Proactively Accomplishing Rapid Intervention Functions with Truck Company Operations

1. Truck company operations are essential on every fireground and facilitate firefighter safety. (Photos by author.)

Structural firefighting standard operating guidelines (SOGs) should incorporate all identified “safety” functions, which should be implemented consistently. These actions often resemble truck company functions, because, in essence, they are the same. Many of the duties that fall within the responsibilities of the RIC will be satisfied proactively when complete truck company functions are accurately assigned in an effective SOG. Fireground leaders must understand the risks associated with structural firefighting. Even though we cannot eliminate the complete risks associated with firefighting, we must anticipate the hazards and be proactive in our initiatives. Therefore, functional assignments must be made early in the tactical game plan that not only account for the strategic achievement of actively rescuing occupants and removing the hazard but also facilitate operational safety.

Traditional RIC Functions

Several typical, minimal functions are associated with or assigned to RIC, including the following:

• Assembling the appropriate rescue equipment/tools.
• Conducting an additional size-up and assessing conditions and hazards.
• Communicating findings and need to the incident safety officer.
• Considering the need for additional ladder placement.
• Evaluating and removing egress hazards.
• Remaining physically and mentally prepared for an emergency or trapped firefighters.

This is a condensed list; however, many of these functions are proactive—immediate action must take place to secure firefighter safety, regardless of whether it’s an actual emergency event or a Mayday. It isn’t a matter of simply assembling equipment and being ready, or “on deck.”

Many of these functions should be incorporated into initial, prioritized fireground actions, and they should be considered essential to the coordinated fire attack. The most notable of these include laddering and egress considerations. However, these are more than rapid intervention activities. They should also be on the task lists of truck companies or companies that have been assigned truck company operations, in accordance with effective SOGs.

NFPA 1710 Recommendations and Standard

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, sets the parameters and provides guidelines for career fire departments for fire suppression activities at structure fires. Initial rapid intervention crew (IRIC) and RIC mandates are specifically mentioned in Chapter 5 of the document. The initial alarm assignment is outlined within the chapter and stipulates activities that should be implemented at structure fires. NFPA 1720 is almost the same standard; however, it is specifically designated for volunteer departments. This standard closely mirrors NFPA 1710, developed for volunteer agencies with slight verbiage and procedural differences.

At a minimum, it is specifically stated within this section that IRIC should be established from the initial attack crew and that a sustained RIC should be established as the full alarm assignment arrives. At this point, it is important to differentiate between the meanings of IRIC and RIC:

• IRIC: Two members of the initial attack crew, positioned outside the IDLH, trained and equipped as specified in NFPA 1407, who are assigned for rapid deployment to rescue lost or trapped members.
• RIC: A dedicated crew of at least one officer and three members, positioned outside the IDLH, trained and equipped as specified in NFPA 1407, who are assigned for rapid deployment to rescue lost or trapped members (photo 2).

It should be noted that the timing of the establishment of IRIC is immediate on the implementation of interior structure fire operations or when any members enter the IDLH. The IRIC standard is the source for the term “two in/two out.”

The establishment of a sustained RIC, however, is not as specific. It is stipulated that the RIC should be established at any time during the arrival of the full alarm assignment. It is equally important to point out that the standard does not specifically detail the functions assigned to the RIC. The document merely specifies the purpose of the crew, which is assignment for the rapid deployment to rescue lost or trapped members. This crew can be depicted as being reactionary, at the ready, or “on deck” for a firefighter emergency.

Developing a “Safety Net” for Operations

Truck company operations serve multiple purposes on the fireground. They are essential in facilitating fire attack and to supporting the main fireground objective, saving lives by conducting search and rescue functions. Truck company functions, however, do something else that is just as important. They support firefighter and fireground safety. Numerous truck functions are used to provide a safety net that limit or attempt to reduce fireground risks, allowing for interior operations and providing firefighter safety.

Safe firefighting activities within a structure fire require that certain fireground actions be implemented on a consistent basis to guarantee crew and occupant safety. Often, some of these functions are taken for granted or not implemented with consistency. RIC is not the proverbial golden parachute and the only necessary action to be taken to guarantee safety. The fireground risk pendulum can swing in the positive direction with a “safety net” consisting of numerous fireground functions. Accounting for all essential truck functions is not only necessary for the objective achievement of saving lives and property; it also allows for the safety of interior firefighting.

Fireground commanders and fire service leaders have an obligation to implement a system that ensures accountability for fireground safety. We must have the ability to reduce our risk for interior operations. This is a coordinated effort of multiple functions. These elements include the following:

• Experienced fireground command officers.
• Establishing a command structure, including a qualified safety officer.
• Placing an attack line in the proper place, of the right size, and at the proper time (almost always ASAP).
• Controlling the structure (ventilating or restricting ventilation and utility control).
• Providing egress and softening the structure.
• Communications and accountability.
• Backup lines.
• IRIC.
• RIC.
• EMS/advanced life support.

