SOP 209.05
SEARCH FOR LOST/TRAPPED FIREFIGHTERS
This procedure identifies individual, company and Command level
activities for the search and rescue of a lost or trapped fire fighter(s).
LOST OR TRAPPED FIRE FIGHTERS
The rescue of trapped or lost fire fighters in a burning building is
especially time sensitive. There is a very narrow "window of
survivability" for a fire fighter who is out of S.C.B.A. air supply or
trapped by approaching fire. Individual fire fighters must not delay reporting
to Command if they become lost, trapped or in need of assistance. Company
officers must also not delay the reporting of lost fire fighters or inability
to complete accountability reports. Command and sector officers must always
assume that the missing fire fighter is lost in the building until the fire
fighter can be accounted for. Command must also restructure the strategy and
action plan to include a high priority rescue effort.
"MAY-DAY" RADIO MESSAGE
The radio message "May-Day" will be used by lost or trapped
fire fighters to report their status as being in trouble and needing rescue.
Any member may use "May-Day" to report a lost fire fighter. Any
report of "May-Day" will receive priority radio traffic followed by
the emergency traffic tone. The term "May-Day" will be reserved
ONLY to report lost or trapped fire fighters. The term "emergency
traffic" will be used to report other emergencies.
The term "May-Day" typically will be used in the following
situations:
By the member who is lost, trapped, or in trouble.
By the company officer, sector officer, or other
member who cannot account for an assigned fire fighter who is operating in the
hazard zone. The "May-Day" would generally occur following a PAR
report that fails to locate/account for the suspected lost member.
By a member who witnesses or has confirmed that a
fire fighter is lost or in trouble.
COMMAND RESPONSE TO A MISSING FIRE FIGHTER
The incident Commander MUST ALWAYS assume that the missing fire fighter
is lost or trapped in the building until the fire fighter is accounted for.
Rapid, concise, decisions and actions must be taken to increase survivability.
The following is a list of actions to be taken by Command for a reported
missing or trapped fire fighter. These are guidelines and do not necessarily
need to be accomplished in the order listed. The first five (5) must be
accomplished very rapidly.
EMERGENCY TRAFFIC
Immediately upon a report of a missing or trapped fire fighter "Emergency
Traffic" will be sounded to alert all personnel working on the fireground
of the situation. Following the emergency traffic tone, "May Day"
will be announced to alert all operating units of a lost or trapped firefighter
(example: "We have a 'May-Day' in West Sector.").
CHANGE THE PLAN TO A HIGH PRIORITY RESCUE EFFORT
The incident Commander must restructure the plan to include a high priority
fire fighter rescue effort. A rapid, well thought out, rescue plan must be
developed and the Command organization expanded. The plan and objectives must
be communicated to other Command staff and sector officers for implementation.
IMMEDIATELY REQUEST ADDITIONAL ALARMS
At least one additional alarm should be immediately requested including
a medical component. Additional multiple alarms may be requested based on
circumstances and potential. Level two staging should be implemented. Early
consideration should be given to heavy equipment resources and TRT assistance
in structural collapses.
FIREGROUND ACCOUNTABILITY
A Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) must be immediately requested from all
companies operating on the fireground. This is especially important in
situations of structural collapse. Command cannot develop an effective rescue
plan until accurate information is available on the number of missing fire
fighters, their identify, their last reported work area, and which companies
are affected.
COMMIT THE RAPID INTERVENTION CREW
Command will immediately send the rapid intervention crew(s) (R.I.C.) to the
most appropriate location to initiate search and rescue efforts (typically the
last reported work area). The R.I.C. team will be designated as "Rescue
Sector" and coordinate activities at that location. Additional available
resources in staging may also be committed to rescue efforts.
