Media

Factor #1: Compliance with Standards and Regulations

Although NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, NFPA 1561, Standard on Emergency Services incident Management System, and the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(4), Procedures for Interior Structural Firefighting, require personnel be available for the rescue of members operating inside an IDLH atmosphere, the development, response, make-up, and deployment of the rapid intervention team is left up to the discretion of the authority having jurisdiction.

Chapter 8 of NFPA 1500 states that (a) "The fire department shall provide personnel for the rescue of members operating at emergency incidents." (b) "A rapid intervention crew/company shall consist of at least two members and shall be available for rescue of a member or a crew." and (c) "The composition and structure of a rapid intervention crew/company shall be permitted to be flexible based on the type of incident and the size and complexity of operations."

NFPA 1561, states that "This standard shall meet the requirements of Chapter 8 of NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)."

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, Standard on Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, section (q)(3) requires that " Back-up personnel shall be standing by with equipment ready to provide assistance or rescue. Qualified basic life support personnel, as a minimum, shall also be standing by with medical equipment and transportation capability."

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(4) requires "a minimum of two (2) firefighters, fully equipped and trained SHALL be on standby outside the structure to provide assistance or perform rapid rescue, if needed. Voice, visual, or radio contact is required between the interior and exterior teams at all times. One of the exterior team members must be free of all other tasks in order to account for, and if necessary, initiate a rescue of those firefighters inside. While the second exterior team member may perform some other tasks, this individual must be able to abandon them without jeopardizing the safety and health of others at the scene."

Requirements for rapid intervention are also addressed in NFPA 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, Section 5.2.3.1.2, and NFPA 1720, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments, Section 3.3.23

After more than seven years in existence, most fire service leaders are more than aware of the requirements for a rapid intervention teams. The challenge is establishing the RIT to not only meet the standards, but also to be effective in the event they are truly needed to rescue a downed fire fighter.

Factor #2: Response Times

In a March 2002 article, Putting More RAPID in Rapid Intervention, I conducted an informal study of 40 separate incidents where fire fighters were killed in residential dwellings between 1995 and 2001 (for which either a NIOSH or NFPA report was available). It was interesting to find that the average time that either a MAYDAY occurred or there was an indication that a firefighter was in trouble at these incidents was approximately ten minutes after the arrival of the first due apparatus. In some of these cases, a RIT was on scene and fatalities still occurred; however, at some of the incidents where fatalities occurred, other distressed fire fighters were rescued and survived due to the RIT being established. Still, in other situations, a RIT was not established and, therefore, on-scene resources had to be gathered to attempt a rescue.

Obviously, an incident can occur even before the arrival of a second due piece of apparatus, as early as the initial attack crew entering the front door, or as late as, in the case of the study, thirty-eight minutes into an incident. There is no magic number. OSHA Two-In/Two-out compliance must occur immediately by having a minimum of four individuals assembled on the fire ground prior to an initial interior attack. A dedicated RIT with a minimum of two personnel must be maintained throughout the incident. We know, however, that two individuals is not enough manpower to form an effective RIT. It is my belief that a RIT consisting of a minimum of four individuals be established within ten minutes of the first arriving unit and, preferably, within the eight- minute time frame established by NFPA 1710.

The bottom line is that the earlier a dedicated RIT can be established and begin addressing fire ground safety issues such as throwing ladders, forcing egress points, and removing window bars, the better the chances of the survival of one of our own. RIT teams that are arriving fifteen to twenty minutes into an incident will not only be unavailable to address immediate safety concerns, but will also be unavailable during the crucial time periods when initial interior offensive operations are taking place and when interior members begin running low on air.

Response times are generally not an issue in larger career departments. The addition of another unit to serve as the RIT on the first-alarm assignment or the shuffling of an earlier unit with a later arriving unit can often times allow large career departments to put a minimum of four additional personnel on scene in a timely fashion to function as the RIT. In small career and volunteer departments, however, getting a dedicated RIT established in a timely fashion can often prove to be a significant challenge as often times the RIT function is performed by an outlying mutual aid department. Assigning the RIT function to an earlier arriving unit and reassigning their responsibilities to a later arriving unit may be a solution that deserves serious consideration. Remember, our number one priority should be fire fighter safety. Anything that may delay the arrival of the RIT such as waiting for the first arriving unit to confirm a working fire before the RIT is activated should also be rethought.

Factor 3: Staffing

As has been discovered many times, two individuals cannot effectively rescue a downed firefighter. Fire fighter rescue is a labor intensive operation. A four-person team will likely only be able to locate, assess, and changeover a downed fire fighter before running low on air. Through the hundreds of scenarios we have conducted in our rapid intervention training programs together with the reports and studies available from the Phoenix Fire Department, it is realistic to assume that it will take twelve to sixteen RIT members to rescue a downed fire fighter. Thus, the question remains, how many fire fighters does it take to effectively provide for rapid intervention.

There seems to be two extremes when discussing staffing of the RIT. One school of thought still believes that two fire fighters are sufficient to meet the standards and remove a downed fire fighter. Although two-person RIT allows us to meet the standards, we are fooling ourselves if we think they are going to make a difference in a MAYDAY situation. A second school of thought is now assembling twelve to sixteen fire fighters to perform the RIT function. Once again, there is no absolute. The staffing of the rapid intervention team should be based upon the size and complexity of the incident. Most departments recognize that it will take a minimum of four personnel to perform a standby RIT operation (see November 2002 - The "Safety Engine" Concept - "A Proactive Alternative for Fire Ground Survival") and to locate and assess a downed fire fighter. In the event of a MAYDAY and the deployment of the initial RIT, a second team will need to be quickly established from on-scene resources and a third, fourth, and/or fifth team dispatched depending upon the MAYDAY situation.

