ROCKY HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

LIVE FIRE TRAINING PROCEDURE

Purpose: To provide a process for conducting live fire training evolutions to ensure that they are conducted in a safe manner and to comply with the requirements of NFPA 1403 “Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions”.

Scope: This policy applies to all live fire training exercises including acquired structures and acquired exterior props such as donated cars.

Policy: The following shall be in effect for all live fire evolutions:

General Requirements:

• The department training officer shall review for approval any written request for live fire training.
• To be eligible for consideration the request must be submitted at least 7 days prior to the drill.
• If a structure is involved then the written preburn plan shall be submitted with the request.
• Any permits which may be needed will be the responsibility of the Training Division and the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Structures:

• Written permission shall be secured from the owner specifically allowing live fire evolutions.
• Proof of insurance cancellation or a signed statement of such shall be provided by the owner prior to RHFD acceptance of the building.
• Any hazardous storage shall be removed from the structure.
• Oil tanks shall be drained and vented and any internal hazardous atmosphere rendered inert.
• Any hazardous condition shall be abated; such as floor openings, missing stair treads and rails etc.
• Holes in walls and ceilings shall be patched.
• Unconventional combustible finishes shall be removed.
• Utilities shall be disconnected.
• All forms of asbestos shall be removed.
• Trees, brush or other vegetation deemed hazardous by the safety officer shall be removed.
• Adjacent properties, which could be affected by smoke, shall be identified and notified by the instructors.
• Ingress/egress routes shall be identified, monitored and their locations communicated.

• Only training manikins shall be used as victims.
• EMS shall be present at all live fire evolutions.

Safety

• A safety officer shall be appointed for all live fire training evolutions and shall follow RHFD ISO policy.
• The safety officer shall not be one of the instructors.
• The safety officer shall ensure that all necessary and identified safety precautions are in place prior to the start of the evolution.
• Additional safety personnel shall be located strategically within the structure to react to any unplanned or threatening situation or condition. The ratio shall be a maximum of 5 participating students per safety officer.
• Building evacuation procedures including evac signals shall be part of the preburn briefing.
• The safety officer shall ensure that each participant is in full PPE prior to his or her entry into the building.

Instructors

• There shall be 1 instructor in charge who shall assume full responsibility for compliance with this policy and shall be responsible for all aforementioned conditions.
• The instructor shall designate additional instructors as needed. The ratio shall be a maximum of 5 participants to each instructor.
• The instructor shall designate an ignition officer.
• The ignition officer shall only start the fire after consultation with the lead instructor and lead safety officer.
• Instructors shall maintain a head count of all participants entering/exiting the structure.

• Instructors shall conduct a preburn briefing session for all participants in which all aspects of the evolution are discussed and crew assignments are given
• The instructor shall prepare a written preburn plan including all features of the training areas this document shall include the objectives of the training exercise along with a sketch of each floor.
• Instructors shall lead all participants in a walk thru the structure in order to gain knowledge of and become familiar with the layout of the building and to smooth the progress of any necessary evacuation.

Water Supply

• The lead instructor shall determine the flow rate necessary for control and extinguishment of the training fire, however a minimum of 3 handlines each capable of flowing a minimum of 180gpm shall be utilized.
• The handlines shall be designated as follows:
1. Attack Lines
2. Back-Up Lines
3. Safety Lines

• The attack and back-up lines shall be supplied from separate hydrants in order to eliminate the possibility of losing both water supplies at the same time.
• A minimum crew of 4 firefighters shall man each line.

Exterior Prop Fires

• The selected training area shall be relatively flat and clear of obstructions.
• A clear distance of 15 feet in all directions around the prop shall be maintained.
• Fuel shall be removed from the gasoline tank prior to the training session.
• All fluid reservoirs, tanks, shock absorbers, and other gas-filled closed containers shall be removed, vented, or drained prior to ignition.
• The vehicle shall be inspected for hazardous contents prior to the training session.
• Only class A materials shall be used to accelerate the fire

Safety

• A safety officer shall be appointed for all live fire training evolutions and shall follow RHFD ISO policy.
• The safety officer shall not be one of the instructors.
• The safety officer shall ensure that all necessary and identified safety precautions are in place prior to the start of the evolution.
• Additional safety personnel shall be located strategically to react to any unplanned or threatening situation or condition. The ratio shall be a maximum of 5 participating students per safety officer.
• The safety officer shall ensure that each participant is in full PPE prior to Participating in the evolution.

Instructors

• There shall be 1 instructor in charge who shall assume full responsibility for compliance with this policy and shall be responsible for all aforementioned conditions.
• The instructor shall designate additional instructors as needed. The ratio shall be a maximum of 5 participants to each instructor.
• The instructor shall designate an ignition officer.
• The ignition officer shall only start the fire after consultation with the lead instructor and lead safety officer.

• Instructors shall conduct a preburn briefing session for all participants in which all aspects of the evolution are discussed and crew assignments are given

Water Supply

• The lead instructor shall determine the flow rate needed to control and extinguish the training fire, however a minimum of 2 handlines capable of flowing a minimum of 200gpm each shall be utilized and each manned with a minimum crew of 3.
• A minimum of one 5” supply line connected to a public or private hydrant shall be utilized as the water supply.

Date: 08-06

Proponent: RHFD Staff

Replaces: New