Moreton in Marsh 9 May 2005 Authors : Edoardo Cavalieri dOro, Sonia Noci, Gilberto Giunti, Fabrizio Priori, Davide Fratantonio, Ilaria Scifoni,, Rosario Caccavo, Roberto Paoletti, Alessandro Giribaldi. Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale Presented by Edoardo Cavalieri dOro

Institutional Tasks of the Italian National Fire Brigade Technical Rescue prescribed by law 469/1961, including dangerous situations caused by the use of nuclear energy Civil Defence, prescribed by D.Lgs. 300/1999 Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

SINCE 1961 we operated with conventional scenarios on chemical and petrolchemical plants (i.e. Seveso) At the BEGINNING we were operating with few specialized units (Milan,Venice, Rome..)..but NOW we need to apply this knowledge and experience to non-conventional scenarios Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale Institutional Tasks of the Italian National Fire Brigade

Regulation 6, May 2002 Focused on the need to improve the capabilities of CNVVF toward non- conventional scenarios: Organization Procedures & Education Personal Protections & Equipments Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Organization - Goals Regulation 6 focuses on two different goals Territorial Coverage Highly Specialized Staff Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Organization - Skills The Italian VF response to non conventional threaths is based upon the following classifications: Four different skill levels Three different operational levels Operational LevelSkill Level Regional NucleusLevel 3 (Operational/Management) Provincial ExpertiseLevel 2 Base TeamTeam ChiefLevel 0-1 OperatorsLevel 0-1 Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Organization – Levels 0,1 Level 0 & level 1 skills: First Operations at the Scenario Risks Acknowledgement Zoning P.O.S. (Standardized Operational Procedures..) Use of Individual Protective Systems and Equipments Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Organization – Level 2 Level 2 skills: Analisys of the Capability to Operate in Complex Scenarios Adequate use of all Equipments Reporting and Documentation Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Organization – Level 3 Level 3 skills: Operational: Acting in complex scenarios by means of personal Protective System & Technical Equipments Management: Coordination & Cooperation with the Police and the Emergency Rescue Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

The Current NBCR Response Accounts of… More than 20 non-conventional exercises per year 6 non-conventional international exercises All operators skilled at least with level 0 Equipments & Personal Protection Systems available at every fire station Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Firefighters Operations in NBCR Accidents RISK EVALUATION THE CHOICE OF 1) REFERENCE SCENARIOS 2) REFERENCE EVENTS Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

1) Reference Scenario: 1.Recovery without dispersion 2.Dispersion in confined zone 3. Environmental contamination 2) Reference Events: A. Release without fire or explosion B. Release with fire or explosion C. Recovery of dangerous substances without (or with remote) risk of release Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Scenarios Evaluation Table Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

The Procedural Model The EIGHT STEPS Model Intervention Tecniques ZONING and DPIs Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

The EIGHT STEPS Model 1 – Site Control 2 – Substance Identification 3 – Dangers and Risk Analysis 4 – Evaluations of the Instruments and DPI 5 – Coordination of Information and Resources 6 – Control and Containment of the Substance 7 – Decontamination 8 – End of the Intervention Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

- Waiting Area for Authorities, Media.. - Nobody (forbidden area) -Command Unit - Firefighters with ordinary protection - Health workers with ordinary protection - Decontamination - Firefighters with NBC protection - Health workers with NBC protection - Only HAZMAT team Full protection WIND Command Unit - Not Dangerous - Operating - Potentially Dangerous - Operating - Dangerous - Operating - Dangerous - Not Operating ( Not Accessible ) - Not Dangerous - Not Operating DECON ZONING – Areas of Intervention Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

DPIs and Zones Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale Protective suits YELLOW ZONE Protective suits ORANGE ZONE Protective suits RED ZONE

NBCR Protective Clothing SUITS NBCR Machines and Instrumentations DETECTORS SPECIAL VEHICLES Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Suits Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale The protective suit type 3 The protective suit type 1a-ET

VOC Detector - Volatile Organic Compound Command Unit Vehicle Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale Detectors and Vehicles

NBCR Activity: Some Pratical Examples 3 Simulated Exercises 1 Concrete Example We here report 1 Simulated Exercise complete of analysis of the events: The so called Termini 2004 Exercise

Exercise S. Giorgio 2004 Subway Station Scenario: Bacteriological Attack Subway station: Station: m First floor: m. 30 people involved Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Red Zone 2004 Civil Defence Exercise Scenario: A small explosion followed by smoke release. The smoke expands rapidly within the ground of a sport center where two teams are playing volleyball. Location: Modena, Palazzo dello Sport Civilians involved: 14 players fell to the floor, some of them fainted The managers of the two teams alert immediately the health service: 118… Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Mall Auchan Olbia 2004: a True Experience 14:40: ten people within a mall start coughing and having problems with their throats 14:45: The team arrives and in three minutes realizes a toxic agent could be in the pipes of conditioning system All the information available are sent to the Control Room that is going to communicate the event to the provincial NBCR Regional Nucleus, to the Officer in charge and to the Commandant… Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

