Evacuation procedures

[Risto13]

Our department is currently developing an SOG to deal with evacuation of adjacent buildings. For example evacuating neighboring buildings to a natural gas leak. I am looking for input as to whether your departments would use forcible entry to access adjacent buildings if there is no answer at the door. If we do not confirm that there is no one in the residence and something does occur are we not somehow liable, on the other hand we do not want to do unnecessary damage if there is indeed no one home.

[tree68]

Our department is currently developing an SOG to deal with evacuation of adjacent buildings. For example evacuating neighboring buildings to a natural gas leak. I am looking for input as to whether your departments would use forcible entry to access adjacent buildings if there is no answer at the door. If we do not confirm that there is no one in the residence and something does occur are we not somehow liable, on the other hand we do not want to do unnecessary damage if there is indeed no one home.

Speak with local law enforcement as well as your municipal attorney (solicitor). They'll know the local laws on forcing entry, or can find out.

Any time we are faced with a possible forced entry (ie, EMS call and we are unable to gain access to the residence, possibly because the patient is incapacitated), we call for a patrol.

We aren't faced with your situation - no gas service, and no high occupancy buildings in our district, so it's not an SOP we've considered writing.

[mikeyboy411]

Our Policy

Our Forcible Entry Policy is that we don't make entry until L.E. is on scene with us, unless there is a visible person that is down. Working where I work we have keys and can make access into about 95% of our buildings.

A trick that I've learned is that if you don't know if the residence is being occupied, check the electrical meter. If it's hardly moving, then good chance it's not being occupied. If it's spinning like a top, probably occupied.

Another tool is reverse 9-1-1, any residences that don't answer or need extra help can be sent to the I.C. so that folks can skip those houses or be directed to assist.

Here are a couple of things that can be addressed in your SOP.

Lemme know if you have any other questions that I can help with.