Cottondale
Volunteer Fire Department
Standard
Operating Procedures
The intent of this Standard Operating Procedures Manual is to
provide an operational framework
to
better manage firefighting resources. It is designed to create a systematic
approach to
firefighting,
emergency operations, training, and all other activities of the Cottondale
Volunteer
Fire Department.
The objective is to ensure that all personnel are aware of the accepted
guidelines
established to successfully extinguish fire and handle other emergencies that
we are
called
upon to manage. Proper utilization of this manual will improve firefighting
safety by
providing
a better accountability of personnel, improved resource utilization, and
increased
tactical
effectiveness. Through training and application of this manual the Cottondale
Volunteer
Fire Department strives to better protect and serve the
residents of the Cottondale Fire Protection
District, and all those entrusted with our care and expertise.
Chief Kevin Tolly
March
The
Cottondale Volunteer Fire Department is organized to prevent fires from
starting, prevent
loss
of life and property, and to help protect the citizens and visitors of
Cottondale Fire
District
from fire, medical emergency, and any other fire/rescue situation that may occur;
confining
fire to its place of origin, extinguishing fire by the safest and most
effective means
possible,
and providing mutual aid to surrounding communities in accordance with
established
policy.
Safety
The environments to which firefighters are exposed to are for the most part unpredictable.
However, the majority of all deaths and injuries with
firefighting are unnecessary and can be
prevented.
Although the Fire Chief is ultimately responsible for the safety of personnel
under his
command,
it is the responsibility of each and every member of this company to learn and
practice
safe guidelines.
The personal safety of Department personnel is of the utmost
importance and is second only to
the
citizens we are sworn to protect. A firefighter who becomes injured is a hazard
to himself and
his
fellow firefighters. When a firefighter becomes injured, he is unable to carry
out his primary
mission.
Other firefighters and EMS personnel will not only lose his support, but also
be
distracted
from their jobs as they seek to care for and protect him. Lastly, the
professional
volunteer
may lose his ability to earn a living as a result of his injuries, thus
depriving his family.
For these reasons the safety of firefighters must be a constant
priority.
The keys to safe practices are common sense and knowing your
limitations. Firefighters who
have
acquired the skills and knowledge to do their job and practice good safety
habits using
common
sense reduce their chances of getting injured or injuring their fellow
firefighters. If you
are
asked to perform to task you are not trained on and fully confident of your
ability to perform,
let
the requestor know.
Table
of Contents:
Applicability
Enforcement
Chain of Command
Definitions
Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-Harassment Policy
Department Confidentiality Policy
Media Guidelines
Standards of Conduct and Grooming
Surrounding Departments
Response by members
Seat Belt Policy
Personal Protective Equipment and Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus
Personnel Accountability
Blood-borne Pathogens and Infection Control
Confined Space Awareness
Firefighter Rehab
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
Apparatus Response Order
Mutual Aid
Radio Procedures
Incident Command System
Fire Attack Guidelines
Structure Fires
Rapid Intervention
Team (2+2)
Ventilation, Entry,
and Search
Ground Ladders
Grass Fires
Vehicle Fires
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Extrication
Medical Support
Hazardous Materials Incidents (Including oil and gas pipelines)
Operation Skywarn
Search and Rescue
Air Ambulance Landing Zone operations
Post Response Requirements
Apparatus
Tools and Misc.
Equipment
Weekly/monthly Requirements
Annual Requirements
Driver Training
Training Requirement & Expectations
Recommended Firefighter Training
Additional Recommended Training for Company Officers
1.
Administrative Policies
Applicability
All directives contained within the Cottondale Volunteer Fire
Department (CVFD) Standard
Operating Procedures herein shall be consistently applied,
unless ordered to the contrary by the
Chief and/or in specific
circumstances, by a company officer or Incident Commander.
These
procedures
will be employed at all times by all CVFD personnel.
It is
the responsibility of all CVFD members to familiarize themselves with these
procedures and to employ these principles
whenever acting in the performance of their
official duties.
It is
the responsibility of all CVFD Officers to supervise and command their
subordinates
within the guidelines and principles contained
within these Operating Procedures.
Periodic review and revision of policies and operational
procedures is recognized as necessary.
Frequent review and updating of these Operating Procedures is
encouraged.
These Operating Procedures cannot be expected to provide a
solution to every question, problem,
or
scenario that may arise in an emergency service delivery system. It is
expected, however, that
these
Guidelines will be sufficiently comprehensive to cover, either in a specific or
general way,
the
majority of operational and administrative activities faced by CVFD.
The existence of these written guidelines is not intended to
limit any member in the exercise of
judgment
or initiative in taking the action a reasonable person would take in
extraordinary
situations
that may arise in the fire service. Much by necessity must be left to the
training,
experience,
initiative, integrity, and discretion of the members of the CVFD.
Enforcement
Violations of these procedures will be dealt with per the
applicable procedures in the By-Laws.
Chain of Command
All personnel within this Department will show proper respect to
and promptly obey the Chain
of
Command, both during emergency incidents and in regards to administrative
matters. Respect
for
the ranks of superior officers is essential for both discipline and operational
efficiency. All
firefighters
and officers are required to be familiar with the Incident Command System and
to
work
within its parameters through the termination of all incidents.
Chief
Assistant
Chief
Captain
Sr.
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Engineer
Senior
Firefighter on scene
(Seniority will be determined by date of joining force)
Definitions
Terminology of incident types
Residential Structure Fire: Fire
or smoke within or emitting from a house (frame or
mobil
type).
Commercial Structure Fire: Fire
or smoke within or emitting from a business.
Structure Fire:
Fire or smoke within or emitting from a building, shed, or barn.
Brush Fire: Fire involving
grass, bushes, trees, hay, mulch piles, or leaf piles.
Haz-Mat (Hazardous Materials): Spill,
leak, or odor of any hazardous material.
(Liquid, solid, gas: fuel or chemical)
Smoke Investigation: Smell of
smoke outdoors, (not within a building).
MVA (Major Vehicle Accident):
Automobile collision or overturn.
MVA-Auto-Ped
(Major Vehicle Accident-Automobile vs. Pedestrian): Automobile
collision
with a pedestrian, bicyclist, roller-skater, or skate-boarder.
EMS-General Medicine: Medical
call with a patient complaining of being ill.
EMS-Traumatic Injury: Medical
call with a patient who has been injured.
EMS-Chest Pains: Medical call
with a patient complaining of chest pains.
EMS-Unconscious Person: Medical
call with a patient who is unconscious or
unresponsive.
EMS-O.B.: Medical call with
patient having complications to childbirth (Obstetrics).
EMS-Psych: Medical call with a
patient who has threatened or attempted suicide or who
is
suffering from a psychological issue.
Non-Emergency Assist: Any
non-emergency calls for assistance to a Citizen, Police, or
Medstar.
Mutual Aid: Emergency or
Non-emergency response to any other fire department.
Scene Terminology
Working Fire: A
confirmed residential, commercial, or structure fire.
Primary Search: The initial
search of a building or residence for occupants or fire
victims.
Primary All Clear: Primary
Search has been completed and no occupants or fire victims
located.
Secondary Search: Search of the
building or residence for fire victims, conducted after
the
fire has been extinguished.
Secondary All Clear: Secondary
Search has been completed and no fire victims located.
PAR: (Personnel Accountability
Report), headcount conducted by company officers or
group
leaders during an incident to ensure that all personnel are accounted for.
Fire Under
Control: The progress of the fire has been stopped and controlled;
however
fire
has not yet been extinguished.
Tap-Out: The fire has been
extinguished.
Mop-up: (Overhaul) the process
of ensuring all hot spots have been extinguished.
Size-up: The process of making a
detailed description of the incident scene. (Verbalized
on
the radio by the 1st arriving company).
Bring a Line: Request to lay a
Supply line to the apparatus attacking a fire.
Laying a Line: Arriving
apparatus is laying a supply line to the scene or to the apparatus
attacking
a fire.
Hot Zone: The designated area
around an incident in which all personnel are required to
be
in protective clothing suitable for the type of incident.
Available: Designation that an
apparatus or company is available for calls or assignment.
Clear: Designation that an
apparatus is or has cleared the scene of an incident.
Unavailable: Designation that an
apparatus or company, although clear of an incident, is
not
available for assignment or calls.
Wet Line: The application of water
and class-A foam to the fuel (grass) ahead of an
advancing
brush fire. This is usually performed at a roadway or other natural or man-made
barrier.
On: Designation that a company
has arrived On-scene.
Hold: Term used to indicate that
the on-scene unit will be remaining at the scene and that
all
other responding or on scene units may be cleared and placed in an available
status. (Ex. Hold
E
Responding: Term used to
indicate that a company is making an emergency response to
an
incident or designated location.
Enroute:
Term used to indicate that a company is going to a non-emergency incident or
designated
location.
Equal Employment
The Cottondale Volunteer Fire Department is committed to a work
environment in which all
individuals
are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to work in
an
environment
that is free of discriminatory practices, including harassment.
It is the policy of the CVFD to provide equal employment
opportunity and to administer its
personnel
practices without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color,
national
origin,
religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or any other
unlawful
criterion
or circumstance. The CVFD prohibits and will not tolerate any such
discrimination or
harassment.
Definition
of Harassment
Sexual
Harassment constitutes discrimination and is illegal under federal, state
and local laws.
Sexual harassment is defined, as in the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission Guidelines,
an
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other conduct of a
sexual nature,
where:
(i) there is an attempt to make submission to such
conduct a term or condition of an
individual’s
employment; (ii) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is
used
as
the basis for employment-related decisions; or working conditions.
