1. A Way To A Safer Fire Ground
Rapid Intervention Crew
A Way To A Safer Fire Ground
Presented By:
Bucks County
Public Safety Training Center

2. Objectives Standards Case Histories Who Acts As The RIT? Size UP
Duties Of The RIT Team.
Exercises

3. N.F.P.A. 1561-fire Department Incident Management System
4-1.8-the fire department shall provide for the rescue of individuals operating at an emergency incident
A minimum of 2 Fire Fighter
are required

4. O.S.H.A. Standard C.F.R. 1910.134 “Two in Two Out Rule”
Fire fighters engaged in interior structural suppression use S.C.B.A. and work in teams of 2 or more.
Once fire fighters have engaged in interior operations this standard applies.
A minimum of 2 fire fighters properly equipped and trained must be outside the IDLH area.

5. What Is A Rapid Intervention Crew?
A RAPID INTERVENTION CREW is a group of trained individuals who are fully equipped and ready to go into action in a seconds notice
Their purpose is to help reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities during an unexpected emergency on the fireground

6. Case Study 1988-Hackensack, NJ.
Five firefighters killed while fighting a fire at an auto dealership.
The five firefighters were trapped after the roof collapsed.
An important factor was the limited manpower available for an effective rescue attempt.

7. Case Study 1 Fire fighter dies when he falls through the floor.
1995-Mission, KS.
1 Fire fighter dies when he falls through the floor.
Numerous attempts where made by fellow fire fighters, but to no avail.
Fire fighters not trained in fire fighter removal and insufficient fire fighters contributed to the death.

8. No effective accountability system was in effect.
Case Study
1995-Pittsburgh, PA.
Three firefighters killed while battling a fire in a four level house when a collapse occurred trapping them inside.
No effective accountability system was in effect.

9. Case Study 1999-Worchester, MA.
Six Firefighters killed while battling a fire in an abandon 5 story cold storage building.
Initially two fire fighters where lost in building and other crews where sent in to find them, a rapid change fire condition prevented them from success.
No effective accountability system was in effect.

10. Case Study 1999-Keokuk, Iowa.
Three fire fighters killed attempting a rescue during a dwelling fire.
The “Incident Commander” left the scene to transport one of the victims to the hospital.
No effective accountability system was in effect, nor was there enough manpower to affect rescue of the fire fighters.

11. Organization What is the ideal number of
fire fighters that should be assigned to the RIC team?

12. Organization
What type of training or certifications should be required of a RIC Team?
Fire fighter 1?
Fire fighter 2?
Rescue training?
PA department of health E.M.T. or First Responder?

13. Organization
Should the RIC be the same crew though out the entire incident, or should the IC use them as needed and have another team dispatched to replace them?
If the RIC team is placed into service should they be replaced with another team?

14. Organization
Who should place the RIC into service and should they take the place of the safety officer or be responsible for fire fighter accountability?

15. Organization
What type of apparatus and/or fire fighters should be used by the R.I.C.?
Engine company
Truck company
Rescue company

16. Engine Company Pro’s Con’s Has capability of
Water supply
Everyone has an engine company
Variety of tools, hose and training
Con’s
May lack technical training
Limited amount of powered forcible entry/rescue tools
Limited ground ladders

17. Truck Company Pro’s Con.’s Full complement of ground ladders
Variety of powered rescue/forcible entry tools and equipment
Con.’s
May not be equipped with a pump or hose
Not everyone has a “truck/ladder” company
Limited reach of the main ladder
                                           

18. Rescue Company Pro.’s Con.’s Wide variety of fire rescue equipment
Usually have personal with a higher levels of training
Con.’s
May not be equipped with a pump or hose
Not everyone has a rescue company
Limited complement of ground ladders
                                           

19. RIT Team Procedures Size-up Recon the incident scene
Side determination
Apparatus and tool staging
Accountability system
Deployment
Search
Recovery

20. Pre-arrival Size Up C- construction of building
O-occupancy of building
A-apparatus and manpower
L-life hazard(s)

21. Arrival Size-up W-water supply A-auxiliary appliances
S-street conditions

22. Post Arrival Size-up W-weather E-exposures
A-area of the fire jurisdiction
L-location and extent of fire
T-time of incident
H-height of target hazard

23. Fire Fighter Accountability
Do you use an accountability system?
Does you RIT company know your accountability system?
Is your mutual aid departments using the same accountability system as your department?
Who is keeping track of the fire fighters?

