy ground ladders as needed
• Deploy hose lines as needed
• Perform interior rescues of trapped Firefighters

9.    Tools and Equipment recommended for R.I.T.

• Full turnout gear and S.C.B.A.
• Pass device (Personal Alert Safety Device)
• Pike pole
• Flashlight
• Portable radio
• Search rope
• Rescue rope
• Thermal imaging camera
• Flat head axe/halogen bar
• Spare S.C.B.A.
• Rotary Saw
• Charged pre- connect hose line (preferably 2 inch hose line)
• Ground ladders
• Rabbit tool, Cutter/Spreader rescue tools
• Fans, Positive pressure fans
• In the event that you deploy a large amount of equipment needed to affect a possible rescue it is recommended that you stage the equipment on a trap near to the R.I.T. staging area but make sure its out o the way of the fire ground operations.

10. R.I.T. size up

• Access egress routes and locations of ground ladders and aerial apparatus
• Access where windows to the structure are located and access what special tools may be needed to gain entry on certain types of doors.
• Access building construction
• Work crew locations
• Emergency exit routes

11. Deployment situations for R.I.T.

• Sudden structure collapse, flash over, explosion, or back draft
• May Day from a lost or trapped Firefighter
• No response from a Firefighter during a PAR or emergency signal check
• Witnessed entrapment or fall
• Note that the R.I.T. only gets deployed by the Incident Commander and SHALL REMAIN in the assigned staging area unless directed otherwise by the Incident Commander

12. Deployment procedure for R.I.T. by the Incident Commander

• If deployment situations arise the Incident Commander will notify the R.I.T. leader to deploy the R.I.T. immediately and will advise the R.I.T. leader of the nature and instructions for the rescue.
• The R.I.T. leader will maintain radio communications with the Incident Commander at all times advising him of the team's status, rescue efforts, and potential hazards, and the need for additional resources and equipment during the entire rescue effort.
• The Incident Commander will advise the R.I.T. leader of any changes in the fire ground operations, and potential hazards.
• The Incident Commander will have ALL fire personnel evacuate a structure in which a R.I.T. was deployed in to affect a rescue, so that they do not interfere with the rescue efforts. When evacuating a structure, the Incident Commander will give the order for ALL revivers to activate a steady blast on the air horn to their apparatus for an underdetermined amount of time to ensure that everyone inside hears the distress sound and evacuates.
• The Incident Commander SHALL have the radio traffic clear immediately upon notification of MAY day call for assistance in which the R.I.T. will be deployed. Radio traffic should be kept to a minimum so that the Incident Commander has priority to communicate with the R.I.T.
• The Incident Commander will activate a second R.I.T. and have them staging in a specific area ready to deploy if needed.
• The Incident Commander should coordinate fire ground operations with the R.I.T. such as ventilation, and fire suppression efforts.
• The Incident Commander should coordinate fire ground operations with the R.I.T. such as ventilation, and fire suppression efforts.
• The Incident Commander will also have EMS crews standing by at a specific area waiting for the R.I.T. to exit the structure with the injured Firefighter.
• The Incident Commander is the ONLY person permitted to recall the R.I.T. if they are not needed at the scene of the emergency or if they were already on location and the scene is under control and the R.I.T. is no longer needed.

13. R.I.T. Officer/Leader considerations

• Assume the worst
• Consider last known location
• Listen to radio, screams, pass device
• Trace hose lines and search lines
• Open exits
• View locations of ladders, tools and helmets
• Complete search may be needed
• Make sure your crew has experience and has been trained in R.I.T. operations.
• Make sure that your ENTIRE R.I.T. CREW is always tied off with a rescue rope during any deployment. The rope should be tied off on the permanent outside structure.
• The R.I.T. leader SHOULD always have and use the Thermal Imaging Camera when the R.I.T. is deployed inside a structure.
• The R.I.T. leader is responsible to see that the Incident Commander, Safety Officer, or Accountability Officer has been given the names of the R.I.T. members prior to deployment for accountability purposes at the scene.