Safe firefighting activities within a structure require that certain fireground actions be implemented on a consistent basis to guarantee crew safety. And the painful reality is that certain agencies within the United States do not have the capability and resources to ensure this safety net at every fire. Fire officers need to be realistic when assessing fireground necessity and make a brave decision based on capability and not ego. The variables of staffing, resources, and response area characteristics can have a serious effect on this reality and even handicap the safety net.

Truck company functions are a large component of the fireground safety net. Their coordination with engine company operations promotes safer work environments for interior operations at structure fires. After analyzing the identified list of safety net components, you can clearly see that this is evident, with many traditional truck company functions identified. However, let’s be more specific and truly pinpoint how they add to interior firefighting safety. This can be done by identifying and grouping the truck company functions of the fireground safety net into two main categories of fire suppression activities:

• Facilitating rapid fire suppression.
• Providing quick access to firefighter egress and removing hazards (photo 3).

Proactive vs. Reactive Designations

During the development of analysis of structure fire SOGs, one question often comes up: “When should the RIC team be established in relation to the arrival of assigned apparatus?” Keep in mind that fireground functions are assigned to arriving apparatus by the determined prioritization of the action. The actions that make the largest impact to the situation and provide immediate outcomes to the event, such as rescue and fire control, are prioritized with the highest priority and assigned initially within the SOG. Fireground actions that contribute to the coordinated fire attack and provide safety elements for both occupants and firefighting operations should also be a major consideration.

A common debate, especially when faced with lower staffing and limited resources, is the immediate use of resources. Should the immediately available resources be assigned to actions that assist the coordinated fire attack, or should a unit be immediately placed on deck and be available for RIC and firefighter rescue? Firefighter safety should never be diminished; however, functionality and purpose must be thoroughly analyzed. Do the functions associated with the coordinated fire attack facilitate proactive actions that are contributing to firefighter safety?

Many structure fire SOGs commit early arriving companies to fire attack and facilitating truck company operations, delegating later arriving apparatus to the RIC role. It can be argued that the traditional RIC functions that were identified as proactive are being implemented by delegated companies assigned to truck company duties. If companies are actively laddering upper floors, removing hazards, and ensuring adequate safe egress for interior crews, the risk associated with interior firefighting operations is being addressed proactively. Keep in mind that the risks associated with interior firefighting cannot be completely removed. However, we must attempt to provide an operational system that provides safeguards and removes an element of risk, through identified fireground functions.

RIC is essential at every fireground. Truck companies and companies assigned to the truck company role do not eliminate the need for the RIC. An exterior team must be at the ready with the appropriate tools to effect the rescue of a firefighter in peril. The importance is to evaluate the differences between the RIC functions and realize the differences between proactive and reactive actions, prioritizing the proactive higher on the fireground safety spectrum. This prioritization necessitates the common practice of assigning these functions earlier in the fireground order of actions, prior to the formal RIC assignment.

Supportive Data

The FDNY Safety Command collected data for a 20-year period from 1989 through 2008 in relation to information associated with serious firefighter injury or fatality. Even though the report is dated, it provides compelling information about firefighter rescue and Maydays. The data revealed that the averaged elapsed time from the working fire confirmation until the Mayday transmission was 19 minutes. It also provided that the average time to find a missing member was 5 minutes, 18 seconds, with an average removal time of 12 minutes, 41 seconds. The most compelling data was the unit who located the member who transmitted the Mayday:

• 1st alarm units: 76.47%.
• Special Operations Command (rescues and squads): 11.76%.
• F.A.S.T. (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) Unit (RIC): 5.88%.
• Other: 5.88%.

This data supports the argument that companies actively involved in fire attack or “proactively” implementing actions supporting the coordinated fire attack found the down firefighter in 88.23% of the occurrences.

Keep in mind, once again, that this does not diminish the necessity for RIC. In fact, the data also showed that the firefighter removal was technical in 67.74% of the instances. This report, however, did confirm the importance of initial operating company actions and the timing involved in the Mayday event.

Be Proactive in Implementation

Fireground safety is more than a single function and cannot be accomplished by simply having a crew at the ready, waiting for deployment to a firefighter rescue. Even though we cannot remove the complete risk of the fireground, we can implement actions that help protect interior crews. Being proactive in the implementation is far more positive than the late stage of reaction. Take control of the situation by actively implementing the functions that make the biggest impact on the situation and account for all truck company functions that facilitate a safer operating environment. RICs are absolutely necessary; however, they are the last piece of the “safety” puzzle and the last line of defense.

REFERENCE

NFPA 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 2020. bit.ly/47OEHr2.

JIM SILVERNAIL is chief of the Kirkwood (MO) Fire Department with 28 years of service. He has a master of arts in human resources management and a bachelor of arts in business administration and is an Executive Fire Officer. He is the author of Suburban Fire Tactics and co-author of Suburban Fire Tactics from the Right Seat video and serves on both the Fire Engineering and FDIC Advisory Boards.