Rapid Intervention

Team Structure

& Exterior

Operations

Session Objectives

1. Define what a Rapid Intervention Team is 

2. Examine why Rapid Intervention Teams are needed 

3. Show what a properly equipped Rapid Intervention Team is 

Session Objectives(cont’d)

4. Describe how a Rapid Intervention Team functions outside the hazard zone at a structure fire 

5. Describe typical Mayday procedures 

6. Show what happens when a Mayday is declared

Introduction

Excluding Sept. 11, 2001, the annual average for firefighter fatalities in U.S. structure fires is 30, according to NFPA. One of the major causes of these fatalities was the absence of an effective rescue plan BEFORE firefighters became trapped.

Introductioncont.

Rapid Intervention is a means of rescuing firefighters in distress.In this course, you will learn why RITs are needed, how they are structured, and how they function outside of burning buildings

Other Names for RITOther Names for RIT

• Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC)

• Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST)

• Immediate Response Team (IRT)

• Rescue Assist Team (RAT)

• Firefighter Rescue Available Team (FRAT)

• Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU)

• Firefighter Assist Team (FAT)

Applicable Codes and Standards

OSHANFPANIOSH

OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard

(29 CFR 1910.134)

• At least two properly equipped and trained firefighters

• Positioned outside of the IDLH atmosphere

• Who can account for the interior team and

• Remain capable of rapid rescue of the interior team

Properly Equipped(29 CFR 1910.134)

Every Rapid Intervention Team member must be…

“...trained and equipped to at least the same level as the firefighters they would

seek to rescue.”  

NFPA

• Rapid Intervention concepts are discussed in NFPA Standards 1500, 1561, 1710, 1720, and others.

NFPA 1500

Every Rapid Intervention Team must have... 

“...at least two members

available for rescue of

a member or a team if

the need arises.”

Standard for Number of Team

Members• The standards do not

limit a RIT to two members. The IC can adjust the numbers to fit the situation.

• As few as two rescuers may be sufficient to locate a lost or disoriented firefighter

Standard for Number of Team Members

However, as many as a dozen may be required to rescue a firefighter in distress.

NIOSH• Branch of the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC) in the US Department of Health and Human Services

• Not a code-making body• Conducts research/makes

recommendations for prevention of work-related disease and injury

• Approves safety equipment such as respirators

• Makes recommendations to OSHA to develop standards

• Since 1998 – conducts the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program — to prevent line-of-duty fatalities and disseminate firefighter casualty information

Three Most Common Reasons Firefighters Need to be

Rescued

Handout #3

Three Most Common Reasons Firefighters Need to be

Rescued

Inadequate fire experienceInadequate survival trainingInadequate fireground organization

Inadequate Fire Experience

• Number of fire calls dropping every year

• Many departments respond to more EMS calls than fire calls

• Fire prevention efforts more successful, resulting in fewer fires

Inadequate Survival Training

Failure to recognize deteriorating fire conditions Failure to appreciate need for safety equipmentFailure to realize importance of carrying forcible entry toolResources and training are customer-focused

Sudden Unexpected Events

• Lost/trapped/unaccounted for firefighter

• Flashover

• Back draft

• Rapid fire increase

• Explosion

• Collapse

• Cardiac emergency

Lost/Trapped/Unaccounted for Firefighter

Firefighter confirmed missing Location unknown Usually still in radio contact

Firefighter confirmed trapped Location known – unable to escape Usually still in radio contact

Firefighter unaccounted for Location unknown No radio contact

Flashover• Occurs rapidly — heat/smoke

“bank down” just prior to occurrence

• May engulf firefighters operating inside the building

• Only seconds available to escape

• Surviving firefighters, if any, likely to be burned and disoriented

• Heavy combustible loading likely to result in continuing serious fire conditions

