Browndale Fire Co.
Fire Station 43
Standard Operating Guidelines 

Date of Issue: 1-1-98
Effective Date: 1-31-98
Developed By: Earl Obelenus
Issued by Authority of: Earl Obelenus, Fire Chief

MULTI-STORY/ LARGE STRUCTURE FIRE RESPONSE
S.O.G. 500-97-5

I. PURPOSE
To provide a set of standard operating guidelines for the response to and attack of a multi-story or otherwise large structure.

II.  SCOPE
All fire department personnel.

III. RESPONSIBILITY

Officers are responsible to see that all personnel are cognizant of this guideline and to direct companies upon arrival at the reported incident

IV. BACKROUND

Multi-story/ large structures provide problems for fire department personnel. Access to areas of involvement may be time consuming as well as difficult. The following procedures will insure that all priorities have been considered.

V. PROCEDURES

1. Response to automatic alarms will have a full 1st  alarm “box” assignment.

2. On an automatic alarm in which the call has been received  from the facility to the communications center or the fire station of a “false alarm” or malfunction, a reduced alarm assignment with the minimum of an engine and officer will be sent to verify and investigate.

3. On the response on an unconfirmed “false alarm” or malfunction the first in engine officer will confirm the type of incident and if there is smoke or fire showing, give a size-up, the engine will provide a pre-connected line ( minimum 1 ¾”) and other necessary tools to the reported fire area. The operation shall include the establishment of a water supply to the to the interior of the structure to supply interior attack lines. This may come in the form of supplying the fire department connection ( if standpipe is available) or the advancement of a “leader line” from the engine to the fire area.

4. Personnel on the second in engine will support “truck operations” and if necessary develop a secondary water supply. Truck operations include search and rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, salvage and overhaul operations.

5. When smoke and fire is evident, either on the initial dispatch or report from the OIC, the first in engine will drop a supply line (5”) to be supported by the second arriving (engine  company 41 or 42).

6. Personnel from the third in engine shall report to the OIC, and attempt to advance a line above the fire, preventing extension. If the fire is in a one (1) story structure, large in size, the second line shall be advanced to prevent horizontal extension. As per riding positions, personnel should not enter the building empty handed, but rather have the necessary hand tools to allow the performance of the position as defined in S.O.G. 500-97-6 Engine Riding guideline.

7. If it is evident that the first arriving apparatus can not handle the incident, additional alarms shall be transmitted by the engine officer or the OIC. A staging area shall be established to setup and deploy apparatus and personnel.

8. If additional units are needed to work on an interior operation, an interior staging area should be established if possible with officers being designated to command areas (floors or portion of a building with clear cut objectives to be obtained). 

VI. SUPERSEDED GUIDELINE

                   This is a new guideline on this subject matter. It does not supersede any memo or guideline.

     Reviewed: 2-19-02