BA search & rescue procedures - PN803

Question 1

BA search & rescue procedures

What information should the IC be trying to gain en-route to an incident?

Answer 1

• Number of people involved.
• Approximate ages, mobility and dependencies.
• Last known location and activity.
• Information from fire survival calls
• Location in relation to the fire.

Question 2

BA search & rescue procedures

What possible sources can information be gathered from?

Answer 2

• MDT
• CMC
• Eye witnesses
• Neighbours
• Family members
• Police at the scene
• Fire marshals who may have a list of occupants and their usual locations.
• Lobbies with wall plans or sketched layouts of premises

Question 3

BA search & rescue procedures

If the layout of the floor is not obvious, what could the IC do to help build an idea ?

Answer 3

it is good practice for the IC to send a firefighter to an unaffected floor to report back on the general layout of the floor. In many cases this will give an indication as to the layout of other floors in the building. An example of this would be the discovery of maisonettes in a building which may not always be obvious from the outside.

Question 4

BA search & rescue procedures

If the decision to deploy BA crews is made, what should the IC immediately implement ?

Answer 4

The appropriate BA command and control procedures must be established immediately

Question 5

BA search & rescue procedures

What information should the IC be considering when deciding what method of searching to implement?

Answer 5

• any pre-planning;
• the number and location (s) of persons involved;
• the type of structure to be searched;
• the scale and complexity of the incident;
• the hazards and risks presented and;
• the other tasks to be achieved e.g. firefighting, structural safety, shoring etc.

Question 6

BA search & rescue procedures

What level of protection should FF’s have when being deployed to search a premises ?

Answer 6

No BA team should be deployed to search a compartment that contains smoke and which has the potential for rapid fire progression without the protection of suitable and sufficient firefighting media (either carried by themselves or by another team/s). In compartment fires, BA teams should consider the extensive use of thermal image cameras.

Question 7

BA search & rescue procedures

Where resources allow, Who should lead BA teams?

Answer 7

A crew manager

Question 8

BA search & rescue procedures

What actions should a BA team carry out when briefed to search off a particular wall ?

Answer 8

When committed to carry out a search on one particular wall, except in exceptional circumstances, BA teams should remain on this wall as on the return journey, it will lead them to an ultimate place of safety.

Question 9

BA search & rescue procedures

What is the min rank of a search co ordinator?

Answer 9

A watch manager

Question 10

BA search & rescue procedures

Can a search co-ordinator dictate the allocation of resources required ?

Answer 10

The allocation of resources are not within the remit of a search co-ordinator as sector commanders will remain in charge of their respective sectors and carry out these tasks.

Question 11

BA search & rescue procedures

What is the search co-ordinator is responsible for ?

Answer 11

• Gathering all information available on persons requiring rescue (inc FSG’s)
• Providing clear information to assist the sector commander
• Ensuring that all briefings, debriefings, search plans etc. are recorded on the FIB and handed over
• Ensuring that completed tasks are clearly recorded on the FIB
• Establishing and maintaining effective lines of communication with the IC, sector commanders, operations commander, LALO, LAS, police, main control, CU.

Question 12

BA search & rescue procedures

Where should a search co-ordinator carry out their role?

Answer 12

If nominated, the search co-ordinator will assess whether they can carry out the function at the scene of operations with the assistance of additional personnel as required or whether they need a dedicated command unit. This role is resource intensive.

Question 13

BA search & rescue procedures

How can plans, either pre-prepared or drawn up following the debrief of teams help a search co-ordinator carry out his role ?

Answer 13

Plans, either pre-prepared or drawn up following the debrief of teams (especially if identifying landmarks or hazards), significantly improve the quality and effectiveness the BA team briefing and therefore, the safety and effectiveness of the BA team/s. On occasions plans can be drawn at the scene with the help of owners/occupiers and these can be very effective. Consider the use of the Initial Command Wallet (ICW) for this purpose.

Question 14

BA search & rescue procedures

What sources of pre prepared information coulc be sourced?

