203.01.14 Rapid Assist Teams Flashcards
RAT stands for?
Rapid Assistance Team
Rat Group Supervisor definition:
The person, usually the second due in District
Fire Chief, that is in charge of RAT operations during a Mayday on the
scene of an incident. Radio designation can be “RAT Group Supervisor”
or “RAT Supervisor”.
Alternate Fire Ground definition:
This fire ground is Channel 16 (the last fire ground channel in a zone) in all CFD Zones. This Fire Ground Channel is used during a Mayday only when the Incident Commander tells companies to switch to it. Currently this is the Mayday Channel on all CFD radios.
CAN Report definition:
Conditions, Actions, and Needs report
Which Truck will be designated as the RAT Truck?
Third closest available Truck Company will be designated as the RAT Truck.
Which Engine will designated as the Safety Engine?
Fourth closest available Engine Company will be designated as the Safety
Engine
The _______ will increase the size of the RAT Truck by at least two members and will supply two members, one being the Officer, to be designated as Accountability
Safety Engine
Once dispatched as the RAT Truck or Safety Engine, the Company shall remain assigned in that role unless changed by:
The Incident Commander
The Officer should announce the benchmark “Safety Engine 12
is Level 1” over the radio on arrival; it would then be up to the Incident
Commander to change their role depending on:
The incident conditions or arrival order
The radio designation for the RAT Truck will be:
“RAT” followed by the appropriate Company number. (Example: Truck 32 responding as the RAT Truck will be designated “RAT 32”)
The radio designation for the Safety Engine will be:
“Safety Engine” followed by the appropriate Company number.
(Example: Engine 12 responding, as Safety Engine will be designated “Safety Engine 12”). Once
the Officer reports the “on the scene” benchmark, this will be the last time
the Officer will be using the radio designation as “Safety Engine 12”
The Safety Engine Officer and one other member, usually the ______,
will assume the duties of “Accountability”. From this point on the
radio the Safety Engine Officer will use designation of _______ .
FAO… “Accountability”…
When assigned to a Truck Company, first thing in the morning following
the morning equipment check, the Officer should talk to everyone assigned
to the Company for the tour, and discuss their roles when assigned as:
RAT Truck
Following Dispatch and throughout incident (RAT CO.), remain alert to the radio and
available on the ______ of the structure.
exterior
(Most fires will require the RAT to remain on the exterior of the structure however; a high-rise or large
commercial structure may require the RAT to:
stage in a forward position
Upon arrival the RAT Company will:
Level 1 Stage and park apparatus out of the way to not impede other apparatus from approaching the scene.
Once the initial companies report a “working fire” the RAT Company shall:`
Stage apparatus and come forward to the scene, and announce they are
initiating pro-active RAT duties
If a stationary Command Post has been established, the RAT Officer will:
report face to face with the Incident Commander
Who will bring the RAT equipment forward?
The RAT FAO and firefighters
The RAT Officer will perform an initial RAT size up of the structure. This
size up will include:
a complete survey around the structure (360°) identifying all possible means of entrance and egress from the structure as well as conditions and/or obstacles that may prevent a firefighter from rapidly exiting the structure. (Example: Doors padlocked closed, Security bars on windows, etc.)
If the fire is above the ground floor of a multi-floor commercial building,
during this assessment, the RAT officer and another member of the RAT
Company can:
Enter the first floor to determine the location of the interior
stairs. If this task is performed, the environment must be free of smoke
and it must be a rapid assessment; No Freelancing.
When firefighters are operating above ground level, portable or ground
ladders shall be:
placed to upper story windows or roofs on all sides of the
structure where appropriate.
When placing RAT ladders:
Begin with the areas where firefighters are
working inside the structure. These ladders will provide an escape route
should interior positions or roof operations become untenable. Ground
ladders shall be placed on all sides of the building.
True or False: A safety fire line may be stretched and placed in front of the building. This
line is not to be used for firefighting purposes. This is to only be utilized
if needed during a “RAT” operation or rescue
True
Where should RAT lights be placed?
Lights shall be set up to illuminate all means of egress out of the building
All members of the RAT Truck must stay together as a Company
and not involve themselves in any activity that reduces their ability to
perform their primary function of firefighter rescue! The only exception is:
When the Officer is completing the 360° size-up and performing duties to develop an action plan should a Mayday occur.
When the “MAYDAY” procedure has been initiated by dispatch, what additional apparatus are dispatched?
An additional Alarm for staging, additional RAT Team, and an additional District Chief
During a MAYDAY the IC shall appoint a ______ to command the rescue operation.
RAT Group Supervisor
Fire Suppression Companies operating on the scene and not involved in the Mayday, should change from the assigned Fire Ground Talk Group to the __________. This clears the original Talk Group from unnecessary transmissions.
Alternate Fire Ground (FG) Channel (currently the Mayday channel)
When Fire Suppression Companies have swithched to the MAYDAY channel, what companies will be left on the original fireground?
The distressed firefighter(s), the RAT, Heavy Rescue Company, and RAT Group Supervisor…
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If there is a Company in the area of the Mayday, and they feel they can immediately assist the firefighter(s) in distress, they must inform the Incident Commander, and the Incident Commander will then need to replace that Company. The assisting fire company will then also stay on the original FG Channel.
Accountability should conduct a comprehensive incident PAR on the __________ as soon as possible to determine who and how many firefighters are in peril.
Alternate FG channel (currently the Mayday channel)
Begin the PAR with the companies that were in the:
most dangerous positions prior to the Mayday
Who will the IC notify if companies are missing pr members dont respond to a PAR during MAYDAY?
RAT Group Supervisor
The Incident Commander must focus his attention on controlling the fire and allow th________ to manage the rescue effort. The attack on the fire must continue.
RAT Group Supervisor
The IC shall assign someone as an _____ to the ________ to assist with accountability of companies entering the building assisting in the Mayday operations
Aide… RAT Group Supervisor…
Who will designate a Staging Officer and Staging Area for all incoming Companies?
The IC