BY RICK LASKY
Being assigned as the rapid intervention team (RIT) involves more than just gathering tools and standing around. It’s realizing that if something goes wrong, you’re it! And, it’s mostly about attitude; having a positive attitude toward this assignment is half the battle. If you’ve got your game face on, then sizing up the building and the fire and grabbing all of the right tools come easy. It’s the members who have a poor attitude-who think that being assigned as RIT is punishment and approach the assignment as if it’s their last fire-who need some help or maybe some “friendly” encouragement.
When you go home to your family and someone asks you, “When you’re at a fire, who takes care of you and watches over you?” what do you answer? We know that the incident commander (IC) and the company officers take care of us and that as brothers and sisters we’re supposed to look out for one another, but how do you go about explaining about the group that gets assigned RIT and takes it on with a negative attitude? You know, the crew that’s kicking the ground because it didn’t get to “crash and bang” on this one. No one wants to give up the nozzle, getting the roof, or conducting a primary search, but just as important as those tasks is the task of being assigned as the rapid intervention team. Call it RIT, RIC, FAST, or whatever-it’s all about taking care of each other. It’s also about having enough people on the scene to do the job.
 (1) The RIT tarp is 8 feet 2 8 feet and is easily deployed. (Photos by author.) |
But each year it seems we see one or two firefighter fatalities that just maybe might not have occurred if a rapid intervention team were in place-there might have been a different outcome. So when it comes down to attitude, the only acceptable attitude when dealing with rapid intervention is a positive one.
We all realize that the RIT officer or team leader has to perform a size-up if the team is to perform well when faced with a firefighter rescue. But just about as important as the size-up is the rest of the team members’ gathering their tools and staging them where they can get to them quickly when they are needed. The IC or operations chief is going to tell you where you are to be positioned, or there may be in place a policy that leaves it up to the RIT officer to place the team and tools in the best vantage point.
ASSEMBLING THE TOOLS
RIT tools can be assembled in three groups.
- Group 1. If you just arrived on the scene and have time to grab only a few things before the Mayday or call for help goes out, we know that we would probably want to start out with a set of irons (halligan and flathead ax or sledgehammer) for forced entry and, more importantly, forced exit. Next, gather a search rope; a complete SCBA with facepiece (many departments issue a facepiece to each member but sometimes forget to issue one for the spare SCBA on the apparatus); and, if you have one, a thermal imaging camera. Note: Portable radios and flashlights should already be in place.
- Group 2. After those listed above, gather your spare SCBA bottles, ladders, saws (one for cutting wood and one for cutting metal, if needed), oxygen, defibrillator, sledgehammer (if not in the first group), and anything else your department requires or that may suit your needs.
- Group 3. Consider the availability of air bags, a set of jaws, a cutting torch, and an extended air supply. You may choose not to place any of the tools in this group in your tool staging area, but you may want to know that they are on the scene just in case you should need them.
Keep in mind also that when your RIT is activated for a lost or trapped firefighter, your group will grow to at least three times its initial size.
TARP ENSURES RIT TOOL AVAILABILITY
 (2) Note the “RIT” in each corner and the tool list that serves as a reminder of which tools to assemble. |
One problem that often arises on the fireground is that other firefighters in need of tools will grab those that the RIT laid out, thinking that they are “extra” and available for their use during the time RIT is assembling its tools. Firefighters exiting the building needing one more pike pole or halligan may not realize that these tools are assigned to the RIT. Keep in mind that firefighters should always have their tools with them.
In an effort to cut down on the confusion, we implemented the following system in the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department. Our department uses red or canvas salvage covers, so we purchased yellow 8-feet 2 8-feet salvage covers and placed in each corner, in big letters, “RIT.” These tarps are to be used only for the tools assigned to the RIT. Each apparatus has a tarp; when the RIT is assigned, it grabs the tarp and places it in the area where it will stage its tools. On one side of the tarp, to serve as a reminder, is a list of the tools the RIT should assemble. Once the tools are placed on the tarp or next to it, they become off limits to all but the RIT.
 (3) Each rig carries one RIT tarp, which is easily stored in a compartment. |
This system is great for not losing tools in the leaves, high weeds, or snow. The yellow color stands out. Department members know that the firefighters standing next to the tarp are probably the members of the RIT. The tarp is easy to store on the apparatus.
Some good news is that it seems that more and more fire departments are taking the rapid intervention concept more seriously. They are beginning to realize that it’s just one more way to take care of our own and that they “truly are their brother’s keeper!”
RICK LASKY, a 22-year veteran of the fire service, is chief of the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department. Previously, he was chief of the Coeur d’Alene (ID) Fire Department and training officer of the Darien-Woodridge (IL) and Bedford Park (IL) Fire Departments. While in Illinois, he taught for the Illinois Fire Service Institute and Illinois Fire Chiefs’ Association and received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors “Innovator of the Year” award for his part in the development of the “Saving Our Own” program. He is the lead instructor for the H.O.T. Firefighter Survival program at FDIC West and is co-lead instructor for the program at FDIC. He is an editorial advisory board member of Fire Engineering and serves on the FDIC and FDIC WEST advisory committees.
