RMFDSOG# HMTiered Response
Rural/Metro
Fire Department
Hazardous Materials
3.0
Issue Date:
09/09/2009
Standard Operating Guideline
TIERED RESPONSE SYSTEM
Knox County will utilize a tiered response system following the concepts established within
the National Response System. Included in the local level tier of the system are:
a.
private sector
- fixed facility personnel
- clean-up and other contractors
- in-house (industrial) spill/emergency response teams, etc.
b.
local municipal first responders.
-fire
- police
- EMS, etc.
c.
Rural/Metro Special Hazards Team.
The Tiers above the local/county tier include the following:
a.
State level technical and response specialists.
b.
RRT and NRT personnel/resources, and the 45th CST.
The tiered local and county response system outlined within this plan will be used whether
incident occurs at a SARA Title III planning facility or at some other location including any
mode of transportation.
3.1
Roles of Incident Levels
The incident level approach used by Knox County response personnel and other
jurisdictions is an extension of this approach.
3.2
Local Incident Levels
The incident level system used by emergency responders within the Knox County, follows a
compilation of guidelines as established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
and the National Fire Academy as well as guidance established by TEMA and local EMA.
3.2.1 Level I Incidents
Rural/Metro
Fire Department
RMFDSOG# HMTiered Response
Issue Date:
09/09/2009
Hazardous Materials
Standard Operating Guideline
Level I incidents are relatively small and of low impact. They can be handled through
defensive actions by local first responders.
a.
There is little or no threat to the public or environment and no evacuation required.
b.
The substance involved is identified and generally falls into the category of fuel liquids
or gases, or possibly other substances have low toxicity.
c.
There is limited hazard from the substance involved and:
1.
full structural fire fighting gear is appropriate personal protection for
responders.
2.
d.
Potential release quantities of fuel liquids will be in the range of 100 gallons or
less. (If the substance is entering an environmentally sensitive area such as a
body of water, wetlands, etc. the incident would be considered Level II.)
The following container type and damage exist:
1.
atmospheric or low pressure container (100 psi or less design working
pressure) with minor damage.
2.
high pressure container (greater than 100 psi) stressed but not damaged.
Product release may be through a valve or vent.
e.
There is no release or minimal release of product and it can safely be handled by
first responder operations with materials readily available to those responders.
f.
There is no or a remote potential for life threatening explosions.
EXAMPLE: A tractor trailer releasing diesel fuel from a saddle tank (not
entering a body of water).
3.2.2 Level II Incident
Level II incidents are moderate size and impact incident that may require offensive or
defensive actions. As a result of the greater degree of hazard to responders, the public and/or
the environment, the local IC shall contact the Rural/Metro Communications Center and
request notification of the Special Hazards Team.
a.
There is a moderate threat to the public or environment and may require localized and
limited evacuation.
Rural/Metro
Fire Department
RMFDSOG# HMTiered Response
Issue Date:
09/09/2009
Hazardous Materials
Standard Operating Guideline
b. The substance may or may not be identified or has a moderate degree of toxicity.
c.
d.
There are moderate hazards, larger quantities or multiple released substances involved:
1.
requiring up to Level B Chemical protective clothing or high temperature
thermal protective equipment.
2.
Potential quantities available for release are 100 gallons or more for fuels, or
less than 100 gallons if released into an environmentally sensitive area (body of
water, etc.).
The following container type and damage exist:
1.
atmospheric or low pressure container (100 psi or less design working pressure)
is damaged but able to maintain integrity during handling or product transfer.
2.
high pressure container (greater than 100 psi) is damaged but able to
maintain integrity during handling or product transfer.
e.
The release is not controllable without special resources,
f.
The potential for life threatening explosion may exist.
g.
Atmospheric monitoring is required to ensure worker safety.
EXAMPLE: A gasoline tanker roll-over, releasing product from the cargo tank.
A leaking 55 gallon drum of hydrochloric (muriatic) acid.
3.2.3 Level III Incident
Level III incidents are large size and potentially severe impact incidents that may
be uncontrollable even with offensive actions.
a.
These incidents exhibit potentially severe threat to the public or environment that
may effect a large area and require large to mass evacuation.
b. The substance/s may or may not be identified and has a moderate to high degree of
toxicity.
c.
There is a moderate to high hazard and larger quantities of substance involved
1.
can require up to Level A or B Chemical protective clothing or high temperature
thermal protective equipment.
Rural/Metro
Fire Department
RMFDSOG# HMTiered Response
Issue Date:
09/09/2009
Hazardous Materials
Standard Operating Guideline
2. Potential release quantities of substance are 100 gallons or more or less
than 100 gallons if the substance has a high degree of toxicity or is an EHS
defined by the EPA.
d.
The following container type and damage exist:
1.
atmospheric or low pressure container (100 psi or less design working pressure)
is damaged to an extent that structural integrity is in question and total failure is
possible.
2.
high pressure container (greater than 100 psi) is damaged to the extent that
structural integrity is in question and that catastrophic failure is possible.
e.
The release may not be controllable without special resources.
f.
There may be a high potential for life threatening explosion.
g.
Atmospheric monitoring is required to ensure worker safety.
EXAMPLES: A gasoline tanker roll-over and fire. An acid tanker releasing its lading.
