Mayday Drill: Years in the Making

(1) Suffolk (VA) Fire & Rescue’s first large-scale Mayday training exercise. Commercial buildings are essential for realistic Mayday and RIT training; this old elementary school provided the requisite space and realism. (Photos courtesy of Suffolk Fire & Rescue.)

A colleague and I put together a slide presentation for SFR as the initial teaching of rapid intervention, which incorporated Mayday procedures. Over a few years, this was reviewed in the classroom setting and updated often. We conducted in-house drills and training in conjunction with the classroom delivery. SFR had not conducted a large-scale exercise to incorporate the entire fire department until 2022 (photo 1).

Large-Scale Department Mayday Training

In 2021, I was tasked with delivering a large-scale departmentwide Mayday training to SFR. A training team consisted of me, the training division captain, and a captain assigned to the rescue company. We developed a syllabus and identified the goals, objectives, and desired outcomes of the training exercise. The goals and objectives were to focus on our incident command system (ICS), train on activating and deploying RIT, evaluate fireground communications, and evaluate how SFR would respond to a Mayday incident with the objective to save one of our own.

Next, we had to find a building that would allow for realistic and verifiable Mayday and RIT training. At this point, we had a plan but no location. We wanted to conduct the exercise during the week to allow more staff officers and support staff to take part and to enable the operational crews to participate with their crews on their apparatus while out of service so they did not have to stop to run calls. The training team desired a vacant commercial building that would have obstacles, clutter, and many rooms. After a year of drill development and searching for a commercial building, the training team obtained the use a centrally located elementary school used for storage. With a training plan and location selected, the training team presented the plan to the deputy chief of operations. After careful review, the training team was approved to begin the departmental RIT and Mayday exercise by conducting two exercises per day with a morning and afternoon session.

Mayday Exercise

SFR conducted 12 four-hour Mayday exercises/drills during February and March 2022. SFR has 300 firefighters and officers who staff two battalions with 11 engines, three ladders, one heavy rescue, eight advanced life support (ALS) ambulances, a shift safety officer, and two emergency medical service (EMS) supervisors. The evolution’s scenario was an initial dispatch for a commercial fire alarm at the old elementary school. Each evolution was assigned three engines, one ladder, one heavy rescue, one ALS medic, one EMS supervisor, one safety officer, and two battalion chiefs (BCs).

The first-arriving company performed a scene size-up and was met by the school’s principal (an actor), who was exiting the front of the building in distress. Smoke machines simulated heavy smoke conditions that allowed the first-arriving crews to observe smoke billowing from the building; sometime after fire department arrival, an explosion would be heard coming from the science lab.

(2) Smoke machines produced heavy smoke conditions that allowed for the first-arriving crews to observe smoke showing from the building on arrival.

The principal explained that the janitor was last seen near the science lab, mopping floors. Other than the principal and the unaccounted-for janitor, everyone else was reported to be gone for the day. Evaluators and facilitators set up and reset the scenarios and ensured the scenarios were consistent for each evolution. Each facilitator was assigned to specific areas to evaluate performance, with one assigned to the exterior at the command post; one assigned to the fire room; and one assigned to the room where the Mayday occurred, which is also where the civilian (janitor) was located.

Although operations were not always performed in the same manner, they were most often accomplished as follows:

• The first-arriving company pulled an attack line and entered the structure searching for the janitor and the fire.
• The second-arriving company performed water supply and crew-assigned search; the first-arriving BC assumed command.
• The third-arriving company was assigned RIT.
• The fourth-arriving company was assigned the second attack line and search.
• The ALS medic stood by to initiate treatment and transport of the fire victim; the fifth-arriving company staged.
• The second-arriving BC and the EMS supervisor reported to the command post and the safety officer was assigned safety.

As crews entered the building, with no visibility and many obstacles placed in the hallways to challenge their progress, they located the fire room and initiated fire attack. The facilitator provided frequent updates on fire conditions—e.g., fire progressed to the cockloft and was spreading to adjacent classrooms, and so forth. The second crew progressed down the long corridor and found the science lab where the janitor was located. Once the officer radioed command that the victim had been located, a simulated wall collapse occurred with debris landing on the firefighter who was operating in the science lab, pinning him under heavy debris. The officer immediately called a “Mayday” after the simulated wall collapse. The incident proceeded with the well-involved fire in the classroom that continued to spread toward the science lab where the victim and the down firefighter were located. The incident commander (IC) had to work through three separate objectives simultaneously—a fire attack, a victim removal, and a Mayday. The facilitator in the science lab indicated the down firefighter was low on air and that personnel could not lift the simulated wall and debris on the top of the down firefighter. The removal of the wall and debris required technical rescue equipment to free the down member.