Sexual harassment may include a range of subtle or not so subtle
behaviors. Depending on the
circumstances,
these behaviors may include, but are not limited to: unwanted sexual advances
or
requests
for sexual favors; sexual jokes and innuendo; verbal abuse of a sexual nature;
commentary
about an individual’s body, sexual prowess or sexual deficiencies; leering,
catcalls
or
touching; insulting or obscene comments or gestures; display or circulation in
the workplace
of
sexually suggestive objects or pictures (including through e-mail); and other
physical, verbal
or
visual conduct of a sexual nature.
Harassment
on the basis of any other protected characteristic is
also strictly prohibited.
Harassment is conduct that shows hostility or aversion toward an
individual because of his/her
protected
characteristics and that: has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering
with an
individual’s
work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working
environment.
Harassing conduct includes, but is not limited to: epithets,
slurs or negative stereotyping;
threatening,
intimidating or hostile acts; denigrating jokes and display or circulation in
the
workplace
of written or graphic materials that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion
toward an
individual
or group (including through e-mail).
Individuals
and Conduct Covered: These policies apply to all
applicants, employees,
volunteers
and members of Committees and Boards, and prohibit harassment, discrimination
and
retaliation
whether engaged in by fellow employees, by a supervisor or manager or by
someone
not
directly connected to the CVFD. Conduct prohibited by these policies is
unacceptable in the
workplace
and in any work related settings outside the workplace, such as during business
trips,
and
company related social events.
Retaliation
Prohibited: The CVFD prohibits retaliation against any
individual who in good
faith
reports discrimination or harassment or participates in any investigation of
such reports.
Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or
discrimination or for participating in
an
investigation of a claim of harassment or discrimination is a serious violation
of this policy
and,
like harassment or discrimination itself, will be subject to disciplinary
action.
Reporting
an Incident of Harassment, Discrimination or Retaliation:
The CVFD strongly
urges
the reporting of all incidents of discrimination, harassment or retaliation,
regardless of the
offender’s
identity or position. Individuals who believe they have experienced, or who are
aware
of,
conduct that they believe is contrary to the CVFD’s policy or have concerns
about such
matters
should bring the matter to the attention of Chief. If for any reason an
individual believes
that
a complaint cannot or should not be raised through this channel, he or she
should feel free to
bring
it to the attention of the President or any member of the Board of Directors.
Early reporting and intervention have proven to be the most
effective method of resolving actual
or
perceived incidents of harassment. Therefore, while no fixed reporting period
has been
established,
the CVFD strongly urges the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns so that
rapid
and constructive action can be taken. Employees who believe that they have
experienced
harassing
or discriminatory conduct have an obligation to pursue this complaint
procedure. An
employee’s
failure to fulfill this obligation could affect his or her rights in pursuing
legal action.
The availability of this complaint procedure does not preclude
individuals who believe they are
being
subjected to harassing conduct from promptly advising the offender that his or
her
behavior
is unwelcome and requesting that is be discontinued.
The
Investigation: Any reported allegations of harassment,
discrimination or retaliation will be
investigated
promptly. The investigation may include individual interviews with the parties
involved
and, where necessary, with individuals who may have observed the alleged
conduct or
may
have other relevant knowledge.
Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the investigatory
process to the extent consistent
with
adequate investigation and appropriate corrective action.
Responsive
Action: Misconduct constituting harassment, discrimination or
retaliation will be
dealt
with appropriately. Responsive action may include, for example, training,
referral to
counseling
and/or disciplinary action such as warning, temporary suspension, or
termination, as
the
Chief believes to be appropriate under the circumstances. Individuals who have
questions or
concerns
about these policies should feel free to contact the Chief or President of the
Board of
Directors.
All Cottondale Volunteer Fire Department members are required to
read this policy. They
must
also in writing acknowledge and agree to comply with this policy.
Volunteer Recognition
It is the responsibility of the officers of the CVFD to actively
seek out and reward significant
contributions
to the CVFD. At least once a year (during the April Fundraiser) the fire
officers
should
publicly and formally recognize at least one Firefighter as an exemplary
volunteer. All
firefighters
should be encouraged to nominate individuals for recognition, but a committee
of all
Fire Officers shall make the decision.
Department
Confidentiality Policy
Due to the nature of our duties, officers and firefighters of
the CVFD are often privy to sensitive,
private,
or personal information. This may include (but is not limited to) private
medical
histories,
exposure to crime scenes & criminal investigations, and observations made
in private
homes.
No member shall disclose or use any information or observations not in the
public
domain,
gained by reason of official CVFD duties, nor shall they use said information
at any
time
for their personal gain or benefit, or for the personal gain of any other
person(s)
or
enterprise.
Media Guidelines
Unless authorized in advance by a chief officer, no member of
the CVFD shall release to anyone
who
is not a member of this department any information involving or related to any
fire
department
incident or response.
Only
the Chief of the Department or Incident Commander will make statements or
release
any information to the media.
Incident Commanders will have to make contingency plans to deal
with a media response to fire
scenes
and other incidents. The media must not be allowed into the command post or
behind fire
lines
for obvious safety, privacy, liability, and confidentiality reasons. Fire lines
will have to be
established
as soon as possible when initiating operations.
Information shall be released to the media, unless the
withholding has been approved by the
Chief of Department or his/her
designee. Only factual information may be released
to the
media.
Speculative, suggestive, derogatory or opinionated information must be avoided.
Do not
talk
“off the record”. Verify the media representative if you uncertain to whom you
are
speaking.
It is a policy of the CVFD that no one will release the name or
other vital statistics regarding
civilians
involved in or affected by fire department operations. No name of a deceased
person is
to
be released unless und until the next of kin has been
properly notified.
Standards
of Conduct and Grooming
Ethics
All CVFD personnel are expected to conduct themselves in a
professional and ethical manner at
all
times. The actions, appearance, and comments of personnel are a reflection of
the entire
Department, and may make a lasting impression in the minds of
the public served. The
firefighter
shall exercise patience and discretion in the performance of his/her duties,
and shall
remain
as polite as possible with the public, even in the face of severe provocation.
Profane,
abusive,
or otherwise offensive language shall not be used while on duty or otherwise
representing
the CVFD. All personnel should be aware that anytime they are wearing their
uniform
or other Fire Department apparel they are seen as representatives of this
department and
they
are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Department
policies. No
CVFD personnel shall corruptly use or attempt to use their
official position, or any property or
resource
which may be within his trust, or perform their official duties, to secure a
special
privilege,
benefit, or exemption for himself or for others.
No
firefighter or officer of the CVFD will respond to a fire scene or report to
any training
ground if they have been consuming
alcoholic beverages. Under no circumstances will
any
firefighter
or Officer of the CVFD operate Cottondale Volunteer Fire Department apparatus
in
either
an intoxicated or impaired condition, including use of prescribed medications
with the
warning:
“Do not drive or operate any heavy
equipment while taking this medication: May
cause drowsiness”
nor shall any Officer allow such a situation to exist. Any infraction of this
rule
will be terms for IMMEDIATE dismissal from the department.
Personal
Grooming Policy
All CVFD personnel qualified to engage in interior structural
fire fighting will have their hair,
beards,
and sideburns neatly groomed so that they do not interfere with the proper
function of
SCBA and other personal protective equipment (PPE), including SCBA
face masks.
Any firefighter or officer who is not properly groomed and
utilizes SCBA will do so at his/her
own
risk and the CVFD will be held harmless by any violation of this policy.
If the hair length of a firefighter is below the shirt collar,
then he/she will place the hair in a pony
tail
and tucked under the hood and turnout coat with the collar snapped closed in
the up position.
2.
Safety
Response
by members
Private
Vehicles
Personnel responding to an incident are directly responsible for
safe operation of their
vehicle in all circumstances.
As a general rule, all response actions will initiate from the
Firehouse. The first responding
company
officer should respond to the Firehouse in order to lead the response.
Additional
officers
may respond to the incident site via privately owned vehicle if they have a
necessary
response
gear with them. With the exception of the company officers, no CVFD personnel
are to
respond
to an emergency incident in their personal vehicle without authorization from
an officer.
All personnel are required to operate their private vehicles in
a safe and prudent manner when
responding
to the firehouse for an alarm. Appendix 1 lists copies of the relevant
concerning
“authorized emergency vehicles”. It is the policy of the CVFD that members who
have
completed an approved emergency-driving course, and whose vehicles meet the
visual
signal
requirements of
1) Exceed
the posted speed limit by no more than
operator
does not endanger life or property; and
2) Proceed past
a red or stop signal or stop sign, after slowing as necessary for safe
operation;
Vehicles not equipped with proper signals and probationary
member will obey all traffic laws
and
ordinances.
Department
Equipment
Drivers shall always consider the safety of themselves and
others when responding to calls.
Lights and sirens do not guarantee the right-of-way. These
devises are for the purpose of asking
for
the right-of-way.
Drivers will not exceed the posted speed limit by more than
that
could be potentially dangerous based on the road and weather conditions.
Drivers will adhere to all posted school zone speed limits.
Drivers will exercise due care when proceeding through any
intersection.
Seat
Belt Policy
It is the policy of CVFD that seat belts will be worn by all
personnel at all times when
responding or returning from a call.
Personal
Protective Equipment and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
It is the responsibility of every firefighter to wear and
properly utilize CVFD issued personal
protective
equipment (“PPE” or turnout gear) when engaged in fire fighting, emergency,
and/or
training
evolutions. The PPE must be worn properly and in its entirety, or outlined
below:
1. Helmet, with eye protection in place. (All firefighters wear
black helmets. The Chief wears a
white
helmet, while officers wear red helmets.)
2. Turnout coat.
3. Department issued fire gloves.
4. Bunker pants and boots.
5. Protective hood, which must be properly worn with the base
hem completely tucked under
the
coat and collar as to completely cover the neck.