24. Apparatus and Equipment Staging
R.I.C. Should report to the I.C. And then be staged within verbal distance from the command post
What tools should the R.I.C. Have staged with them?
What should each R.I.C. Member be equipped with?

25. Recon And Side Determination
Perform a 360 of the fire building
Look for egress and ingress
Are ladders properly placed?
Mark which side of the fire building is
Side 1 or A?

26. Radio Monitoring
The R.I.C. Team officer should have a scan able radio.
The R.I.C. Team should have their own radio frequency to operate on.
Every member of the R.I.C. Should have a portable radio set to the R.I.C. frequency.

27. Search Procedures Left hand search Right hand search
Search rope with or without knots
Hose line with search ropes
Systematic floor by floor search

28. What Should A Fire Fighter In Trouble Do?
Activate their pass device
Radio for help (mayday)
Press the assist button on
the portable radio
Should the fire fighter
keep moving if able or
stay in one spot?
                                             

29. The Three “W’s”
What fire fighters must know and do to keep themselves out of trouble.
What fire fighters must know and do when they find themselves in trouble.
What the R.I.C. teams must know and do to rescue or remove a fire fighter(s) in trouble.

30. Procedures in Managing the Downed Fire Fighter
Mayday
Clear radio traffic
Evacuate the fire building
Attempt to identify the fire fighter in trouble by your accountability system, radio or role call.
Place companies back into action doing essential fire suppression duties.

31. Downed Firefighter Preparation
Locate
Initial emergency S.C.B.A. Procedures
Is PASS activated? If so turn it off
Renew his or her air supply
(New Bottle Vs. Complete New Pack)
Disentanglement
Harness placement

32. Fire Building Evacuation
Upon notification of a downed fire fighter should the IC evacuate the fire building?
Should interior fire fighter aid in the search of a downed fire fighter?
                                             

33. Most Important Questions
Who is trapped?
How many are trapped?
What was the last location(s) of the member(s)?
What was the last assignment(s)of the member(s)?
Are they radio equipped?

34. 5 Points to Remember L Last known location U Unit number N Name
A Assignment
R Radio equipped
                                                                                                  

35. Downed Firefighter Removal Techniques
Searching
Large area searching
Breaching walls and floors
Enlarging openings
Removing a fire fighter up a set of stairs
Fire fighter removal in a confined area

36. Downed Firefighter Removal Techniques
Removal using a ladder as an overhead with rope
Raising a firefighter using a handcuff knot or wristlets
Removing a fire fighter through a window
Bringing a fire fighter down a ladder

37. The RIC Team Must not have tunnel vision, monitor the fire conditions.
Do not ignore safe practices.
RIC teams will need to be rotated and rehabbed also, so if the initial team goes into service get another team in place.
Consider assigning a safety officer to the RIC team.

38. Considerations
Fire fighters will have the natural tendency to help their brother and sister fire fighters.
On occasion this could lead to a rapid and successful rescue.
In most cases it will lead to confusion, chaos, and possible additional injuries or problems.

39. A good RIT Team is to be proactive not reactive
Remember!
Always observe the fire conditions
Never put yourself in a position where you are dependent on someone else to get you out of!
Always know an escape route!
Always know a back-up escape route!
A good RIT Team is to be proactive not reactive

40. Safety Is an Attitude Be safe!!!!
Whether its about wearing our full PPE including SCBA or wearing seatbelts on the apparatus. These are all tools of our trade and are no different from using a forcible entry tool or an attack line. We must have the same proper attitude for all of them
Be safe!!!!