RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM
UNION FIRE DISTRICT STANDARD GUIDELINE
S.O.G. No.:01-004 Revision: June 2007 01-004
Effective Date: Sept 2005
1. PURPOSE
- 1.1 In the interest of the department member’s health and safety, this document is established to provide guidelines maintaining a safe work environment.
2. REFERENCES
- 2.1 Union Fire District Board of Wardens Policy
3.0 OSHA REQUIREMENTS
- 3.1 The department shall maintain a safe working environment during all fire ground operations in accordance with OSHA
4. PROCEDURE
- 4.1 WHEN TO ESTABLISH THE RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM – Any incident where UFD personnel are subject to hazards that would be immediately dangerous to them in the event of an equipment failure, sudden change in conditions, or mishap.
- 4.2 ASSEMBLY OF THE RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM – The Incident Commander (IC) shall inform an incoming company that they will be assigned the duty of forming the rapid intervention team. The crew size will be a minimum of four (4) firefighters. Each firefighter must be 18 years of age and off probation. The incoming company officer shall inform the IC if they can not properly form the rapid intervention team. If this happens, additional firefighters may be taken from the manpower pool or an additional company will be called. The number of rapid intervention teams needed shall be completely up to the IC. The officer or senior firefighters in charge of the rapid intervention team shall hand all of his team’s ID tags to RIT Command and also choose a set up and staging location for the rapid intervention team. RIT Command will remain with the fire ground Incident Commander at all times.
- 4.3 GUIDELINES TO BE USED ONCE THE RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM IS DEPLOYED TO CONDUCT A SEARCH
- All fire ground radio communications will switch to an alternate channel and RIT will remain on the primary channel and will monitor all radio fire ground channels.
- An ALS rescue shall be called for if not on scene
- Additional companies shall be called
- A crew with a hose line will follow the RIT, if necessary
- Any available firefighters on the exterior of the building shall clear the possible area of egress and make the existing openings larger
- Another RIT shall be assembled as soon as possible
- Once the members of the RIT have made or attempted a rescue they shall report to the rehab area (they should not be allowed to return to active status)
- A PAR check must be recorded during each 10 minute interval by RIT command.
- 4.4 TOOLS FOR TEAM USE AT ALL SERVICES
- Halligan tool
- Flat head axe
- SCBA
- 100’ of rope (minimum)
- Bolt cutters
- Rabbit tool
- K-12
- Attic ladder
- Trauma kit
- Back board
- Stokes
- Minimum 20 feet webbing RIT bottle cover
- Radios, minimum 3 including RIT Command Pike poles
- Thermal Imaging Camera
- Denver Tool
- RIT pack with 1 one hour bottle Tarp
- Salvage covers
- Block & tackle
- Portable lighting units and cords
- Ground ladder & folding ladder
Tools in the RIT Staging area will ONLY be used by RIT.
- 4.5 RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM DUTIES ONCE ASSEMBLED The team shall ladder the structure upon the Incident Commander’s request or the suggestion from RIT command. The IC or the Officer in Charge of the rapid intervention team may change the RIT location. All members, with the exception of the RIT Command, will do a complete walk around to check for additional hazards and possible points of entry or egress. One team member shall monitor all radio communication. The team should always be thinking of the possible need for special tools, which may be required on some structures.
- 4.6 THE USE OF THE RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM The team will be under the direct command of the IC at all times. The IC may direct the team to assist in other operations if he/she feels it could mean the quick containment of the incident. If the team is used for another operation, a new team shall be assembled. The team’s main function will otherwise remain to extricate any trapped or lost firefighter. The team will remain ready until the IC releases them to other duties. All RIT personnel training in accordance with Union Fire District standards will be identified by a RIT patch.
- 4.7 TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT EACH MEMBER OF THE RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM SHALL HAVE ON THEIR PERSON
- Full personal protective clothing
- SCBA, with PASS device
- Hand light
- Radio, as required
- 4.8 TRAINING GUIDELINES FOR THE RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM The district shall run a rapid intervention training or refresher course every 3 months. The district shall run an annual class on basic firefighter survival skills. The Joint Training Committee shall plan and conduct joint drills with all UFD companies and drills with mutual aid companies on the use of the Rapid Intervention Team.