Disclaimer – This model policy does not constitute legal advice. Fire Departments using this
policy as a model should consult with your department’s attorney for applicability in your
state and to conform to and not conflict with existing companion policies or existing State
or Federal laws.
Contributor: Eastside Fire & Rescue, Issaquah, WA
SUBJECT: STANDBY PERSON & STANDBY TEAM - Prior to establishment of RIT
1
Purpose
1.1
To provide a rapid means of firefighter rescue, prior to the establishment
of a RIT.
1.2
To provide guidelines and establish expectations for the Standby Person
or Standby Team.
2
Reference
3
Responsibility
3.1
Incident Commanders are to ensure that the provisions of this policy are
implemented.
3.2
All combat personnel are to be familiar with and adhere to this policy.
4
Policy
4.1
In cases where immediate action may be necessary to prevent or mitigate
the loss of life or serious injury to citizenry or firefighters at a structural fire,
at least one additional firefighter must be assigned as the Standby Person
outside the hazardous area.
5
Procedures & Guidelines
5.1
Firefighters shall not make any entry into a structural fire situation without
a Standby Person.
5.2
The Incident Commander shall evaluate the situation and risk to operating
teams before beginning interior structure operations.
5.2.1 Firefighters must not engage in interior structure fire-fighting in the
absence of at least one Standby Person or a Standby Team.
5.2.2 The Standby Person or Standby Team members shall be fully
equipped and wearing the appropriate protective clothing,
protective equipment and SCBA.
5.2.3 The Standby Person or Standby Team members must remain
aware of the status of the firefighters in the hazardous area.
5.2.4 The Standby Person or Standby Team members must remain in
positive communication with the entry team(s), in full protective
clothing with SCBA donned in the standby mode.
5.2.5 The Standby Person or Standby Team members may be permitted
to perform other duties outside the hazardous area, provided
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
6
constant communication is maintained between a Standby Person
or Standby Team member and the entry team(s), and provided that
those duties will not interfere with the Standby Person or Standby
Team members’ ability to participate in a rescue as appropriate.
5.2.6 Early consideration should be given to providing one or more rapid
intervention teams commensurate with the needs of the situation.
During certain circumstances, an interior entry can be made with only one
Standby Person in place. The fire must be in its “initial stage”, which
refers to the “initial actions” taken by the Incident Commander, rather than
the state of the fire itself. Such initial actions must be taken “to prevent or
mitigate the loss of life or serious injury to citizenry and firefighters.”
In the “initial stage” of a structure fire-incident where only one team is
operating in the hazardous area, where additional resources can
reasonably be expected, and where exceptional circumstances indicate
that immediate action may be necessary to prevent or mitigate the loss of
life or serious injury to citizenry or firefighters, at least one additional
firefighter must be assigned as Standby Person or Standby Team outside
the hazardous area where the team is operating.
Once additional resources have arrived at the scene, the incident must no
longer be considered in its initial stage and all the requirements of section
5.2 must be met as a Standby Team.
Nothing in this policy shall prevent activities which may reasonably be
taken by members first on the scene to determine the nature and extent of
the fire involvement.
Definitions
6.1
Interior Structural Fire Fighting: “The physical activity of suppression,
rescue or both, inside of buildings or enclosed structures which are
involved in a situation beyond the incipient stage.”
6.2
Incipient Fire: “The beginning of a fire, where the oxygen content in the air
has not been significantly reduced and the fire is producing minute
amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other
gases: the room has a normal temperature and can be controlled or
extinguished with a portable fire extinguisher or small hose, i.e., a kitchen
stove fire.”
6.3
Initial Stage (initial action): Shall encompass the control efforts taken by
resources which are first to arrive at an incident requiring immediate action
to prevent the loss of life or serious injury to citizenry or firefighters.