Suppression Emergency Operations
Operations/003
HIGH_RISE
 To be used by all OCFD personnel during fire
operations at High-Rise incidents
 Not intended to limit the decision making abilities of
the Incident Commander
 Let the situation dictate the tactics used.
 Modern high rises are as much as 75% lighter in mass
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than earlier constructed buildings
2 ½ times the B.T.U’s from which the codes were
developed
Capable of reaching flashover in less than 10 minutes
Typical response time of 20 minutes
Vertical Exposures as well as lateral
 Ventilation will be difficult at best
 History has shown 200-300 personnel have been
needed to mitigate high-rise fires.
 A high-rise is defined as:
 Any incident that occurs or has the potential to progress
to a level at or above the fifth (5) floors above ground
level.
 Houston MAYDAY video
 1st Arriving officer will operate in the Fast-Attack Mode
 If a working fire is confirmed
 Call for a “High-Rise Assignment.”
 Equivalent to 5-Alarm
 66-85 OCFD personnel
 Initial Radio Transmission:
 Arrival on scene
 Address and what side of the structure the company is
located
 Approximate number of floors and what type of structure
 Residential or Commercial
 If smoke or fire is showing
 2- Engine Companies
 1- Rescue Ladder
 1- District Officer
 1st arriving officer is “Command”
 1st Ladder officer is in charge of the Investigation
Group
 Rescue ladder officer:
 Attempt to get a copy of the building’s pre-plan
 Determine if any notifications or evacuation
announcements have been made.
 If no announcements have been made, inform command.
 Determine whether the stairwell doors are auto-
unlocking
 If they do not unlock, obtain keys to unlock doors if possible
 Get the main desk phone number
 The location of the fire/communications command
panel and confirm the location of the emergency
 Ensure all Ladder personnel are outfitted with proper
PPE
 Ensure Ladder personnel have the right equipment:
 Sledge hammer
 Halligan
 Hydra-Ram
 Thermal Imager (If available)
 If the fire is reported to be above the 7th floor, call one
bank of elevators and take control to ascend, if it is
deemed safe to use.
 Report which stairwell or elevator is being used for
ascent
 Where are they located in the building
 What is the building’s designation for the stairs/elevator
 Report when you have made it to the floor desired.
 Report what crews are ascending and how many of
personnel are in the group
 Wait for entire Investigation Group to arrive before
ascent.
 Report the findings (Conditions)
 Extent and nature of the fire
 Heat and smoke encountered
 Extent of the evacuation (Actions)
 If a fire is confirmed:
 The Investigation Group will then evolve into their
respective assignments (Needs)
 Fire Attack
 Search
 Ventilation
 ETC.
 Assign Fire-Attack Stairwell and Evacuation Stairwell
 Consider ventilation path and proximity of standpipe
connections when determining which stairwell is going
to be used for a particular purpose.
 Advise command when primary search has
commenced
 And what degree of challenge forcible entry is
presenting.
 All Engine personnel properly outfitted
 Appropriate equipment is carried to location
 200 ft. of 2 ½” hose
 1 ¼” smoothbore nozzle
 High-Rise kit
 18” pipe wrench
 Couplings
 In-Line Pressure Gauge
 Door Wedges
 Have crew stand-by one (1) floor below the reported
fire floor until the I.G leader designates the FireAttack Stairwell.
 Recon. Floor layout of the floor below the fire floor
 Make appropriate connections to the standpipe and
prepare hose for deployment
 Clear Fire-Attack Stairwell of occupants for a
minimum of five (5) floors and direct them to the
Evacuation Stairwell or other suitable safe haven.
 Assist the 1st Engine
Approx. 66-85
 Total Engines:
 Engine 1
 Engine 2
 Engine 3
 Engine 4
 Engine 5
 Engine 6
 Engine 7
 Engine 8
 Engine 9
 Engine 10
Total Ladders:
Ladder 1
Ladder 2
Ladder 3
Ladder 4
Ladder 5
Other Apparatus:
Rescue-8
Haz-Mat-5
Brush-Pumpers
Air-1
Mobile Command Unit
Chief Officers:
Chief-1
Chief-2
Chief-3
Chief-4
Chief-5
607
608
609
 Report to Command in the main floor lobby with
appropriate tools
 If fire is reported:
 Coordinate with the 1st and 2nd Engine and act as relief
for them when needed.
 Driver will connect to FDC and prepare to pump into
the system
 Remainder of the crew will assume control of the
Lobby
 Place all tools in convenient location
 Ensure repeated and/or modified announcements are
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provided to building occupants, as needed, with the
status of the event and appropriate directives.
