Search & Rescue
Search and Rescue On the fire floor, where will search begin?
Search will begin as close to the fire is possible, working back toward the entrance
Search and Rescue Do we remove victims from fire OR do we remove the fire from the victims...?
In some cases, occupants are safer in their rooms then moving through contaminated hallways and interior areas. RESCUE EFFORT order: •Most severely threatened. •Largest number(group). •The remainder of the fire area. •The exposed areas.
Search and Rescue Secondary search-note:
Secondary search must be viewed as the last opportunity for the fire department to verify that all savable victims have been rescued/removed from the structure. Also gather info for IC
Search and Rescue Note:
Individual member action applies ONLY for an Urgent Rescue Profile, example; a known life hazard and not for standard search and rescue activity during medium and low rescue profiles.
Search and Rescue Fire stage- in cases of fully involved buildings were primary search is impossible and the survival of occupants is improbable, Command must:
Initially report fully involved conditions and that he will not report an "all clear". As fire Control is achieved, command must structure a secondary search for victims
Search and Rescue When rescuing an unconscious or conscious child or very small adult, how will they be brought down the ladder?
ALWAYS CARRIED DOWN
Search and Rescue Commercial- what is the most severe affect of operating in zero visibility to have?
SPEED will be REDUCED to the point as to make the PRIMARY SEARCH INEFFECTIVE.
Search and Rescue Note:
Abandoned and derelict structures should be viewed as occupied structures and treated accordingly. Risk/benefit analysis will be a crucial factor in determining whether or not search operations should be taken in these structures. Furthermore, there is an additional risk of the structures concealing clandestine drug labs as well as potential for booby traps set by the operators of these labs
Search and Rescue Ladder companies are tasked with _____ and _____ as a primary mission.
Search and Rescue Other tactical objectives are considered secondary to search and rescue
Search and Rescue Commercial- note:
Always open a secondary means of egress or multiple means of egress, if possible. Searching companies must advised via radio as to the status and location of secondary escape routes, ladder placement and doors
Search and Rescue Ventilation-note:
Any immediate, limited ventilation technique is justified if it facilitates and interior search for trapped occupants. The incident commander must be advised of such ventilation operations
Search and Rescue On the floor above, where will search begin?
As soon as that floor is reached
Search and Rescue Due to space limitations in many rooms of a residential occupancy, it may be more advantageous to have one firefighter:
Carry out the search while the other firefighter weights at the entrance to the room being searched/remain oriented to egress routes.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Command must structure initial operations around the completion of the primary search. Primary search means companies have quickly gone through all affected areas and verified the removal and/or safety of all occupants.
Search and Rescue Mixed occupancy combined commercial and residential. Note:
Companies performing primary search, must focus on the residential portion of the occupancy as well as the fire floor. These occupancies will be categorized as high rescue profile until proven otherwise When manpower levels are insufficient, first perform the actions that will protect the greatest number of lives Begin primary where firefighters believe the greatest number of victims are likely to be
Search and Rescue When breaking glass above street level, what can happen?
Damage to equipment, can be deadly to operating personnel, can travel several blocks. Use extreme caution
Search and Rescue What is the first and most important function to be accomplished by any first arriving company at a structure fire?
Determining Rescue Profile Must be determined as soon as the first company arrives and must be included as part of the size up.
Search and Rescue Caution must be exercised when venting larger structures due to the possibility of:
Disrupting the internal environment created by the HVAC system (stack effect)
Search and Rescue Is it better to carry or drag victims doing rescue?
Drag, it will be much faster, safer and less labor-intensive Carrying victims will be last resort and that's the victim is small enough to be easily carried or the environment demand such action.
Search and Rescue Commercial-avoid searching in a zero visibility environment if all possible. It will cause the following:
Entanglement. Lost/disoriented. Likely to bypass victims. Miss/fail to observe the structural dangers. Miss warning signs of developing fire conditions. Likely to run out of air before exiting the IDLH.
Search and Rescue Residential- search has a dual mission, searching for victims and also:
Fire, fire extension and conditions. These findings must be reported to the incident commander.
Search and Rescue Define Search
Search is the physical act of firefighters moving through an occupancy in effort to locate trapped victims and gather information for the IC Search is an interior reconnaissance operation typically carried out by a ladder company.