Back Draft

Occurs rapidly – sudden inrush of oxygen to smoldering fire causes “smoke explosion” or back draft – no time to escapeIs violent – causes damage due to pressure wavesFirefighters possibly thrown, trapped, and traumatically injuredPotential structural damage/collapse

Rapid Fire Increase

• May occur due to flashover or back draft

• May occur due to storage/use of flammable liquids, gases, or other materials in the fire building

• May occur due to vertical openings/voids within the building

• Can trap firefighters above the fire• May disorient firefighters, but more

likely they will be oriented and searching for means of egress

• Fire will continue to grow if action is not taken

ExplosionOccurs rapidly and without warning – no time to escapeMay result from the presence of a flammable liquid, gas, or other hazardous materialSimilar conditions as in a back draftIs violent – causing damage due to pressure wavesFirefighters possibly thrown, trapped, and traumatically injuredPotential structural damage/collapse

Collapse

• Occurs rapidly and without warning – building collapses upon personnel or responders fall through collapsed floor/roof landing in a hazardous area

• May trap personnel in/under debris

• Likely jeopardizes multiple responders

• Firefighters likely to have traumatic injuries

• Safety of area likely to be questionable

Cardiac Emergency

Common cause of firefighter fatalitiesCauses 40% or more of on-duty deathsSmoke, toxic gases, and the stress of the incident all contribute to this prospect

Inadequate Fireground Organization

• Creates communication problems, such as failure to hear emergency evacuation signal

• Operational problems, such as loss of water supply, freelancing.

Other Basic Fireground Problems

Failure to control doorsOpening doors/walls/ceiling/roof without a charged hose lineFailure to maintain an escape route

RIT Gear

• Equipment for a RIT can be divided into two categories– Personal gear to be

carried by every RIT member

– Team resources that will be staged on-scene and ready to take into a burning building

Personal Gear

• Must include:• Full PPE • SCBA• A complete SCBA or

a spare cylinder• Portable radio• Rope bag• Strong handlight

Team Equipment

Spare SCBA cylindersThermal Imaging Camera

Forcible entry tools

Power saws

Handlights with spare batteries

EMS equipment

Heavy rescue equipment

Team Equipment Set out a tarp to indicate

tools for RIT use only.

Why RITs are needed and how they function

Quiz #1

Arrival and Set-Up

• RIT must be ready to deploy as quickly as possible.

• Arrival and set-up procedures can be separated into three areas– Size-up– Staging area– Team member duties

Arrival and Set-Up

Perform a quick size-upThe RIT team’s size-up must focus on current and potential hazards and deployment situations.

How many firefighters or crews are insideWhere are they assigned

Establish and maintain radio contact with firefighters in the hazard zoneBe ready to commence search and rescue

Arrival and Set-Up(cont’d)

• Station one member near hazard zone entrance

• Set up a RIT staging area

– Close to the hazard zone entrance

– Outside of the collapse zone

– Collect and assemble the search and rescue tools and equipment

Team Member Duties

Remain close to hazard zone entrance

Able to commence rescue operations at a moment’s notice

Perform only non-critical jobs

Maintain radio contact with crews in the hazard zone

Declaring a Mayday by Radio

• Transmit on all incident channels

• Identify yourself

• Use Clear Text or plain English

• Include as much information as possible

Declaring Without Radio Contact

Assume the position that offers the most safetyActivate your PASS deviceIf your PASS device fails, tap on a pipe or wall with tool or hard objectShine your flashlight toward the ceilingDraw attention to your location!

Mayday Procedures

“Emergency Traffic” is declaredCease all unrelated radio trafficKnown details are announcedAll units cease activity and listenRIT is deployedWait for order to resume radio traffic/activities

Exterior Rescue Evolutions

Breaching Wooden Walls1. Locate access point — look for pre-existing openings such as windows. If no openings exist, cut a probe hole. 2. Make primary cuts with a power saw. 3. Use hooks to clear debris and make second cuts as needed.

