firefighter: active rit pdf

8/10/2019 Firefighter: Active RIT pdf

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ACTIVE RIT

SEAN J. WILSON

ROYAL OAK FIRE


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HOW CLOSE BEFORE YOU SEE IT?


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SPOT-WELDS


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PART 1: ACTIVE RIT THEORY


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ACTIVE RIT THEORY

In Royal Oak (MI), we have adopted a tactical approach I refer to asActive RIT. The Active RIT model is beneficial for two mainreasons:

1 MANPOWER: Manpower in the modern Fire Service, both in thecareer and volunteer realms, is not what it once was, nor what itshould be.and nor is this likely to change for the better anytimesoon. However, certain essential tasks must still be performed on thefireground if fires are to be extinguished and extinguished safely.

2 EFFECTIVENESS: The better equipped, prepared, organized, andknowledgeable of the fire building that an individual RIT Team is, themore effective they will be should a mayday occur.

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ACTIVE VS. PASSIVE RIT

Earlier thinking about RIT stated that the RIT Team was comprised of2-3 unlucky firefighters chosen to stand on the sidewalk leaning on anaxe, bitterly complaining to one another, and watching their palshave fun.

These firefighters were held in reserve and kept fresh until anextremely rare event called a MAYDAY happened.

Hence, these firefighters were rarely used for anything at all.

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ACTIVE RIT THEORY

The Active RIT Theory states that the RIT has certain formal functionsthat should be done at every incident, and also certain possible functions that can be used at the ICs discretion, or as a matter ofstandard operational procedure.

In essence, so long as the RIT Team is in contact with the IC (via radio),and in contact with one another (visually), they can be used foralmost any short-duration task on the immediate property of thestructure.provided they dont go up on the roof (or climb a ladderabove the first floor), and they dont go inside.

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ACTIVE RIT THEORY

For instance, the RIT may perform horizontal ventilation on a first-floor orsecond-floor window working from the ground with a pike pole.butshould not climb a ladder to vent an upper-story window or get on theroof.

The RIT may force entry.but should not make entry, except in theinstance of firefighter emergency.

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FORMAL FUNCTIONS

At every incident, the RIT should:

Gather all RIT tools together in one area for use by the RIT only .

Perform an early 360 size-up (independent of the ICs 360).

Be in radio contact with the IC, be in visual contact with other RITmembers, monitor radio traffic, and be able to respond without delayto a mayday situation.

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360-DEGREE SIZE-UP

After gathering and placing the RIT tools at a staging area, the RITshould perform its own size-up of the structure. This size-up isindependent of the ICs size-up.

This size-up should be automatic and performed by both/all members ofthe RIT if possible (the more eyes, the better).

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360-DEGREE SIZE-UP

Information should be noted regarding:

Layout of the building Likely placement of interior stairways All entrances/exits Utilities & FDCs Special features or hazards (window bars, etc.)

Location of the fire & fire conditions

Relevant information should be relayed to the IC, preferably by face-to-face report.

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STANDING ORDERS

Certain standing orders for the RIT may be beneficial for the firedepartment to have in place, this is of course up to each individual firedepartment to decide for themselves .

For instance, standing orders for working fires might include:

Shutting off utilities as part of the RIT 360-degree size-up.

Small-scale horizontal ventilation (one window or one door) as part ofthe RIT 360. All ventilation still needs to be coordinated with the IC .

Removal of window bars & security gates as part of the RIT 360.

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SOFTENING THE BUILDING

Forcible entry and creating secondary and tertiary means of egressshould be a prime concern of the IC on any fireground.

On working fires above the size of room and contents (either residentialor commercial), one of the RITs primary jobs should be softeningthe building.

That is, forcing entry through ALL exterior doors (then shutting them toprevent changes in air currents), and removal of ALL window bars

and security gates from the building.

In this way, if attack-crews have their primary exit cut off, or the RITneeds to enter through a specific door, those paths are already open.

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LIKELY ORDER OF RIT TASKS

1 Gather all RIT tools & equipment and place in a staging area.

2 360 degree size-up. Utility shut-off, horizontal ventilation, forcibleentry, and window bar removal MAY or MAY NOT be done at this

stage depending upon size of the fire and local SOP/SOGs.

3 Report of significant findings to the IC, preferably face-to-face.

4 Soften the building.force all exterior doors, remove bars and gates.

5 Placement of additional ladders as secondary means of egress.

6 Assist engineer or provide exterior, ground-level assistance to othercrews for roof work, line placement, or feeding hose into the building.


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PART 2: RIT TOOLS


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RIT TOOLS

In Royal Oak (like many other FDs), we load up the stokes basket fromthe ladder truck with a selection of tools likely to be useful in a RITsituation.

The stokes basket may itself be used to carry a firefighter to safety, but italso makes it possible for two firefighters to carry all or mostequipment to the scene to be staged in a prominent area.

Placement in the stokes basket should also be a signal to all around thatthese are RIT tools, and they should not be used by any personnel

except the RIT.

Some FDs go so far as to have dedicated RIT tools all painted a specialcolor to differentiate them from other tools on the truck.


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RIT TOOLS

A partial list might include (but is not limited to):

Dedicated RIT hose-line Stokes basket

RIT SCBA bag TIC Rope bag / webbing Irons (halligan and axe) Sledge hammer

Chainsaw (residential fires) K12 (commercial fires) Ground ladder(s)

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DOOR-IN-A-WINDOW

EMERGENCY EGRESS.

MADE WITH A CHAINSAW.


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PART 3:

GATED COMMUNITIES


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GATED COMMUNITIES Start paying attention to security bars, gates, and screens. They

are every where.in every type of American city.small or large,rich or poor, new or old.

More likely to be found on the C-side than on the A-side.

Even in newer, wealthier areas youll find them in places like cell-phone, car stereo, and jewelry stores.

Make a bet with your crew about how many they can find in yourdistrict driving around for half an hour.


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BARS & GATES

Significant barrier to entry for FFs, also a serious danger to civilians andFFs as an obstacle to escape

May be set permanently into masonry or attached with brackets screwedinto the masonry or window/door frame

May be fixed, or hinged on one side and pad-locked


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STRATEGIES FOR REMOVAL

1. Cut the bars or brackets with K12

2. Use the Jaws to spread brackets from the building or cut the bars

3. Pull bars off of building with tow-chain attached to the fire engine


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MORE STRATEGIES FOR REMOVAL

4. Use Air Bag to pull lag-bolts from building

5. Using the Irons, pry the bracket lag-bolts away from the building, orshear off the bolt-heads

6. Smash the masonry that the bars or lag-bolts are set into


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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES

These are all buildings in Royal Oak.a very normal suburban city.


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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES 2


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SPOT WEL S


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If we have houses like this in ROYAL OAK .

YOU have them in YOUR CITY


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BEFORE THE MAYDAY.REMOVE BARS FROM ALL WINDOWS

AND SECURITY GATES FROM ALL DOORS AT ANY FIRE BIGGER

THAN ROOM-AND-CONTENTS. FORCE ALL EXTERIOR DOORS.

SOMEONE MIGHT APPRECIATE IT SOMEDAY.


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DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF BRIAN WOEHLKE.


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36FIN.

firefighter: active rit pdf

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