ROCKY HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD
OPERATING GUIDELINE
Purpose: To establish a structured guideline
to facilitate the most effective and safe method of conducting a search as a
team with the use of a search rope and a thermal imaging camera.
Scope: This procedure should be used in
areas where the use of a rope for search operations will increase our safety
factor. These areas include but are not
limited to large office areas, warehouses, schools and any area where access to
or egress from a window is not readily available.
Note: Rapid Room Search = A left or right hand search of a room or area conducted off of the main search rope.
Search Team Positions & Responsibilities:
Team Leader/Company Officer is the team leader and shall be responsible for the following:
1. Safety of the team.
· Accountability of the team personnel
· Control of the team and search procedures.
· Communication with the team, the IC and/or operations officer
2. Determining the appropriate procedures.
[How, where and which tactics will be used during the search]
· Which entry point or stairwell to start the search from.
· The direction and wall to follow.
· Use of personnel off of the search rope to conduct rapid room searches.
3. Determining the types of tools to be carried dependant on construction.
· Mill or large wood frame buildings may require additional cutting tools
· Non-combustible steel, concrete, and glass construction may require additional striking tools.
Tools: Rope Bag, Portable Radio, TIC, and Hand Light.
Position # 2 shall remain about 4-6 feet behind the team leader and shall be responsible for the following:
1. Forcible Entry
2. Activities directed by Team Leader
Tools: A set of irons, flashlight and portable radio.
Position # 3 shall remain about 4-6 feet behind the second position and shall be responsible for the following:
1. Forcible Entry
2. Additional Tools as directed by the Team leader
3. Activities directed by the Team Leader
Tools: Rabbit tool, flashlight and portable radio.
Position #4 shall remain about 4-6 feet behind the third position and shall be responsible for the following:
1. SCBA emergency air
2. Activities as directed by the Team Leader.
Tools: Spare SCBA, Flashlight, And Portable Radio.
Procedure: Prior to entering the search area, the team leader shall secure the anchor end of the rope to a substantial object such as a column, post, or railing. Anchoring to an entry door should be only as a last resort because the door can inadvertently close as the rope pulls.
The Officer will deploy the rope as he enters the search area, at the same time he should gauge the amount of tension needed to keep the rope taunt.
The Officer shall use the TIC to view the area he is about to search as well as back-scanning his team to provide accountability.
Depending on the interior of the search area, a right or left hand wall search is to be used. Once a doorway is encountered, the Officer can send a team member into the room for a rapid room search. This can be performed either by using the bail-out rope bag or with an “off the rope’ search. The Officer shall stay at the doorway and view the progress thru the TIC.
Off The Rope Searches
When having a team member leave the rope to search an area the Officer must:
1. Discuss the search plan with the firefighter.
2. Maintain visual/verbal contact with the firefighter.
3. Stay at the doorway as a safety position for the firefighter.
Tethering off of the search rope
When having a team member tether off of the search rope the Officer must:
1. Discuss the search plan with the firefighter.
2. Maintain visual/verbal contact with the firefighter.
3. Stay at the doorway as a safety position for the firefighter.
Continuing another team’s search.
When its necessary to continue the search from an existing search rope.
1. The officer shall now place tension on the anchored end of the rope and use care not to pull rope from the bag.
2. Positions 2, 3, & 4 shall follow at the appropriate intervals.
3. Once the officer locates the rope bag, he will account for his crew and begin the search.
Routine Exiting
While exiting the area the Officer must keep the search rope taught and will now be at the end of the line.
The Firefighters shall follow the rope to the starting point making sure that they maintain the appropriate spacing.
The Officer will collect the rope during the exit unless another team will be continuing from the ending location.
Emergency Exiting
While exiting the area the Officer must keep the search rope taught and will now be at the end of the line.
The Firefighters shall follow the rope to the starting point making sure that they maintain the appropriate spacing.
The Officer will exit by maintaining tension on the rope and will leave it behind.
Date:08-06
Proponent: RHFD Staff
Replaces: New