Ensure manual activation of the stairwell door
unlocking devise is tripped (if equipped)
Locate the Building Engineer to take control of the
HVAC or shut down the HVAC system.
Verify the operation of the fire pumps
Obtain master keys
 Obtain a list of persons who are identified as needing
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special assistance, including their ordinary location in
the building, or designated area of refuge.
Obtain building floor plans
Locate stairwells that have been designated
Secure additional elevators if possible
Direct incoming companies to correct stairwells
Shut down the escalators
 Driver will assist driver of 4th Engine by preparing for
Series pump operation at FDC
 Crew will carry extra SCBA cylinders to Staging, threefloors below the fire floor.
 Will take appropriate equipment to establish a backup
line or relief of 3rd Engine on backup lines as they
move forward to fire attack.
 Ascend with the 5th Engine and assist in establishment
of backup line.
 Carry extra SCBA cylinders to Staging, three-floors
below the fire floor
 Ascend to Staging
 Carry extra SCBA cylinders
 Acquire and carry any other tools requested
 If the building is equipped with secondary FDC
 Driver will hook up to this FDC and prepare for
pumping operations
 Crew will carry additional High-Rise hose and extra
SCBA cylinders to the lobby and standby.
 Will report to 8th Engine and prepare to perform Series
Pumping operation.
 Remainder of crew sill report to the lobby and wait for
further orders.
 Coordinate primary search of the fire floor with 1st
Ladder
 Bring salvage covers to prevent water from
entering elevator hoist way to prevent loss of
power to elevators.
 Initiate forcible entry and ventilation if not needed for
search.
 Stairwell Search of the Fire-Attack Stairwell
 Ascend to the top floor
 Advise Command/Ops upon arrival to the top floor
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and inform them of possible ventilation needs
Initiate top-down stairwell search of stairwell.
Notify Command/Ops of additional resource needs
Direct occupants out of Fire-Attack Stairwell to safer
location.
Advise Command/Ops if persons are encountered in
Fire-Attack Stairwell.
 Ascend to the top floor
 Initiate top-down stairwell search of the Evacuation
Stairwell
 Request additional resources as needed
 Do not open the door on the fire floor unless it
necessitates rescue
 Initiate primary search of the floor above the fire floor
 Unless arrival is delayed by travel distance
 Take necessary equipment:
 RIT Bag
 Rope Assisted Search Bag
 Forcible Entry Tools
 Thermal Imager
 RIT
 Wearing 1-hour SCBA’s ascend to the floor below the
fire
 Take necessary equipment
 RIT Bag
 Rope Assisted Search Bag
 Forcible Entry Tools
 Thermal Imager
Incident Command
1st District Officer
Operations
8th Engine
9th Engine
Attack Line
1st Engine
2nd Engine
3rd Engine
Section 2
Logistics
2nd District Officer
Staging(533)
Fire-Attack
3rd District Officer
Back-Up
5th Engine
6th Engine
7th Engine
Search
1st Ladder
2nd Ladder
R-8
U.S.E
3rd Ladder
4th Ladder
R.I.T.
(District Officer)
HM-5
Additional Companies
Lobby Control
4th Engine
Base
Air-1
5th Ladder
10th Engine
Planning
SitStat/Restat Unit
Comms Unit
Technical Specialist
 All arriving chiefs will notify command of their arrival.
(Preferably face-to-face).
 Incident Commander can designate but is not limited
to the following positions as needed:
 Designated “Ops.”
 Answers to IC
 The second arriving chief officer
 The Ops. Chief will ascend to two (2) floors below the fire
floor and establish the Operations Post.
 Ops. Chief is responsible for all tactical operations.
 Proceed to the fire floor and take control of all
operations on the fire floor under the direction of
Operations, including, but not limited to, the following:
 Conduct size-up
 Supervise extinguishment and check for fire extension and
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monitor smoke spread
Establish back-up lines
Supervise all searches and ventilation on the fire floor and
floor above
Provide progress reports to Operations, in person if possible
Monitor the safety of all personnel operating on the fire floor
and one (1) floor above the fire and assess ongoing conditions
Initiate salvage and overhaul operations.
 Confer with Fire-Attack Officer on the status of the
ongoing search and rescue operations and establish an
initial Search and Rescue post two (2) floors below the
fire floor, separate from the Operations Post.
 responsible to coordinate search operations 3-floors
above the fire floor and up.
 Relocate to a floor above the fire as conditions
improve.
 Determine the resources necessary to complete search
and rescue operations and advise Operations of those
needs.
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 Assign specific companies to respond to reports of
occupants in need of assistance.
 Document assignments and verify the completion of
each assignment.
