Trezek - Kolomay

Position #3 was filled by the “H-tool” position. This tool works by creating a spreading force on an attached pair of “jaws,” or spreaders, with the use of a hand-pump. The addition of a hydraulic forcible entry tool will:

It is recommended that a carrying case equipped with a handle be used to transport the “H-tool,” as trying to “wear” this tool and conduct a rapid room search is not practical. In the event the “H-tool” is directed to conduct a rapid room search, it is advised to leave the forcible entry hydraulic tool at the door. By resting the tool on the floor the search can be executed quickly and the tool can be picked up and moved rapidly.

Position #4 was filled by the SCBA emergency air system. If possible, equip the RASP search team with a SCBA emergency air system (often referred to as a “RIT pack”) as opposed to just an extra SCBA. The SCBA emergency air system is lighter in weigh and has fewer harnesses to tangle than a regular SCBA. It is often packaged in a transportable bag, set up with a one-hour air cylinder, and is capable of transferring air in multiple ways.

If the search team is equipped with only two portable radios, the SCBA position should possess the second radio. Some advantages of equipping the SCBA position with a radio are:

Similar to the other positions, if the SCBA position was directed to conduct a rapid room search, the SCBA emergency air system should be left at the threshold of the door and picked up on the way out.

Not unlike RIT evolutions, it was found during some RASP operations that the SCBA emergency air provided an extra level of protection for the members. If necessary, supplement the air supply of search team members for safety reasons only. In the event that two or more members require supplemental air, it is recommended that the entire team exit and regroup.

Tool selection will vary with building construction type. A major factor concerning tool selection is the mobility and safety of the search team. Bring only those tools necessary to complete the task at hand; do not overburden the searchers, as their safety and effectiveness will be compromised. Two selections that should not be modified are the set of irons and the RIT pack.

In either a high-rise or warehouse building, a victim has contacted the dispatch center via cell phone indicating a need for rescue in certain area of the floor to be searched. Smoke conditions are heavy and the fire is being attacked.

After the rope was secured to an anchor point, the company officer initiated the search starting along a wall. The team members went on air, secured their assigned tool(s) and took their position on the search rope, maintaining three to four feet of spacing between each other while on the search line.

Upon entering the area that required searching, the company officer first used the TIC to scan as much of the area as possible. Any victims seen at this point would be rescued immediately. This initial scan also allowed the company officer to view some of the doors that later opened to reveal a series of offices.

A right- or left-hand wall search was used in conjunction with the search rope and TIC. This was done to provide a point of reference in the event of TIC failure. As the search team advanced, they were confronted with a change in direction. When a change of direction is encountered (inside corner), tie off the rope at that point. In most cases, tying off will not be as straight forward, as the photos below illustrate. This process will most likely require ingenuity and adaptation on the part of the search team. Breaching a wall to expose a stud may be necessary. Another option can be hooking an open carabineer into a hole made in the floor with the point of an axe or Halligan bar. A last resort may require that a member of the search team be left at the change of direction. Use of this last option can have a serious impact on the effectiveness and safety of the search team. Therefore, its use must be given serious consideration by the company officer. Tying off at a change of direction is done to ensure the safety of the search team. While tying off might not seem necessary because you have a TIC, in the event of TIC failure it will help to provide for a safe exit over an area that was previously covered by the search team. Tying off at a change in direction may not provide the most direct path of egress, but the benefits of traversing an area that is free of obstructions and unknown hazards (e.g., holes, entanglements, mantraps, etc.) are invaluable. Were the rope to stretch across a span of floor not familiar to exiting firefighters, it could lead them to a hole or an entanglement problem.

Using a basic and simple overhand knot, the search rope is secured at an inside turn or change of direction. During a routine exit, the knot can be easily loosened and released so the search rope could be retrieved and repacked into the search rope bag.

As the search progressed, offices were encountered. These offices were identified earlier when the company officer did the initial scan. Each door that was encountered by the company officer was scanned for heat then opened.

Upon opening the door to Office #1, a quick TIC scan of the room was made by the company officer. When completed, the Irons position was allowed to take a quick scan of the room. At this point in the search operation the Irons position (Position #2) is directly behind the company officer. This position will be the first to conduct a search off of the main search rope. Typical office furniture, office partitions, and closet spaces were viewed through the TIC. Hidden areas created by these obstacles required a searcher enter and search the office. The chance that an occupant fell victim from the fire conditions, and was hidden from the view of the TIC made this action necessary.

The officer quickly shares a TIC view with the Irons position of the area to be searched. The TIC view is intended to give the searcher an idea of the size, configuration, and target areas to search (i.e., closets, behind desks, other doors that may lead into other rooms).