As a mutual aid RIT department, we currently send a minimum of four and a maximum of eight personnel to perform RIT for our neighboring departments. Eight personnel allows us to provide both and inside and outside team as well as a team to backup the first team and cover the rest of the fire ground in the event the initial team is deployed. Some departments are sending twelve personnel and/or three additional four-person units to conduct a standby RIT operation. Regardless of the number, realize that if something does go wrong, it will take twelve to sixteen fire fighters to rescue a single downed fire fighter. Whether those resources are standing by or need to be called depends upon your department's circumstances, including the amount of time it will take to get those extra RIT teams on scene.

Factor 4: Training

There are no standards that provide us with a minimum level of training for a RIT team member. Numerous departments are meeting the rapid intervention requirements by dispatching an additional engine, truck, or mutual aid department with members that have little or no formal RIT training. Do we really expect these people to make a positive difference under extreme circumstances? Are these the types of individuals that you want coming in for you?

Numerous rapid intervention training programs have been established across the United States. Many of these programs are teaching pretty much the same procedures and techniques with some minor differences. Regardless of the training program, rapid intervention team members should have formal training in rapid intervention. Otherwise, we have to strongly consider whether or not having a so-called rapid intervention team will be an asset or a liability when things go wrong. We need people that are going to provide us with the best opportunity for a positive outcome under extreme conditions or, at a minimum, keep things from getting worse.

I, personally, believe that rapid intervention is an area that requires additional skills and knowledge beyond that of the average fire fighter. Fire fighters assigned to the RIT function should be experienced fire fighters with a strong technical background and additional training in downed fire fighter assessment procedures, SCBA changeovers, enlarged openings, specialized removal procedures, fire fighter survival, large area search, advanced SCBA procedures, and a familiarity with extrication tools and equipment. This training should be standardized for all fire fighters that may be expected to function as a RIT.

Factor 5: Equipment

Although rapid intervention can be performed with a minimum amount of specialized equipment, there are numerous devices available that can increase the effectiveness of the rapid intervention team.

Thermal imaging will significantly enhance the rapid intervention team's ability to locate, assess, changeover, and extricate a trapped fire fighter. Thermal imaging will also provide for an increased measure of safety for the RIT. A search rope, large area rope bag, and a section of rope to both lower fire fighters from upper stories and remove fire fighters who have fallen through a floor will provide for team safety and speed up the removal process. A RIT SCBA pack with a facepiece and pockets to carry wire cutters, utility knives, a MAST device, webbing, carabiners, etc. will also increase the effectiveness of the RIT team.

There are numerous other devices available and being marketed as tools for RIT, some good and some not so good. Each department should evaluate and train with this equipment prior to making a considerable investment. Remember that the overall goal is a quicker extrication and removal time. If the equipment takes too long to setup, is too bulky to work with, or is difficult to deploy under smoke conditions, it will probably be more of a hindrance and may actually slow the removal of the downed fire fighter.

Factor 6: Standard Operation Guidelines

Written standard operating guidelines in which all members are familiar should serve as the driving force behind the actions of the RIT, whether standing by on the fire ground or deploying to locate a lost and/or trapped fire fighter. Standard operating guidelines for RIT will help to ensure the use of common terminology, standard equipment, and standard actions.

Factor 7: Proactive Supporting Programs

As fire fighters, we have to understand that rapid intervention is not the save-all for the many difficult situations fire fighters find themselves in. Rapid intervention is a reactive approach to fire fighter safety and although RIT provide an excellent insurance policy on the fire ground, there are numerous other programs in which we should be focusing equal or greater attention to ensure that the rapid intervention team is never deployed.

Risk management, accountability, fire fighter fitness, air management, and MAYDAY procedures are all areas that deserve equal focus in protecting our fire fighters. Even with the most well-trained and capable RIT on the fire ground, they will be totally ineffective without the support of a well-run accountability system and fire fighters who not what to do in the event they become lost or disoriented.

Well-trained fire officers applying sound risk management principles will go a long way in ensuring our fire fighters are not placed in positions that will make a RIT deployment necessary. Physically fit fire fighters that aren't in danger of collapsing on the fire ground will also make the need for rapid intervention less necessary.

Rapid intervention has become an important part of fire ground operations. Well-trained, physically fit, experienced RIT team members who arrive on scene in a timely fashion with enough personnel and the right equipment to get the job done can provide the fire department with an excellent insurance policy and greatly increase the chances of the survival of one of our own. Departments that establish RIT only to meet the standards are not a RIT. Departments that call themselves a RIT without any formal training, guidelines, or staffing requirements are not a RIT. Unfortunately, there are still too many departments pretending to be a RIT? How about your department; are you walking the walk or talking the talk?

About The Author

Nick Sohyda
Mt. Lebanon Fire Department - Pittsburgh, PA

Nick Sohyda is a nineteen year member of the fire service, currently serving as a Lieutenant with the Mt. Lebanon, PA. Fire Department, Training Division. An adjunct instructor with the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and Allegheny County Fire Academy, and Washington County Fire Academy Staff, Nick has been training fire fighters for the past seven years, concentrating in the areas of fire fighter safety and survival, rapid intervention, and structural fire fighting.