WITHDRAWAL OF COMPANIES FROM AFFECTED AREA
In some situations, such as collapse, crew members can get separated. The only
practical method to obtain an accurate roll call for a PAR may be to withdraw
crews to the exterior. Withdrawal is a judgment call based on circumstances at
the time, information available, and resources. It may not be practical or
possible to do. However, the absolute need for an accurate roll call (PAR) and
information on missing fire fighters remains a critical priority.
DO NOT ABANDON FIRE FIGHTING POSITIONS, PROVIDE
REINFORCEMENT
Abandoning fire fighting positions during the rescue effort should be avoided.
Command and crews should take aggressive measures to protect trapped or missing
fire fighters from the effects of the fire. Efforts should be concentrated on
reinforcing existing positions and keeping the fire out of the rescue area and
providing appropriate ventilation and lighting. In some situations it may be
appropriate to write off some areas of the building in order to relocate
companies and crews to better protect the rescue effort.
ASSIGN CHIEF OFFICER TO THE RESCUE SECTOR
A chief officer should be assigned to direct the rescue sector and rescue
operations. Depending on the size of the rescue area and the complexity of
operations, more than one chief officer may be needed to fill additional
support positions or sectors. The sector officer will assign specific areas or
grids of the building to each rescue team (company) to conduct searches before
entering the building. Search efforts must be closely coordinated between
sectors and Command must be kept informed.
ASSIGN A SAFETY SECTOR
Rescue operations are high risk. The rescue operation may be taking place in
post-collapse conditions or a flashover environment. Emotions may be high and
fire fighters will tend to want to free-lance and take chances. A Safety Sector
must be assigned to monitor activity and evaluate the safety of the operation.
An available chief officer should assume this sector as soon as possible. Other
Safety Sector responsibilities will be to conduct an assessment of the hazards,
thus, allowing time for the rescue sector officer to concentrate on the
critical rescue effort. These sector officers must work hand in hand to insure
that a safe and effective rescue operation is conducted.
EXPAND THE COMMAND ORGANIZATION
With additional resources enroute, along with the critical rescue needs, the
Command organization must expand ahead of the demand. The incident may
eventually escalate to a Branch level operation. The incident Commander must be
proactive and aggressive in developing and expanding the Command organization.
SPECIAL CALL CHIEF OFFICERS
Additional chief officers will be needed to fill Command team positions and key
sectors including Welfare Sector. Command should special call additional chief
officers, and initiate a call back of off-duty chief officers, as needed.
EARLY ESTABLISHMENT OF TREATMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
SECTORS
The incident Commander must have treatment personnel in a position to
immediately treat any rescued fire fighters. A transportation sector must also
be in place and coordinating activities with the treatment sector officer.
OPEN/UNLOCK ALL DOORS, IF APPROPRIATE
All doors in the immediate area should be unlocked or forced open, and at least
the immediate interior area quickly searched. Where practical, the doors should
be left open to provide an emergency escape route, unless doing so will have
negative effects on the fire. In all cases, the doors must remain unlocked.
VENTILATE, MAINTAIN TENABILITY/LIGHTING
Reducing smoke conditions, through effective ventilation, improves the air
quality for any victims, and will enhance search and rescue capabilities
through increased visibility of the interior. Both vertical and positive
pressure ventilation should be aggressively employed. Early lighting of the
operation (both interior and exterior) needs to be included.
COORDINATE AND CONTROL THE SEARCH EFFORTS
The incident Commander must insure that a complete, coordinated and controlled
search is conducted. Close coordination of all search efforts is a must in
order to eliminate duplicate searches that waste time. All areas must be thoroughly
searched.
R.I.C. - S.C.B.A. RESCUE KIT
Each rescue team should enter the building with at least one R.I.C.-S.C.B.A.
Rescue Kit for each reported lost/trapped fire fighter. Missing fire fighters
may have exhausted their S.C.B.A. air supply or may be trapped and cannot be
quickly extricated. In each case the fire fighter must be provided
"clean" air to increase survivability. The kits have a quick refill
capability. The R.I.C.-S.C.B.A. Rescue Kits are carried on each engine.
TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAMS
Technical Rescue Teams (TRT) and other specialized equipment should be requested
at all structural collapses that have trapped fire fighters.
WATCH FOR STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE BUILDING
All personnel must watch the structural stability of the building throughout
the rescue effort. Where a structural collapse has occurred, or the fire or
other event has compromised the structural integrity of the building, a
structural specialist should evaluate the structure. Technical Rescue Teams
(TRT) may be called upon to assist with shoring the rescue area, or for the use
of other specialized equipment.
STRONG SUPERVISION REQUIRED
Strong supervision and control of activities will be required by all officers.
Emotions will be very high. Fire fighters in this situation will tend to want
to free lance or take higher risk. Treatment personnel will need to be
restricted to only those needed. Crowd control of our own non-essential
personnel may be required.
MEDIA CONTROL
Command will need to control the media early and throughout the incident.
Information on the identities and conditions of lost fire fighters must be
restricted until after next of kin are notified. Media film crews should be
restricted to areas that are safe and at a distance that will prevent
visual/facial identification of any victims.
WELFARE SECTOR/BRANCH
A welfare sector or branch will need to be established early. This will aid in
notification of next of kin and allow Command to stay ahead of the media's
release of information. A ranking chief officer should be assigned to direct
this sector/branch. Additional chief or staff officers will be needed to fill
subordinate positions within the sector or branch. (See Welfare Sector)
ENSURE THAT DISPATCH MONITORS ALL RADIO CHANNELS
Command must ensure that dispatch and deployment monitor all radio
channels. Should a lost fire fighter
declare emergency on a channel other than the fireground tactical channel,
Command must be immediately directed to the lost fire fighters channel for
direct communications. Command must monitor channels 4 and 7, as they are portable-to-portable
and Dispatch cannot monitor them.
R.I.C. STAND-BY TEAMS
Due to the high risk nature of rescue operations, Command must establish
another R.I.C. to protect rescue crews. The R.I.C. should stand-by at a
location near the rescue operation. More than one R.I.C. may be needed.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
When searching for a lost member, rescue crews should consider the
following:
Visible sighting of trapped fire fighters such as
arms or legs.
Knowledge of their last known location.
The sound of the PASS devices audible tones.
Shouts for help from the collapsed area.
Tapping noise, etc.
Sounds of portable radio broadcast in the collapse
area.
Breathing, moaning sounds.
The sound of the S.C.B.A. bell sounding.
Radio request for help from portable radios from
within the collapse area.
Tracing attack hoselines into the collapse area.
Tracing of line lines into the area.
Evidence of building structures or locations that
were described by lost fire fighters.
Flashlight beams.
Location of ladders, fans, lights, or other
equipment being used by missing fire fighters.
Open or unlock all doors.
Search the immediate area of doorway first.
Search hallways before interior rooms.
Search exterior walls (interior sides) before searching
interior open spaces.
Search large interior spaces in a detailed grid
pattern.
Ensure all areas are searched.
Take one R.I.C.-S.C.B.A. Rescue Kit for each lost
fire fighter in the search area.
Use life lines when searching "off
hoseline" to ensure safety of rescuers.
Safety Checklist
"MAY DAY"
Lost or Trapped Fire fighter
Emergency Traffic
Change the plan to high priority rescue effort
Request additional alarms
Conduct a PAR--withdraw crews if needed
Assign R.I.C.--assign Rescue Sector
Don't abandon fire fighting positions
Provide reinforcement to fire fighting efforts
Assign chief officer to Rescue Sector
Assign Safety Sector
Expand Command organization
Special call chief officers
Establish Treatment and Transportation Sectors
Open/unlock all doors
Ventilate, maintain tenability
Provide lighting
Coordinate & control search and rescue efforts
Assess need for technical rescue teams
Monitor structural stability of building
Media control--PIO
Welfare Sector/Branch
Dispatch to monitor all radio frequencies