STONY HILL RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATING GUIDELINES Subject: Response to Alarms (DRAFT) Approved: Guideline Number: 1006 Date: 11-8-2011 Page: 1 of 6 1.0 PURPOSE To establish a procedure for the acknowledgement and response to emergency responses. 2.0 ORGANIZATION AFFECTED Stony Hill Rural Fire Department, Inc. 3.0 PROCEDURE 3.1 Answering Alarm 3.1.1 When an alarm is activated by Central, all fire department personnel but the Chief and Assistant Chiefs will proceed to the appropriate fire station. If arriving before all trucks designated to respond have left, put on turnout gear and ride fire apparatus to the call. No fire department personnel will ride the tailboard of any apparatus. 3.1.2 If an alarm is received by means other than through Central, such as telephone, walk-in, or word of mouth to a firefighter; the first firefighter to arrive at the station will contact Central via the base radio, relay the nature and location of the call, and request that the pagers be activated. Personnel will then follow the guidelines listed in section 1.1. 3.1.3 Personnel living in the Station #1 area should respond to Station #1. Personnel living in the Station #2 area should respond to Station #2. This will depend on the time of day and the availability of personnel. 3.1.4 Station #1's response area will be all parts of the fire district, from Station #1, with the cutoff points at the Falls Lake bridge on New Light Rd., the Falls Lake bridge on Hwy 50 North, the Falls Lake bridge on Purnell Rd., and the bridge on Woodlief Rd. Station #2's response area will be all parts of the fire district, from Station #2, to the same cutoff points. 3.1.5 Unless otherwise indicated over radio, or by a chief officer, the apparatus listed in section 3.8.3 should respond to the specific incidents. 3.1.6 Know the location of the incident and check the map before leaving the station. 3.2 Personal Vehicle Response (POV) 3.2.1 All personnel should respond to their appropriate fire station and ride a piece of apparatus to an alarm. If the alarm location is between the station and the firefighter s location at the time of the alarm, it is the firefighter's discretion as to response to the station. The time of day and availability of personnel will have to be considered. 3.2.2 Probationary firefighters will NOT respond POV to an alarm, unless approved by the Fire Chief. 3.2.3 Junior Firefighters respond in accordance with the Junior Firefighter Program Guideline.
Subject: Response to Alarms Guideline: 1006 Page: 2 of 6 3.3 Radio Use 3.3.1 When acknowledging an alarm, the nature and location of the alarm will be repeated over the assigned 800 mhz talkgroup for the incident. 3.3.2 Each apparatus leaving the station will transmit unit number and Enroute over the assigned 800 mhz talk group. If a TAC or OPS talk group is not assigned, units will operate on FD DISP 1 or request a TAC or OPS talk group from Central as needed. 3.3.3 Department officers who respond POV will communicate their response over the assigned TAC or OPS talk group. Officers, that acknowledge the alarm, will state whether they are "Enroute direct" to the scene or "Enroute to the station." 3.3.4 While enroute to the alarm, radio traffic will be held to a minimum. 3.3.5 A verbal size-up with statement of fire conditions will be given upon arrival to all alarms except Medical responses. 3.3.6 A verbal size-up and statement of fire conditions consists of a brief statement of scene conditions transmitted over the radio. This transmission will assist incoming personnel and apparatus, giving them a better idea of what to expect and preparing for proper action. Examples: 1. No fire evident [scene description], Nothing Showing 2. Smoke Visible [scene description], Smoke Visible (may upgrade to working fire ) 2. Fire visible [scene description], Working Fire Examples: One-story residential structure, working fire ; Single motor vehicle, working fire ; Small grass fire"; Two story commercial structure, nothing showing. 3.3.7 The first arriving officer or apparatus to the scene will transmit On Scene, give a verbal size-up, and establish Command and command location. Examples: (1) 269 on scene, small working grass fire, [radio #] is in command ; (2) 264 on scene, one story frame residence, fire visible from roof, working fire [radio #] is in command in Division [location]. (3) "265 on scene, two vehicle accident, [radio #] is in command. All other fire units will transmit On Scene only.
Subject: Response to Alarms Guideline: 1006 Page: 3 of 6 3.3.8 Be professional, precise, brief, and to the point when using the radio. Keep radio traffic to a minimum and use plain text when possible. Whenever possible, communications on the scene should be face-to-face. 3.3.9 Fire department radios will be used for department business only. 3.4 Enroute to Alarm 3.4.1 Department apparatus should be operated only by a qualified Driver/Operator with the utmost safety. 3.4.2 Use warning lights and sirens as conditions dictate. Warning lights and sirens will be used at ALL intersections. 3.4.3 All apparatus responding to emergency and non-emergency alarms will come to a COMPLETE STOP at all intersections and stop lights. The right-of-way must be clear before proceeding through any intersection under any condition. 3.4.4 Do NOT operate any apparatus at more than ten [10] miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Time of day, weather conditions, and the amount of traffic will be factors to consider in your speed. 3.4.5 Never pass an emergency apparatus enroute to a call except when the front vehicle acknowledges your need to pass and allows you room and time to pass. If possible this action should be coordinated over the radio. 3.4.6 When responding to a fire incident, if Nothing Showing is transmitted by the first arriving unit, all other responding apparatus and vehicles will reduce to a non-emergency response (no lights and sirens, at posted speed limit) until released by the IC. 3.4.7 When responding to a Medical incident, all vehicles will reduce to a non-emergency response after the arrival of the first unit, unless otherwise advised. 3.4.8 At all times, good judgment will be used when operating apparatus on and off the road. Safety of our personnel and equipment will be our priority. 3.4.9 All rules for apparatus operation apply to a firefighter's private vehicle when responding to an alarm. When responding, each member is a representative of the fire department. 3.5 Arrival at the Scene 3.5.1 Upon arrival at the scene, unless otherwise advised, all apparatus and personnel will report to Level I Staging outlined below. 3.5.2 The first arriving apparatus or officer will proceed to the scene and advise on conditions. 3.5.3 All other personnel and apparatus will standby at the nearest roadway that allows vehicles to park without obstructing a normal flow of traffic or access to the fire scene.
