BUILDING EVACUATION

UNION FIRE DISTRICT STANDARD GUIDELINE

S.O.G. No.:01-003 Revision: Nov. 2007 01-003

Effective Date: May 1999

1. PURPOSE

• 1.1 The purpose of this document is to insure that all members understand the district’s EMERGENCY BUILDING EVACUATION systems while operating on an emergency incident or at training sessions.

2. REFERENCES

• 2.1  Union Fire District Board of Wardens.
• 2.2  Current edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health, Section 1910.156, Chapter 6, Section 6-3, Accountability.
• 2.3  Current edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s 1561 Standard on Fire Department Incident Management System, Section 1910.156, Chapter 2, Section 2-6, Personnel Accountability.
• 2.4  Current edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training Evolution’s

3. OSHA REQUIREMENTS

• 3.1 The department shall establish written standard operating procedures for a personnel accountability system in accordance with Section 4-3 of NFPA 1561, Standard on Fire Department Incident Management System that provides for the tracking and inventory of all members operating at an emergency incident.

4. PROCEDURE

• 4.1 BUILDING EVACUATION
  • 4.1.1  The purpose is to establish a clear and effective procedure for evacuating a building or hazardous area to evacuate immediately. The following standard operating procedure is to alert firefighters operating within a structure or hazardous area to evacuate immediately.
  • 4.1.2  The Incident Commander shall immediately be notified, by anyone on the scene, of the existence of any unsafe or dangerous condition which exists at the scene of a fire or other emergency. 14 – 1
    UNION FIRE DISTRICT BUILDING EVACUATION STANDARD
  • 4.1.3  The Incident Commander will determine the conditions that warrant an immediate evacuation of a building or area, the Incident Commander will make an evacuation announcement, giving clear and explicit information.
  • 4.1.4  Immediately after the evacuation announcement is made, all apparatus operators in the immediate area shall sound the Air Horn Evacuation Signal for approximately thirty (30) seconds.
  • 4.1.5  The Air Horn Evacuation Signal consists of Air Horns only, (no sirens) one long blast that lasts approximately 30 seconds.
  • 4.1.6  Upon hearing the Air Horn Evacuation Signal or the accompanying Evacuation Announcement, all members operating within the building or area shall immediately withdraw to the exterior of the structure or hazardous area without delay.
  • 4.1.7  After an evacuation, the IC, safety officer, accountability officer, and company officer shall be responsible for the accounting of all personnel. Reports of their accountability shall be made in person to the Incident Commander to avoid excessive radio traffic. Persons responding in personal vehicles shall report to the incident commander or manpower pool accountability officer for proper accountability.
  • 4.1.8  Accounting of personnel shall be done on the scene to account for the location and safety of firefighters under any of the following circumstances.
  • 4.1.9  Whenever a building or area is evacuated
    • 4.1.9.1  Whenever a flashover, backdraft or explosion of any type occurs
    • 4.1.9.2  Whenever a building or portion of a building in which members are operating collapses
    • 4.1.9.3  Whenever ordered to do so by the Incident Commander all persons in charge of apparatus shall report the accounting of personnel to the Incident Commander or manpower pool accountability officer.