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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEO 702-00 Company OperationsSAN LUIS OBISPO CITY FIRE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS MANUAL E.O. 702.00 COMPANY OPERATIONS Revised: 5/15/2019 Page 1 of 4 The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department recognizes there are certain functions that are required to be addressed at every structure fire. The functions can be accomplished by one person, one company, or any combination of personnel or companies. The Incident Commander will have the responsibility for making the appropriate assignments and setting fireground priorities according to EO 501.00 Incident Command and EO 701.00 Fireground Strategy. The following Guidelines outline the terminology and definition of each function as it relates to the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department Operations: Incident Commander (IC) • The Incident Commander is responsible for all fireground operations. • The first arriving officer on scene of an emergency will be the initial IC until relieved by a Battalion Chief. • Refer to EO 501.00 Incident Command for further information. Size Up • A mental process of evaluating the influencing factors at an incident prior to committing resources to a course of action. • Typically involves a 360 degree pass around the incident scene, questioning bystanders, noting hazards, exposures, etc. • All decisions, which determine strategy and commitment of resources, shall be based on a deliberate size-up of the situation. • Refer to EO 501.00 for further information. Communications • The IC arriving on scene will use a radio identifier of “IC” prefixed by a common location/street name; e.g., “South IC.” • The IC may designate that the operation be moved to the Department Tactical channel (City Tac) or may request the use from County Fire of a tactical channel. • Moving to a Tac channel is recommended when three or more units are working a scene, where an extended operation is expected, or when simultaneous calls occur. • Refer to EO 115.00 Command and Tactical Channels and EO 104.00 Command Communications for further information. Fire Attack • The act of putting water or other firefighting agents onto the fire. • May be Offensive, Defensive, Interior or Exterior. • Offensive is usually interior, Defensive is usually exterior. • All interior fire attacks in IDLH should consist of at least two personnel as per EO 704.00 Two-in, Two-out. • The two people inside should have eye contact and verbal contact with one another at all times. SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY FIRE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS MANUAL E.O. 702.00 COMPANY OPERATIONS Revised: 5/15/2019 Page 2 of 4 • Typically, fire attack will be done by the first arriving engine company. An interior attack, if safe to do so, may begin as soon as a stand by team (RIC) is available/in place. • Refer to EO 701.00 Fireground Strategy for further information. Exposures • May be internal or external. o Internal exposures are those parts of the fire building, which are not currently involved in fire. o External exposures are other buildings or valuable objects that may be damaged or burned by the existing fire. • Exposures may be considered as a more important priority than the burning area of a building (i.e. preventing fire spread to them). • If the size-up determines an exposure is at risk, the IC will need to assign resources accordingly. Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) Stand by team ready to provide rescue or back up for an attack team engaged in interior attack. The RIC Team will consist of at least two people trained, tooled, and equipped with full fire protective clothing and SCBA. Refer to EO 705.00 Rapid Intervention Crews for further information. Accountability System A system of keeping track of personnel location and activities. This applies to the crew level as well as the overall fireground. Refer to EO 503.00 Emergency Incident Accountability for further information. Medical Assistance Fires may involve injuries to both citizens and Fire Department personnel. Providing medical assistance for these injuries is one of the IC’s highest priorities. If injuries do occur, the IC may assign an individual, an engine company, or private ambulance personnel to treat the injured. Pumping Pump operator (Engineer) operating the pump on an engine supplying water to hose lines. Typically, the Engineer on an engine company whose Captain and Firefighter are engaged in fire attack will perform this function. Back Up Team Any number of personnel assigned to a special function in an operation, as long as they are properly trained and equipped (similar to a Task Force). The most common use for a backup team at a structure fire is to provide additional attack hose lines. Rehab Fatigue and exhaustion are major problems confronting fire fighters during firefighting operations. The IC should address this concern by ordering sufficient resources to allow for rotation, evaluating his/her fire fighting force, and limiting exhaustive work to 15 to 30 minutes SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY FIRE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS MANUAL E.O. 702.00 COMPANY OPERATIONS Revised: 5/15/2019 Page 3 of 4 per individual. The IC may elect to assign an individual or engine company to set up a rehabilitation area where fire fighters can rest, restore normal body temperature, and rehydrate with fluids. Search and Rescue Those activities directed at locating endangered persons at an emergency incident and removing those persons from danger. At all fireground operations rescue should be considered the highest priority next to safety. Rescue of victims may have to take place after or in conjunction with other functions but should be done as soon as possible. Refer to EO 706.00 Interior Search for further information. Evacuation The removal of people from harm’s way. This can involve either civilians or emergency personnel. Typically, evacuation is ordered for occupants of multi-unit or multi-floor occupancies that are being threatened at structure fires. Evacuation should be considered as a very high priority since its objective is to protect life. Support Functions Also known as Truck Functions. Support functions are those activities that assist active fire control and rescue operations. They are generally performed by the truck company but can be assigned to any crew. The acronym “LOUVERS” comprises the majority of these activities: Lighting and Laddering, Opening Up, Utilities, Ventilation, Extrication, Rescue, and Salvage. Refer to EO 707.00 Tactical Support Functions for further information. “Safety,” Safety Officer At all fireground operations safety shall be the number one priority. The IC shall be considered the Safety Officer until he/she officially designates a specific person for this function. The Safety Officer shall monitor the fireground for hazards and stop operations that are unreasonably hazardous. NOTE TO REMEMBER: Firefighting is a high risk occupation and requires all personnel to be responsible for the safety of themselves and others. Refer to EO 505.00 Incident Safety Officer and EO 703.00 Fireground Safety for further information. Property Conservation These operations consist of those methods and operating procedures allied to firefighting that aid in reducing fire, water, and smoke damage during and after fires. The value of this service to our customers can prove quite substantial, and all measures should be considered by the IC to maximize its potential. Refer to EO 711.00 Property Conservation for further information. Overhaul Overhaul operations consist of the search for and extinguishment of hidden or remaining fires; placing the building, its contents, and the fire area in a safe condition, and protecting them from the elements. Refer to EO 710.00 Overhaul for further information. SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY FIRE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS MANUAL E.O. 702.00 COMPANY OPERATIONS Revised: 5/15/2019 Page 4 of 4 Utilities Electrical, Natural Gas, Propane, etc., are usually shut down by Fire Department personnel at most fires. The IC will make an assignment for utility shut down when and if it is appropriate. Those assigned this task must be absolutely sure they have located and shut down the proper one, or they must communicate this to the IC. Ventilation Ventilation provides for the removal of heat, smoke, and toxic products of combustion from a structure to improve visibility and tenability inside. Ventilation may be ho rizontal, vertical, positive pressure or a combination of all. Refer to EO 707.00 “Tactical Support Functions” for further information. Water Supply The first arriving engine company Captain will determine whether or not to lay their own line or have a line laid by another engine company. Refer to EO 709.00 Water Supply and Stream Management for further information. Investigation Investigation is the search for fire origin and cause. The responsibility for conducting fire origin and cause investigation shall rest with the IC. The IC may assign investigation to qualified individuals or engine companies or may pass responsibility to the Department’s Fire Investigator. For further information, refer to G.O. 604.02.