Subject: Response to Alarms Guideline: 1006 Page: 4 of 6 3.5.4 Necessary equipment and personnel will be called upon by the Incident Commander. 3.5.5 Personal vehicles will remain at the Level I Staging area and personnel will walk to the scene or be transported if necessary. 3.5.6 Traffic control will be initiated if necessary. 3.5.7 If the incident is such that Mutual Aid is required, a Level II Staging area will be designated. 3.5.8 A location where all incoming apparatus and personnel are assembled, will be established, no more than three [3] minutes from the emergency scene. An area that is in a close proximity to the scene is preferred. 3.5.9 A Staging Area Manager will be appointed by the Incident Commander (as needed) to keep command informed on the status and number of apparatus and personnel in the staging area and dispatch them to the scene when requested by the Incident Commander. 3.5.10 Apparatus will not be left unattended. Personnel will stay with their apparatus unless directed to do otherwise. 3.6 Clearing the Scene 3.6.1 If not the last unit on scene: If apparatus are returned to service and they are not the last unit on the scene: a. They will transmit [unit number] and in service over the assigned TAC or OPS talk group b. Press their DEK box for In Service c. Return to the FD DISP 1 talk group. No transmission on FD DISP 1 is necessary. 3.6.2 If the last unit on the scene: The last fire department unit on the scene will: a. Return to FD DISP 1 and call Central. b. They will transmit in service and clear the TAC or OPS talk group c. The DEK button for In Service will then be pressed. Central from Stony Hill 264 on DISP 1. [Central replies]. Stony Hill 264 is in service and clear TAC or OPS [#]. (then press DEK box) 3.7 Apparatus and Personnel Response Goals 3.7.1 The goals of this fire department for response time are: 3.7.2 To maintain an average response time of eight [8] minutes or less (from time of dispatch to time of arrival) for calls within the fire department's five [5] mile fire response area.
Subject: Response to Alarms Guideline: 1006 Page: 5 of 6 3.7.3 Alarms outside the five [5] mile response area should be answered as quickly as possible, in a manner that will ensure the safety of the citizens and firefighters en route to the alarm. 3.7.4 When determining a reasonable length of time in response, the factors of distance, time of day, weather, and availability of personnel should be considered. 3.7.5 The goals of this fire department for apparatus and personnel are: 3.7.6 The response of sufficient apparatus and trained personnel to mitigate the emergency situation. 3.7.7 If sufficient apparatus and personnel are not available, mutual aid will be requested. 3.8 Apparatus and Personnel Response Assignment 3.8.1 In following response assignments, the number of personnel listed includes a Driver/Operator. 3.8.2 Probationary Members or Junior Firefighters will not respond to ANY mutual aid calls unless approved by the Fire Chief.
Subject: Response to Alarms Guideline: 1006 Page: 6 of 6 3.8.3 Response Assignments Table (note personnel number includes Driver/Operator per apparatus) Type of Alarm Type of Apparatus Personnel 1. Structure Fire 2. Chimney Fire 3. Fire - Nature Unknown 4. Fire Alarm Activation 5. Smoke Investigation (in structure) P-261, T-268, R-26 from Station #1 P-392, Mutual Aid to water point. P-392, P-261, T-268, R-26 from Station #1 Mutual Aid to water point. [3] Personnel per Pumper [1] Person per Tanker [1] Person per Rescue Vehicle Fire P-261 from Station #1 P-268 from Station #1 [3] Personnel per firstout Pumper MVA 10-50 P.I., Pin-In, P.D. P-261, R-26, B-263 from Station #1 Gas Odor and CO Alarm P-261, R-26 from Station #1 R-26, P-261 from Station #1 P-261, R-26 from Station #1 [2] Firefighters [2] EMTs [2] Traffic Control [2] Firefighters per first out Pumper Woods, Brush, Trash Fire B-263, T-268 from Station #1 P-395, B-399 from Station #2 B-399, T-268, B-263 from Station #1 [2] Firefighters Dumpster Fire P-261, T-268 from Station #1 P-395, T-268 from Station #1 [2] Firefighters First Responder B-263 from Station #1 B-399 from Station #2 P-261 from Station #1 [1] EMT Hazardous Materials (Fuel Spill, Chemical Leak) P-261, R-26, T-268 from Station #1 P-392, P-261, R-26, T-268 from Station #1 [4] HazMat Ops Plus Level Responders Mutual Aid Fire From P-261 from Station #1 (T-268 if Tanker requested)...if two [2] pumpers: P-395 from Station #2 From (T-268 if Tanker requested)...if two [2] pumpers: P-261 from Station #1 - [3] Personnel per Pumper - [1] Person per Tanker Mutual Aid Vehicle Extrication To Any AreaA R-26 from Station #1. (P-392 may also respond if needed for Granville Co. requests) Water Rescue Incident From Station #1 B-263 w/ Boat-1, R-26, P-261 Move-Up, Fill-in in From To Any Area R-26 from Station #1. (P-392 may also respond if needed for Granville Co. requests) From Station #2 B-399 From [2] Qualified Firefighters [1] EMT and [1] Watercraft Qualified person Minimum of [3] firefighters total with [1] as an EMT