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Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

S. O. G.’s

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Standard Operating Guidelines

Chapter 2: After Receiving a Dispatch for a 10-70 or 10-50

Working Copy | Revised August, 2007

S. O. G.’s

After Receiving a Dispatch for a 10-70 or 10-50

The following are intended to be guidelines and not put-in-concrete rules for firefighting. Remember that Safety is Number One.

Call Dispatch to inform them that you are on the way to the fire hall

Go to the fire hall

Do not go to the accident unless it is on your way to the fire hall, or you have been permitted by the Chief to carry your PPE [Personal Protective Equipment: helmet, bunker jacket and trousers, fire boots, gloves, hood, ear and eye protection] in your private vehicle

Remember that two are needed to roll a truck or van

Remember than the tanker may be taken by one driver if it is going as Mutual Aid for another department

If one person is at the scene, a truck or van can be rolled; try to take the other person’s turn-out gear with you to the fire scene as well as your own

Once one person has radioed Central to tell them that they are 10-8 [in service] all other firefighters should contact that person.

Only one person should contact central; too much chatter on the radio causes confusion

Put your bunker gear on at the hall unless you carry it with you in hot weather

Start the truck

An eligible EVOC Certified driver or Chief’s designee shall drive to the fire scene

A designee driver is one who has been cleared by the Chief to drive

If an eligible driver is not found, other firefighters may go to the fire scene in their POVs and tell Central that assistance is needed from another fire department

Other

Who is Eligible to Ride in a Fire Truck

Eligible driver: has been approved by the Chief. He/she is 21 years of age or older. He/she may have taken an EVOC class through Virginia Emergency Services classrooms, or VFIS Insurance.

Eligible passenger: a fire department member.

Riding to a Fire or Car Wreck / Arriving

Riding to the fire scene is a very important act. If you arrive alive you can help save someone’s life or personal property. If you are dead you can help no one. Here are some things to look for as you drive to the fire scene:

Buckle Up

The driver and "shotgun" should keep a close eye out for people who do not hear the fire vehicle, see the fire vehicle, or don’t care about the fire vehicle. All of those can cause your day to turn to crud.

The driver or shot-gun shall call Central Dispatch and say they are "Enroute"

The shot-gun should help the driver negotiate stop signs by calling "clear on the right". The driver should stop at all stop signs, regardless of Emergency Traffic "lights and sirens". The shot-gun should help the driver negotiate backing situations.

Keep radio chatter to a minimum

Do not ride on the tail-board of a fire truck

When you arrive on-scene, tell Central Dispatch you "have arrived on-scene"

Find a good place to park the truck

Keep the truck away from fire

Keep the truck out of traffic unless there is no where else to park

You can block the road if you need to with your fire vehicle

Chauk [scotch] the vehicle

Place fire vehicle in pump mode

Provide water to the firefighters; provide another set of eyes as Safety Officer until one can be appointed by the Chief Officer

When you leave the scene and return to the Fire Station, tell Dispatch you "have completed the assignment and enroute back to the station". Size Up

Size Up is the Chief’s or Incident Commander’s [IC] or first arriving driver’s job to determine what is needed by the Fire Department on the fire scene.What’s burning?

Are lives in danger?

What is the nature of the emergency?

What’s on fire?

Do I have my truck where it will do the most good and do the least harm?

Do I have enough firefighters to cope with this fire scene?

Do I need to call for help?

Do not be afraid to call on other fire departments; they have all told Fort Blackmore they are more than willing to come … day or night… any hour of the day or night.

Contact Dispatch and ask for more "Manpower" or "Water" or another truck or another Fire Department

Fighting a House Fire

Fighting a house fire is a Science. It is not our intent in this SOG to write down how to combat a house fire. It would take several thousand pages. However, it is important to have some things in mind as you fight fire.

Have you been trained to your own satisfaction by the Chief and Training Officer?

Do you feel able to combat fire inside a burning house?

Are you in reasonably good health so as not to endanger your fellow firefighters?

Firefighting is a very physically demanding task

Firefighting is dangerous

Firefighting has been known to kill people

Do you have the equipment available to fight fire?

Other

Fighting a Car Fire

Fighting a car fire is a Science. It is not our intent in this SOG to write down how to combat a car fire. It would take several thousand pages. However, it is important to have some things in mind as you fight fire.

Have you been trained to your own satisfaction by the Chief and Training Officer?

Do you feel able to combat a car fire?

Are you in reasonably good health so as not to endanger your fellow firefighters?