At that point, the officer directed the Irons position (Position #2) to enter the office (Office #1), conduct a left- or right-hand search, and proceed to the areas that required searching (Diagram A). The direction of search is determined by the swing of the door. If the door opens to the left, then a left-hand search is conducted. When the door opens to the right, then a right- hand search is conducted. The reasoning behind this is that upon entering you will immediately check behind the door for a hidden victim. The entire office did not need to be searched; only the areas that could not be seen with the TIC required searching.

There will be times when these hidden areas are opposite in direction from the swing of the door. It would not make sense to do a complete left-hand search of the office if the area that needed to be searched is on the right-hand side of the room. In these instances the searcher should check behind the door and then proceed to the area that requires searching (Diagram B). This can be thought of as an alternate search. The basic fundamentals of a left- or right-hand room search still apply but the entire room or area will not be physically searched. When only a specific area needs to be searched, because all other areas in that room were deemed clear by the TIC, target that area and proceed. Diagram B shows the Irons position checking behind the door and then proceeding directly to the area that was hidden from the view of the TIC. This started as a left-hand search but quickly changed to a right-hand search. The result will be the same; but this alternate type of search will require considerably less time to complete. Whether or not an alternate type of rapid room search can be utilized will be determined by what is viewed through the TIC.

It is important to remember that we are searching and performing a rapid (and thorough as possible) primary search. When the Irons position was directed to conduct a rapid wall search into Office #1, it meant having to leave the search rope. In this situation it was permissible to leave the search rope.

You might be asking yourself, why leave the rope? Or, why not enter the office with the rope and TIC? The company officer will ultimately determine if a search off the rope can or should be conducted. If conducted, it will be based upon size-up information obtained from:

Size-up is relevant to every action that we take on the fire ground, including search activities. The information needed for a search is covered during a regular building size-up. The importance of this and all other information gathered during your size-up should be known, and as such, will not be covered any further.

A rapid primary search off the search rope in a smaller office space will be performed with another team member in all cases. Either both members will be searching the office or one member searching and the other in a safety position at the door depending upon the size of the office and/or complexity of the floor plan. This type of search allows the searcher some freedom to execute a rapid and thorough primary search. Using the walls for reference while searching for victims under, over, and around furniture, in closets, small storage rooms, and restrooms, the searcher then returns to the search rope advancing to another similar search.

A very important warning about rapid searches off the search rope using RASP: it is easy to have the floor plan virtually swallow up the searcher into a complex maze of walls and additional rooms. Think of the CEO’s office, which is connected to the executive secretary’s office, which, in turn, connects with the conference room. This area could easily add up to 2,000 square feet. If any additional room is found beyond the room being searched, the searcher must notify the company officer immediately. It should be the company officer’s decision on how to alter the search “game plan.” Although it is an effective and safe practice to search off of the rope it is important that all personnel work in teams staying in visual and/or verbal contact while also understanding the simplicity or complexity of the search as it progresses.

The firefighter at the door of the office acts as a safety position for the firefighter that is conducting the room search off the rope. The safety position is a predetermined part of the “game plan.” When the searcher completes the search, he or she resumes a position on the search rope. The searcher and the safety position can switch positions at this point. Switching positions will allow members to alternate room searches in the event that more than one room needs to be searched. Switching positions will also allow members to rest and lessen the fatigue on any one person.

For civilian searches, tethering off the main search rope has proven to be a complicated operation. The use of Thermal Imaging Cameras makes this an almost obsolete undertaking. A thought that should come to mind regarding tethering off is, “Why do I need a secondary rope off of the main rope to search a smaller room or area during a rope-assisted search procedure? This should be a warning!” At this point, how bad are the fire conditions? What are the chances of survivability for the victim(s)? Once the secondary rope is gathered up, what do you do with the pile of rope? A search in a smaller furnished room may not be possible because of the rope becoming tangled. There may be times when it will be necessary to use a second rope, given an unusually complex floor plan; but tethering off of the main search rope is proving to be more the exception than the rule. This does not apply when we are searching for one of our own, as we must do whatever is necessary in those instances.

As Office #1 was being searched by the Irons position, the company officer, and the next firefighter in line (Position #3), the “H-tool” advanced to Office #2. The last firefighter in line (Position #4), the SCBA position, then positioned at the door of Office #1 to assume the safety position (Diagram C).

When the search was completed in Office #1, both members resumed a position on the rope with their tools. They then progressed forward to regroup with the other team members. Upon regrouping at the door of Office #2, if the H-tool position was still searching, the officer and the SCBA position advanced to Office #3. The Irons position assumed the door safety position at Office #2 until the office search was completed. They then advanced on the rope to regroup at the door to Office #3 (Diagram D).

