Travis County Emergency Services District #1 Standard Operating Guidelines

Transcription

1 Section Policy Number Effective Date C C11 07/10/2015 Policy Issued As Reference Policy # B1-B4, C2, C4, C12, C14, E1, TBD Subject Approval: Donald Norman, Fire Chief PURPOSE This document is intended to establish basic and procedures for emergency incident operations at vegetation fires. They are designed to be applied generally. They may be modified as situations dictate. SCOPE This guideline should apply to vegetation fires in open land and wildland urban interface areas. EXPECTATIONS The NIMS Incident Command System (ICS) will be employed to manage incidents and events regardless of size and complexity. For details, see Command Procedures SOG. PROCEDURES Response Areas to consider in response are size-up and situational awareness. This would include fuel, weather, topography, current and expected fire behavior, rate of spread, location, access, resources, potential threats, life hazards, property threatened and evacuations. First arriving Engine on first alarm: 1) The Officer should establish Investigation/Fire Attack/Command mode. 2) The Officer should establish the fire attack strategy. 3) The Driver may continue to drive or spot the apparatus in a safe position depending on the attack strategy. The Driver should keep the apparatus in a position to access the identified escape route or safety zone. 4) The Nozzle AND/OR Back-up Firefighter should assist the Officer as directed. SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 1 of 9

2 Additional resources Additional resources shall be assigned by the Incident Commander. First arriving Battalion Chief on first alarm: The Battalion Chief should assume or establish Command of the incident Fire Streams 1) The Command vehicle location should be outside the firefighting zone in a safe area. The location should be announced on the tactical channel and to Fire Dispatch 2) Transfer of command should include situation status, actions taken and resource assignments. 3) Identify and communicate incident priorities and strategy 4) Consider additional resources. They should be ordered by number and type. 5) Set-up an Incident Command structure (see Command and Control SOG for addl. detail). A minimum of 50 GPM is required when: Making direct attack on the fire Fast-Moving, high intensity fires are encountered Progressive hoselays are used Conducting Structure Protection operations Incident Objectives Prioritized incident objectives should be utilized to mitigate the incident, based on the strategic objectives of: 1) Life 2) Scene stabilization 3) Property conservation. This is Putting the box around the incident. Example: Structure protection and evacuation of a portion of the Highland Lakes sub division, contain fire south of Bowie Cove, contain fire north Bryan Cove, contain fire east of Highland Lake Drive, contain fire west of Boone Dr. SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 2 of 9

3 Mobile Attack Mobile Attack (Pump & Roll) is the preferred method when making a direct attack on fast moving, low- intensity wildland fires when conditions allow its use. The major requirement for this method is that the fire be in terrain that the apparatus can safely negotiate. A minimum of 2 personnel are required to operate in the field, however a 3 person crew is desired for efficiency. Hazards and Additional Considerations All Mobile Attack firefighting operations should be made from the black (Burned area) for Firefighters safety, and to minimize heat exposure. Good communication is essential, either verbal or visual. It is critical between Driver and Nozzle Operator for safety. If visual contact is lost, Driver shall stop, or the Nozzle Operator will hit the windshield with a burst of water signaling the Driver to stop. Emergency lighting and headlights shall be on at all times while operating in the field. Tactics Direct Attack Flanking Action Pincer Attack Tandem Attack Envelopment Action Hot Spotting Indirect Attack Parallel Attack Combination Attack SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 3 of 9

4 Mop Up Should take place once the fire has been contained. Determine the distance inside the control line to be overhauled based on current and expected weather and fire behavior. Patrols may be necessary for areas of likely ignition. Fire control may not be declared for hours or days depending on the fuel type. Firing Operations Authority A qualified individual shall supervise all firing operations. Burning out operations shall have the approval of the Division/Group Supervisor. Backfiring operations require the approval of the Incident Commander. Risk Management All wildland firefighting activities shall be engaged upon with the following safety considerations: Risk Management Process 1. Situational Awareness (Size-up) 2. Hazard Assessment (Potential) 3. Hazard Control (Controls in place) 4. Decision Point (Engage) 5. Evaluation (What is changing?) Refer to Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 4 of 9

