SPEARFISH FIRE DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Page 1 of 4 Volume: Training Section: 30.00 Number: 30.02 Subject: Live Fire Training Date Issued: 9 January 2017 Rescinds: Originator: Assistant Fire Chief R. Mathis Approval: Fire Chief M. Sachara I. PURPOSE This procedure establishes the requirements for training operations, under live fire conditions. These requirements have been implemented to provide for safe working conditions during firefighter training. II. SCOPE This policy applies to all personnel III. STRUCTURAL LIVE FIRES Only locations that have been authorized shall be used for live fire training. Only Class A materials will be permitted to be used for fires in an acquired structure or fixed facility. The use of flammable liquids, combustible liquids and treated paper products or lumber, for starting and continuing burns is not permitted. IV. EXTERIOR FIRES Exterior fires will only be conducted using an approved Class B fuel pan, or approved props in an area designated for burning Class A materials. Drip torch fuel is authorized for use in the burn pan and for the ignition of vegetation during prescribed wildland training fires. LPG or natural gas may be allowed in props that have been approved and are rated for such use. All other fires in props will be with Class A materials only. V. REQUIREMENTS All live fires conducted for the training of suppression personnel will be conducted in accordance with NFPA Standard 1403, Live Fire Training Evolutions. There will be at least one designated lead instructor, who has been trained and certified to conduct live fires, on site at all times. Additional instructors, assisting with conducting the live fire training, will be State of South Dakota certified Fire Instructors. VI. SAFETY Prior to conducting actual live fire training evolutions, a pre-burn briefing session shall be conducted for all participants. The details and aspects of each evolution shall be 1
discussed and assignments shall be made for all individual personnel and/or crews, who are participating in the training session. The location of simulated victims shall not be required to be disclosed, provided that the possibility of victims is discussed during the pre-burn briefing. AT NO TIME, WILL AN ACTUAL PERSON BE USED AS A VICTIM DURING LIVE FIRE TRAINING. Simulated victims such as rescue dummies may be used. Conditions and features of the training area shall be discussed during the pre-burn briefing to ensure that, prior to conducting any live fire training, all participants have knowledge and familiarity with the layout of the facility in order to facilitate any necessary evacuation of the facility. Prior to conducting any live fire training in the facility, all participants in the evolution shall be required to complete a walk-through of the facility. All spectators shall be restricted to a designated area, outside the perimeter of operations, that is to be established by the assigned Safety Officer. In the event that a spectator is approved to observe from inside of the building, they shall: have signed a waiver of liability, be equipped with ALL appropriate PPE and SCBA, be briefed on the use of the SCBA and be escorted by a SFD Officer at all times. At no time will they be involved in the evolution other then as an observer. During live fire training evolutions there will be two instructors assigned to the interior of the building as an ignition team. This team shall be responsible for proper fuel loading and ignition. This team WILL HAVE A CHARGED HOSE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE to them as a protection line. After ignition, this team will perform duties as the backup line to the team who is conducting the fire attack. There will be one additional instructor in charge of, and assigned, as interior safety. This instructor will be working with the ignition crew and will in a position to observe fire conditions and the actions of all interior crews. The interior safety officer s orders shall be followed at all times, by all personnel operating inside the structure. A minimum of two fire fighters and an officer or Instructor will be required to enter any structure for firefighting purposes. These interior fire control personnel must have direct physical, visual or voice contact between each other AND they must also have direct voice or radio contact with firefighters and the IC outside the structure. A Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) of two or more properly equipped and trained fire fighters shall be assigned and must be present outside a structure before any team of fire fighters enter the structural training fire. There will be a minimum of two apparatus staged outside the facility. One apparatus will have an established continuous water supply from the fire hydrant or portable tank. 2
There will be a minimum of three charged hand lines on the fire ground, that will be used for interior attack, backup/safety and RIC. No more than two hand lines from a single apparatus will be used. The assigned Incident Safety Officer will control access to the structure and the operational perimeter during evolutions. A thorough search of the structure shall be conducted to ensure that no unauthorized persons, animals, or objects are in the building immediately prior to ignition. VII. PREREQUISITE TRAINING In accordance with NFPA 1403 4.3.1, ALL firefighters involved with fire control, during structural live fire training, shall have received training to meet the following performance requirement of Firefighter 1 in NFPA 1001 and SFD requirements. Protective Breathing Apparatus Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Fire Hose, appliances and streams Water Supply Ventilation Forcible Entry Safety Fire Behavior ICS 100, 200, 700 & 800 Portable Fire Extinguishers Ladders Overhaul Building Construction VIII. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Participants involved in structural live fire training shall have structural PPE and selfcontained breathing apparatus (SCBA) completely donned prior to engaging in live fire training. 3
Prior to commencing the training evolution, a complete inspection of PPE, SCBA, and other equipment shall be completed. Prior to the ignition of any fire, instructors shall ensure that all protective clothing and equipment are worn properly. The structural PPE ensemble shall be in accordance with NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting, 2013 Edition or the NFPA standard in effect at the time the PPE was manufactured. The ensemble shall include structural firefighting coat, trousers, gloves, footwear, Nomex hood, and helmet with chinstrap and ear flaps. All personnel not wearing appropriate PPE and equipment shall remain outside the operational perimeter. IX. GENERAL SUPERVISION The following applies to ALL live fire training evolutions. The Lead Training Officer or designated Senior Company Officer will have overall responsibility for the safety of all training operations on the training grounds. Company Officers and trainers, acting as instructors, will be responsible for the direct supervision of assigned students and their safety and welfare. No more than a 5:1 student to instructor ratio will be allowed. During live fires the number of personnel involved in training fires often exceeds the number normally operating on an incident. To reduce risk, and assist with scene management and training, fire participants shall be formed into individual teams consisting of no more than five (5) personnel and shall be supervised by a certified Instructor. X. ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES All accidents or injuries occurring on the training ground shall be reported immediately to the Training Officer/Safety Officer and the Officer in charge of the participating agency. All personnel injured on the training ground will be treated in the field as necessary and, if necessary, transported to a medical facility for further evaluation, by a medical doctor. The initial report shall be followed by a detailed written Accident Investigation Report and, if needed, a Workers Compensation Report. These reports shall be submitted to the Assistant Chief of the Spearfish Fire Department for proper routing. 4
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