Members will receive training during their probation period as
to the proper donning and doffing
of
their equipment. Members shall don all PPE anytime there is a potential for
subjection to a
hazardous
area or atmosphere. Bunker pants; boots, and bunker coat shall be donned prior
to
mounting
any apparatus responding to an emergency call where the use of the gear is
warranted.
(Examples: Fire, MVA, or HazMat)
It is the policy of the CVFD to provide full personal protection
for its members during fire and
emergency
operations. Recognizing the dangers of exposure to heat and flames, to the
toxic
products
of combustion, and to other hazardous materials, CVFD provides full protective
gear to
all
members who may be exposed to such respiratory hazards. This protective gear
includes
positive
pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with integrated PASS alarms.
All
CVFD personnel are required to use SCBA whenever operating in an
atmosphere suspected of
being
“Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health” (IDLH).
All personnel involved in any phase of interior structural fire
fighting, including overhaul, are
required
to wear SCBA in conjunction with a complete set of PPE. Use of SCBA is required
at
all
firefighting operations, including those operations involving vehicles,
dumpsters, rubbish,
CO, and other gas or odor investigation calls. This includes
operations, and also outside
positions
where personnel may be exposed to smoke or other potentially toxic ILDH
conditions.
During these incidents, positive pressure SCBA must be worn at
all times unless otherwise
ordered
by the officer in command. The practice of intermittent use (“taking hits”)
from the
SCBA face piece has been proven to be dangerous and is expressly
prohibited.
Each
firefighter who would like to become qualified in the use of SCBA must first
successfully complete and pass the mandated
and approved courses as per the Firefighter
Training
Section.
Wearing
Of Nomex Coveralls / Jumpsuits
Coveralls WILL NOT be
worn to vehicles fires or structure fires except by members performing
as
non-firefighters (i.e. rehab, air supply.)
Coveralls WILL NOT be worn by the hose line crews at landing zone scenes.
Coveralls can be worn at vehicle accidents without fire. They
cannot be worn if there is a fire.
Coveralls can be worn at grass/brush fires.
Coveralls can be worn at traffic details (with reflective vest).
Turn out boots or boots that meet NFPA
Helmets, Gloves, and Eye safety should be worn with coveralls
and turn out gear.
When not sure if coveralls or turn out gear should be worn, WEAR TURN OUT GEAR!
Personnel
Accountability
All personnel will follow the procedure outlined below. Any
deviation from this policy should be
limited
and used at the discretion of the incident commander. The policy shall have
three levels.
Level
One: (use of first tag) Used during all incidents (with the
exception of house calls, minor
accidents,
transfers etc.) All personnel arriving at the scene will report to the first
arriving apparatus
or
other designated location and leave their tag. All vehicles are equipped with a
large ring inside
the
cab. These plates will be attached to the vehicle dash. These plates will allow
for
quick
gathering of all tags by the vehicle operator in the event of a level 3 call
up.
Level
Two: (use of second tag) Implemented when accountability at
incidents require point of
entry
such as structure fires, confined space rescue, elevated rescue and all
hazardous materials
incidents.
The second tag is presented to a designated accountability officer (AO) at the
entrance
to
the hazardous condition. This tag will be held be the AO until the presenter
returns to that
location
to retrieve the tag. If the tag owner leaves the hazardous condition he/she
shall proceed
immediately
to the initial entry point and retrieve the tag. Once the tag has been
retrieved the
firefighter
may be directed to report to the rehabilitation area for medical evaluation by
bottle
changes will be done at the same time at the location.
back
to the incident commander for reassignment or
individual
or transport them to the nearest medical facility if deemed necessary.
Level
Three: At any time during the incident the incident commander can
order a “level three
accountability”
which requires all level one tags be collected and brought to the command post
for
personnel accountability logging.
Identification tags will not be defaced, altered, or exchanged
at any time. All personnel on the
exterior
shall have at least one tag affixed to their bunker coat at all times.
Personnel without tags
shall
be considered unauthorized personnel and will be required to report to the
incident
commander.
Any lost or damaged tags shall be reported to the Chief of the Department
immediately
for replacement.
While responding to the scene, every CVFD firefighter must
attach his/her identification tag to
the
designated accountability plate located in the apparatus. The firefighter
sitting closest to the
accountability
plate must hand it off (with all
firefighter tags attached) to the
Incident
Commander upon arrival at the
incident. Upon the termination of the incident
(typically
receiving
the order to “
distributed
back to all firefighters under their immediate supervision who responded with
them
on
the apparatus. It will be the responsibility of the senior Officer to ensure
that all tags have
been
retrieved. If the senior Officer discovers that a tag has not been retrieved by
a firefighter or
that
any personnel are unaccounted for, then the Incident Commander must be
immediately
notified.
Blood-borne
Pathogens and Infection Control
Blood-borne
Pathogens: Bloodborne pathogens are infectious
materials in blood that can cause
disease
in humans, including hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus, or
HIV.
Workers exposed to these pathogens risk serious illness or
death.
The CVFD shall regard all patient contacts as potentially
infectious and shall observe universal
precautions
at all times and shall be expanded to include body substance isolation. (BSI)
“Universal Precautions” is the name used to describe a
prevention strategy in which all blood and
potentially
infectious materials are treated as if they are, in fact, infectious,
regardless of the
perceived
status of the source individual. In other words, whether or not you think the
blood/body
fluid is infected with bloodborne pathogens, you
treat it as if it is. This approach is
used
in all situations where exposure to blood or potentially infectious materials
is possible. This
also
means that certain engineering and work practice controls shall always be
utilized in
situations
where exposure may occur.
Infection
Control: The goal of infection control is to prevent transfer of
infection from the
patient
to emergency response personnel and their families, while simultaneously educating
CVFD members about infection
hazards in the workplace. The dangers faced by emergency
response
personnel are not always obvious. The hazard of AIDS, hepatitis, biological
WMD,
and
other communicable toxins are invisible but very dangerous.
The CVFD is committed to full compliance with applicable laws
and policies dealing with
infection
control. Each member is responsible for following the policies and procedures
as
outlined
in NFPA
CVFD has adopted as a guideline.
The CVFD shall provide personal protective equipment and annual
training on precautionary
measures,
epidemiology, and modes of transmission to all members. Members will also
receive
training
regarding the location and proper use of personal protective equipment, work
practices,
and
precautions to be used in handling contaminated articles and infectious waste. Members
not
maintaining
yearly training shall become inactive until such training is obtained.
Training is available from:
http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/MODULES/index.htm
Confined
Space Awareness
At confined space rescue emergencies, the Incident Commander is
responsible for size-up,
overall
scene control, safety, apparatus & unit positioning, mutual aid responses,
accountability,
and
coordinating medical support. Top priority should always be ensuring a safe
operating
environment.
This is to include providing ventilation (if and when necessary), enforcing
CVFD
accountability
procedures (in addition to a permit system for entry to the confined space
area),
and
enforcing the requirement for the use of appropriate PPE at all times.
An Officer or a senior firefighter should be assigned to monitor
permits and time the entry of all
confined
space rescue personnel. All personnel training into the confined space must be
wearing
the
appropriate PPE, including respiratory protection. Trained firefighters must
constantly
monitor
their breathing-air status, along with any forced air ventilation systems in
use.
Firefighters or officers entering a confined space area must
continuously monitor the atmosphere
by
means of an AIM detector. Life and rescue lines must be used at all times. The Two
In, Two
Out rule must be utilized at all
times. For every team entering and operating in a confined space,
there
must be a similarly equipped back-up team ready to assist if necessary.
For additional information on confined spaces and training for
Confined Space Operations see:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/smallbusiness/sec12.html
“Medical
Evaluation Of Firefighters,
and Disaster Incidents”
Simply stated Firefighter Rehab is designed to ensure that the
physical and mental well being of
members
operating at the scene of an emergency (or a training exercise) doesn’t
deteriorate to the
point
where it affects the safety of any other members. After all, “stressed out” is not a good
thing
when you’re working at
Back in
firefighting
on the human body. The results of the study are posted in the Coast Guard’s
Firefighting Initiative, but in short, researches noted that our
body core temperature (even for
short
exposures), often reaches
1.
Primary
the
physical and mental status of fire-rescue personnel who have been working
during the
emergency
incident or a training exercise. Following a proper survey (see below), it
should be
determined
what additional treatment, if any, may be required.
2.
Launching The Rehab Operation:
A specially designated Rehab Area, (or Group) remote
from
the fire or emergency incident, should be established at the discretion of the
Incident
Commander in consult with the
Safety Officer. If the Incident Commander determines
that
Rehab is necessary, qualified EMPT-Ps or EMTs (assigned to the
first alarm response) should be
assigned
to manage the Rehab Sector under the command of a fire or
Note the emphasis of the “first alarm response.”
to
provide treatment to fireground personnel at a
moment’s notice. If
part
of the initial turnout, consideration should be given to the fact that OSHA
will certainly ask
why
they weren’t… especially if anyone is injured.
Because they work side by side with the front line troops,
company officers play an important
role
in Rehab. In fact, the federal government suggests that the safety of the fireground rests
here,
at the supervisor level. If a company member shows signs of fatigue or illness,
the
company
officer will likely be the first to recognize the problem.
Anticipate Rehab needs early in the incident. During large-scale
operations, Incident Command
should
consider augmenting existing resources by requesting additional
another
engine company or squad, to assist in the operation of the Rehab Sector.
3.
Locating the Rehab Sector: It is crucial for Command to
establish The Rehab Sector away
from
any environmental hazards, or by-products of the fire, such as smoke, gases or
fumes.
During hot months, the ideal location might include a shady,
cool area distant from the incident.
In winter, a warm, dry area is preferred. Regardless of the
season, the area should be readily
accessible
to EMS-Rescue personnel and their equipment, so they may restock the sector
with
supplies,
or in the event that emergency transport is required. Rehab sites can also be
established
in
the lobbies of nearby buildings, parking facilities, or even inside municipal
buses.