Firefighting is a very physically demanding task

Firefighting is dangerous

Firefighting has been known to kill people

Do you have the equipment available to fight fire?

Other

Responding to a Vehicle Accident without Injuries

The responsibilities of a firefighter toward a vehicle accident are not easily defined. However, safety is your number one concern, as always. Next comes the safety of the vehicle occupants. Be sure they are safe before concerning yourself with the vehicle. Here are some objectives that may be followed at the scene of a 10-50:

Remove persons from the vehicle if they have no injuries

Keep in mind that the victims may have injuries even through they don’t realize it

Determine if there is fire or fire potential

Keep bystanders away from the vehicle

If there is fire, use foam if possible to extinguish

Use water to wash debris off the roadway; sweep debris off the roadway; try to get the larger pieces picked up; you can throw them into the vehicle for lack of a better place

If there is oil or gasoline on the roadway use absorb-all [oil-dry] and contain the spill; if it is a small amount move it to the shoulder of the roadway; for a large amount, refer to the HAZMAT Section

It is not the responsibility of FBVFD to direct traffic during a Vehicle Accident; if a firefighter is used to direct traffic he/she must be aware that oncoming drivers may behave unpredictably.

Use a flashlight with cone at night to direct traffic

Use highway fusees/flares placed at least 100’ from the scene and around corners

Wear your turn-out gear for the reflective stripes as well as your helmet; during hot weather the firefighter should make stay ready to fight fire and help victims; opening your jacket or taking it off is OK but keep it handy.

Cooperate with police

If possible use two firefighters to control traffic; otherwise they will be needed at the fire scene

Provide First Aid to victims if you are trained to do so

Other

Responding to a Vehicle Accident with Injuries or Fire

The responsibilities of a firefighter toward a vehicle accident are not easily defined. However, safety is your number one concern, as always, followed by the safety of the vehicle occupant[s]. Be sure the victim[s] are safe before concerning yourself with the vehicle. Here are some objectives that may be followed at the scene of a 10-50:

Alert Scott County Central that you have a 10-50 P.I. or 10-70 Car Fire if you have not already done so, and that you have arrived on-scene [10-23].

Alert Scott County Central if they have not called for Rescue Squad

Block the road with your fire vehicle if necessary to maintain a safety zone around yourself and the victim[s]

Only remove victims from a burning or otherwise hazardous wreck; remove them carefully to as not to aggravate any injuries; otherwise, if their life is not in immediate danger, wait for EMS to extricate; help the EMS extricate and remove victims from the vehicle; Do not remove persons from the vehicle if they have injuries unless there is danger from fire or other hazardous conditions; Keep in mind that the victims may have injuries that are very severe that you are not aware of; Keep in mind that you may do more damage to the victim than the accident caused if you move them

Only treat victims if you have been trained in CPR/1^st Responder/First Aid/EMT; provide comfort to all victims; keep victims as comfortable as possible; talk to them and explain what you will be doing; watch them for evidence of further injuries or shock

Keep bystanders away from the vehicle; have the road deputies remove bystanders if they are in danger or a nuisance

Disconnect the battery if not on fire

If a fire begins, extinguish using foam or dry chemical if possible

Use water to wash debris off the roadway; sweep debris off the roadway; try to get the larger pieces picked up; you can throw them into the vehicle for lack of a better place

Check for fluid leaks, especially gasoline; If there is oil or gasoline on the roadway use absorb-all [oil-dry] and contain the spill; if it is a small amount move it to the shoulder of the roadway; for a large amount, refer to the HAZMAT Section

Directing Traffic:

It is not the responsibility of FBVFD to direct traffic during a Vehicle Accident; if a firefighter is used to direct traffic he/she must be aware that oncoming drivers may behave unpredictably, and directing traffic can be a very risky operation to those who are not alert

Use a flashlight with cone at night to direct traffic

Use highway fusees/flares placed at least 100’ from the scene and around corners

Cooperate with police

If possible use two firefighters to control traffic; use Channel 2 [Fire Ground] if it is not being used; otherwise these firefighters will be needed at the fire scene

Extinguish Fire

Use foam if possible to extinguish; use dry-chemical for small fires; in the case of a completely engulfed vehicle fire water is your best solution [foam products are expensive] unless there are other exposures that need to be protected

Clean Road Way

Use water to wash debris off the roadway; sweep debris off the roadway; try to get the larger pieces picked up; you can throw them into the vehicle for lack of a better place