Answer 14

Pre-prepared plans should be developed wherever possible through information gained from 7(2)(d) visits and by any other means available to the fire and rescue authority such as premises information boxes, or MDTs.

Question 15

BA search & rescue procedures

What item of equipment should be used to maintain appropriate records of information gathered ?

Answer 15

Forward information boards carried on all pump ladders must be used to maintain appropriate records of information gathered, BA team briefings and debriefings, and search plans, gathered or developed at the scene.

Question 16

BA search & rescue procedures

How could information gathered and recorded by the search co-ordinator be used post incident ?

Answer 16

These records should be used to determine the search procedure for subsequent BA teams deployed into the risk area during the incident. These records can be subsequently used for operational audit, training and investigation, where required.

Question 17

BA search & rescue procedures

Why It is important to record the tasks and the area of search allocated to crews in the absence of clear information on the layout of a building and the location of persons ?

Answer 17

To prevent duplication of effort when additional crews are committed as the incident progresses. This may only become available as the first teams begin to exit the
building and can provide information on the internal layout and the extent of their search completed.

Question 18

BA search & rescue procedures

Why is it important to have clarity on the extent of a search and ensuring it’s understood?

Answer 18

Briefings must stipulate whether an area is to be checked or cleared as this may be the difference between knocking on a door to see if anyone is in, or forcing entry to carry out a thorough search. This will be important where whole floors of large buildings such as hotels or high rise residential flats need to be searched

Question 19

BA search & rescue procedures

The search brief for a team may require the search to commence either at waht possible locations ?

Answer 19

• The point of entry;
• The point of greatest danger for casualties within an area
• Close to the likely seat of fire
• Some other designated point within the structure.

Question 20

BA search & rescue procedures

On locating a casualty, the team leader must:?

Answer 20

• Take a gauge check from the BA team.
• Inform entry control and state location.
• Perform a secondary sweep of the immediate vicinity
• Remove the casualty to safe air as quickly as possible.

If the casualty is apparently dead and not likely to be affected by a developing fire, it is to be left in situ.

Question 21

BA search & rescue procedures

What is the purpose of a compartment search procedure ?

Answer 21

The fundamental principle of this procedure is that a BA team will attempt to fully search each compartment they enter before moving on to the next compartment.

Question 22

BA search & rescue procedures

What size rooms is the compartment search procedure best suited to?

Answer 22

Small-to-medium sized compartments

Question 23

BA search & rescue procedures

Can you describe compartment search procedure ?

Answer 23

The search may start at the point of entry or from a designated point according to the brief. At all times within the risk area the team will maintain a left or right hand orientation and use the corresponding wall as their fixed reference point. At the point designated in the brief they will commence a compartment search procedure.

Question 24

BA search & rescue procedures

How do we ensure the room is searched as much as possible when using compartment search procedure ?

Answer 24

On entry into the first (primary) compartment to be searched, the perimeter and, in the case of small-to-medium sized compartments, the centre of the compartment, are searched at the same time. The use of personal lines will assist BA teams to do so, and in this case, the BA team leader must maintain contact with the wall. The BA team members (up to a maximum of four and connected together by their short personal lines), can then search the centre of the compartment. This ensures that no team member is more than 6m from the team leader and no more than 1.25m from each other.

Question 25

BA search & rescue procedures

What technique could be incorporated on a medium sized room when the area being searched cannot be satisfactory covered using the standard compartment search procedure

Answer 25

The use of the diagonal search technique should be considered for medium size compartments.

Question 26

BA search & rescue procedures

Can compartment search procedure be used on large rooms?

Answer 26

In large compartments, it may not be possible for a BA team to systematically search and clear the entire space, whilst remaining in touch contact with the wall. In such situations, where it is determined that these larger compartments also need to be searched, alternative procedures and techniques should be considered. Examples might include the use of larger BA teams, multiple BA teams searching the compartment in a co-ordinated manner, tactical ventilation, and breathing apparatus guidelines/branch guidelines

Question 27

BA search & rescue procedures

What is important when committing crews to search multiple compartments?