Exterior Rescue Evolutions

Breaching Masonry Walls1. Look for existing

openings to enlarge. 2. Use a sledge hammer to

enlarge openings. 3. Use a battering ram or

large sledge to begin an opening if necessary.

4. Use diamond-shaped holes for greater stability.

Exterior Rescue Evolutions

Breaching Metal Walls and Doors

Use a rotary saw with metal-cutting blade. To cut doors or walls at grade, make two diagonal cuts down from a single point and then fold the metal flap onto the ground. To cut a rectangular hole in a metal wall, make four cuts and then carefully remove the metal section and insulation and place them aside.

Exterior Rescue Evolutions

Breaching Plasterboard Walls1. Use a Haligan bar or other

appropriate tool to make a probe hole to determine location of breach.

2. Break open the wall with the adze end of the Haligan bar — twist the bar to remove chunks of wallboard.

3. Move team members and the victim through the hole using appropriate techniques — enlarge the hole with a saw if necessary.

Rapid Rapid InterventionIntervention

Interior Interior OperationsOperations

Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

1. Show how a RIT functions inside the hazard zone

2. Desribe how RITs locate firefighters in distress

3. Show how to perform an initial assessment of a downed firefighter

Session ObjectivesSession Objectives(cont’d)(cont’d)

4. Describe air-supply considerations for trapped firefighters

5. Show a variety of rescue techniques

Entering Hazard ZoneEntering Hazard Zone

Before entering, first

• Confirm what is known and not known about the

situation

Entering Hazard ZoneEntering Hazard Zone(cont’d)(cont’d)

Second, quickly check each other’s PPE

• All gear is on properly

• SCBA is functioning

• PASS devices are turned on

Entering Hazard ZoneEntering Hazard Zone(cont’d)(cont’d)

Upon entering, function as a team

Stay in voice or visual contact with each other

Stay in radio contact with those outside the hazard zone

Tag Lines

A tag line can make finding your way out of the hazard zone easier

One end should be tied to a solid object at the entranceThe rope should be paid out as the team progresses into the hazard zone

Locating a Firefighter in Distress

Location Known

• Abandon normal search patterns and go directly to the firefighter.

Locating a Firefighter in Distress

Location UnknownLocation Unknown• Follow tag or hose line left by first

entry team

• Stop and listen

• At times cease all activity

• Look for discarded tools and equipment

• Check the ceiling for beams of light

• Use a thermal imaging camera

Interior Functions and Locating a Firefighter in

distress

Quiz #2

Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentNotify Chain of CommandNotify Chain of Command

Number of firefighters found

General condition/situation

Mobility status

Lost or Disoriented Firefighter

If the firefighter is merely lost or disoriented, simply lead them out of the hazard zone. Once outside:

Their physical, psychological, and emotional condition should be assessedTheir fitness for reassignment should be evaluated

Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentSafety ConsiderationsSafety Considerations

• Assess your environment– Advancing fire– Entanglement hazards– Live wires– Secondary collapse

• If the location is dangerous and mitigating measures are not available, you may have to risk further injury and immediately extricate the firefighter

Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentConscious FirefighterConscious Firefighter

• First consideration—air supply

• Reassure—you will get them out

• Control PASS

• Call for rescue resources

• Continue assessment while waiting

• Head-to-toe check

Initial AssessmentInitial AssessmentUnconscious FirefighterUnconscious Firefighter

•Control PASS •Place your ear over the victim’s regulator and listen for air exchange•Check air supply•Head-to-toe check

Securing an Air Supply

•Transfill from spare SCBA cylinder

•Spare SCBA cylinder

•Complete new SCBA

•S.A.R.

NIOSH and NFPA recommend against “buddy breathing.” There are various ways to supply air.

Determining Action

Stay or go?Method of least harmReport to command:

- Situation- Special concerns- Resources needed- Next action

Assessing and extricating a

Firefighter in Distress

Quiz #3

Drags and Carries

SCBA Harness1. Undo and loosen the

firefighter’s waist straps.