Search and Rescue Note:
Firefighters should avoid searching in a zero visibility environment if all possible. Firefighters will miss obstructions, victims, dangerous surroundings and the warning signs of developing fire conditions. Additionally, the speed of the primary search, the most critical component of this search evolution, will be reduced to the point I was to make the primary search ineffective. MUST VENTILATE to improve visibility and tenability
Search and Rescue In the commercial occupancies larger than a convenient store or boutique, what tools are mandatory?
Search ropes/guidelines and TIC
Search and Rescue Upon the completion of the primary search with no victims found, what should happen?
IC will be advised via radio Radio communication is vital so all operating companies can be kept abreast of the fire scene progress and can adjust their tactics accordingly
Search and Rescue Primary search- when the fire is located, this info will be relayed to:
IC, and the fire area will isolated by closing the door to the fire room.
Search and Rescue Residential- 4 High Target Areas:
-Front/main door -egress paths -bedrooms -bathrooms These areas are statistically proven to be the most likely for locating victims.
Search and Rescue Secondary Search- due to the vastness of some commercial occupancies, strategic considerations should include the Protech in place strategy. Victims may have to be (list four):
-Protected where they are -moved to another area of the fire floor -evacuated to the floor below -relocated to an area of relative safety with in the fire building
Search and Rescue Multistory- search priority of floors. List the five:
1. Fire floor 2. Floor above 3. Top floor 4. Floors below the top floor 5. All floors below the fire Exceptions to this tactical priority list can be made based on threat factors and rescue profiles.
Search and Rescue Commercial-Occupancies with heavy or severe smoke and/or fire condition, firefighters will NOT enter further then how many feet to perform primary search?
25 feet, heavy smoke or fire conditions
Search and Rescue Primary search- when a victim is located, firefighters should consider trying to:
Isolate themselves by closing a door if available when a window or ladder rescue is possible. This action will add needed time to the rescuer.
Search and Rescue Aerial Device with a Platform- Note:
It is strongly recommended that children and small adults, whether conscious or unconscious, be carried by firefighters out onto the platform
Search and Rescue VES- how long should the sequence of events take from the time the firefighter enters the room, performs a rapid primary search and then exits the room?
Less than 20 seconds
Search and Rescue Rescue Profiles:
Low- believed to be empty or abandoned. Search, NO extraordinary measures Med- believed to be occupied but suspected to be empty at the moment. Search asap. High- occupied and a suspicion that their are trapped occupants. Search and Rescue given top priority. Urgent- KNOWN LIFE HAZARD, aggressive search, high degree of risk. All fireground activity will support firefighters performance search and rescue tactics.
Search and Rescue Time is of the essence. How long should it take the searching company/firefighter to perform a thorough search of an average size residential room with moderate smoke?
No more than 10 seconds
Search and Rescue Note:
No occupancy, residential or commercial, will be verified to be "all clear" or believed to be empty or devoid of human life until firefighters have entered the structure and performed at least a primary search. Only exceptions: interior environment is incompatible with human life or structural integrity is severely compromised making search impossible
Search and Rescue Once a victim is discovered, initiate the Rescue Sequence- first step is to:
Notify incident commander via radio of company ID, location, number and condition of victims, actions being taken, additional resources required. Locating one victim does not and the primary search. There may be other victims in need of rescue
Search and Rescue Note:
Occupants visible on arrival and in need of assistance may be an indication of an even more serious life hazard elsewhere in the structure. However, the absence of visible victims on arrival is not to be considered a reliable indication as to whether or not there are occupants inside the structure in need of rescue.
Search and Rescue Commercial- tools needed:
One set of irons One 6 foot hook Rabbit tool Lifeline Class one escape harness if available TIC
Search and Rescue Equipment needed for interior search of a residential occupancy:
One set of irons, one 6' pike pole, one 2 1/2 gallon water extinguisher Additionally, each firefighter will be equipped with: full PPE, SCBA, portable radio, flashlight
Search and Rescue Victims that exhibit obvious signs of death will be removed in what order?
Removed last, if at all
Search and Rescue Note:
Removing victims should always be done through the structure if possible
Search and Rescue Define Rescue
Rescue is the physical act of firefighters removing an endangered individual from an environment to an area of relative safety. Rescue is the heroic end and result of a diligent, thorough and rapid search by firefighters.