A 5 gallon drum of pesticide spilled on the roadway. A structural fire
involving pesticides.
3.2.4 Hazard Type and Class Basis for Notification of the Special Hazards Team
The Rural/Metro Special Hazards Team needs to be notified for the following types of
incident situations, whether they occur in transportation or at a fixed site:
a.
Liquid fuel releases in quantities greater than 100 gallons. Notifications of the Special
Hazards Team for quantities less than 100 gallons are at the full discretion of the
Incident Commander.
b.
Larger flammable gas releases are determined by the impact on the public.
c.
Flammable or combustible liquids and/or solvents in quantities greater than 50
gallons or that present greater hazards than fuel liquids (e.g., gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.)
d.
The release of any hazardous substance or material (other than those listed above)
that provides a threat to the facility, public or the environment or that requires
notification of EMA. This would include but not be limited to incident involving:
1.
Explosives - Division 1.1 through 1.6.
RMFDSOG# HMTiered Response
Rural/Metro
Fire Department
Hazardous Materials
Issue Date:
09/09/2009
Standard Operating Guideline
2.
Gases - Division 2.1 through 2.3.
3.
Flammable Solids - Divisions 4.1 through 4.3.
4)
Oxidizers - Divisions 5.1 and 5.2.
5.
Poisons - Divisions 6.1 and 6.2.
6.
Radioactives - Class 7.
7.
Corrosives - Class 8.
8.
Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials - Class 9.
9.
Any substance found in the Department of Transportation's, Emergency
Response Guide, that specifies, "Structural firefighters' protective clothing
will provide limited protection," or "Structural firefighters* protective
clothing is not effective for these materials."
e.
The release of ANY Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS).
f.
Liquid petroleum pipeline releases or large scale gaseous pipeline release.
g.
At anytime, any IC may request the SHT for any reason.
3.2.5 Special Hazards Team Response Options
There are four dispatch and assistance options available for requesting the assistance of the
Special Hazards Team. The first is a full response from the Team. In this case the Incident
Commander simply requests the Rural/Metro Communications Center to dispatch the
Special Hazards Team to the incident. However, not all incidents require a full response
from the Hazmat Team. Therefore, three limited response options are available for the
Incident Commander's use.
The additional options beside a full response are as follows:
a. If the Incident Commander simply needs some advice or a consultation with a
representative of the Special Hazards Team, the Incident Commander can request
notification of the Special Hazards Team Leader, or a member of SHT Management
Team
1.
If the Incident Commander wishes an immediate response to the scene by the
on-call Special Hazards Officer, this should be specified to the Communications
Center at the time of the request.
Rural/Metro
Fire Department
Hazardous Materials
2.
RMFDSOG# HMTiered Response
Issue Date:
09/09/2009
Standard Operating Guideline
The on-call Special Hazards Officer or a designee will normally respond to the
scene to document more fully the situation and provide any additional
assistance or information.
b. If the Incident Commander requires assistance with air monitoring for gases, vapors or
liquids, specific apparatus and equipment with personnel qualified to operate shall be
requested. (If there are no Hazmat technician level personnel on that unit, the on-call
Special Hazards Officer or a designee will need to respond also.)
1.
Some examples of such situations include: a release of a flammable or
combustible liquid where the source is unidentified; an odor investigation
involving a large area; a release within a structure where low concentrations of
the contaminant exist, determination if concentrations are low enough to allow
re-entry, etc.
c. If the Incident Commander requires assistance in the form of a command or
communications post, additional communications capabilities, cellular phones, mobile
FAX, etc., simply request the dispatch of Squad 241 for command or communications
assistance. (If there are no Special hazards Team members responding on this unit, the
on-call Special Hazards Officer or designee will respond.)
3.3
1.
Squad 241 has multiple mobile and portable radios including VHF Low, VHF
High and UHF bands, cellular phones, cell FAX, computer with FAX MODEM
and additional Command status capabilities.
2.
This service is not solely for hazmat incidents but any large scale incident
or operation regardless of its type.
Response Management Considerations of Incident Levels
The Incident Commander (IC) for the local jurisdiction is responsible to designate
the appropriate incident level of the response.
The specific incident level will identify the tier/s of the response system that will be
involved.
3.3.1 Level I
a.
Command is by the local IC.
b.
No activation of the Rural/Metro Special Hazards Team.
Rural/Metro
Fire Department
Hazardous Materials
c.
RMFDSOG# HMTiered Response
Issue Date:
09/09/2009
Standard Operating Guideline
Control and other operational activities are performed by the local jurisdiction.
3.3.2 Level II
a.
Commanded by the local IC but shall notify the Emergency Management Agency and
the Rural/Metro Special Hazards Team (for Hazmat response).
b.
May require only partial activation of the Special Hazards Team.
c.
Control activities by the local jurisdiction in conjunction with Rural/Metro Special
Hazards.
d. Advisory and atmospheric monitoring assistance available from Special Hazards Team
3.3.3 Level III
a.
Command by local IC.
b.
c.
Full activation of the Rural/Metro Special Hazards Team.
Control activities primarily by the Special Hazards Team with assistance of local
agencies.
d.
Control activities may involve State or Federal Agencies.