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Firefighter Rescue and Survival: The Rapid Intervention Checklist

By R.S. Hoff and R.W. Kolomay

To reinforce the procedures and practice of Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT), the assistance of a checklist that is brief and easy to read may be a valuable tool. Such a checklist can be customized for local use and for rapid intervention training sessions and should be carried on the apparatus for easy reference by the company officer. This sample checklist has been divided into four categories and 15 points of consideration to increase the effectiveness of a RIT.

SIZE-UP

The officer of the RIT should be “in touch” with the condition of the building and the behavior of the fire until released from the scene. This will require the officer to physically size-up a building regularly. Even after the fire has been controlled, many firefighters have fallen victim to injury and death during overhaul due to building collapse, injury from tools, falls, heart attacks, and many other reasons. Although the RIT officer may be on the opposite side of the building evaluating the situation, the RIT officer is still reachable by radio in the event the team is needed and can respond immediately the incident commander. Training and discipline during size-up are key points to an effective RIT.

1. BUILDING DIMENSIONS (WIDTH X DEPTH X HEIGHT)

Upon arrival, the RIT officer should assess the amount of area that must be dealt with in terms of the building dimensions. The RIT officers’ anticipation that the attack companies can commit deep into the building to a “point of no return” should then become great concern. There is an increased chance that the RIT may be needed because the attack team(s) used their SCBA air before turning around or firefighters have become disoriented and lost in such a large building. The concern of the RIT will also involve the chance that firefighters operating in a large area can fall victim to heat exhaustion, fatigue, or a medical emergency.

2. BUILDING OCCUPANCY

The RIT officer should immediately determine how the building would affect the firefighting operations and any potential problems. If the occupancy is a hotel or apartment building, the RIT should anticipate the risks that search teams might be taking. Operating above the fire floor and conducting a primary search without hose lines and from laddered windows occurs often. The RIT will have to be very aware of where the search teams are located and how many are searching, and it must listen constantly to the fireground radio communications for updates.

If the building occupancy is industrial, although the civilian count may be minimal, the business occupancy may harbor dangerous chemicals and various “mantraps,” again requiring the RIT to constantly size-up and anticipate the dangers. The RIT may find some assistance with the building layout by checking a building pre-plan at the Command Post.

3. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TYPE

While sizing-up the building, knowing the building construction type(s) will be most important and will involve time. Two important questions for the RIT will be:

  1. How long will the fire (spread) tolerate the presence of firefighters inside?

  2. How long will the construction (while attacked by fire) tolerate the presence of the firefighters inside?

For example, a fire-resistive, compartmentalized apartment building can contain and withstand a great amount of the fire for an extended period of time. The consideration that would stand out for the RIT would be the immense amount of heat and potential for burns that could victimize the attack and search companies. In contrast, a building constructed of lightweight, wooden I-beams with composite board decking will withstand moderate fire conditions for only minutes before structural components disintegrate and collapse. The potential for firefighters to fall through a floor or roof would be great. It is imperative that the RIT understands and is experienced with building construction in relation to fire behavior. This will allow the RIT to better anticipate potential problems and react properly, if needed.

4. PLACEMENT OF WINDOWS, DOORS, FIRE ESCAPES, PORCHES

As the RIT officer completes the initial rapid “walk around” to size-up dimensions, occupancy, and construction type(s), points of entrance/exit must be noted as well. Windows and doors are potential points for escape, rescue, and entrance for rescue operations.

5. POTENTIAL DANGERS OF HIGH SECURITY DOORS, BARRED WINDOWS, AND BUILDING MODIFICTIONS

Such blockade dangers need to be addressed and sometimes dealt with immediately depending on the situation. If the fire is being attacked from the front (or burning side) of a downtown commercial store 35 feet by 60 feet, two stories in height, and the rear first-floor access door is heavily secured, the RIT officer should inform the IC immediately. If a company is not available to open the door, the RIT should be ordered to open the door, the return to their staging area with their equipment. If the RIT is occupied with such an operation, the effectiveness of having an RIT is practically gone.

TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

6. OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE-TO-OFFENSIVE

While enroute to the fire, the RIT officer should start to determine the tactics being employed:

Use of the command tactics operations board is another source of tactical information for the RIT officer. Does the observable information match the written command information? The tactical board can offer great amounts of information rapidly (if used properly) in determining the number of attack lines, positions of companies, search operations, etc.

Another source of information is the personal accountability system. In anticipation of a catastrophic event, (i.e. collapse), the RIT can account for an estimated number of firefighters committed to the scene.

Using the incident commander for information is very valuable to the RIT officer. Updated information or various concerns can be expressed to the RIT officer regularly. This relationship between the incident commander and RIT officer for a more involved incident can pay off in dividends if the RIT is activated. In addition to verbal communications, just by observing the general behavior of the incident commander in terms of calmness, confidence, confusion, anxiety, and many other byproducts of behavior at an emergency scene can offer the RIT some very valuable information.

7. RIT Chief Officer

The assignment of a RIT chief officer who is assigned with the RIT is an important position for command and control reasons in certain departments. The RIT chief is responsible directly to the IC and sets up the RIT, staging area, and conducts the size-up. The RIT chief will then give the RIT assignments as needed (i.e. size-up, interior recon, additional tools, etc.). In the event the RIT is put to work, the RIT chief will take command of the rescue operation allowing the IC to maintain command and control of the overall scene, and provide support to the RIT efforts. Experience has shown where the IC has become part of the rescue effort, the result has been the neglect of the overall incident and accountability of the rest of the personnel. Experience has also shown that when the RIT officer became too involved in the extrication of or search for a victim and “forgot” to call for additional aid or actually ran out of SCBA air, he had to abandon command and control. The RIT chief position would maintain command and control from an interior position to support the RIT officer in whatever operation that is necessary.