 Assign specific companies to conduct a thorough and
systematic search of each floor, hallway, stairwell,
elevator car, and elevator shaft.
 Assemble RIT team(s) and deploy them with all
essential equipment including elevator rescue tools to
designated areas as needed.
 RIT teams will conduct size-up
 Report to RIT Officer
 Gather a copy of the floor plan for the fire floor and
floor above. Also gather information that provides
elevator and stairwell locations.
 Establish area of operations in appropriate areas, if
multiple RITs are assigned.
 Monitor radio communications at all times.
 Proceed three (3) floors below the fire and establish
the Staging Area and designate the following areas:
 Designate an area for air cylinders and equipment.
 Empty air cylinders should be segregated from full
cylinders
 A rehab area separate from supply area.
 Give consideration to creating a secondary staging area
that would place companies and equipment closer to
the actual incident, if required.
 This area can be on a separate floor from the primary Staging
Area (3-floors below the fire floor).
 This secondary staging area will minimize the time
delay between taking companies out of the
primary staging area, and actually putting them to
work on the upper floors.
 Lobby
 Stairwell Support
 Base
 Air-1
 Requesting additional personnel as needed to
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complete lobby objectives from Command or Logistics
(if assigned.)
Establish a method of tracking all companies entering
or exiting the building.
Establishing a marshalling area for evacuating
building occupants in a safe area away from the
command post. (i.e. covered parking, sub-floors, etc.)
Recall all remaining elevators for fire department use
and to prevent further use by occupants.
Determine elevator travel paths.
 Report to Logistics and coordinate the transport of
equipment via the stairwells from the lobby to Staging
 One member per two floors. (e.g.) ground floor to floor
#3, floor #3 to floor #5.
 One Officer per four or five members
 Level II Staging
 Primary location where logistical support begins
 Equipment
 Personnel
 SitStat/ReStat
 Victim Communication Specialist
 Other Technical Specialists
 Building Engineers
 Structural Engineers
 Elevator Technicians
 Water Supply Specialist
 Will confer with Lobby Control and will assume the
responsibility of tracking the resources committed to
the operation inside the building.
 Operate on a separate TAC channel
 Receive notifications about victims from Dispatch
 Monitor the Lobby Telephone
 Will speak directly to victims in the building
 If the Technical Specialist is not an OCFD member,
they will remain in the Command/Planning area
unless accompanied by an OCFD member equipped
with a radio
Section3
 Hook to the floor below
 Check for PRV’s
 If field adjustable, adjust to where connection can be
opened all the way
 Check gauge on Water-Thief
 75 psi For 150 ft. of 2 ½ with smoothbore= 250 gpm or more
 85 For 200 ft. of 2 ½ with smoothbore= 250 gpm or more
 85 Additional section of 1 ¾ with 15/16” nozzle= 150 gpm
 Using Metro-Folds lay out hose as follows:
 1st section at the standpipe connection
 Connect 1st section to 2nd section which is located on
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the ½ landing above the standpipe connection
Connect male end of 2nd section to 3rd section on the
fire floor
3rd section connects to the 4th section which is located
on the ½ landing above the fire floor.
Nozzle is attached to the male end of the 4th section.
Maneuver nozzle below door opening before opening
it.
Metro-Pack #4
Metro-Pack #3
Metro-Pack #2
FDC
Metro-Pack #1
 Method of storing, carrying and deploying hose for
high-rise or other stairwell hose deployment
operations.
 Stairwells in OKC high-rises tend to be narrow
 Allows passage by hose
 Ease of hose deployment
 Standpipes are designed for smoothbore
 Pre 1993 standard called for 65 psi
 Post 1993 calls for 100 psi
 Either, smoothbore will be more reliable
 Fog nozzles can clog
 Flows can be restricted
 Due to limited ventilation
 Steam isn’t what we want
User-Friendly Apparatus and Equipment
1.
1.
Keep your High-Rise Packs accessible
User-Friendly Standpipe Hose Packs
2.
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The hose pack should be as lightweight and as
compact as possible
The hose pack should be designed for easy, fast, and
efficient stretching on the fireground.
Properly Stretching the Attack Line
3.
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Get the Metro in place
Proper Operating Pressure
4.
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Low-pressure nozzles
5.
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Use the smoothbore (Low pressure/High GPM)
Unglamorous Operating Positions
6.
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7.
75-85 psi is all that is needed
6- people for the operation
1 -person per friction point
Training, Training, and More Training
 Ensure the civilians are cleared out for at least 5-floors.