Once again, when the search is completed in Office #2, both members resumed a position on the rope with their tools, and then progressed forward to regroup with the other team members. Upon regrouping at the door of Office #3, if the SCBA position was still searching, the officer and the Irons position advanced to Office #4. The H-Tool position assumed the door safety position at Office #3 until the office search was complete. With the office search complete, they then advanced on the rope to regroup at the door to Office #4 (Diagram E).

For the purposes of this training, a live “civilian” victim was placed in one of the offices. When the victim was located, either with the use of the TIC or by a searcher, the victim was packaged and moved only a short distance. This training was for search rope procedures, and as such, we did not get too involved in victim-removal techniques. The search training was concluded after an evacuation signal was given and all members had safely exited the search area.

At some point in the search operation, it will be time to stop and return to the entry point. Decisions or events for terminating the search operation vary. Successfully completing the primary search of the assigned area, an SCBA air problem, deteriorating fire conditions, and structural concerns are several examples. For practicality and ease, RASP exiting was broken down into two methods: the routine exit and the emergency exit.

Routine Exit. Typically, when the search of the assigned area has been completed the search team would regroup, change direction, and exit on the search rope. This will take them back to the entry point. Whether using a routine or an emergency exit, the Officer must remain in control of the search rope (keeping it taunt). In order to achieve this the company officer must be the last person to exit. With respect to the search rope, the main difference between the two exits is that, during the routine exit, the rope bag remains on the officer and the rope is collected while exiting. Once back at the entry point, the rope can be repacked for another RASP deployment.

Once the team has regrouped and, changed direction to exit, the officer will scan with TIC to account for all members, then exit last while collecting the rope.

Emergency Exit. An emergency exit is meant to be a rapid exit from escape danger. Unlike a routine exit, the rope and rope bag are left behind by the officer. If possible, the search team members should exit with their tools.

During an emergency exit using a “duck walk” instead of a crawl will speed up the exit. Obvious precautions should be taken with respect to heat, falling debris, uneven or weaken floor, which all may be exceptions to the use of a “duck walk” maneuver.

The Control position is best designated to a sector officer. This officer must be able to control the search operation, account for the searchers, and maintain communication between the search team and the incident commander.

Lesson #1: The value of victim information. Information from a victim that can point the search team in a direction to search can be valuable. Without victim information, the search for a victim can be paramount to “finding a needle in a haystack.” Victim information can evolve from rescued co-workers that are reporting about other victims or phone calls originating from the trapped victims themselves. There are also target areas to search, places where victims could be trapped due to high-security systems, escape routes that are cut off due to fire conditions, or handicapped employees that are unable to escape under their own power.

Such information will set a search strategy in motion. A victim calling from a meeting room, located in the northwest corner on the 15th floor, should direct the search team to the northwest stairwell. Whether that stairwell is the correct choice will depend upon the location of the victim in relation to the fire, heat conditions from the floors below, the location of attacking hose lines, and the effectiveness of those hose lines. Any change in those and other circumstances may change the search strategy.

There will be many variables in using victim information, but it has been found to be an essential ingredient in the search strategy.

Lesson #2: During the RASP training, it was found that a search team of four personnel could effectively and safely search between 2,500 and 3,500 square feet. This lesson was based on 20 different search teams searching the same floor plan, using the same rope-assisted search procedure in approximately 3-foot smoke visibility. The floor plan was typical in terms of offices on one side and open work area on the other side. The timing of the search team was very thorough, as there were seven different points where elapsed time was noted. The average search time for each room search was noted as well.

A search team with 150 feet of rope has the capacity to search approximately 12,000 square feet of floor space. The reality is that one search team could probably search 2,500 to 3,500 square feet of moderately obstructed floor space. A key point to keep in mind is that large open areas, which contain limited or no obstructions, will allow a search team to cover more ground in a shorter amount of time. Each rope-assisted search operation will be different, but the key is not to expect too much from one search team.

Lesson #3: The necessity of multiple rope-assisted search teams. A major consideration should be given to deploying multiple search teams. Common sense dictates that as the square footage increases, so should the number of search teams. However, square footage is not the sole consideration for the use of multiple search teams. The complexity of the floor plan is another. Is the area comprised of many cubicles (known as a “cookie cutter” floor plan) as commonly found in high-rise office buildings? Are there aisles and aisles of high-rack storage such as a large warehouse? You can see where this is going. Multiple teams can enter from the same point and split up or they can enter from different points. Multiple search teams will require the use of a sector officer in the Control Position, as the incident commander will not be able to control both the fire ground, and the search and rescue operation.

Lesson #4: Air consumption is the most relevant factor that will determine how much area can be searched. You can only go as far as your air supply will allow. The more strenuous the search, the more air you will use. This translates into a decrease in square footage that will be covered. Air is not only needed for the search itself. You also will need a sufficient amount of air to exit. This brings to mind the term “half-way point.” What is the “half-way point”? That will depend on how long it took and how difficult it was to get to your current location. Will your exit be as difficult as your entry? If so, at least half of your air supply will be needed to exit. When a rapid egress can be assured, then less air will be needed for your exit.