8. LADDERS AND TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS

A critical question that should constantly run through the mind of the RIT officer is this: “Are there enough truck operations going on at any given time?” There must be enough personnel and designated companies to provide the needed support for the interior engine companies operating. Of course, the more aggressive the interior attack, the greater the need for ventilation. Just as well, the more ladders raised, the better the chance of a firefighter being able to escape from a dangerous situation. If for some reason the interior companies are not receiving the needed truck support; the RIT should suggest to the incident commander the need to raise more ladders. If there is a shortage of personnel at that time, the RIT may have to perform some of the needed truck support operations. Caution: If the RIT is used extensively, they can become physically expended and ineffective for “rapid intervention.”

Within the concept of Rapid Intervention Teams, cross-training of all personnel is very important. Training on various types of apparatus such as tower ladders, aerial towers, aerial ladders and so on should be a priority. If an RIT is assigned from an engine company and they must use the platform from the tower ladder to remove a firefighter from a window or roof, they will have to be familiar with how to “put it to work.” Even various surrounding fire departments that respond mutually should cross-train on each other’s equipment for the same purpose.

9. FIREGROUND TIME VERSUS PROGRESS

The RIT will often arrive after the initial companies have committed to their fireground operations. The RIT officer can obtain the time of alarm by noting its dispatch time, using CAD, requesting the time from the incident commander, or via radio to the dispatch center. The time of alarm will have great significance to the RIT throughout the fire in relation to fire behavior, building construction, and firefighter endurance. Experience has shown the more the elapsed time, the greater the chance of a problem, and greater is the need for a PREPARED rapid intervention team.

10. RAPID INTERVENTION EQUIPMENT & TOOLS

The amount of equipment deployed by the RIT can be measured against the size of the incident and the amount of time elapsed. The greater the incident and elapsed “one-scene” time, the more equipment the RIT should deploy. For example, a two-room fire in a typical single-family dwelling that was confined quickly may not require additional ground ladders, specialty tools, and heavy equipment; for that matter, everything is in control and the RIT can be released. In comparison, a four-story ordinarily-constructed, flat-roof apartment building with a deep-seated fire may require such additional tools. A suggested RIT tool list can be policy, but the ingenuity of the RIT should be based on the type of fire and building involved. Wood-frame buildings would require more axes, chain saws, wood-cutting circular saws, etc. A high-rise building would have greater demands for sledgehammers, bars, hydraulic tools, and emergency SCBA air supply.

11. CHECK WITH THE REHAB SECTOR

During an extended operation, check with the rehab officer to assess the overall condition of the firefighters:

As we commonly know, as firefighters deteriorate, the greater the chance for injury. Although the RIT may not be able to control this situation, they must be aware and prepared to deal with it.

12. CHECK WITH THE SAFETY OFFICER

The safety officer will very often share the same concerns as the RIT officer; therefore, it is important for the two officers to have frequent contact in an effort to share information and compare notes. The main difference between the safety officer the and RIT officer is that the safety officer will evaluate and correct safety concerns, whereas the RIT officer will not only evaluate safety concerns, but prepare for various scenarios in the event of a catastrophe.

13. RELOCATE OR ADD ANOTHER RIT

In some cases, such as a large 400-feet by 400-feet factory with fire in the rear, the incident commander may be located in the front. It might be highly advisable to suggest that the RIT be relocated to the sector officer in the rear to eliminate response time, distance, lack of tool availability, and fatigue if the RIT was needed. The option of an additional RIT team may become a necessity if the building has barriers around it (i.e. fences, walls, railroad spurs) prohibiting the RIT from being able to reach all sides, or if the building is of such great size, such as a shopping mall, industrial warehouse, or high-rise. If operating at a high-rise fire, the RITs could position near the forward fire command sector just below the fire floor.

14. POTENTIAL COLLAPSE AND COLLAPSE AREA

RIT personnel need to be aware of areas of collapse during interior overhaul. Interior stairwells, exterior porches, and floors that have been severely damaged could collapse, also weakening or collapsing walls as well. If exterior streams were used to “knock down” heavy fire and interior overhaul were to be performed, the building must be surveyed from top to bottom. The use of aerial devices will be needed to assess the structural conditions on the roof, the stairwells and floors, and the overall conditions of the exterior walls while water is draining from the building. During this assessment, only chief officers and personnel operating the aerial(s) are to be allowed in the collapse zones. This is an operation after the fire attack when a RIT must be in position and very alert. We must remember, buildings can be replaced, but firefighters cannot.

15. FIREFIGHTER EMS

During extended firefighting operations, emergency medical services are at great demand. Initial demands may involve firefighting/rescue operations, injured civilians, and firefighters. The RIT officer can include (depending on availability) a designated EMS unit as part of the RIT for the assistance and treatment of injured firefighters specifically.

IN CONCLUSION

The word anticipation was used quite frequently during this article. If the RIT officer has been trained to stay alert and think ahead, the position of rapid intervention will prove to be an invaluable life-insurance policy for everyone operating at the scene of a fire. Naturally, as time marches on, memorized information and skills deteriorate. For that reason, the use of a basic checklist, only one page in length, reinforcing the local RIT policy is recommended. The RIT checklist can be reduced in size, laminated and affixed to the apparatus dash, visor, or any other easy-view area of the cab for quick reference by the officer.

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