(3) With any large-scale event, the incident commander depends on the command and general staff to ensure the execution of critical items and assignments. During the Mayday training exercises, a command village was established to ensure all tactical channels were monitored and operations continued while the Mayday was executed.

(4) The successful rescue of the down firefighter culminated with gear removal, ALS assessment, loading onto a stretcher, and movement to the medic unit.

As the incident continued, the IC activated the RIT and coordinated the fire attack, the victim removal, and the rescue of the down firefighter. The incident concluded once the victim was removed, the down firefighter was rescued, and the fire was extinguished. Each evolution was wrapped up with a “hot wash”; this provided lessons learned for the evolution and for the department’s future RIT deployments.

Evaluators and facilitators captured the lessons learned from all 12 exercises, which will be used in future evolutions and exercises to refine the skills for executing a successful Mayday. Common themes identified in all the evolutions include radio communications, the importance of prefire planning, firefighter removal techniques, rescue equipment, RIT packs, SCBA knowledge, tactical/Mayday worksheets, calling the second alarm early, using ICS terminology, using multiple tactical channels, and the dispatcher’s role in fireground communications.

Postincident Analysis

After the evolutions, a postincident analysis occurred with the command officers (i.e., all the BCs), who acted as the evolutions’ ICs. The goal was how to improve our Mayday event. The following are priorities for SFR to address before our next fireground Mayday and our next Mayday Full-Scale Exercise, which occurred in February 2023.

• Communications. Communications are key during a Mayday. With our latest SCBA, compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services (2019 Ed.), talking on the portable radio was challenging because we had to learn how to use the in-mask Bluetooth technology in the new SCBA. For example, pairing and switching channels while engaging in firefighting and rescue operations were a challenge. We identified the following solutions to these issues:
  • Don’t pull your radio mic to your mask. With the new Bluetooth technology, this can distort the sender’s voice. Users must learn how to key the radio mic whether it is on the radio strap or in a turnout pocket to communicate clearly.
  • Speak calmly. With the in-mask Bluetooth technology, the user need not raise his voice to communicate clearly.
  • Ensure the face mask has a tight seal. The slightest air movement out of your mask distorts the Bluetooth-enabled in-mask communications.
  • Ensure the radio assigned is paired to the correct SCBA. When starting your shift, or when changing riding assignments throughout the shift, ensure the radio assigned to the SCBA is paired to the correct SCBA. Having the correct radio assigned to the designated SCBA is necessary for pairing SCBA to specific radios. For example, an officer radio will not pair/communicate with a firefighter/jump seat pack. Mismatching an officer’s SCBA and a jump seat radio will not allow the in-mask communications to pair, resulting in ineffective fireground communications.
  • Devise a plan to inform the IC if the paired SCBA radio is not working. Have a plan to notify and communicate with the IC if your paired SCBA radio is not functioning during operations. Know how to communicate in an alternative and effective manner if you lose the Bluetooth pairing or if your SCBA does not pair in an immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) atmosphere.
  • Advise the IC if you cannot respond or provide updates in a timely manner. Because all hands were working and rescues were accomplished quickly, officers and crews were unable to respond to the IC’s requests for updates and progress reports on rescue efforts, needs, and conditions. Develop a response—e.g., “Stand by command, I will update you once we execute the rescue.”
• Prefire planning. Prior to the fire or event, create detailed prefire plans. The IC must have a detailed, accurate depiction of the interior areas inside a commercial or educational building with landmarks—e.g., cafeteria, science lab, atrium, math hallway, and so forth. Also, the preplan must identify alternate exit/entry points, hazardous areas, roof access points, and utilities so the IC can guide incoming and interior crews.
• RIT packs. Train to use RIT packs in a zero-visibility environment. Turn the RIT pack’s bottle “on” while in staging or before the Mayday. Through repetitive training, learn how to secure that RIT pack to the down firefighter in zero visibility. Learn and develop proficiency functions of the RIT pack and SCBA—e.g., changing regulators, the trans fill, and buddy breathing functions.
• Firefighter removal. Firefighter removal is difficult with obstacles such as charged hoselines. Develop proficiency in moving down firefighters in zero visibility; in high heat; and over obstacles using stokes baskets, the firefighter’s integrated drag rescue device, webbing, half boards, and so forth.
• Rescue equipment. Train on deploying rescue equipment in zero-visibility, IDLH environments. Practice with high lift jacks, pry bars, and battery-operated saws in smoke-filled environments. Stage equipment on a designated “RIT tarp” as close as possible to where firefighters are working and stage equipment appropriate to the building’s construction type.
• Tactical/Mayday worksheets. Review your tactical and Mayday worksheets to ensure they are relevant and updated. Ensure that the benchmarks listed include what equipment to stage for specific building construction types in your response area.
• Calling additional alarms. Review what equipment will respond once you request a second alarm. Is the complement enough to deal with a Mayday operation? Should you request more than a second, third, or fourth alarm once a Mayday occurs? Review the effective response force needed for your department by training for Maydays. Remember, fire suppression operations must continue while the down firefighter is being rescued simultaneously. A four-firefighter RIT may be unable to execute the rescue operation. Through training, discover the number needed and request additional alarms.
• ICS terminology. ICS terminology use was inconsistent in these evolutions. Train on consistent use of ICS terminology so that the IC, the firefighters, and the officers at the incident know what to expect at a Mayday. For example, will the RIT officer be called the “Rescue Group”? When additional companies are assigned to the rescue, will you use the terminology “RIT 1” and “RIT 2”?
• Requesting a separate channel. Train on who is expected to change tactical channels—e.g., does rescue operations stay on the original tactical channel and fire operations move to a separate tactical channel? Do all operations stay on the same tactical channel with only “emergency traffic” transmitted on the same tactical channel? Train and refine your department’s policies on who moves tactical channels and when the move occurs.
• Dispatch. Integrate your dispatchers into Mayday training. If you use tactical dispatchers, train and prepare them for assigning and monitoring multiple tactical channels and more.
• Annual training. Routinely train companies and battalions on Mayday and RIT skills. It is imperative to perform RIT and Mayday drills annually. Exercising the entire department with large-scale evolutions will ensure proficiency and you can incorporate practice and policy modifications based on the lessons learned.