Misting/cooling systems, heating systems, SCBA refilling and
canteen service should be
stationed
in or around this area as well. During large-scale incidents, like multi-alarm
fires,
Command should consider establishing Multiple Rehab Areas as the
situation warrants.
4.
Coordination and Manning: Command of the Rehab Area
should be assigned to a
company
level officer who is designated as the Rehab Officer under most Incident
Command
structures.
The incident itself will determine just how may people you’ll need to do
the job,
however
a minimum of two trained
assist
firefighters in the Rehab Sector. Utilize volunteer canteen or auxiliary
members to assist
5.
Evaluation of Fire-Rescue Personnel: It is
important for command and company level
officers
to continually monitor personnel for telltale signs of exhaustion, stress, and
or physical
injury.
Individual members are encouraged to report to the Rehab Sector at any time
that he or
she
feels the need to do so. Symptoms may include weakness, dizziness, chest pain,
muscle
cramps,
nausea, altered mental status, difficulty breathing, and others.
Regardless of physical well being, all fireground
personnel should report to the Rehab Sector
immediately
following:
(a) Strenuous
Activity – Forcible Entry, Advancing Hoselines,
Ventilation, etc.
(b) The use and
depletion of two SCBA bottles
(c) Thirty (
(d) Failure of
SCBA
6.
Examination of Arriving Personnel: Arriving personnel
should be examined by qualified
continued
rehabilitation, or transport to medical facility for treatment. The workup
should
include:
(a) Checking
Vital Signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate,
(b) Body core
temperature
(c) Checking
Pupils
(d) Checking
lung sounds
(e) Skin
condition and color
Heart rate should be measured as early as possible in the rest
period. If the firefighter’s heart rate
exceeds
temperature
exceeds
or
re-enter the active work environment, until temperature has been reduced and
heart rate
decreased.
It is recommended that re-examination occur at ten-minute
intervals. Using standing orders or
existing
protocol, Rehab Team Members should record examination results on medical
evaluation
forms as indicated by the local jurisciction.
7.
Treatment During Rehab: Upon
completing the physical examination, the following steps
should
be taken to minimize further risk to fire-rescue personnel:
Turnout gear, helmets, masks and hoods should be removed
immediately. Prior to ingesting
anything
orally, fluid or solid, it is recommended that firefighter clean his/her hands
and face
with
water and a cleaning agent, as provided by Rehab Sector personnel.
(a) The
firefighter should rehydrate
(b) Oral
rehydration and nutrition is recommended in the form of 1-2 quarts of fluids
over a span of
(c) Body core
temperature should be reduced by cooling the body.
(d) Cool body
temperatures gradually using misting systems, fans, etc.
(e) Individuals
should be offered Oxygen therapy via nasal canulla or
O2 mask.
(humidified or Nebulized).
(f) Standing
rest before reporting for further assignments
(g) The
firefighter will only report to manpower staging when presentation is deemed
normal by the attending
Note:
According to FEMA, Water is the best rehydration agent; however some agencies
suggest a rehydration solution of
activity beverage administered at about
hose streams. Cooling should be
gradual, limiting further shock to the body.
8.
Accountability: Members reporting to the Rehab Sector /
Group should enter and exit the
Area as a team.
Their company designation, number of personnel, and the times of entry to and
exit
from the Rehab Area should be documented. This can be done either by the Rehab
Officer or
his
/ her designee on a Company Check-In / Out Sheet. Keep crews together, and
don’t allow
overanxious
members to freelance the event.
9. The Vital Importance Of Firefighter
Rehab: Very few firefighters who wear the badge
are
athletes. But, from the moment the alarm is sounded, and that first surge of
adrenaline
reaches
the heart, we’re asking our bodies to work triple overtime. Couple that with
business
suit,
the
importance of effective rehabilitation at the fire scene becomes crystal clear.
Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing
The purpose of this section is to establish the procedure for
requesting the Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing (CISD) Team.
In the event CVFD members become emotionally overwhelmed due
to
traumatic or critical incident, a company officer or Incident Commander will be
notified and
they
will contact the Paul Taber, Texas CISM Director,
always
be notified of any CISD activation. Participation in the CISD procedures will
be
considered
MANDATORY for all members operating at the incident. Only the Chief may grant
exceptions
to this procedure.
The
following criteria are indicators for CISD:
1. Suicide
2. Loss by death of an emergency worker
3. Serious injury of an emergency worker
4. Media interest in incident
5. Prolonged incident with loss of life or serous
injury
6. Incidents involving children
7. High emotion impact incidents
8. Relative’s death
9. Mass Casualty Incidents
Key
Points of CISD:
1. Debriefing should take place within
2. A location away from the Fire Station will be used for the
debriefing
3. In order to maintain strict confidentiality, ONLY the people
involved at the scene will be
admitted
to the debriefing room
4. All personnel shall be relieved from CVFD duty to attend
debriefing
5. CISD is not to be used as a critique of the emergency
operation. Performance issues will not
be
discussed at the debriefing
6. No media personnel or observers will be allowed in the
debriefing
Information
needed when CISD is needed:
1. Name and title of person requesting CISD
2. Information that led to the call for the CISD
a. Date and time of incident
b. Duration of incident
c. Number of victims/patients
d. Type of incident
e. Suggested time and location for debriefing
3.
General Operational Guidelines
Apparatus Response Order
CVFD apparatus are to respond to the following types of alarms
in the predetermined order:
Structure Fire: Engine
Grass/Brush Fire: Brush
Vehicle Fire: Engine
Automobile Accidents (including extrication calls):
Rescue
E.M.S. Assist: Rescue
Haz-Mat Calls:
Engine
Miscellancous Calls: CO & Other Gas or “
Other Service Calls: Rescue
Burn Ban/Fireworks Ban Violation: Brush
Non-Emergency Assist:
Response for these types of calls in the county coverage area
shall
be based on the nature of the request.
Mutual Aid: A company officer will
ascertain from Fire Command what primary
purpose
responding units will be utilized for, or what specific units are requested.
Assets will
be
committed within the following guidelines:
There
must be 4 personnel available for response to our district. Additional manpower
may
be committed to mutual aid.
Either
Engine
district.
One
brush truck will always remain in our district. If a second truck is available,
it may
be
dispatched for mutual aid.
Radio Procedures
Radio
Use
Use of all CVFD radios (including the base station, apparatus located, and hand-held portable
radios)
must be in accordance with all FCC rules and regulations governing their use.
No
member
will yell, scream, or use inappropriate language while using department radio
equipment.
All radio messages must be transmitted in a clear, concise, and professional
manner
in
order to communicate efficiently while avoiding any confusion. It is essential
to avoid
unnecessary
message and/or the use of “run on” sentences. Personnel should also be alert to
the
possibility
of background noises when transmitting.
Firefighters and officers must always use the appropriate
identifier, either their own individually
assigned
number (
personnel
utilize a radio, they will identify the radio being used, the destination the
message is
being
directed to and the location responding to and/or whatever other message is
being
transmitted,
i.e. “Engine
we
have gained access to east flank”.
When using the radios, one must yield to superior officers
unless either an emergency or urgent
situation
exists.
MAYDAY,
Emergency, and Urgent Situations
In the event of certain emergencies or urgent situations, there
are a series of special procedures
designed
to alert Incident Commanders, officers, and other firefighters to limit or halt
communications.
It is absolutely essential that all personnel are aware of these procedures and
alert
to their use. Failure to yield the radio frequency during a MAYDAY or Emergency
can be
potentially
tragic. When the following procedures are used, all non-critical radio traffic
must
come
to a halt as explained below. This will allow the Incident Commander to efficiently
manage
the situation.
MAYDAY
In the event of a MAYDAY (trapped, lost, seriously injured, or
immobilized firefighter;
impending
structural collapse, etc.), the firefighter should transmit their radio
identifier with the
word
MAYDAY repeated twice (example: “
cease
all non-critical radio broadcasts to allow incident command to communicate with
the
firefighter(s)
in danger and to better manage the MAYDAY situation.
EMERGENCY
In the event of an EMERGENCY, (less severely injured/ambulatory
firefighter, location of
injured
or trapped civilian, notification of structural deterioration or other serious
hazard, etc.),
the
firefighter should transmit their radio identifier with the word EMERGENCY
(example:
“
EMERGENCY all units must immediately cease all non-critical
radio broadcasts until the
incident
commander has addressed the emergency situation.
URGENT
In the event of an URGENT, (important tactical information,
declining water pressure, disrupted
water
flow, or other critical issues that can impact operations), the member should
transmit their
radio
identifier with the word URGENT (example: “
with
an URGENT!”). Upon hearing an URGENT all units limit non-critical radio
transmissions
until
the incident commander has addressed the urgent situation.
No user
of the radio will intentionally cut out another user of the radio system. It is
also
very important that we are not alone
is using these radio frequencies. We are constantly
being monitored and the level of
professionalism on the radio is a reflection of our entire
department!
Incident
Command System
The incident command system, hereafter referred to as ICS, is
designed to provide guidelines and
concepts
to manage in an efficient manner. The ICS will improve firefighter safety by
providing
better
accountability of personnel and improved use of resources and tactical effectiveness.
It is
the
responsibility of the initial Incident Commander, regardless of their rank, to
implement the
necessary
ICS functions as determined by the specific incident. As the command function
is
transferred
to succeeding officers, further expansion of the ICS should take place. Once
Command is transferred, the Incident
Commander must be thoroughly briefed as to the status of
the
entire operation underway.
The ICS is the official policy for the management of all
incidents and the development of
standard
operating guidelines. This Department will implement the system at all
incidents for
which
it has management responsibility.
The ICS has several characteristics components. These components
interact to create a
system
that ensures optimum information management and control under normal or crisis
conditions.