 Direct them to the Evacuation Stairwell or
 Find Area of Refuge for them
 Prepare hose
 If hallway is charged with smoke, charge the line
before entering floor
 If hallway is clear, consider stretching dry to get closer
to the fire without having to pull the weight of the
water.
 Typically open cubical floor plan
 Watch out for fire wrapping around behind you
 Plenum may be entire trussloft area
 Avoid breaking the glass
 Could create wind driven fire
 Keep control of the doors!
 Consider tying a strap to the door knob so that the door
can be pulled shut without entering the space.
 Locate area of refuge before making attack
 Apartment on the same side of the fire apartment
 Force entry into refuge apartment before attack
 Watch out for Wind Drive!
Section 4
 FDC: one way check valve that is on the discharge side
of the building fire pump; which means:
 The Fire department pumper and the building fire pump
do not work in unison.
 It is either one or the other.
 Highest outlet of the standpipe system must be able to
supply adequate water.
 Minimum 600 gpm for 1-riser/ Maximum 2,500 (Pre-93)
 Minimum 750 gpm for 2-risers/Max 2,500 (Pre-93)
 Maximum for post 93 standard is 1,250 for both sprinkler and
standpipe
 Because these pressures are required at the top floor:
 A method to restrict flow must be in place for lower
outlets
 The building’s pump only knows to turn on or turn off
 It doesn’t know what floor is using the water
 So the building’s pump flows as if the fire is on the top
floor every time.
 SO…
 Because of the one-way check valve at the FDC and
 PRV’s
 If the Fire Department expects to supply adequate
amount of water into this type of system…
 We must supply the system just like the building’s
pump
 We must at least match the building’s pump pressure or
the PRV’s will prevent an adequate amount of water to
hoselines.
 The Pumper shall be spotted with the pump panel
away from the fire building to protect the engineer
from falling debris (If applicable)
 The discharge lines supplying the FDC shall be
connected to the discharges opposite from the
pump panel allowing the engineer to stay clear of
the lines in the event of hose failure.
 After all lines are connected, the system pressure
should be determined and the engine pressure of the
Pumper supplying the system should be set at 50 psi
below the system pressure
 NOTE: If the system pressure is not known, an
estimated figure can be established by using the
following guidelines.
 5 psi per floor + 100 psi
 Remember figure to the roof
One method for
determining whether
or not water is
flowing from the fire
department Pumper
into the FDC is to
partially gate down
one of the discharges
being used. If the
lines are static (water
not flowing) the
pressure on the
discharge gauge will
not change
On the other hand,
if there is water
flowing from the
Pumper into the
FDC, the pressure
on the discharge
gauge will change
when the discharge
is gated down
 Centrifugal pumps are designed to pump their
maximum gpm flow at 150 psi.
 70% at 200 psi
 50% at 250 psi
 Since Volume is required to put the fire out it is
imperative to maximize flow. Therefore,
 Pressures over 150 psi will require a Series Pumping
Operation
 Series pumping is actually a short relay
pump operation.
 The pumper taking water from the
hydrant pumps into the intake of the
second pumper.
 The second pumper boosts the
pressure even higher.
 When two or more pumpers are
pumping in series they divide the
overall required pressure to supply the
system between them
 For example- if the required system
pressure is 300 psi and two pumpers are
involved in the series pump operation,
each pumper will only have to pump 150
psi. 150 plus 150 equals 300 psi
Section 5
 Smoke Spread:
 Smoke spread is unquestionably the
most significant life hazard problem
existing in a High-Rise Fire.
 This smoke has caused 80% of all fire
death in a High-Rise Fire
 The contributing factors to this are:
 The used of new products in
construction and furniture such as the
use of plastics. PVC’s, laminates and
synthetic products. These products can
produce 500% more smoke and heat
than hard woods. Gases that are
produced will be twice as deadly and the
temperatures will be significantly higher.
Stack Effect
Caused by the vertical spread of heat, smoke and
gases.
 Open Stairs
 Elevator Shafts
 Dumbwaiters
 Laundry/trash/mall chutes
 Poke throughs
Outside Temperature: 35
Inside Temperature: 70
Normal Stack Effect
Neutral
Plane
Cooler air drawn in at the
bottom of the building causes
warmer air to rise. Below the neutral
plane, the horizontal air flow is
towards the central core, while
above the neutral lane, the
horizontal air flow is away from the
core- creating a mushroom effect on
upper floors. Such currents exist
naturally but are enhanced if a fire
adds heat. Vertical shafts need to be
vented at the top.
Outside Temp: 85
Inside Temp:
70
Reverse Stack Effect
Neutral
Plane
May occur on hot days. When
the warm air is drawn into the
building, the denser cool air tends to
sink to the bottom of shafts and may
draw smoke with it. Below the
neutral plane the horizontal air flow
is away from the core.