The Exercise Termini 2004: Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale The Simulated Scenario Attack with nerve agents in a mall located in the basement of the Station Termini is a railway and underground station located in the middle of Rome The Location

People involved in the Exercise Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale 250 People contaminated or casualties whose 20 contaminated and unable to walk The Resources we made use of: 90 Firefighters divided into: 24 operators wearing the protective suit type 3 12 operators wearing the protective suit type 1a-ET 34 Vehicles

Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale Hazmat Detection & Confinement 1 C.Sq. 2 Operators Hazmat Rescue 1 C.Sq. 5 Operators Secondary Technical Decontamin. 1 C.Sq. 5 Operators Primary Technical Decontamination 2 C.Sq. 7 Operators Mass Decontamin. with Shelter 1 C.R. 8 Operators Mass Decontamin.with Pneum Tent 1 C.R. 9 Operators Logistic for hazmat operations 1 C.R. 4 Operators Logistic and Support 1 C. Sq. 3 Operators Command and Control 1 Comm.nt 2 Eng. 1C.R. Mobile Control Center 1 C.R. 2 Operators Telecommunication Laboratory 1 C.R. 3 Operators VF Resources by Functions

Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale BUS RED ZONE DECONTAMIN. STRETCHER LOGISTIC AREA MASS DECONTAMINATION on SHELTER TECHNICAL DECONTAMINATION PRE DECONTAMINAT. AREA MASS DECONTAMINATION WITH TENTS Stations Zoning COMMAND & CONTROL CENTER ORANGE ZONE YELLOW ZONE

Technical coordination Stretcher Tents Shelter Logistic coordination Termini ; 1:30 Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale Command Center

Tasks - Scheme Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale Coordination and Command Area Logistic and Support Mass Decontaminat. Technical Decontaminat. Logistic NBCR operations Primary Secondary Tents for stretchers Pneumatic Tents Shelter NBCR Operations in Red Zone

Technical Primary Decontamination Emergency Showers Installation Time: 10 minutes N° Operators: 2-3 Decontamination Rate : person/hour Installation Time: 10 minutes N° Operators: 2-3 Decontamination Rate : person/hour

Secondary Decontamination Shelter Installation Time: 20 min N° Operators: 3 Decontamination Rate: 20 pers/h Installation Time: 20 min N° Operators: 3 Decontamination Rate: 20 pers/h

Secondary Decontamination Tent for mass decontamination Installation Time : 45 min N° Operators: 10 Dec. Rate: person/h Installation Time : 45 min N° Operators: 10 Dec. Rate: person/h Self-inflatable Pneumatic System The system can be installed by means of an electric pump or oxygen bottle.

C B A A – Undressing Area B – Shower Area C – Dressing Area 3D Inside View of the Decontamination Station Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

A note about the equipment: used for people unable to walk Some of the stretchers had been modified by installing wells and big handles in order to use it by means of a single operator A. Stretchers

A note about the equipment: used for people unable to walk B. Shower for Stretcher Installation Time: 10 min N° Operators: 2 Installation Time: 10 min N° Operators: 2

A note about the equipment: used for people unable to walk Useful to carry on two casualties in case of long path. It has also been used to transport materials or as an anchorage for the recovery system for escalators Installation Time: 5 min C. Power Truck

Analysis of the Exercise Kit NBCR installed on the APS (fire truck vehicle) (Circ. 6/2002) There are some issues related to their collocation aboard : Absence of dedicated slots aboard Storage methods for suits (within boxes that are going to be exposed to the ray lights? DuPont is actually conducting some aging tests in order to verify possible damages to suits and equipments) Storage Methods for the equipment (The breathing apparatus is suggested to be stored within the range °C) Suits type 4 (Circ. 6/2002) It would be necessary (Circ. 6/2002) to use this suit together with the suit 1a ET (There are more disadvantages than benefits). Suits in sontara are going to solve the experienced difficulties Zoning, Cooperation with other aiders, communications Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

Sticker Detector (Circ. 6/2002) The current equipment isnt useful because stickers showed a low adherence over time. We ordered a set of new generation stickers whose properties can be summarized as it follows: Increased in Size Improved sticking properties An higher sensibility in terms of number of different agents detectable Similar detectors but for the biological risk detection are also available in the marketplace Vest and Saline Integrators A comfortable and useful option is given by the vest with pockets that can be worn under the suit 1a ET This solution allows to keep useful tools within reach : radio, demister, lights, saline integrators, etc. In order to increase the operators efficiency it has been tested that saline integrators can be assumed during operations. The operators wearing the 1a ET suits did not face problems by assuming integrators inside the suit. Analysis of the Exercise

Summary of the NBCR Activities Common Problems: Recognition of the NBCR scenario faced by the operators The first call to the health service: better procedures are required First incoming VV.F. team is often inadequately protected: better descriptions of the possible scenarios are required The operators suffer of a physical ad psychological stress It is needed to: Substitute operators during the intervention Saline integrators, Comfortable suits that are going to allow movements and that are going to access work tools. Organization and zoning! Things that always worked: Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale

MoreTon in Marsh May 2005 (THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!) Vigili del Fuoco Corpo Nazionale