Search and Rescue Fire stage- in "smoke showing"and working fire situations, fire control efforts must be extended simultaneously with rescue. In such cases, command and operating companies must be aware the operation is in a ______ ______ until the primary search is complete.
Rescue mode
Search and Rescue If there is insufficient air supply and/or manpower to perform a rescue and continue the search, then rescue will be? And search will be?
Rescue will not be delayed Search will be suspended until the rescue is concluded or additional companies arrive to continue search
Search and Rescue Commercial- The area most prone to fires and of greatest risk to occupants, are the rear, Storage/warehouse, office space and/or break rooms area. Additionally, areas where victims will seek refuge must be considered. These areas can be:
Restrooms Break rooms Small offices Stairwells Elevators
Search and Rescue The secondary search should be slow and methodical or rapid?
Slow and methodical, every area that can conceal a human being must be examined
Search and Rescue Primary Search- what are the defining factors of a properly executed, thorough primary search?
Speed and flexibility In some cases a handline can slow them down. Incident specifics will determine the need for a handline.
Search and Rescue Fire stage- in "nothing showing" situations, or being very minor fire cases that clearly pose no life hazard, Command must do what?
Structure a rapid interior search and report "all clear"
Search and Rescue The overall rescue strategy during the Protect in place tactic should consider focusing available resources on _______ and _______ due to the size and type of occupancy.
Suppression and Ventilation
Search and Rescue What needs to take place before suppression evolutions address fire containment and extinguishment?
Suppression evolutions must support and serve to facilitate an interior search victims FIRST
Search and Rescue With multiple victims: conscious vs. unconscious victim. Which rescue will be performed first?
The most difficult rescue will be performed first
Search and Rescue Secondary Search- Note:
The search evolution is concluded only after a secondary search is completed. Or the structural integrity of the occupancy is severely compromised and interior search is impossible.
Search and Rescue What area has the greatest chance of locating a live victim in need of rescue?
The uninvolved portion of the occupancy. This area is most often overlooked by interior operating companies.
Search and Rescue Firefighters performing VES must be hyper aware of what 4 things?
Their surroundings Changing fire conditions There air supply Their physical limitations
Search and Rescue When is the secondary search usually performed?
Usually, performed when fire is under control
Search and Rescue VES- note:
VES is statistically proven to have an exceptionally high probability of success in firefighters locating victims in the HIGH TARGET AREAS and making live rescues.
Search and Rescue VES- during which rescue profiles can VES be considered?
VES only during High or Urgent Rescue Profiles
Search and Rescue VES is a very advanced, aggressive search and rescue technique in which the high target areas are specifically sought out by firefighter searching. Note:
VES techniques should be carried out by experienced firefighters trained in the operations. The more experienced FF will: -have mental discipline -prone to recognize surroundings -likely to avoid dangerous situations -likely to avoid tunnel vision -likely be able to extricate themselves in an emergency
Search and Rescue Vent as necessary for ______/_______ when operating in high or urgent rescue profiles and consider using VES techniques
Visibility/tenability
Search and Rescue Note:
When there is insufficient Manpower to affect both rescue and suppression simultaneously, rescue will be given priority. Two firefighters operating/advancing a hoseline are incapable of properly performing both rescue and suppression simultaneously. Note: rescue and suppression, not search and suppression.
Search and Rescue When is secondary search completed?
Where in the search company has reported an "all clear" to the incident commander via radio
Search and Rescue Conscious Victim (adult) Note:
Will be assisted onto the ladder. Encourage and reassure the victim. Use an authoritative tone of voice. Release the grasp of the victim when they have placed both hands on the ladder. Firefighter will be standing one rung below the victim with their hands on the ladder beams, pressing their body against the victim.
Search and Rescue Primary completion-
ie Ladder 5 has an ALL CLEAR, and is PAR. The all clear should be reported to the alarm room. The alarm will, if possible record the time of the benchmark for command
Search and Rescue All fire occupancies will be considered occupied until:
verified by firefighters performing a primary search. Relying on information from the occupant, by standards or the dispatcher is insufficient. The only exceptions to this will be FIRE CONDITIONS on arrival that the interior environment is INCOMPATIBLE W/HUMAN LIFE or the STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY of the occupancy is severely COMPROMISED, and making an interior SEARCH IS IMPOSSIBLE.