14. What you should do if you become a victim

• Call for May Day/try to give an accurate location
• Activate Pass device
• Follow hose lines
• Search for opening or breach walls
• Stay together and conserve air
• Worst case, assume the horizontal position
• REMAIN CALM

15. Structural collapse indicators

• Fire is under truss construction components
• Falling debris, loose bricks, stones or blocks
• Leaning or cracking walls
• Structural members pulling away from the walls
• Heavy machinery on upper floors
• Floor displacement
• Water volume, duration of the fire, and intensity of the heat from the fire.

16. Liberty Fire Company (Rescue 3-9) will act as our Rapid Intervention Team on ALL emergency scenes involving a dispatch of a 2^nd alarm or higher in our running district.

17. Members from our Fire Company or a surrounding Engine Company may be assigned to a R.I.T. on emergency calls that are a local alarm or 1^st alarm or 1^st alarm and have not reached 2^nd alarm. Members may also be assigned to a R.I.T. during certain training exercises.

18. When our Fire Company Members are assigned to a Rapid Intervention Team, the team will consist of a minimum of two personnel and not exceed a total of five personnel. One of the R.I.T. members either a Line Officer or Senior Ranking Firefighter shall serve in the capacity as the team leader and SHALL be equipped with a portable radio at all times.

19. The R.I.T. shall refrain from performing tasks on the fire ground scene such as fire suppression, ventilation, primary and secondary searches, etc. and should focus on their primary task of rescuing injured or lost Firefighters unless directed otherwise by the Incident Commander.

20. ALL R.I.T. members are expected to remain together at ALL times, even when they are deployed inside a structure for an actual rescue or standing by in their specified staging area outside the structure.

21. R.I.T. members are required to report to Rehab at the completion of an actual deployment inside a structure. The R.I.T. leader is REQUIRED to report to the Incident Commander IMMEDIATELY upon completion of a deployment for debriefing with the Command Staff.

22. ALWAYS BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY DURING ALL R.I.T. OPERATIONS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS #1.

Size-up

____ 1. Building size up (length x width x height).

____ 2. Building occupancy.

____ 3. Building construction type:

____ Wood frame.

____ Heavy timber.

____ Ordinary.

____ Noncombustible.

____ Fire resistive.

____ 4. Placement of windows, doors, fire escapes, porches, etc.

____ 5. Potential danger of high- security doors, barred windows, building modifications.

Tactics

____ 6. Offensive, defensive, defensive to offensive

____ 7. Command operations:

____ Check tactics board.

____ Check accountability system.

____ Communications/incident commanders.

____ 8. Ladders and truck operations.

____ 9. Fire ground time vs. progress.

Equipment

____ 10. Place equipment in staging area (see RIT equipment list).

____ 11. Check with safety /compare information.

____ 12. Potential collapse and collapse area.

____ 13. Relocate or add more RIT.

____ 14. Location of EMS.

Note: This sample checklist is Appendix C in "The Developmental and Use of Rapid Intervention Teams for the Chelmsford, MA, Fire Department and applied research project submitted to the National Fire Academy as part of the Executive Fire Officer Program, September 1999, John E. Parow Fire Chief, Chelmsford Fire Department, Chelmsford, MA. Referenced form Rick Kolomay and Bob Hoff, "Saving Our Own: The Rapid Intervention Team Checklist," Fire Engineering, January 1998.

SAMPLE CHECKLIST

____ Report to IC.

____ Turn in "PATs" to IC.

____ Tools & Equipment Required:

____ Full Turnout Gear w/ SCBA

____ Portable Radio

____ 2 Spare SCBA Bottles

____ Forcible Entry Tools

____ Power Saw

____ Search Rope

____ Rescue Lifeline

____ SFC High band Radio, F6 (located on SFC apparatus, see driver of apparatus)

____ Size up Scene

____ Entry & Egress Points

____ Fire/Hot Zone Location

____ Firefighting/ Rescue Operations

____ Hazards in & around Area

____ Additional Equipment Resources (ladders, attack lines, equipment, etc.)

____ Establish Secondary Egress Route. (Place a ground ladder and raise to fire floor, floor above fire or roof)

____ For Commercial Operation - (Establish ladder apparatus placement with stabilizers set-up and ready for immediate service.)

____ Assist IC. (Emergency communications & additional Hazard Assessment)

____ Stay together and be ready at all times!

____ Released for reassignment only by IC

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Page last edited: 03/12/06

© Upper Leacock Fire Company 2003