2. Pass one strap between the victim’s legs and connect it to the other strap.

3. Tighten all SCBA straps.

Drags and Carries

SCBA-Strap Drag1. Convert the victim’s SCBA to a harness if time permits.

2. Loosen the victim’s SCBA shoulder straps.

3. Grasp the shoulder straps and drag to the nearest point of egress.

Drags and Carries

Webbing/Sling-Assisted Drag

1. Loosen the victim’s SCBA shoulder straps.

2. Slide the working end of the sling or webbing under the SCBA straps.

3. Use the sling ends as handles for dragging.

Drags and Carries

Webbing/Rope Drag1. Obtain a 20 –25-foot length of webbing or rope. 2. Create a loop using the water knot (webbing) or square knot (rope).3. Pass the working endof the webbing under thevictim’s SCBA shoulder straps and then backthrough the standing partof the loop.

Drags and Carries

Webbing/Rope Drag4.Pull the working loop all the way

through the standing loop until the webbing tightens around the SCBA harness.

5.Place the hauling end of the loop over a rescuer’s shoulder and remove the victim.

Drags and Carries

Push-Pull Drag1. One rescuer moves to thevictim’s head and the other to the victim’s feet.2. Rescuer at the head turns the victim on his side and grasps one SCBA strap.3. Rescuer at the feet positions his shoulder under the victim’s knee and thigh. 4. When the rescuer at the head says, “Push!” they push and pull together.

Drags and Carries

Blanket Drag1. Two rescuers roll the victim onto his side.2. A blanket is laid behind the victim and

the excess is pushed against the victim’s back.

3. The victim is rolled onto the blanket and the excess is distributed onthe rescuers’ side of the victim.

4. The corners of the blanket nearest the victim's head are used to pull.

Drags and Carries

Fireman’s Carry1. One rescuer stands over

the victim and pulls him to a standing position.

2. A second rescuer

(if available), assists

the first rescuer in hoisting the victim

onto his shoulders.

Stairs

Two-Firefighter Technique

1.Move the victim to the base of the stairwell.

2.One rescuer moves onto the stairs behind the victim and grasps the victim’s SCBA straps.

Stairs

Two-Firefighter Technique3. The second rescuer places the victim’s legs over his shouldersand gets as far underthe victim’s hips aspossible. 4. The rescuer at the headsays “Lift!” as he pulls up on the SCBA straps to clear the first stair. The second rescuer pushes up with his legs when he hears “Lift!”

Stairs

Two-Team Rope Rescue1. Primary team follows

steps for previous evolution.

2. Second team deploys to top of stairs and provides rope.

3. Primary team attaches rope and then lifts while second team pulls on rope.

Stairs

Litter-Assisted Rescue1. Call for the second team to bring the Stokes/litter as soon as possible.2. The primary team moves the victim to the bottom of the stairs.3. The second team arrives with the basket and attaches a hauling line to it. 4. The second team lowers the basket down stairs and the victim is placed inside.

Stairs

Litter-Assisted Rescue

5. The second team pulls the basket while the primary team pushes.

6. The victim is carried or slid in the basket to exit.

Stairs

Moving a Firefighter Down Stairs

1. One rescuer clears the stairs and then positions a few stairs below the top.2. The other rescuer pulls on the victim’s SCBA harness to drag him down the stairs. 3. The first rescuer guides and steadies the second rescuer.

Below-Grade Rescue

Two-Rope Method1. Primary team calls for second

team to enter with two 50-foot ropes, an attic ladder, a prying tool, and a saw.

2. Primary team assesses floor/roof area through which victim fell, directs protective streams as needed, and attempts to contact victim.

3. Second team enlarges the hole if necessary, while first team prepares ropes and secures the opening with ladders/doors as needed.