5 Safety The position of Safety Officer must be filled for: Threatening fires Grass or Brush fires where dispatch has toned the Safety Officer Large vegetation fires as dispatched or determined by IC Fast moving smaller vegetation fires Any other time where safety considerations warrant the filling of that position The Safety Officer shall not be cancelled until a responding officer has determined the situation to be a false alarm or otherwise under control. LCES LCES is extremely important for ensuring firefighter safety in a wildland fire environment and will be implemented on all brush fires. 1. L-Lookout: A trained member(s) in WUI and wildland fire tactics, other than Command or an operational unit should be assigned to an elevated position(s) (aerial, helicopter or terrain feature). The lookout(s) will be tasked with: a. Observing fire behavior and recognizing changes in due to weather, fuels or topography b. Alerting Command of changes in fire behavior or fire conditions c. Maintaining visual contact of the fire at all times. 2. C- Communications: All personnel on the incident should have a radio. The use of the tactical channel(s) and/or face to face should provide adequate coverage in most situations. Should there be a radio failure or dead spots in an area, the Lookout can serve as a relay. 3. E- Escape Routes: These are paths of egress from the fire back to a safe zone. These escape routes must be communicated to all personnel on scene. It is the officer s responsibility and the firefighters personal duty to establish or request an escape route depending on their location on SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 5 of 9

6 the incident. Roads, trails and the black can serve as escape routes. All escape routes shall be flagged with bright green flagging. This will bring consistency with our flagging uses and minimize any confusion when attempting to access escape routes. Caution must be used when following this guideline in other jurisdictions. There are not any national standards on flagging color uses and green could potentially indicate a hazard. 4. S- Safety Zones: Areas of refuge where a large body of fire will not affect personnel or apparatus regardless of flame length or radiant heat. The Engine Boss/Officer is responsible for designating safety zones during incidents with the help of lookouts. Safety zone should provide a separation of four feet for every one foot of flame. If a fire has flame length of 5 feet then a separation distance of 20 feet is required for an adequate safety zone. All personnel on a wildland fire should be aware of escape routes and safety zone location at all times. Roadways may suffice in some instances, but in extreme fire behavior these may not be adequate if they are in the path of the fire. Fire apparatus is not considered a safety zone, but may be utilized in an emergency as a temporary shelter until a fire passes if none other is available. Standard Firefighting Orders 1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts. 2. Know what your fire is doing at all times. 3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire. 4. Identify escape routes and safety zones and make them known. 5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger. 6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively. 7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining forces. 8. Give clear instructions and insure they are understood. 9. Maintain control of your forces at all times. 10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first. 18 Watch Out Situations 1. Fire not scouted and sized up. 2. In country not seen in daylight. 3. Safety zones and escape routes not identified. 4. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior. 5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. 6. Instructions and assignments not clear. 7. No communication link with crewmembers/supervisors. 8. Constructing line without safe anchor point. 9. Building fireline downhill with fire below. SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 6 of 9

7 10. Attempting frontal assault on fire. 11. Unburned fuel between you and the fire. 12. Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can. 13. On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below. 14. Weather is getting hotter and drier. 15. Wind increases and/or changes direction. 16. Getting frequent spot fires across line. 17. Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult. 18. Taking a nap near the fire line. Personal Protective Clothing (All items NFPA 1977 approved) Helmet with chinstrap Nomex or 100% cotton long sleeved shirt Nomex or 100% cotton pants Leather work gloves Cotton or Nomex undergarments Wildland Fire Boot (non-steel toed) Leather Boot Laces Goggles Structure Protection Structure Triage Category Select the appropriate structure triage category based on the forecasted fire behavior, the surrounding area terrain and any defensible space. 1. Not-threatened Safety Zone and TRA are present and construction features or defensible space make it unlikely that the structure will ignite during initial fire front contact. 2. Threatened Defensible Safety Zone and TRA are present and construction features, lack of defensible space, or other challenges requires firefighters to implement structure protection tactics during fire front contact. 3. Threatened Non-Defensible Either there is no Safety Zone or TRA present and/or the structure has challenges that do not allow firefighters to safely commit to stay and protect the structure during fire front contact. SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 7 of 9

8 Tactical Actions Travis County Emergency Services District #1 Check and Go Prep and Go Prep and Defend Fire Front Following Bump and Run Anchor and Hold Tactical Patrol Water Use Hose configurations should be modified for structure protection prior to entering fire threat areas. This includes secured hasty loads and protection lines. DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOY LINES AT EVERY STRUCTURE! Only deploy hose lines and apply water to control fire spread. DO NOT connect engine to hydrants or other fixed water supplies while actively protecting a structure. 1-3/4" hose lines with a minimum of 50 GPM are required for structure protection. Maintain at least 100 gallons for personnel protection. Refill as soon as safely possible. Additional Considerations Equipment positioning Back equipment in Level area, leeward side away from heavy fuels Avoid chutes & draws Maintain crew continuity Structure preparations as time and conditions allow Shut off gas, clear combustibles around tank Clear roof of combustibles Cover vents Remove and scatter fuels away from structure (reducing fuel continuity) Close windows and doors, including garage, leaving unlocked (with fire threat) Have garden hoses charged SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 8 of 9

9 SOG Revision Record Version Number Date Reason for Revision 1 07/01/2015 Document Release SOG C11 Version Date: 07/01/2015 Page 9 of 9