Overall, SFR’s Mayday large-scale exercise was a success. Crews participated in a realistic event that demonstrated a Mayday event’s complexity during a working fire. SFR want to have two incidents occur under one roof. SFR firefighters, officers, and ICs experienced the complexity of a Mayday occurring while suppressing a rapidly growing fire, and they adapted. The training team and training division did an excellent job with the logistics and planning to provide fire operations with a realistic building and a scenario that challenged everyone who participated.

Ultimately, there are areas where SFR can improve based on the results of these evolutions. SFR is committed to building on this evolution and expanding the next drill based on the lessons learned. The goal is to perform Mayday and RIT drills annually to prepare our firefighters, officers, and ICs for Mayday operations.

On April 13, 2022, just a month and a half after the Mayday training occurred, our department was dispatched to a working apartment fire with reports of trapped children. On arrival, crews came upon two children being rescued by the battalion chief, who responded from a few blocks away. Once the battalion chief executed the rescue and exited the building, the children were handed over to Suffolk police officers. Companies on arrival found the structure well-involved with fire on the B/C corner and extending into the attic. The BC was advised that more children were possibly inside the structure and started giving assignments for searches and fire attack on both floors. The second engine company in was assigned a search of the second floor and experienced a rollover.

The acting officer called a Mayday because of a momentary loss of the attack line during the rollover. The IC quickly assigned the two companies working on that floor to get to the engine company that was calling the “Mayday.” The firefighters who called the “Mayday” found the hoseline and proceeded down the hallway and met the rescue company assigned to find them. The IC was notified and cleared the Mayday. Interior companies reported “All clear” on the search for the remaining children and crews resumed an extensive interior fire attack. After the incident, crews attributed its success to our recent training on Mayday operations.

Endnote

1. “Major Requirements of OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134” describes procedures for respirator use in IDLH atmospheres. In addition, interior structural firefighting requires the use of SCBA and a protective practice known as “two-in/two-out”—at least two employees must enter and remain in visual or voice contact with one another at all times, and at least two employees must be located outside. Note that this is not meant to preclude firefighters from performing emergency rescue activities before an entire team has assembled. (https://bit.ly/3ynNdhC)

OWEN C. THOMASSON III is a 32-year fire service veteran and captain with the Suffolk (VA) Fire and Rescue Department, assigned to an engine company. He is an officer II, instructor II, advanced emergency medical technician, and NFA incident safety officer. Thomasson has an associate degree in fire science and has developed numerous training programs for his department’s RIT and Mayday operations.

MICHAEL J. BARAKEY, CFO, is a 30-year fire service veteran and the chief of Suffolk (VA) Fire & Rescue. He is a hazmat specialist; an instructor III; a nationally registered paramedic; and a neonatal/pediatric critical care paramedic for the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. Barakey is the participating agency representative and former task force leader for VA-TF2 US&R team and an exercise design/controller for Spec Rescue International. He has a master’s degree in public administration from Old Dominion University and graduated from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program in 2009. Barakey authored Critical Decision Making: Point-To-Point Leadership in Fire and Emergency Services (Fire Engineering) , regularly contributes to Fire Engineering, and is an FDIC International instructor.