The average entry and search time of a search team of four personnel to the end of the 150-foot search rope was approximately 8 minutes. The time required for egress was considerably less, approximately 1 minute and 50 seconds.

Workload and air consumption appear to be directly related. This comes as no surprise. Below is a list of air consumption, tools carried, and work load by each team position:

Team Positions	Air Used	Tools	Work Load
Company Officer	250 psi/min	TIC / Rope Bag / Radio	Team leader
Irons	245 psi/min	Irons	2 rooms searched
“H-Tool”	200 psi/min	Hydraulic FE Tool	1 room seached
SCBA	200 psi/min	SCBA (RIT) Pack / Radio

Lesson #5: Secondary searches off the search rope were effective, efficient, controlled, and safe. The realization to many of the firefighters that the primary searches in large-area buildings are very different from our everyday “bread & butter” searches in residential buildings became very apparent during the secondary searches off the search rope. That is not to mention that the travel distance from one office to the next became taxing even before some of the secondary searches took place.

The average size of the offices searched in the training exercise was 18 feet by 16 feet, which by some standards are small offices.

During the training class, as the search team advanced down the hallway, they were to search four offices, which were all located on their right side. In 90 percent of the secondary searches, one firefighter conducted the rapid room search as a second assumed the Safety Position at the door. The average search times based on 20 searches per office were found to be as follows:

There was an increase in the amount of time required to search an office as the search progressed. The only factor that can explain the increase in time would be fatigue.

Lesson #6: Secondary search ropes, attached to the primary search rope, have not been fully justified or needed at this level of training. A personal rope that you attach to the main search rope is a secondary rope; it is also referred to as a tether line. Secondary ropes enable a searcher to search off the main rope while still being attached to it. This situation did not occur due to the use of thermal imaging cameras. As mentioned earlier, a secondary rope may have its merits, but it also has some serious pitfalls. This issue will be addressed in the near future and the results of which will be forthcoming.

Lesson #7: The duties of the company officer expand slightly from routine search procedures without a search rope. The company officer was responsible for carrying and deploying the search rope. The rope can deploy out of the front or back of the rope bag. Training with the rope bag will help you determine which method works best. When walking or partially upright, such as a duck walk, the rope deployed nicely from the back of the rope bag. When the officer was forced to crawl on all fours, it was better to have the rope deploy from the front of the rope bag with the rope between the thumb and index finger.

The rope bag can be worn on either the right or left side of your body. There is no profound difference, just a matter of personal preference. Make sure the strap on the rope bag goes over the head and arm so that the rope bag sits on the side of the body. The most important factor to proper rope deployment is that the company officer keep the rope taunt at all times. Keeping the rope taunt will help to ensure a smooth search operation, as well as, facilitating a rapid egress.

The company officer also has the TIC and is responsible for radio communications between the search team and the Control Position and/or the incident commander. Another responsibility is the control and accountability of search team personnel. This appears to be a heavy workload but that is not the case. The addition of the rope bag was the only new task for the company officer, and there were no real problems with this addition.

Lesson #8: Engine companies versus truck companies. With regard to urban firefighting and dedicated engine and truck companies, basically the same results were found between the two types of companies concerning search times, air consumption, and workloads. In most cases, there were numerous firefighters detailed from an engine to a truck or visa versa due to those personnel who had time off, EMT positions that had to be filled, and many other reasons. For truck companies who typically perform more searches, the company details somewhat “leveled the playing field.” It was originally anticipated that the truck companies would have outperformed the engine companies. This did not prove to be true.

Lesson #9: The coordination and organization of the search team was invaluable. As a result of working as a cohesive and organized team with assigned positions, responsibilities, and tools, the searches were timely, effective, and safe.

In an effort to attain a level of reality in the training, and at the same time maintain a safe and controlled training session, time measurements can become tainted. Below are some examples of how the actual times could have been affected:

RASP has been introduced at its most basic level. Additional procedures and training will be driven by the complexity of a building’s floor plan, structural modifications and/or renovations, building size in terms of floor area and height. The essence of this training serves to break old assumptions that one team is enough to search one whole floor (of a high-rise or department store) under moderate to heavy smoke conditions. This last statement will certainly have some detractors. This training is not meant to be discouraging or detrimental to anyone, but to serve as a basis for safe and effective fire ground operations. Another reason for RASP is to prevent injury to or loss of a firefighter while searching for victims. There have been firefighters in the recent past who have been seriously injured or killed in sprinklered buildings that became filled with heavy “cold smoke.” Becoming disorientated and separated from their partners, the lost firefighters in many cases were not found until it was too late.