600-17 High Rise Flashcards
A high rise is
Any structure of four stories or more in height
The most effective tactical approach in the majority of high-rise fires
Is confining the fire with an aggressive attack
In a high-rise fire a second alarm
Shall be sounded upon confirmation of a working fire
A working fire is
A fire beyond its incipient stage
The initial attack line should be a minimum of
250 GPM
Code 4 structure fire responses in high hazard buildings shall include a minimum of
4 engine companies
2 truck companies
1 squad
2 District chiefs
Rescue units and LR’s shall be optional and department specific
High Rise
1st Engine
position away from the building initial accountability check and mark annunciator panel secure keys announce method of ascent consider silencing alarm for communication locate and announce fire location D/O controls standpipe on floor below entire crew
Elevators will not be used
for fires on or below the 6th floor
1st or 2nd arriving company officers should not
take initiate a fixed incident command post
High Rise
1st Truck
- position based on location of fire and secondary egress
- immediate visible rescues is priority / notify command
- when aerial not needed - fire floor
- locate fire / forcible entry / search and rescue / vent
- leave unneeded equip 2 floors below
High Rise
2nd Engine
- D/O water supply and FDC
- crew to fire floor
High Rise
1st Squad
- lobby control
- control elevator
- prepare to pressurize stairwell using PPV
- PPV placed in attack and evacuation stairwells
- control fire alarm system / communication system
- contacts maintenance
- controls movement of evacuated occupants
High Rise
3rd Engine
- floor below / RIC or RIG for large scale
High Rise
4th Engine
- floor above
* if fire floor is upper floor 4th engine reports to IC
High Rise
2nd Truck
- position for fire location or 2nd means of egress
- should be placed opposite of 1st truck
- if aerial not needed then floor above
- if fire floor is upper floor 2nd truck reports to IC
High Rise
1st DC
- command and accountability / consider more resources
- DC can delegate accountability to another unit so as to move accountability to lobby
- monitors talk-around
- assign aide
High Rise
2nd DC
- 360 / report to IC in full PPE
- will be fire floor division supervisor
- shall utilize command board or other device to track companies assigned to them
High Rise
1st Rescue
- report to 1st engine officer or IC
High Rise
2nd Rescue
- report to IC
High Rise
LR
- report to IC
All departments shall ensure their run cards for 2nd alarm or greater alarms at High Hazard or high rise responses shall include a minimum of the following units
3 engines
1 Truck
1 Squad
1 District Chief
2nd alarm companies shall report to
IC for an assignment
2nd alarm units should anticipate
being sent to the Staging Floor
All 3rd or greater alarm companies shall report to
Base
“Base” is considered to be the location
a minimum of 200’ from the building where apparatus will initially report
This person would be in charge of Base at a high rise fire
Base Manager
All District Chief’s responding as additional alarm units shall
bypass Base and immediately report to the Command Post upon arrival onscene
IC for high rise will fill these key positions of the Incident Management System that will be needed to mitigate this incident.
Fire Floor Division Supervisor Command Post Aide Safety Officer Staging Floor Supervisor Base Supervisor
Establish a staging floor and Division Supervisor for that floor. On the staging floor there should be three main components set up
Medical with a EMS crew
Rehab
Equipment cache including extra SCBA cylinders of all types in use by the 1st alarm companies
Benchmarks upon Arrival of Multi-Alarm Companies
- Maintain sufficient resources on the Staging Floor Area two (2) floors below the fire floor
- Establish a Rehab Group on the Staging floor two (2) floors below the fire floor.
- All multi-alarm companies, when reporting to the Staging Division two (2) floors below the fire, should carry as much equipment as they possibly can, including spare air cylinders.
Only elevators equipped with “fire service controls”
will be used for FD operations during fire situations
All personnel will familiarize themselves with the stairwell location
prior to elevator use
All personnel deploying in elevators shall
wear full protective equipment
bring forcible entry tools, portable radio(s), and a portable extinguisher
Initial ascents shall attempt to stop the car every
five floors to confirm that the FD
override is functioning and to evaluate smoke conditions in the shaft
Use of elevators is not permitted if there is any indication of
heavy smoke or excessive water in the shaft
Elevator crews will maintain the following equipment in the car at all times
Full protective clothing Portable radio Forcible entry tools Portable extinguisher Folding ladder Spare air bottle
Crews will exit the elevator at least
two (2) floors below the reported fire floor
They shall turn off the Phase II, leave the keys in the car, which will allow the car to return to the lobby unmanned
Lobby will direct evacuated occupants to a controlled area at least
200 feet away from structure
High rise packs
Capable of 250 GPM
Shall have at least 150 feet of hose
No Fog Nozzle
All standpipe systems shall be pumped at the starting pressure of
150 PSI
2 3” lines or
1 5” line
Figure proper friction loss and nozzle pressure for the length of attack line
+ 50 lbs nozzle pressure (smooth bore only in high rises) For 2 1⁄2 inch hose use + 6 pounds friction loss per 50 feet
+ 5 psi for elevation loss.
