Fog and Smoke

Crash Response Dangers

Motorist Dangers

Obscures:• Road Surface (ahead)• Lane Markings• Traffic Queue (stopped vehicles)• Crashed Vehicles• Crash Debris• Emergency Equipment (can’t see)• Incident Responders (can’t see)

How would you size up this scene in fog or smoke?

Incident Responder Dangers

Equipment arrival on scene:

• How do you know you are there?

• How do you know the scope?

• Personnel may have to walk in, followed by apparatus

• Drivers follow reflective PPE– Windows down to hear commands (fog), or– Use hand signals (smoke)

Incident Responder Dangers

Equipment arrival on scene:

• Should all equipment drive in together and drop off as needed?

• Drive single file at maximum visible distance to apparatus ahead, or

• Drive abreast across traffic lanes

• Move apparatus at walking speed

Incident Responder Dangers

If you locate vehicle(s) or injured:

• Park apparatus behind vehicles/victims a safe distance

• Blocking procedures?

• Do not exit on traffic side under fog conditions

Incident Responder Dangers

Walking (scouting) personnel:

• Do you separate personnel?– Should work in teams of two at a minimum

• When you locate, do you:– Assist?– Triage?– Continue Searching?

Incident Responder Dangers

Walking (scouting) personnel:

• How do you communicate where you are?– Paces you have taken from truck– Whistle– Wave flashlight– Make sounds

• Pound on a car roof or fender• Turn up radio

Triage

• Determine if vehicle is still occupied• Injured – Communicate to CP

– Triage injuries– Extrication– Rescue may/may not be possible based on

extent of fire/damage

• Dead – Communicate to CP– Mark vehicle

Incident Responder Dangers

Traffic:• Other traffic approaching can’t see you• Won’t be able to stop• Won’t have time to react• May not apply brakes• Personnel in the clear, upstream from

scene(s), should act as spotters and communicate approaching traffic until highway is closed.

Incident Responder Dangers

Fire:• Vehicles could be burning, can’t be seen• Radiant heat as you approach• Explosions – Shrapnel

– Fuel tanks, LPG tanks– Shocks (or any other compressed cylinder)

• Do not park directly behind a vehicle because of fuel tank dangers

• If not beginning stages of fire, fire extinguisher may be ineffective

Smoke

• Mixed in with other smoke or fog until you walk into it

• Toxins from plastics, vinyl, rubber, other petroleum products

• Stay upwind from smoke if out of vehicle

• If wind shifts, you can move your position, move your vehicle, or retreat to your vehicle and turn off A/C/close vents.

Smoke

Respiratory:

•Incident Responders other than Fire Rescue may not have breathing apparatus•Anyone exposed to toxic smoke (inhalation) should be checked at hospital.

Vehicle Fluids or Hazardous Materials Spills

Contaminants

• May walk into it before it is identified

• You will be exposed to it before you are aware of it

• Decontamination procedures

Communications

• Spatial Orientation– Where are you?– Where are other personnel in relation to you?– Where is Command Post?– Triage?– Decon?

Cargo

• Look for placards or ask driver if available

• Check emergency response guidebook– Can you see cargo (trailer damaged)?– Liquids leaking out of truck?– Solid cargo on ground?

• Communicate