Arriving as the Rapid Intervention Team

[Guest]

When you are responding as the rapid intervention team, what's being discussed in your rig? On arrival, how do you deploy the personnel and move equipment to the staging area and do you complete a size-up? Who does the size-up of the structure, the scene and the additional resources?

In my former department, we'd listen to the fireground traffic, determine who is on scene and try to figure out a size-up. As we arrived, the officer went to the command post to check in with the IC while the crew pulled the proper gear (depending on structure, conditions, etc.) and it was carried up in a stokes. Once we were back together, the officer would give a status update and then a firefighter joined the officer for a 360 while another firefighter checked for the availability of handlines and ladders in front of the fire building.

Pete

[ChiefKN]

Our individual responsibilities are predetermined riding assignments. We send our ladder company with a crew of six.

The officer on the rig is responsible for the walk around/size up and ensuring the staging area is arranged.

A chief or assistant chief will also respond and establish himself at the command post and be the conduit for comms with the CP/IC.

[mikeyboy411]

RIT Assignment

We are updating our RIC/RIT Ops and my Crew and I are the ones that have been charged with the updating. We are going to a (2) person RIT for Residential/smaller Fires and a (4) person RIC on all Commercial/Industrial/larger Fires. Being limited on manpower this seems to make more sense and a better use of our personnel.

Initially, the (2) FFs will be assigned as RIT so that it frees the Captain to function as Safety, lead the Vent Crew or what is assigned. Allows the Engineer to be able to assist with establishing a supply line, throw ladders, or what is assigned by the Capt.

We have a PDA for our RIC, it looks like this:

Captain: Receives P-P-P-N Report
RIC 360
Team 1 Leader
RIC Accountability (mental or written and updated)
RIT/RIC Group when activated
TIC
Serves as the anchor when tethering

Engineer: Softens the Structure
Pulls needed Tools/Equipment
RIC 360
Team 2 Leader
Sets-up the Aerial
Searches w/ FF 2

FF 1: Team 1
Pulls needed Hand Tools/Equipment
Ladders to the upper level
Performs RIC 360 when advised to by the Capt
Rope Bag

FF 2: Team 2
Pulls Hose line/Equipment needed
Softens the Structure
Performs RIC 360 when advised to by the Engineer
Hand Tool (extends the reach and used for searching small areas)

These are the basic functions; when there is an activation depending on the needs to perform the FF Down Rescue either (1) Team goes to the 2nd Story via the exterior ladder and the other goes from where the RIC is staged.

On all activations the ISO (Incident Safety Officer) reports to the CP and acts as the Rescue Grp Supervisor communicating with the Downed FF and the RIC Grp Sup. This frees the IC and both the IC and ISO have to only monitor (2) frequencies.

A RIC (Commercial/Industrial) activation takes (4) in and is lead by the Captain. If needed the Crew is divided already and each Team is lead according to above. In Commercials with stacked-goods, each aisle is checked using the search rope and Captain as an anchor.

I tried to attach what we've been working on so far, but the attachment is too large..... LOL.

[careyc1090]

you are on the right track.
initial size up of the building will determine the type of saw blade you may need if there is a collapse(combination, wood or metal...depending on whether the building is wood, metal or masonry).
Don't forget the RIT responsibility for providing egress for the attack crews. This may mean removing bars from doors/windows, laying a ladder to the second floor if your crews are up there. All the while, two members of the Crew can oversee the RIT equipment cache.

A note to anyone out there...open field tackles are allowed on anyone who wants to scavenge your supply of RIT equipment because it's another 40' to their truck and their equipment.

We keep ours on a blue tarp...

We keep our RIT line consisting of first in attack line plus 50' (allowing for members of the initial attack crew who have strayed from the end of their line), encircled with a blue strap at the engine and at the nozzle.

All this should be accomplished with a constant monitoring of the active channel. You should be able to know and react to the worst case scenario for the interior crews before the I/C activates you.
Have their egress open and be able to respond to a collapse, entrapment, flash or no air.

good luck

[jtucker1384]

We are going to a (2) person RIT for Residential/smaller Fires and a (4) person RIC on all Commercial/Industrial/larger Fires. Being limited on manpower this seems to make more sense and a better use of our personnel.

I understand you are limited on manpower but i would hope your RIT/RIC team would consist of more than 2 personnel on residential and 4 personnel on commercial. You should think about mutual aid because that is nowhere near enough manpower if your team is activated.

[mikeyboy411]

I understand you are limited on manpower but i would hope your RIT/RIC team would consist of more than 2 personnel on residential and 4 personnel on commercial. You should think about mutual aid because that is nowhere near enough manpower if your team is activated.

Our closest Mutual Aid Units are at least 45 mins away and are dispatched on any "Working Incident". This is the initial set-up as I understood is what the OP was directing this at. As we get more Units/Personnel on scene we beef-up our RIC Manpower. 9 times out of 10 by the time the MU Units arrive we have the fire under control on our Residentials and many of our Commercials have Sprinklers, yet still find ways to burn.

To increase our RIT Manpower, anybody that is in Rehab or assigned a "non-essential assignment" will assist when there is a RIT activation.

We have some HUGE Commercial Wide-Rises; Storage Facilities, Vehicle Maintenance Facilities (some 30-40' tall), a Hotel, a Hospital (soon to increase in size, to 3 stories) and also a very aggressive Fire Prevention Bureau. We're also getting Taxpayers (Residential over Commercials) built in the middle of the Post, which presents a challenge in itself.

We occasionally hear rumors of additional Stations but lately they have been pretty quiet. I saw a 10 and 20 year Project Map that showed us with 5-6 Stations total. As we staff that would give us 8-9 Crews possible and would be sweet.

I hope this sheds some light on why we do it this way.