Below-Grade RescueTwo-Rope Method

4. One crew member enters the hole using a ladder or rope and assesses the victim. 5. Crew on top ties handcuff knots in the center of each rope and then lowers them to rescuer below.6. The rescuer below attaches the knot from one rope to the victim’s feet and the other to his wrists. 7. The rescuers on top pull the victim up while the rescuer below guides the victim.

Below-Grade Rescue

One-Rope Method1.Follow steps 1–4 of the

two-rope method. 2.From two to four

rescuers position around the hole and grasp the rope whilethe rescuer in the hole changes the victim’s SCBA into a harness.

Below-Grade Rescue

One-Rope Method3. The carabiners are lowered into the hole and attached to the victim’s SCBA shoulder straps. 4. The rescuers above pull while the rescuer below pushes up on the victim’s feet.

Using A Hose LineUsing A Hose Line

• Call for the line to be shut down

• Lower nozzle down to firefighter

• Firefighter drains hose, forms loop at bottom, and places one foot in loop

• Pull firefighter up

Moving a Firefighter into a Window

Face-Up Method1. Remove SCBA harness, if necessary.2. Lie the victim perpendicular to the window sill with feet touching the wall.

Moving a Firefighter into a Window

Face-Up Method3. Lift the victim’s legs onto

the window sill and slide his body until his buttocks touch the wall.

4. Position one rescuer on each side of the victim and lift by cradling the victim under his lower back and arms (SCBA harness).

5. Turn the victim if SCBA is in place.

Moving a Firefighter into a Window

Flip-Over Method1. Drag the victim headfirst to the window.2. Grasp the victim’s legs and pull them over his head to the window sill. 3. An outside rescuer grabs the victim’s feet as the two inside rescuers lift the victim by his SCBA.

Moving a Firefighter into a Window

Face-Down Method1. Lie the victim on his side, facing the

window, feet toward the sill. 2. One RIT member removes his

SCBA harness and lies face down on the floor, perpendicular to the window.

3. The other primary team member(s) roll(s) the victim onto the first rescuer, who then pushes up into a crawling position.

4. The remaining team members slide/lift the victim onto a ladder outside the window.

Accountability

Accountability systems

Accounting for other units on the scene

Accounting for the RIT

Procedures for “rescuing the

rescuers”

The bottom line

Accountability

Only way to maintain control of personnel on the fire ground

Use varies widely

System needs to keep track of everyone

Must be:

Established as a system

Established long before emergencies occur

Utilized by all personnel who could operate on a scene

Practiced on all calls

Accountability

RIT must be familiar with the various accountability

systems utilized in the areas where they may

respond.

Accountability must be a disciplined function.

RIT may need to try to identify missing personnel

at a glance.

Accountability

The RIT is accountable to the Safety Officer or IC.

The RIT officer must maintain accountability for the RIT crew.

The RIT’s accountability system must fit into the overall incident management system.

The RIT typically will deploy immediately into a high risk situation.

Procedures for “Rescuing the Rescuers”

Do not panic.Admit you are lost and call for help.

Activate your PASS device.Keep your company together.

Follow hose or lifeline.Search for any opening.

Conserve your air supply.Shine your light upward to attract attention and

position your PASS for maximum effectiveness.

Conclusion

The RIT must be familiar with the units working on the fire ground and their

assignments.The RIT must have an accountability system

that integrates seamlessly with the system utilized on the incident scene.

The RIT must be able to react to, as well as request, a Mayday signal

ConclusionFirefighters assigned to RIT functions

must be aware of the importance of this role and not take it lightly.

Incident Commanders must be familiar with the capabilities and training of RITs and consider various uses for the team to provide proactive safety duties at incidents.

Incident Commanders must be aware of the risks if they assign RITs to other duties.

For further information on rehab, see USFA procedure booklet “Emergency Incident Rehabilitation” available at no charge from: www.usfa.fema.gov/usfapubs.

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