Firefighters Support Foundation
Post Blast Response
-------Multi-Agency Public Safety Post Blast Response
to Terrorist and Criminal Explosives Incidents
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Permission
Permission is granted to reproduce or
distribute this material so long as the
Firefighters Support Foundation is
credited as the source
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About FSF
The Firefighters Support Foundation is a 501c3
non-profit organization whose primary
mission is to develop, produce and distribute
training programs to firefighters, EMTs, Search
& Rescue personnel, and Emergency
Management professionals. All of our
programs are distributed free of charge.
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Accompanying Video
This PowerPoint presentation accompanies the
video presentation of the same title.
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Presenter
August Vernon
Forsyth County, NC
Office of Emergency Management
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Introduction
• A rapid, safe and successful response to these chaotic
situations requires planning and preparation.
• The likelihood of a terrorist or criminal explosives incident is
low, BUT public safety officials must prepare for these
situations.
• Recent incidents and threats within the United States and
overseas have demonstrated the need to prepare local,
regional, state, federal and military agencies to plan for and
respond to these events.
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Program Goal
To prepare first responders, emergency
management, military and other officials
with some basic tools and information
needed to develop or assess a post-blast
response plan.
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Course Note
• The guidelines and procedures discussed in the
presentation should not replace common sense and
experience.
• It is impossible to plan for every situation.
• New “best practices”, lessons learned, intelligence
and training become available on an on-going
basis. These planning and training efforts should be
updated on a regular basis.
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Remember!
Please remember that this information
should ONLY be used as an
educational guide and you should
ALWAYS use your local training,
guidelines, and procedures!
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Threats
• It appears that the “bad guys” (criminal elements and terrorists) are
more determined, violent and heavily armed than ever before.
• Crisis situations such as terrorist events, criminal attacks and
explosive threats are occurring with alarming frequency.
• No two incidents are the same. Factors ranging from the bombers
motive, their explosive materials, knowledge of the location, number
of victims and public safety resources in the area can all influence the
outcome of an incident.
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Threats (2)
• A large majority of terrorist attacks around the globe
utilize explosives.
• Explosive devices can consist of anything from home
made explosives (HME) to sophisticated military
ordinance.
• Responders will typically encounter home made
explosives (HME) and improvised explosive devices
(IED).
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Threats (3)
The FBI and DHS have sent several warnings
to state and local partners since 2001 to be
on the alert for improvised explosive
devices.
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Emerging Threats:
Mexico Narco-Insurgency VBIEDs
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Times Square VBIED Threat
May 1, 2010
• Dispatched as vehicle fire.
• Situational awareness/on scene indicators.
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Post Blast Response Considerations
• Post-blast (or post-detonation) response
takes place immediately after an explosion
has occurred.
• An explosives event has the potential to
overwhelm first responders due to the large
number of victims, fatalities, fires and
property destruction.
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Post Blast Response Considerations (2)
The purpose of the presentation is to provide
some easy to follow procedures and
guidelines for Responders and Incident
Commanders.
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Dispatch and Initial Response
• When responding get all the dispatch information
available. Nature of the call and location are very
important.
• Standard guidelines against the use of radios and
cell phones may NOT be applicable. There will be an
overriding need for a rapid, coordinated response. If
possible do not use radios within 150 feet of the
blast site and use other resources such as runners
in the “hot zone”.
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Arrival on Scene
• Proceed with extreme caution for your own safety.
• Approach from upwind and uphill if possible.
• Slow down when approaching the area and conduct a
360-degree scan during your scene-size up or
“windshield survey”.
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ARRIVAL ON SCENE (2)
• Use Staging Area to limit number of responders don't stack up responders and resources in one
location. Consider multiple secured staging areas.
• Law enforcement should immediately disperse any
crowds and establish an outer security perimeter
retaining witnesses.
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ARRIVAL ON SCENE (3)
• Rapidly implement the Incident Command
System (ICS) and necessary components
(Unified Command, Safety Officer, etc.)
