Equipment and Numbers?

[Skidz]

Hello everybody,


I have a post that I would like an honest answer to! I don’t need ideas I don’t need someone to butter up what’s needed. I would like to know when you assign a RIT, how may people are used and what equipment do they usually bring and/or what is required of them to bring? I have been in the fire service long enough to know what firefighters think. It will never happen to me! I will never use all that equipment so, why bring it. Give me your honest answer and not what I want to hear!


SKIDZZ


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PROUD, PROFESSIONAL, PROGRESSIVE


Member IAFF Local 1664
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[DFD420]

Our department is setup to have about 8 guys and 4 go in at a time and always someone kept back. We have a stokes baskat with rope, halligan, axe and flashlights. And also a thermal imaging camera. We are also getting into the RIT paks from scott. They have disconects for buddy breathing. Or to carry in a pak to hook up to the firefighter. Its is a great idea

[Halligan84]

We send a minimum of 1 and 3, I prefer 1 officer and 4 firefighters for purposes of splitting the team. Tools depend on the building. For the most part, standard truck company position tools (irons, hooks, TIC) with the addition of a search rope, power saw and a stokes (to carry the stuff over a distance and for removal from large buildings) Since most FF LODD are stress related, consider an AED if a medic unit is not immediately available

[Skidz]

DFD420 and Halligan84,

DFD I want to make sure I have this right you assign a minimum of 8 people to a RIT. DFD are you a fully career department and if yes how long does it take to acquire the 8 people. If no, then how long does it take. Halligan I am assuming you mean to take the AED to the RIT Staging area right.


SKIDZZ


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PROUD, PROFESSIONAL, PROGRESSIVE


Member IAFF Local 1664
[email protected]

[morriss]

Our minimum is an Officer and two FFs. Most of the time we have an Officer and three FFs. They have the usual truck company tools, flashlights, an extra airpack, and any special tools for the situation (i.e. a circular saw, etc.). If a second TIC is available, then it is also staged with them.

We have had an occasion to have more than one RIT. If the structure is so large, or if you have companies operating out of multpile areas that are not quickly or easily accessible, think about more than one RIT.

[mt]

Our dept. has two trucks, the truck not dispatched to the fire becomes the FAST truck, on the truck we have lists posted behind each jumpseat, we load the stokes basket with 2 extra bottles, axes, haligens, 2 saws, lifeline, and flashlights, and each member gets a radio. Being volunteers, we leave the firehouse once we have four members, and usually pick up a full crew upon arrival. Once at our staging area, we try to make teams of 4-5 with an officer leading each team. The team was created 3 years ago, and done very well, it has since slacked off as the senior truck captain assumes responsibility and some aren't as commited as others. I'm hoping to get the procedure into our rules and regs so there is no slacking off. I think I've given you an accurate list, if you want me to confirm it, send me an email and I'll copy the list off the truck.

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[SawdOff]

We are a POC dept - we are set up to leave station with 4-5 RIT personnel (at least 1 officer). Upon arrival the officer stays with command for communication and scene info to be relayed between RIT and IC. 3-4 will go in with the following: air pack for switch over, rope bag as a tag line, utility kit (wire cutters, cribbing, glow sticks, knife), axe/halligan, handlight or personal flashlights - minimum. We also consider an attack line and a chain saw depending on the situation. Everything is carried to the scene and set up on a RIT tarp (including gas for the saw).

[Engine 33]

An Engine and RA second closest to the scene will be placed on Stand by the IC as RIT

[sarge552]

Skidz-Our dept. has a SOG of a min. of 2 RIT trained personnel to respond with a preferred number of 5, 4 firefighters and 1 officer. The tools we use are: Halligans, axes-flat and pick, maul, sledge hammer, radios, handlights, chainsaws, spare SCBA cylinders-one for each RIT member and 1 for FF down, personal tools and webbing/rope. I think that about covers it. If our dept. is low on personnel we will call Mutual Aid company in for RIT stand by.

[fireman1893]

I'm in a vol fire co as well. If you check the forum "What is an RIT" , I have given a thourough explanation of how our comapany handles a call. We are unique in the fact that our team consists of our Department and a neighboring company that we work with on a regular basis.

[FireDude002]

Lets not also forget other forcible entry devices such as K and M-tools and possibly a rabbit tool if available. Our RIT staging also includes a complement of air bags. Heavy spreaders and cutters may also be a consideration depending on your building construction and/or security. Air chisels are good for cutting through some light metals also found in some light commercial building construction.

[PatDunn]

The way the OSHA Respratory protection standard reads, is as follows. Any time personnel enter an IDLH enviroment there must be at least 2 personnel ready for rapid intervention, The pump operator and IC can be the rit members if need be to satisfy the law. as far as tools the standard does not say, but dont load your self up with to much equipment, if deployed youll need all the energy and dexterity possible. also a writ team is not required by law if enterance is made because of an immediate rescue demand. I hope this helps ya out

[LadderCapp]

I'm with a career dept. so staffing is not an issue, but we do it like this. We have an extra pumper dispatched to every regular alarm strictly for RIT operations. That crew, whether 3 or 4 persons, (we won't run an apparatus with less than 3) will set up for RIT. They have a dry line, spare air pack, Imaging camera, forcible entry, and rope bag. They are at all times in verbal range of command to avoid having radio problems when everyone gets wound up. All the IC has to do is say "fetch,and give an indication of the last known location" This is accomplished by all our radio designators on scenes are task and location oriented, ie... fire attack second floor, Search team 1st floor. The RIT-or RIC whichever you use, should NEVER, NEVER be used to line up fans, and other equipment to be used by suppression crews. They are not gophers, they are an intervention safety crew.

[jpchev]

There are a lot of good ideas here, in my station we stage a FAST or RIT team but as of this time we do not have a written guide as to how it operates, yet.
Ref: PatDunn would you really want your IC and attack pumper chauffer to be a RIT? When things start to go downhill I would like to think that someone is running the operation and someone is making sure the water is still flowing, especially if I was on the inside. This is not a criticism, just an observation, I realize that we have to do the best we can with our given resouces.
Keep the information flowing
John C Captain Hope-Jackson Fire

[PatDunn]

JP I agree however That is what the Regulation says. just translating what the actual law says