The characteristics are:
1. Common Terminology
insures that all personnel are able to communicate effectively. The
use
of the county wide
the
message, the more effective communications will be.
2. Manageable Span of
Control is most effective when management responsibility of
personnel
ranges from three to seven, with five being ideal.
3. Modular Organization
means that ICS organization
levels evolve based on the type and
complexity
of the incident. A routine incident will have a simple structure. A complex
incident
will require a larger organizational structure. Incident Commanders are
responsible
for
the performance of the six main functions within the ICS. The functions are
Command,
Planning,
Operations, Staging, Logistics, and Finance. If any function is not
delegated it
remains
the responsibility of the Incident Commander.
4. Integrated
Communications is managed through the use of a communications plan. In
incidents
involving only the CVFD, then one operating radio channel is likely to be
utilized.
When mutual aid fire
departments and police agencies are involved, however, the
communication
plans must be made adaptable.
5. Unified Command is
a means of organizing agencies that have legal authority and
responsibility
at large scale incidents, into one coordinated and controlled effort. It is
designed
to minimize “turf battles” and promote close working relationships among
different
departments.
Instead of several different command posts operation independently, the
operation
is directed from one command post.
6. Designated Incident
Facilities is an area that is established to serve a particular purpose,
i.e.
Command Post, Staging
etc.
Fire Attack Guidelines
There are three key components at the heart of any firefighting
strategy. They are: protecting
life;
confining the fire and protecting exposures; and extinguishing the fire.
Firefighting tactics,
on
the other hand, can be defined as the hands-on means of achieving the strategic
objectives.
Fire attack concentrates on the tactical aspects of firefighting
operations.
First due units are often confronted with life-saving operations
upon arrival. Saving lives is the
top
priority and the most serious factor at any fire, and is prioritized ahead of
fighting the fire
when
adequate personnel are not available to do both. A factor of judgment is
present at this
stage,
however, as the best life saving measure may be a prompt attack on the fire,
which if
allowed
to spread could trap occupants. Life hazard, visible upon arrival, has to be
dealt with
immediately.
Size-Up:
Size-up is the process of evaluating the situation at hand, including all
resources and
potential
hazards. Ideally the size-up process begins prior to the alarm, and should
include
familiarity
with the first-due response area and its structures. Size-up should be a
continuous
mental
process not the exclusive domain of officers or chiefs. Effective size-up
should
commence
prior to the alarm, and should be considered prior to placing any attack lines
into
operation.
Premature line placement can misdirect resources to the wrong street, building,
room,
stairway,
etc.
The CVFD utilizes the traditional
WEALTH can
be used to help memorize the key issues to think about when performing a
size-up
and
tactical assessment of a fire. The points are as follows:
C – Construction
O – Occupancy
A – Apparatus
L – Life Hazards
W – Water Supply
A – Auxiliary Appliances
S – Street Conditions
W – Weather
E – Exposure
A – Area of Structure (including
height)
L – Location of Fire (including
extension)
T – Time
H – Haz-Mat
Issues or Considerations
Confinement:
Confining the fire means to restrain or prohibit fire extension beyond the area
involved
upon arrival. This is generally the immediate concern. A life hazard, however,
always
has
top priority and would have to be resolved before extinguishing is considered.
The decision to attempt to confine the fire must be made by the
Officer in Charge. Confinement
must
take into consideration the intensity of the fire as well as the anticipated
direction of the fire
travel.
Be aware that the mere closing of a door or window may act to confine the fire
and
permit
life saving, while lines are being stretched. Proper ventilation can also act
to confine the
fire
or limit its spread.
Caution shall always be exercised by members ventilating so as
not to cause fire extension or
otherwise
impede the advancement of the initial line. Coordination in this regard is of
extreme
importance.
The initial attack line is not necessarily the line that will be directed to
extinguish
the
fire. The first line in a serious fire may be committed to confining the fire
and limiting or
halting
its extension throughout the involved or adjacent structures.
Minimum safe fire flow is usually
structure;
typically
directly
to the seat of the fire, not to smoke.
Backdraft:
Indications of potential backdraft are:
1. No visible
flames.
2. Windows are
hot and discolored.
3. Smoke is hot
and rises rapidly.
4. Smoke puffs
from the building at cracks and small openings.
5. Some smoke
is drawn back into the building at cracks and small openings.
6. When an
opening is made, air being drawn sharply inward with sort of a sucking,
whistling sound
and or heavy volumes of twisting, rolling smoke (usually a gray yellow
color) issuing
under pressure.
Positioning
Hose Streams: More lives are saved at fires as a result
of proper positioning of
streams
than by all other life saving techniques. When stretching attack lines, it is
critical to
consider
both how much line is needed to reach the entrance and how much will be
required to
effectively
operate within the structure. It must be determined as soon as possible if an
immediate
and direct fire attack will both confine and extinguish the fire. If not, the
following
rules
for positioning streams will be followed:
1. When life is
endangered, the initial attack line must be positioned between the fire and the
persons
endangered by the continued fire extension.
2. When life is NOT
endangered, the first stream is placed between the fire and the MOST
severe
exposure.
3. Unless directed to the
contrary by the Incident Commander, the second attack line should be
advanced
to the same point as the first line as a back up line
in the event the water being
applied
on the fire by the first line is inadequate or the first line becomes
inoperative. When
the
second line is stretched, ensure that there is an ample hose to cover the floor
being
attacked
and the floor above.
4. A third line may be
stretched depending on the occupancy and fire condition to cover the
interior
stairs or a secondary means of egress. Likewise, it may be deployed to protect
trapped
persons on fire escapes or positions above the fire, to protect adjoining
buildings or
exposures,
or to prevent vertical extension of the fire.
Sometimes an aggressive interior attack is not possible,
necessitating an exterior attack. This
could
be approached from just about anywhere outside of the structure, including from
fire
excapes,
ground ladders, or other structures. A quick exterior or “blitz” attack can
darken the fire
down
enough so that interior personnel can make entry and attack the fire. It is
essential that the
Incident Commander carefully coordinates both attacks and
ensures that personnel in the interior
are
not in the fire room when this is attempted.
It is essential for interior attack teams to stay as low as
possible, regardless of the initial
conditions.
A ceiling collapse or sudden venting and feeding the fire could create a
chimney
effect.
Attack teams should always approach doorways from the side, so that if
superheated
gases
ignite they will have a grater degree of protection.
Initial streams applied to the fire should be directed high to
the ceiling in a “clockwise” fashion,
which
will drive heat, gases, steam, smoke, and other products of combustion away.
This will
also
cool the fire gases that have build up overhead and prevent them from igniting.
After this
short
burst on the ceiling, the solid stream should be directed at the main body of
fire.
Once a fire is knocked down, the attack team should shut the
stream down and check the
adjoining
rooms or other areas for fire extension, with special attention directed above
the fire.
When conditions permit, a fog stream may be directed out a
window to ventilate, reducing the
built-up
heat and smoke condition. This will also contribute to easier search and
overhaul
operations.
Overhaul:
Overhaul operations are essentially a careful and systematic examination of the
fire
area.
Once the main body of a fire has been extinguished, the fire area often still
contains sparks,
embers,
or small, concealed fires. The objectives in overhaul operations is to make
certain that
no
trace of fire remains to rekindle after the firefighters have left the scene
and to leave the
structure
in as safe a condition as possible. Before overhaul operations can be
initiated, holes in
floors
should be covered or barricaded. Unsafe areas should be roped-off or covered by
portable
ladders.
It is important to be aware of overhead hazards and hanging objects, such as
loose
plaster,
BX cable, etc. Adequate lighting must be provided where needed for safe and
effective
overhaul
operations. It is important to be aware that tools or other equipment are not
buried
under
the debris.
During cold and freezing weather, ice forms and slippery
conditions develop quickly, presenting
additional
hazards to the fire scene. Always remember to leave the nozzle “cracked” open
so that
hose
lines do not freeze.
Salvage:
Salvage touches on nearly every phase and action taken on the fireground. It is the
minimization
of fire, smoke, and water damage. The salvage process commences upon arrival at
the
fire scene and must be a continuous process. “Try before you pry” and avoiding
excessive
water
flow once the fire is knocked-down are examples of salvage consciousness.
Debris left at the scene should be handled with care. Materials
should be left as they were found,
which
will facilitate scene reconstruction when an investigation or cause
determination is being
carried
out by fire investigators. When excess water has collected inside a structure,
small holes
can
be poked in the ceilings in order to let it drain. This will prevent a ceiling
collapse or other
damage
due to excessive water accumulation.
Prior to leaving a scene, the Incident Commander or a company
officer will advise the owner or
other
representative of the conditions inside the premise, such as broken windows,
holes in walls
& floors, or other
potential hazards.
Structure
Fires
First
arriving unit advise communications of the conditions…. Nothing visible, smoke
visible,
flames visible, fully involved, fire is out.
Emergency
Retreat/Evacuation: In the event a hazardous
condition develops that necessitates
the
immediate evacuation of personnel engaged in interior structural firefighting,
notification
will
be made by:
1. Company officer/Incident Commander will notify interior
personnel via
PORTABLE
RADIO.
2. The driver/pump operator of each apparatus in close proximity
of the involved structure will
execute
ONE LONG BLAST of the apparatus’ air horn and siren.
3. All personnel evacuated will immediately report to the
Incident Commander or his designee
at
the command post.
If fire is present: Ensure everyone is out, locate fire, check
for possible exposures, check with
owner
or caller and see if there are any special hazards, report to first arriving
officer.
If no fire is present: Ensure correct location, determine
reason for call, and advise
communications.
Rapid
Intervention Team (2+2)
This will establish a policy for which all CVFD members will
follow during all interior
firefighting
operations or when working in any atmosphere that poses an immediate danger to
life
or health. (IDLH). The procedure outlined below will
be used at all interior firefighting
operations
or any atmosphere that poses an immediate danger to life and health. (IDLH) The
only
deviation
from this procedure would be for the need of immediate life rescue.