• Avoid entering blast impact area (Hot Zone)
unless it is necessary to save lives when
possible.
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Responder Safety
• Reminder that responders can be targeted!
• Maintain Situational Awareness.
• Check immediate area for secondary devices
and threats.
• Check command post (CP), staging and triage
areas for secondary devices.
• All responders should wear appropriate level
of PPE (personal protective equipment).
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Secondary Devices
• If an explosive device has detonated, there is a
high likelihood that there could be a
secondary device.
• Secondary devices are bombs placed at the
scene of an ongoing emergency response that
are intended to cause death and injury among
responders.
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Post-Blast Response Operations
• Establish hazard Control Zones around the
incident (Hot, Warm, and Cold). Blast site is the
“hot zone”.
• Always have an escape route open to leave the
scene quickly if needed when possible.
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Zones of Control
The response to a Post Blast Scene is similar
to a hazardous materials response. Use your
“zones of control”
• Hot Zone – Where the blast took place and
damage/injury will occur.
• Warm Zone – Where the large perimeter area will
be established and area cleared.
• Cold Zone – Location of a unified command post,
staff, resources, triage and staging.
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Post-Blast Response Operations (2)
• Trained bomb technicians and explosive canines should
search for secondary explosive devices during the
response if available and after the response when
possible.
• Appropriate agencies – Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement,
Bomb Squads, Emergency Management, and hospitals -should be notified as soon as possible if there is a report
of an explosives incident or possible explosives incident.
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Post-Blast Response Operations (3)
• An explosives incident has the potential for large number of
victims with very traumatic injuries.
• Will need to rapidly coordinate with Law Enforcement to
prioritize force protection resources around areas of critical
operations and the scene.
• Searching beyond the immediate blast scene for victims
unable to call for help. This may be especially needed in a
dense urban environments, where persons injured in upper
stories of building or injured/affected (directly by the attack
or others suffering a health condition).
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Post-Blast Response Operations (4)
• Some seriously injured victims may have no visible wounds and
some victims may be beyond help.
• Quickly remove victims from the area and render aid in a
secure location. Triage must be conducted outside the
blast/hazard area when possible. The use of SKEDS, litters or
backboards is recommended.
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Post-Blast Response Operations (5)
• EMS may need to implement disaster procedures such as
tactical medics, triage tags, casualty collection points (CCP)
and field treatment areas for minor injuries.
• Implement local mass-casualty/mass-fatality procedures as
soon as possible.
• Triage will be conducted at least twice, once at the blast
scene and again at the hospital.
• Biohazard issues will need to be addressed, as these scenes
can have multiple traumatic injuries and fatalities in one small
location. Field decontamination can be an option.
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Post-Blast Response Operations (6)
• Expect numerous types of injuries
from traumatic injuries, blast
pressure, internal injuries, crush
injuries, burns and shrapnel.
• Responders must immediately
monitor for other hazards
such as chemical agents,
gases or radioactive materials.
• Identifying and prevention of
secondary injuries due to falling
pieces of broken windows and
other debris from upper stories.
• Utilize PPE.
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Fire Operations
• If vehicle or structural fires are involved,
firefighters should rapidly knock down the fire
while preserving evidence, when possible. Life
safety is imperative.
• The IC must decide whether fire operations
should be offensive or defensive in nature.
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Fire Operations (2)
• Responder should attempt to approach fires
from upwind if possible as even small
explosions can generate a significant amount
of smoke and/or dust.
• Firefighters should wear complete TOG (turn
out gear) and SCBA.
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Response Issues
• Consider the need for other specialized assets such as Urban
Search and Rescue, Hazardous Materials Teams, Tactical
Teams, Incident Management Teams, etc.
• Consider secondary hazards such as electrical lines, gas lines,
disrupted water mains, etc.
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Response Issues (2)
• Family and friends may converge on the scene so consider
a Family Assistance Center (FAC) due to the impact of this
event on a community.