Stratification
 If the windows will open
 Check wind direction at the fire floor level
 If temperature and wind conditions allow
 Evacuate the apartment across from the fire room
 Cross ventilate
 If temperature and wind do not allow it
 Protect stairwells with electric PPV
 Direct ventilation may not be possible until the fire is
controlled.
 Windows are often times sealed
 Avoid breaking out windows until wind direction is
known
 If high in the building and hot outside
 Expect reverse stack
 If low in the building and cold outside
 Expect reverse stack
 Typically only one stairwell will exit through the roof
 If possible, it is better to use this stairwell for the Fire-
Attack Stairwell to draw smoke away from fleeing
occupants.
 Direct electric PPV must be applied to Evacuation
Stairwell.
 Air-1
 Resue-8
 Haz-Mat 5
 Remember the MGM!!
 The majority of fatalities occurred 15-20 floors above the
fire.
 If conditions allow
 Open the top hatch
 If air rushes in, close the hatch
 If air moves out, leave it open
 Because Evacuation Stairwell requires ventilation:
 The door to the fire floor cannot be opened
 Fire-Attack Stairwell will require PPV as well.
 Try to use Electric PPV
 If gasoline powered is used,
 Monitor for Carbon Monoxide
Section 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Immediate area around the fire (1st Ladder)
Remainder of the fire floor (1st & 2nd Ladder)
Floor above ( 2nd Ladder and/or Rescue-8)
Floor below (2nd Ladder and/or Rescue-8)
The Top Floor (S.S.T)
Then remaining floors above (U.S.E) & (S.S.T)
 What is a S.S.T?
 Stairwell Search Team
 What do they do?
 Continuous search of the Stairwells and immediate area
around the stairs on the floors
 Why are S.S.T’s needed?
 Remember the Cook County Administration Building!!
 6 civilian deaths
 13 originally attempted to evacuate down the southeast
stairway
 Encountered heavy smoke and were told by FD to return to 12
 Doors were locked and they became trapped
 Found 90 minutes later
 How do S.S.T’s work?
 Ascend to the top floor
 Determine if their stairwell has roof hatch
 If it does, inform command/ops and wait for further orders
 When done with the roof hatch begin top/down search
of the stairwells
 Inform command/ops. When smoke is encountered
 If occupants are encountered in Fire-Attack Stairwell
 Perform Rescue
 Direct them to Evacuation Stairwell or safe haven
 If smoke is encountered in Evacuation Stairwell
 Inform command/ops
 These stairwell searches are on going through out the
incident.
 If the floor is to be evacuated… the entire floor must
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be searched
Searched floors should be marked as such
Single slash while floor is being searched
“X” when search is completed
“X” should be placed in front of elevator, stairwell
door.
Section 7
 Is there at least one stairwell clear of smoke?
 If all evacuation routes are contaminated consider
shelter in place
 If opted, advise those sheltered to place damp towels under
the doors
 How far will occupants have to travel?
 The farther they have to travel to get below the fire floor
the greater the chance they will encounter a changing
hostile environment
 Have Fire-Attack Operations Begun?
 Conditions will change dramatically when they do
 Evacuation Stairwell must be monitored closely through
out the entire incident
 Are the stairwell doors unlocked?
Section 8
 Location of the Fire
 7th floor rule
 Are there occupants with special needs that must be
evacuated?
 Is the elevator segregated from the fire area?
 Only ANSI Phase II elevators can be used by FD
 One crew only
 With tools and SCBA mask’s donned
 Ride on one knee
 Know where the stairs are prior to ascent
 Determine floor activation from (FAID), move to
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elevator lobby.
Use service key and activate Phase I if the elevators
have not recalled automatically.
Count all the elevators to make sure they have
answered the Phase I recall. If any are unaccounted
for, notify IC.
Check hoistway for smoke
Check Phase II on the car operating panel and make
sure the fire hat symbol is not flashing.
 Flashing fire hat symbol means the FAID in the
elevator machine room has been activated by heat or
smoke.
 Could cause shunt trip if elevator control
room is equipped with sprinklers.
 Could cause erratic car operations
 Do not use this bank of elevators
 Assign an operator or “Taxi”
 Properly equipped with SCBA, forcible entry tools, step-
ladder, flashlight, radio, full PPE
 Test elevator stops
 Stop every 5 floors
 Check elevator function
 Check smoke in elevator shaft
 Check for water entering shaft
 Buttons are continuous pressure in Phase II
 Doors will not automatically open at floors
 Taxi must push button, if button is released, doors will
close