The rule states that an interior suppression crew must consist
of two trained personnel fully
suited
with SCBA ready for entry, with a back up crew of two trained personnel suited
with
SCBA to serve as the rescue
team.
The two in crew entering the interior or atmosphere must be
suited properly with SCBA and
have
a minimum 1,
readied.
The two out crew’s primary function is for the rescue of the interior
suppression crew.
The out team must be fully trained and have available a hoseline equal to the in team. One
person
is stationed at the entry point and the other ready to enter. The person at the
entry point
will
perform the accountability function, which can only be abandoned to perform a
rescue of the
in
team. If a rescue is to be made, the outside team must notify the incident
commander before
entry
is made.
If there are additional teams inside the structure or hazardous
atmosphere there does not need to
be
an additional team for each two-person team. If a situation arises that further
crews are needed
then
additional rescue teams must be provided.
Ventilation,
Entry, and Search
Ventilation:
Ventilation may be defined as the removal hazardous and/or toxic atmosphere
from
a structure that has been contaminated with smoke, gases, and heat, by
providing both a
controlled
means of escape and the controlled replacement with fresh air for the purpose
of
making
the atmosphere safe. It permits the advancement of hose lines rapidly which
results in
effectively
extinguishing the fire. There are two primary purposes for ventilation:
1. Venting for Life: To facilitate entry
when there is known or suspected life hazard
2. Venting for Fire: To make it possible
for the attack crew to enter the superheated IDLH
environment and
extinguish the fire.
Saving life is primary mission of the CVFD. Any immediate,
limited ventilation is justified
if
it facilitates an interior search for occupants. Ventilation for search
purposes, however, can
intensify
the fire and could endanger other occupants of the building. Therefore, it is
vital that
hoseline(s) with a minimum diameter of 1
¾” is/are stretched into the fire building as soon as
possible
to aid in ventilation, search, rescue and fire suppression.
The ventilation requirements are to make a building livable and
to prevent further spread of the
fire.
If ventilation is not first instituted at the roof prior to entry at the lower
level, a back draft
could
result and cause total involvement and loss of the structure. Also, if
ventilation is started
before
charged hose lines are ready to advance, the fire could spread rapidly
throughout the
building.
It must be understood that ventilation will probably increase the intensity of
the fire
and
therefore must be carefully coordinated with hose line evolutions in order to
avoid increasing
the
severity of the fire. There are two types of ventilation: natural and
mechanical. As in all
ventilation
evolutions, personnel should pull and/or push ceilings, and remove all
obstructions in
order
to maximize the impact of ventilation.
The following principals of ventilation are integral to
successful fire control operations:
Vertical
ventilation: This is the proven and accepted type of
ventilation to be used in the initial
stage
of operations. It should be performed for the following reasons:
1. Relieves the
upper portions of the building of heat, smoke, and gases, Prevents
mushrooming and
minimizes early fire extension. At the same time, it increases the
survival time of
unconscious or trapped victim(s).
2. Permits more
thorough search and examination above the fire.
3. Relieves
hallways and stairs of heat and smoke facilitating the escape of occupants
while
allowing an aggressive interior fire attack.
4. Creates a
vertical draft that channels the products of combustion, limiting horizontal
spread and making
control easier.
5. Permits
advance above the original fire area to search for possible victim(s) and cut
off
fire extension.
Lateral
(Horizontal) ventilation
1. Permits
rapid advance of hose line(s) to the immediate fire area.
2. Reduces the
danger of heat and/or flames from passing over or around the shield created
from a fog
pattern, since smoke and the heat are permitted to escape through these
controlled
openings, i.e.: windows, exterior door, etc.
3. Make
thorough search procedures easier on upper floors as well as on the fire floor.
4. Personnel
should be aware of the effects of thermopane windows,
which are commonly
used today. These
windows seal the building more efficiently therefore personnel must
be made aware of
the increase possibilities of flashover and backdraft.
Also venting
these windows with
a hose stream is much more difficult.
Firefighters
will only ventilate under the direct order of an officer. Extreme heat and
smoke conditions can develop in the
fire area and the floor above the fire. The potential for
flashover and backdraft
is real. Uncontrolled horizontal ventilation can seriously
jeopardize the safety of other
firefighters and civilians still located in the structure.
Forcible
Entry: CVFD personnel should thoroughly “size-up” and evaluate any
situation
potentially
requiring forcible entry prior to selecting the most appropriate method of
entry.
Among the deciding factors are: urgency of entry, type of door
and lock assemblies, the tools
and
manpower available, and the extent of damage entry will create. The need for
speed should
be
the overriding concern, whether to save life or cut off rapidly extending fire.
In almost all
cases,
the degree of damage caused by forcible entry should be consistent with the
danger and
damage
from the hazard, usually fire. The four basic rules to forcible entry are:
1. Try
before you pry. It is inexcusable to force entry through a door that is
unlocked.
2. Don’t
ignore the obvious. Look for the easiest way to enter a premise. Entry
should be
made via the area
of least resistance.
3. If
possible, use the doors that the occupants normally use to enter or exit the
premises.
Not only does that put you into the likely
exit paths of the occupants so you can begin
your search, but
it will also make your assignment easier.
4. Maintain
the integrity of the door. By breaking doors or smashing glass,
personnel
become at a
disadvantage in controlling the oxygen supply to the interior of the premise.
Entry should be considered in the earliest stages of the size-up
process, which commences upon
the
initial alarm.
Fireground Search:
To conduct a proper search for victims requires skill both on the fire floor
and
the floor above. It is CVFD policy that at no times should searches or any
other interior
fireground
operation or evolution be attempted with less than two firefighters. Smoke
conditions
will
frequently make it necessary for firefighters to rely on their sense of touch.
A utility or
search
rope tied to the doorknob of a door may be used as a guideline when searching
large areas
or
as a means of maintaining orientation.
Part of the size-up process is being aware of the resident(s) of
the structure and the time and day
of
the week. This will indicate who is likely to be in a structure at a given
time. Firefighters
must
also be sensitive to typical behavioral patterns of different ago groups in a fire. Children
may
hide in closets or under beds, while the elderly are frequently found taking
refuge in the
bathtub
or shower stall. Firefighters must be aware that removal of draperies or
curtains and
moving
large objects or furniture may be necessary, as they may hide a victim,
sealed-off closed,
or
other areas being used for refuge.
Victims are frequently located near the door or other areas of
egress, such as the front door,
interior
stairways, or balcony access doors. As they will usually try to reach a means
of
evacuation,
they are often found behind and around the entrance door, which is where a room
search
should commence. Prior to actual entry into the structure, firefighters should
place a large
“X”
on the bottom of the door, with chalk or crayon. This will alert other
firefighters that the
room
is in the process of being searched. Firefighters will then enter the room and
behind the
entrance
door will be searched first for possible victims.
After the primary search of the room or apartment, the search
team will place a circle “O” over
and
around the “X” written on the door
when they made their initial entry. This will advise other
firefighters
that the primary search of that room has been completed. Likewise, if the “X” on the
door
was not circled in a reasonable period of time, then the possibility may exist
that the search
team
may be in trouble and require assistance.
If for any reason a thorough search of an area has not been
completed, then the Lieutenant or
Acting Officer must be informed and a carefully executed
follow-up search be initiated. Search
for
life shall not be confined to the structure alone. The perimeter of the
building and adjoining
rooftops
must be checked for victims who may have jumped or fallen.
Secondary searches must be conducted as soon as conditions
permit. Secondary searches shall
be
conducted in the same manner as listed above. It is recommended, however, that
a different
team
of firefighters conduct the secondary searches.
When a victim is found, immediate notification must be made to
the Incident Commander. The
victim
must be removed from the structure by both firefighters conducting the search.
A
firefighter
must never be left alone within a structure. The rescuing firefighters will not
place the
circle
“O” over the “X” after the victim is removed from the room, as the possibility
exists of
more
victims within that room and the room will have to be searched further.
Coordination is imperative when conducting both primary and
secondary fireground searches.
The objective is to locate any trapped people and to get to the
most severely endangered in the
shortest
time period. Duplication of efforts wastes precious time.
Ground
Ladders: Ladders shall be placed to the windward side of the objective
whenever
possible
with an approximate angle of
shall
ladder the roof in two areas to provide a second means of escape if needed. A
ground
ladder
to the roof should be placed a minimum of three rungs past the roofline.
When using a ladder for rescue purposes, it should be placed
with the tip of the ladder at or just
below
the windowsill. Firefighters raising ladders shall follow the following
guidelines:
A)
B)
C)
Be aware of all
electrical wires and shall position the ladder at least
Follow the rule of 1
section per firefighter.
Grass/Brush Fires
Upon arrival a size-up
should be given and any additional needed resources notified. If a large
fire
is found, get the wind speed and direction. The fire shall be fought from the
burned side to
the
unburned side along the fastest progressing flank (side). Fighting brush fires
from the
unburned
side can be very dangerous and should be avoided if at all possible. Stay alert
for
changing
wind directions, which could cause the fire to turn abruptly and place the crew
in
immediate
danger.
Contact the Wise County
Fire Marshal’s Office (
suspicious
in nature.
Brush and grass fires
are generally extinguished with red hoselines,
although larger streams may
be
utilized due to conditions including but not limited to exposure problems,
large fire
involvement,
and severe wind conditions.
Officers in charge of
brush and grass fires, especially large scale ones, shall be aware of the
utilization
of the task force theory in the controlling such an incident. Incident
Commanders will
ensure
that a proper and thorough overhaul is conducted.
Vehicle Fires
All personnel shall be
in full protective clothing including SCBA when responding to vehicle
fires.