• After disconnecting utilities, lighting of the scene is
necessary in order to enhance the evacuation of casualties
and post-incident investigation by law enforcement.
• Law enforcement will need to respond to hospitals as
evidence can be recovered from victims living and dead.
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Response Issues (3)
• Fire Depts should not conduct overhaul and
clean up operations until coordinated by the
investigative authorities.
• Make immediate notifications of local, state
and federal resources.
• Plan on an extensive, multi-day crime scene
investigation.
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Response Issues (4)
• Immediate interagency
cooperation/Unified
Command is essential.
• Clear communications
(personal and radio) are
necessary for effective
operations.
• Access to helicopters for
overhead assessments is a
plus when possible.
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CRIME SCENE CONSIDERATIONS
• Establish as large a crime scene perimeter as
possible as rule of thumb for the perimeter is to
extend the perimeter 50% from the farthest
piece of evidence located.
• Ensure that responders preserve possible
evidence for subsequent criminal and forensic
investigations.
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CRIME SCENE CONSIDERATIONS (2)
• Plan on an intensive media response and
appoint Public Information Officers (PIO)
as soon as possible.
• Crime scene may be limited to a small
area such as a residence or single
business or can extend for several blocks.
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Form IMS 201
(Electronic or Written)
-Scene Map/Sketch
-Situation Summary
-Current/Planned
Objectives
-Current/Planned
Actions, Strategies
& Tactics
-Current Org Chart
-Resources
Summary
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Unified Command
Unified Command
Fire & Rescue
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer (PIO)
(EMS Spokesperson)
Law Enforcement
Incident Commander
EMS
Incident Commander
Safety Officer (Fire & EMS)
PIO Assistant Officer
(Law Enforcement)
Liaison Officer (Emergency Management)
PIO Assistant Officer
(Fire & Rescue Service)
Agency Representatives
(Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Hospitals, etc.)
Speaking With
One Voice!
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Scene Assistance
• Local Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
should be activated as soon as possible for long
term response, recovery, management,
investigative and local, state and federal support
efforts.
• Joint Information Center (JIC) should be
established involving all key agencies and players
to manage the local and national media efforts.
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Scene Assistance (2)
• Family Assistance Centers (FAC)
may need to be established near
the site and other remote locations.
• Helpline phone numbers should be
initiated.
• CISM (Critical Incident Stress
Management) efforts should be
considered for all responders.
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Suicide Bomber Threats
• If a suicide bombing incident occurs and the
suspect is neutralized BUT there is no explosion, DO
NOT render aid to the suspect. The suspect may
only be injured and a handler or associate could still
detonate the device. Bomb squad personnel or a
robot should be the first to approach a bomber or
suspected bomber.
• Be aware of the possibility of secondary devices and
attacks. This type of event has targeted responders.
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Suicide Bomber Failures
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Even if a bomb itself fails to detonate, the initiator
(possibly a blasting cap or caps) may still detonate.
You will still hear a very loud BANG.
The potential bomber will be severely injured and
probably moving around on the ground and/or calling
for help.
He/she is still a very real danger! They may have a
secondary means to detonate, and should still be
considered an imminent threat:
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Treat accordingly
Handler may also still detonate them.
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Sources of Info/Training
• www.emrtc.nmt.edu
DHS Live explosive training for first
responders.
• www.tripwire-dhs.net
DHS Office of Bomb Prevention (OBP)
Tech Resources for Incident Prevention.
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Pre-Incident Planning
• Preparation is the key to a terrorism incident and that
includes a clear idea of your actions before the incident
occurs.
• The first step in your preparation is a review of your
agencies guidelines and procedures when responding to
an actual incident or threat situation.
• As with any multi-hazard assessment and planning
process it is a great idea to do a multi-agency
exercise (tabletop or functional) to bring all the key
agencies together and rehearse the plan once it has
been completed.
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Thank you and be safe!
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