No windows or other exterior openings shall be broken out from interior crews or exterior crews without first consulting with the IC. Because of the potential for wind conditions that may exasperate the fire conditions, all such ventilation operations shall be closely orchestrated by the IC, and Division or Group Supervisors
If windows absolutely have to be broken, the IC must ensure that the area around the building is clear to do so. Depending on the height and wind conditions, glass may travel up to 200 feet away from the building
High Rise -
Wind speeds of over
20 mph should be noted by all companies responding to the scene
The initial ventilation to take place at a high rise fire should normally be
natural ventilation on the fire floor
The priority of ventilation that should be addressed after the fire floor is as follows
Floor above the fire
Top floor
All floors in between
Floors below the fire if necessary
Pressurization fans should be deployed to at least the attack stairwell and the evacuation stairwell. This should be done regardless of fire floor, fire conditions, and number of stairs. NIST studies have shown that you cannot go wrong by deploying fans into the stairwells. That said, if the fans produce a negative effect, that information should be communicated immediately and the fans shut down. The IC must be made aware of this operation as well
Electric fans shall be the preferred method. Multiple fans may be needed to pressurize stairwells and upper floors
Search & Rescue in high-rise
persons in immediate danger, mostly in common areas and immediate fire area
Initial attack hose should be connected
Floor below the fire
Hose should not be flaked out beyond __ above the fire
first landing
D/O 1st Engine assignment
Control standpipe on floor below fire.
Key positions of IMS needed for high-rise
- Fire floor Division Supervisor
- Command Post Aide
- Safety Officer
- Staging floor supervisor
- Base Supervisor
If emergency stop fails in elevator
Pry open the door to trip the interlock
When crews exit the elevator they shall
Turn off Phase II, leave keys in the car, allow it return to lobby unmanned
When Logistics Section is established, all communications between Logistics, Base, Lobby, and Stairwell support may be conducted on
Staging channel
Keys to elevator FF’s Service should be located in
Knox Box or fire control room
Before entering the elevator, you should
Located the closest stairwell
As a rule of thumb, only __ crews shall be in an elevator at a time.
One
When 1st arriving engine reaches desired floor via elevator, they should announce
“Elevator is clear to the XX floor”
Phase I (elevator control)
When car is placed in FF’s Service for purpose of recall and control of elevators
Phase II
When we are using the car to ascend to an upper floor
Automatic activation of phase I
occurs when a smoke detector in lobby, machine room, or hoistway is activated. Sends cars to the lobby
Exception to automatic phase I activation
When alarm activation is in the lobby, the elevator will go to alternate floor
Manual activation of Phase I
Initiaiting Phase I using a key switch located in the main lobby
In a high-rise there should be how many sets of keys, each containing an elevator key?
5 sets of keys
If fire alarm devices activated on multiple floors
Assume the lowest floor is the fire floor
Quick escape method if conditions become unsafe in elevator
Turn off the key, since elevator is in Phase I it will return to the lobby
If there is only set of elevator keys
You must send the car back down with key in it
Except in case of an extreme emergency, the elevator car should not
Go past the “staging” floor until after the fire is under control
If possible all strairwells should have PPV, preferably from
An outside entrance to the stairwell
Activate the buildings intercom, but DO NOT
Silence fire alarm until conditions are known.
Initially what floors will be required to evacuate?
Fire floor, floor above, and floor below
In newer high-rises where will you find buildings emergency plans?
In the fire control room in a binder
System that provides an automated message that directs occupants where to exit
Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications System (EVACS)
Network of risers, pipes, and discharges outlets built into a structure to provide water for firefighting purposes
Standpipe System
Standpipe system designed for FD use, w/ 2.5” male fittings and valve
Class I system
System designed for occupant use and not FD
Class II
Class II systems typically located
Cabinet in hallway
Combination standpipe system with both 2.5” and 1.5” outlets
Class III
NFPA for standpipes
NFPA 14
Prior to 1993 the highest discharge valve required min. residual pressure of
65 psi
Post 1993, highest discharge valve required to have min. residual pressure of
100 psi
In emergency when FDC is not accessible or usable, standpipe can be supplied by
3” line w/ a wye/siamese, and double female connected directly to the discharge outlet on the 1st floor
Staging is under direct control of
Operations
Operations Section Chief responsible for accountability of
Personnel on fire floor and above
Once Ops Section in place and functioning, the IC’s focus should be on
Strategic issues
Which section provides for medical aid for incident personnel and manages rehab?
Logistics
Which Section manages lobby control, base, building systems/fire control rooms, and provides stairwell support as needed
Logistics
Base Manager reports directly to
Support Branch Director (if established) or Logistics Section Chief
Who provides facility services at Base and Command post? i.e. sanitation, lighting, clean up
Base Manager
Responsible for movement of building occupants through designated evacuation routes to a safe location.
Evacuation Group Supervisor
Responsible for transportation for personnel, equipment, and supplies refilling of SCBA, providing fueling, service and maintenance of vehicles, traffic/movement plan
Ground Support Unit Leader