Upon arrival advise dispatch of the scene size-up and any need for additional
resources.
When possible attack the
vehicle from the corners using a slow, cautious approach. There are
may
hazards associated with approaching a vehicle directly from the front or the
rear of a
vehicle.
When responding to
reported automobile/vehicle fires, all personnel should be aware of the
possibility
that the involved vehicle is carrying or transporting hazardous materials. It
is
essential
to ascertain as soon as possible if there is a hazardous material(s) issue or
threat
involved.
If confirmation cannot be obtained prior to arrival on scene, then all
personnel will
approach
the scene cautiously, always prepared to evacuate to a safe distance. Drivers
of the
apparatus
will, if possible, stop the fire apparatus a minimum of
provide
adequate space for fire operations.
After the fire has been
extinguished, the NEGATIVE side of the battery terminal of the vehicle
must
be disconnected and/or cut.
In may
vehicle fires situations, hydrants are not readily available, necessitating
careful
conservation
of water. Both the driver operator and the Officer need to be aware of
potential
water
supply issues as part of their incident size-up.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
A Major Vehicle Accident
(MVA) is any collision or overturn of a motor vehicle or pedestrian
being
struck by a motor vehicle that results in the injury of any of the parties
involved.
Scene safety is the #1
priority when operating at an MVA scene. If rescuers become victims by
being
struck by another vehicle then they are not capable of assisting the victims of
the MVA.
Apparatus should be
placed in a manner that creates a barrier between the personnel operating at
the
scene and the approaching traffic when possible. If it is necessary for the
purpose of scene
safety
do not hesitate to close down a roadway by placing the apparatus across the
lanes of traffic
and
placing traffic cones or flares between the apparatus and approaching traffic.
Personnel
should
also wear brightly colored safety vests when operating in or near traffic
lanes. If fuel is
leaking
from the vehicle or is on the ground a red line will be deployed and manned as
a safety
line.
Drivers of the apparatus
will, if possible, stop the fire apparatus a minimum of
vehicles.
If there is a possibility of a Hazardous Material being involved, stop short of
the scene,
check
placards identification on the trailer, identify material, and determine if it
is safe for units
to
enter scene. If you feel the scene are to hazardous to enter, relay information
to dispatch and
follow-on
units. Full turnout gear and S.C.B.A. are required.
The number to CHEMTREC is 1-
need advice.
Extrication: Primary consideration shall be
given to the patient at all times.
If extrication is
necessary, only individuals who are trained in the use of the hydraulic or
pneumatic
rescue tools should conduct extrication measures in the hot zone. Personnel
shall be
in
full protective clothing, including full eye protection. Full eye protection is
considered to be
goggles
or safety glasses. Flip down eye shields (Bourkes)
are not considered to be full eye
protection.
Ensure the vehicle has
been stabilized with cribbing or other devices and ensure the battery has
been
disconnected prior to beginning extrication. Personnel should familiarize
themselves with
the
vehicle and any potential hazards prior to beginning extrication. Many injuries
to firefighters
have
occurred due to personnel cutting something that they should have not. Place a
hand-line
on
the ground in the warm zone as a protection line. Prior to extrication the
patient(s) must be
accompanied
by a medical technician. Provide shielding for victims and any rescuers within
the
vehicle
using a heavy-duty blanket if possible.
Keep unnecessary
personnel and bystanders outside the work area in the cold zone. Stage
additional
resources and Lifeflight in the cold zone Lifeflight should be notified if there would
be
an extended extrication period.
Medical Support
There should be at least
one (1) EMT-B on the apparatus prior to response to any
The EMS person with the
highest level of
Each firefighter will
render aid to the level of their training, never above or beyond.
All necessary
information should be obtained and all supplies used should be restocked prior to
Lifeflight
or
contact
with any patient.
Hazardous Materials Incidents (Including oil and gas pipelines)
When accidents or fires occur involving hazardous materials, the first priority is
the prevention
of
fatalities and injuries. The prevention of damage to property and of injury to
livestock,
wildlife
and the environment is a secondary priority. To manage a hazardous materials
incident
in
the safest manner, it is absolutely necessary to know the properties of the
materials and the
shipping
containers involved.
It must be emphasized
that no individual can ever be assumed to be an “expert” in this field and
that
a heavy reliance must be placed on obtaining information from external sources.
It must
also
be stressed that hazardous materials incidents cannot be handled in the same
manner as
typical
firefighting operations. Quick aggressive action is most often inappropriate in
a
hazardous
materials incident and can potentially increase the risk of unnecessary
exposure of
personnel.
Hazardous materials incidents are often time consuming and can be very
demanding
from
an incident management perspective. It is especially critical that all officers
and
firefighters
work within the Incident Command System. All action taken must be deliberate
and
planned
after properly identifying the substance involved.
It is possible that the
affected area, or “Hot Zone,” can have such a high degree of hazardous
contamination
that the only safe course is to essentially seal the outer perimeter and
evacuate
those
who may have been exposed to the material(s). Severe hazards often exist
without
combustion,
smoke, or noticeable fumes.
Initial response should
consist of making an initial survey of the scene, determining:
Location of
exposed or potentially exposed people
Presence of
fire, smoke, or fumes
Presence and
location of actual hazardous materials
Overall
condition of the scene, containers, and/or vehicle
Wind direction,
speed, and the condition of the terrain, including presence of water
sources, supplies, and the sewer system, if any.
2. Rescue/remove from the Hot Zone any exposed or injured
people, if possible. Wearing the
proper
protective clothing and the utilization of appropriate equipment is paramount.
Plan
escape
routes before entering the Hot Zone. Personnel are not to be exposed
unnecessarily to the
materials,
smoke, and/or fumes.
3. Identify the specific products, cars, trailers, or containers
involved. Identify the hazard class
of
all materials involved. Truck drivers will have shipping papers containing this
information, or
the
papers will be kept within the cab of the involved truck. Placards applied to
vehicles and/or
labels
on packages may help in identify the presence of hazardous materials, but the
shipping
papers
are the best source of on-scene identification information. If these papers are
destroyed,
the
carrier should be contacted to ascertain the exact material or substance being
carried.
Request trained HAZMAT assistance EARLY! Support will come from
either Fort Worth Fire
Department or
delay.
Commanders should also contact CHEMTREC
at
additional
information.
General
Guidelines
Natural Gas Leaks: During response to gas leaks the first
priority will be to maintain the safety
of
the crew.
1. Engine
2. Personnel
and apparatus should be positioned uphill and upwind from the leak.
3. Personnel
shall be in full protective clothing; SCBA should be used if in close
proximity to leak.
4. The
immediate are shall be evacuated and a 2” hand line should be deployed and
charged as a
protection line.
5. The police
department should be used to assist with any evacuation that is necessary,
and for traffic
control.
6. If the leak
is within a structure the service will be shut-off outside of the structure and
any occupants
evacuated.
7. Personnel
will remain on the scene until released by Energy Provider personnel.
Small Fuel Spills:
1. Maintain the
safety of the crew at all times
2. Position
apparatus and personnel upwind and uphill if possible.
3. All
personnel shall be in full protective clothing.
4. Stop the
spread of the fuel as quickly as possible.
5. Use oil-sorb or other type of absorbent material to soak up the
fuel and
place into a safe
container.
6. If the
weather and surrounding conditions permit, allow the fuel to
evaporate.
7. Any
collected fuel should be disposed of within EPA guidelines.
Small Oil and Anti-freeze/Coolant Spills: Many modern
anti-freeze/coolants are
environmentally
safe and biodegradable. These types of anti-freeze/coolants are orange or pink
in
color and may be washed off the surface of pavement with a hose stream. Any other
anti-
freeze/coolant
and oil should be treated a prescribed below:
1. Position
apparatus in an area clear of the material.
2. Personnel
should be in full protective gear.
3. Stop the
spread of the material as quickly as possible.
4. Use oil-sorb or other type of absorbent material to soak up the
material and place
into a safe
container.
5. Any
collected material should be disposed of within EPA guidelines.
Other types of Hazardous Materials Release:
1. Maintain the
safety of the crew at all times Only properly trained
and outfitted
personnel should
be within the hot zone at any hazardous materials release. (Do not
exceed your level
of training.)
2. Position
fire apparatus uphill and upwind from the problem area if possible.
3. If a
chemical release is suspected, secure the area and contact dispatch for
response
from an
environmental company who is properly trained for establishing control over the
situation, or the
4. Use the
Emergency Response Guidebook to determine the evacuation area, and other
necessary
precautions that should be taken prior to the arrival of assistance.
5. If an
environmental company or
available have dispatch contact the North East Tarrant
County HazMat Team for
assistance.
6. Attempt to
make contact with the owner of the chemicals if possible.
OPERATION SKYWARN:
1. Upon activation of an Operations Skywarn
storm watch, Incident Command will be
established
at Cottondale base.
2. Two person units will be dispatched to an assigned location.
A minimum of 1 trained
observer
will be in each unit. Units may be dispatched in department apparatus or POV.
Each
unit
will identify 2 escape routes (in different directions) before departing the
station in the event
they
are required to evacuate.
3. The primary method of communication will be cell phone. Radio
reporting should only be
used
if service is unavailable, to clear the phone line for an immediate report, or
in the event of
an
emergency. Incident Command will notify dispatch and
4. Units will routinely report to base every
Unit 1 will report at
Unit 3 at
dispatched,
they will report on the odd numbers. Unit 6 at
5. The following conditions will be immediately reported>
Heavy Rain
(over 2” per hour)
Winds above
estimated
Hail stones
Funnel Cloud or
Tornado
Other
significant phenomena
Search
and Rescue/Missing Person:
1. First responding unit should contact reporting individual and
gather as much information as
practical
as quickly as possible and conduct a hasty search of the immediate area (
meters
depending on terrain).