Answer 27

If a large, multiple compartment premises is to be searched, the brief must be clear as to whether every compartment is to be fully searched or checked for occupants. This could be the difference between knocking on the door or forcing entry. In a premises such as a hotel full of fire doors, it may be impractical to force entry into each compartment

Question 28

BA search & rescue procedures

On completion of the search, or at the pre-planned turn-around pressure, or at any point during the wear as the BA team leader determines, the BA team leader must ensure?

Answer 28

The BA team leader must ensure that orientation with the wall is maintained, albeit the direction of travel reversed in order that the team may exit the structure. The team should landmark objects or features to assist in this orientation. Examples of this are large objects of furniture, changes in levels or doorways or openings.

Question 29

BA search & rescue procedures

What should the IC consider to improve conditions?

Answer 29

Ventilation

Question 30

BA search & rescue procedures

What are the advantages of Compartment search procedure?

Answer 30

• Systematic: Each compartment is mapped out systematically as the BA teams progress, which allows for ease of orientation and a search record to be established in a systematic way.
• Suitable for a range of structures, particularly complex multi-compartmented structures with many interconnecting rooms, where a methodical approach to the mapping out of compartments may be appropriate.

Question 31

BA search & rescue procedures

What are the disadvantages of Compartment search procedure?

Answer 31

• Large compartments may not be able to be fully cleared due to unsearched area/s in the centre of the compartment being unable to be accessed by the BA team, whilst following the procedure safely.
• Disciplined and systematic observance of the search brief by the BA team is essential

Question 32

BA search & rescue procedures

What is Directional search procedure?

Answer 32

• The fundamental principle of this procedure is that BA teams will search in a specific left or right hand direction. The overall intention of the procedure is to clear all compartments but not necessarily before moving between compartments.
• The fundamental difference between this and compartment search procedure is that here a BA team will immediately progress through the first door they locate in any compartment in the specified left or right hand direction, before fully searching the compartment they are currently in

Question 33

BA search & rescue procedures

How is directional search procedure carried out ?

Answer 33

On receiving and confirming their brief, the BA team will move to the point of entry and enter the risk area. The search may start at the point of entry or from a designated point as per the brief given at the entry control point. At all times within the risk area the team will maintain a left or right hand orientation using the left or right hand wall as their fixed reference point. At the point designated in the brief they will commence a directional search procedure.

Question 34

BA search & rescue procedures

When directional search procedure is being used, how can the search area be maxmised?

Answer 34

The BA team will attempt to maximise the area searched within the entire structure by attempting to search the perimeter and the centre of any compartment at the same time, using the same methods (including door sweeps) as detailed in compartment search procedure.

Question 35

BA search & rescue procedures

What are the advantages of directional search procedure ?

Answer 35

• A systematic and relatively simplistic procedure to apply.
• More suitable for certain types of structure; particularly domestic and smaller commercial properties, where, due to the size of normal compartments and standard and recognisable layouts
• The procedure is most practicable to adopt and all rooms are largely cleared as the directional search progresses.

Question 36

BA search & rescue procedures

What are the disadvantages of directional search procedure ?

Answer 36

• In larger compartments multiple teams will be required to be committed in a co-ordinated way to ensure the compartment is searched and crew safety is maintained.
• This method does not necessarily clear a compartment before the BA team move on to the next compartment, due to the area in the centre of the compartment being unable to be accessed by the BA search team whilst following the procedure safely.
• There is the potential to pass a fire compartment, which may compromise the means of escape for BA teams, unless search and rescue operations are comprehensively co-ordinated and an effective search plan and record process established.

Question 37

BA search & rescue procedures

What are ‘beds in sheds’ and how could that influence an IC or search co-ordinators plan ?

Answer 37

This is where people are living in unconventional and usually illegal accommodation such as garden sheds to cupboards in tower blocks. The additional life risk must be considered by IC’s or Search co-ordinator’s and included in any briefings.