2. Incident command should be established away from the family
area, close to the last known
location
of the subject.
3. Subsequent units should report to incident command for
assignment to a grid.
4. Units will routinely report to Incident Command every
minutes
apart. Unit 1 will report at
through
etc,
etc.
Air
Ambulance Landing Zone operations
The following mechanisms of injury may indicate a request for an
air ambulance:
A)
Falls from
B)
Apparent high-speed impact
C)
Pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle exceeding
D)
Ejection from a motor vehicle
E)
Death of passenger in same vehicle
F)
Rollover of a vehicle
G) Significant deformity of a
vehicle
H)
Patient < 5 years old or >
I ) Penetrating injuries to head, neck or torso
J)
Systolic BP <
K)
Respiratory rate <
L)
Gunshot to chest, neck, head or torso
M)
Third degree burns >
N)
Third degree burns to the face or airway
O)
Possible spinal injury
P)
Fracture of 2 or more long bones
Q)
Amputation (other than digits)
R)
S)
Unconscious or decreased level of consciousness
T)
Cardiac or respiratory emergencies
The incident commander will provide patient information to
dispatch as soon as practical. Any
and
all hazards in the vicinity should be communicated to the Air Ambulance as soon
as
possible.
The landing zone will be known as “Cottondale LZ”.
Designate the LZ and inform dispatch and the on-scene crew of
its location. Select a clear, level
area
(no more than
flares,
or other items that may become projectiles to mark off the area. This can
injure personnel
and
or damage the helicopter. Mark poles with spotlights. If there are poles
adjoined by a
common
line (wire) spotlight both poles. (Do not spotlight the wire.)
It is essential to remember that signs, poles, and wires are
difficult or impossible to see from the
air.
If they are present at or near the LZ, the pilot must be informed of this prior
to attempting a
landing.
When using a highway as an LZ, all traffic must be stopped at least
both
directions. Helicopters typically land into the wind or with no more than a
wind.
Vertical take-offs and landings are not routinely attempted. The pilot
typically flies at a
slight
angle.
Be prepared to deploy a charged hand line and place the deck-gun
into operation. Personnel, the
public,
and the media shall be kept a safe distance from the landing zone to ensure
scene safety.
Keep in mind that the rotor wash from the helicopter can turn
many objects into projectiles, and
kick
up a lot of dirt and sand. (Eye injuries can occur very easily during the
landing and takeoff.)
It is necessary to mark the LZ at night use headlights, large
flashlights or spotlights to create
an
“X” with the light beams on the ground at the location of the LZ. Keep these
items outside of
the
Never go
near the tail rotor of a helicopter or approach one from the rear.
Always wait for
a
signal from the pilot before approaching a helicopter. Due to rotor blade
flexibility, always
approach
helicopters in a crouched stance. Should a helicopter land on a slope or grade,
approach
it from the downhill side. Do not attempt to open or close the aircraft doors –
the
specially
trained helicopter crew will do it themselves.
4.
Equipment Testing and Maintenance
The Chief of the Department will appoint a Maintenance Officer
for the Department. The
Maintenance Officer is responsible for maintaining CVFD
maintenance records for each vehicle.
The Maintenance Officer will also schedule maintenance days
(normally one per month) and
conduct
training on proper use and maintenance of the vehicles.
Firefighters and all officers are responsible for the care and
upkeep of the equipment. This
includes
cleaning turnout gear on a regular basis, following manufacturer’s
instructions. All PPE
must
be carefully inspected and cleaned following use. Any missing, damaged, or
inadequate
PPE should be reported to an officer immediately, and if
necessary taken out of service.
Post Response Requirements
All firefighters are to report directly to the department at the completion of
an incident, and remain there until released by the Chief, or Senior Officer.
Apparatus:
All fire department apparatus will be promptly refilled with fuel and water
following
an emergency incident to assure readiness for the next incident. Upon return to
the
station
all vehicles:
will be inspected to identify lost, missing, or damaged
equipment.
will have all fluid levels and safety equipment (light,
wipers, etc) checked.
will be cleaned of all personnel trash accumulated during
the response.
Tools
and Misc. Equipment: All equipment used on the
incident shall be promptly cleaned,
disinfected,
and inspected prior to returning to service on an apparatus. All members will
be
responsible
for cleaning and inspection of the equipment used during response.
Personnel shall perform a through
inspection of their personal gear following each use. All PPE
must
be cleaned anytime it is subjected to hazardous atmosphere by the following
method:
Member should
don all protective clothing.
Have another
member wet gear down and scrub using a brush with a soap and water
solution.
Rinse gear
thoroughly.
Air dry in the shade.
Under no
circumstances is the bunker gear to be dried in the direct sunlight or left in
the
direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Any
gear, which sustains tears, punctures, or other damage causing the gear to be
unsafe,
shall be removed from service and
sent for professional repairs by a licensed repair facility.
Weekly/monthly
Requirements
It is the responsibility of each CVFD Officer to ensure that all
equipment on their assigned
apparatus
is checked weekly and that an apparatus maintenance form and checklist are
fully
completed.
Officers are responsible for the overall upkeep and maintenance of their
assigned
apparatus.
The apparatus and the equipment on it are to be kept operationally ready and in
perfect
working order at all times. Any deficiencies in equipment must be reported
immediately.
Cottondale Volunteer Fire Department equipment will not be
loaned-out or removed from the
apparatus
by any member unless authorized in advance by the Chief.
All SCBA shall be inspected on a weekly basis and immediately
after each use and the bottles
shall
be hydrostatically tested every 5 years. (3 years for aluminum bottles)
Annual
Requirements
All inspection or personal equipment will be made on an annual
basis by a company officer for
any
damage or wear requiring professional repair and/or cleaning.
Fire pumps on apparatus shall be tested annually as specified in
NFPA
All ground ladders shall be inspected and tested annually as
specified in NFPA
All portable extinguishers shall be inspected and tested
annually as specified in NFPA
All testing will be documented on an equipment record.
Hose
Testing
All CVFD hose in service on shall be tested annually. The
procedure for testing all fire
department
hose is as follows:
as possible.
keep
the pressure on the line for at least five minutes.
are
to be drained. Each length of hose will be visually inspected to determine if
the chalk
lines
have moved from their original positions. If so, then the length of hose to be
taken
out
of service.
the
female coupling should be visually examined and the couplings lubricated.
Hose testing may be done in-house or alternatively may be
contracted out to a professional hose-
testing
firm, at the discretion of the Chief.
5.
Training All firefighters are expected to accrue a minimum of
training
annually. This can be accomplished through attendance at monthly training
meetings,
formal
training programs by state or federal organizations, computer or web based
courses
available
from a variety or organizations, or other means
approved by the Training Officer.
Failure to successfully complete required firefighter training
or to regularly participate in
departmental
training is cause for extension of the probationary period, suspension, or
termination
from the CVFD as determined by the Chief.
Driver Training
The Engineer and the Training Officer are responsible for the
quality of the training and the
certification
of apparatus drivers. Apparatus qualification will begin with R-
the
following order: B-
To qualify as an apparatus driver, an active member must:
Have completed probationary training, the National Safety
Council Safe Emergency Vehicle
Operator course and be approved by the operational officers for
driver training.
Have a current physical on file.
Be at least
qualification
on all other apparatus.
Complete the training certification sheet of enclosure ( 1 ) for each apparatus.
The items to be completed are:
Knowledge of SOP: The candidate for qualification must read and
understand, as evaluated by
the
Chief or designee during an oral interview, the following:
General Rules of Operation
Out of Service Equipment
Duties of Apparatus Drivers
Duties of Active Firefighters
Apparatus Response
Pump Operator Qualification
Operation of Radio: Demonstrate knowledge to operate all
communications equipment and have
working
knowledge of applicable radio codes.
Equipment Location: Demonstrate knowledge of all vehicle and
emergency controls,
location
of all equipment, and use of warning devices.
The proper placement of
apparatus at various emergency scenes.
Pre and post operation maintenance checks; demonstrate how to
check all fluid levels and
satisfactorily
complete vehicle operators’ log; explain the procedures for refueling and
refilling
(with water) the apparatus.
Training
Requirements & Expectations
The following requirements are established for interior
structural firefighting or operating in any
dangerous
atmosphere:
Personnel shall
have been fit tested.
Personnel shall
have department training on SCBA use.
Personnel shall
understand the department’s accountability procedure.
All personnel must be familiar with proper personal protection
equipment (PPE) that must be
worn
at all times in the danger zone.
The Chief of the Department will appoint a Training Officer for
the Department. The Training
Officer will conduct and coordinate monthly training sessions in
accordance with an annual
training
program approved by the Chief. The Training Officer is responsible for
maintaining
CVFD training records.
If, in the opinion of the Chief or the Training Officer, additional training
sessions
are required, then they should be scheduled. This does not preclude officers or
firefighters
from providing training on an informal or “ad hoc” one-on-one basis.
All Department personnel are encouraged to enroll in and
complete County, State, and other
relevant
training courses offered by local, regional, state, federal, or other
appropriate training
bodies
and authorities. Prior to enrolling in any training programs or courses, they
should first
obtain
permission from the Chief.
Additional
Recommended Training for Company Officers
Prospective officers should have successfully completed
Firefighter I or have sufficient
experience
to successfully act in the position. Training should include the Incident
Command
System (ICS) and an overview of the leadership skills and tools
needed to supervise and
command
effectively in the fire service environment. The following courses or their
equivalents
satisfy
these requirements:
the
Initial Response
or:
Lieutenants and Captains are charged with providing additional
training of personnel apart from
CVFD sponsored programs, both formally and as part of their
mentoring duties with
Probationary Firefighters.
Each time an officer engages in training of personnel he/she shall
report
to the Training Officer detailing such training and the personnel involved. The
Training
Officer should maintain copies for his/her files.