OAKLAND FIRE

 RAPID INTERVENTION CREW

REFRESHER TRAINING
 COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES
 Define the purpose of the rapid
intervention crew
 Discuss the updates in the new RIC
policy
 Discuss scenarios that may
warrant the need for RIC
 Introduce & outline uses of new
RIC equipment cache
 Cognitive objectives
 Outline the RIC officer’s role
 Outline the RIC firefighters role
 Discuss RIC operations in
residential structures
 Discuss RIC operations in high-rise
& large area structures
 RIC committee
 DC Williams  Ca Hunter

 AC Hoffman
 CA Sherman
 BC Peyton
 Lt Macpherson
 BC BAKER

 CA MCWHORTER  Lt Simmons
 WE ARE HERE IN HOPE OF
PREVINTING A FUTURE LODD
IN OUR ORGANIZATION

Nation Fallen Firefighters Memorial

 Common FF RESCUE
SCENARIOS
 ASSISTING/RESCUING A FF OF
YOUR OWN CREW
 ASSITING/RESCUING A FF
ENCOUNTERED DURING INTERIOR
OPERATIONS
 ASSISTING/RESCUING A FF WHEN
PERFORMING AS PART OF A RIC
 New RIC Policy
 RIC versus RIT
 Securing utilities and softening the
structure
 Terminology when declaring an
emergency
 RIC worksheet/check off list
 Setting up the RIC cache
 New RIC equipment
Search Rope
M.A.S.T.
Webbing

RIC Equipment Staging Mat

Personal Tag Lines

RIC PACK

Phoenix Loops
RIC Pack
RIC Equipment Staging
Mat
M.A.S.T.
PHOENIX LOOPS
WEBBING
Search Rope
 New terminology
 “Emergency Traffic, Emergency
Traffic, Emergency Traffic”
 Do not use “Mayday” terminology!

 P.A.C.C.A.N.
 Pass Alarm, Assessment,
Communicate, Conditions, Actions &
Needs
 Discretionary RIC
Equipment
 Halligan bar & flathead axe
 Bolt-cutters
 Pry bar
 Stokes basket
 Rope bag and small cache of
rescue hardware
 Additional equipment at crew
discretion
OFFICER’S ROLE
THERE ARE NO SECOND
CHANCES WHEN IT COMES TO
RESCUING A FF
 Company Officer’s Role
and Responsibilities
 Inform Members of  Insure that All RIC
their RIC function at equipment is
properly retrieved
roll call.
once on scene.
 Properly train  Obtain a condition
members. and resource status
report from the IC
 Insure that Members
are in a “ready
mode” at all times.
 Good Behaviors On The
Part Of The RIC Officer
 Issuing complete  Exhibiting
orders. confidence.
 Making strong  Exhibiting strong
tactical decisions. command
 Maintaining crew presence.
accountability  Calling for help
early.
Maintain crew integrity at
all times!
 RIC Operations
 The RIC must remain disciplined
throughout the operation
 RIC shall be implemented during
the initial stages of the incident
 RIC shall report to the incident
commander
 No freelancing
 RIC members must remain in
visual and/or radio contact at all
times
 RIC Location
 The corner of the building is the
preferred location.

 Allows for access and view of two

sides of the building.

 Safety zone in the event of a

collapse.
Residential
 RIC Location
(Large Building)
 Front corner, back corner, and/or
side.

 Determined by the IC.

 Consider the size of the building

and level of fire involvement.
 Large Structure

Back side
Side

Front

Consider multiple entry points

 RIC Location
(High Rise)
 Preferred location is one floor
below the fire floor.

 Keeps the crew out of the staging

area.

 Closer to fire floor for monitoring

conditions
High Rise

One floor below fire floor

 RIC Tools and Equipment
 Hand Lights  Thermal imaging
 Halligan bar camera
 RIC pack  Wire cutters
 Webbing  Flat-Head axe
 Search Rope  Glow Sticks

SET UP AT EVERY INCIDENT

RIC rescuing is not
a technical rescue!
Use basic tools and
procedures to remove down
FIREFIGHTER from a structure
DISCIPLINE AND
BEHAVIORS
 What Is Being Proactive?
 Knowing building and fire conditions
 Knowing Where resources are on the
fire ground
 Gathering general information on
building layout
 Identifying hazards
 Having crew-members in a ready mode
What The RIC Crew Should
Not Be Doing
 Actively engaging in routine
firefighter duties

 Freelancing

 Breaking away from crew integrity

RIC is RIC!!
 As the RIC, you
are doing your
fellow
brother/sister a
disservice if you
are not acting in
your assigned
role!
 Common Negative
Dynamics During RIC
Operations
 Confusion

 Anxiety and panic

 Denial

 Retreat
RIC training drills
 RIC Training Drills

 Remember: keep your rescue

efforts basic unless the situation
dictates otherwise.
 Train as if your life
depends on it--it does!
 RIC Training Evolutions
 P.A.C.C.A.N.  Thermal imaging
report camera
 Air management  Victim packaging
 Search rope  Victim removal
 Equipment cache  Small & large
review area search
 Training Sessions
with your company
 Mix discussion  Design training
with “hands on” for results
 Keep training  Emphasize safety
realistic  Consistently train
 Require full
participation
RIC Officer Size-Up
 Size Up
 Conduct a reconnaissance of the
structure
 Operate with at least one other
member (two sets of eyes are
better than one)
 Preplan possible rescue scenarios
 What To Bring Back To
The Crew
 Fire conditions  Building access
 Building points
construction type  Special concerns
 Elapsed fire (fences, bars…)
ground time  Building pre-plan
 “Air Aware”
OXYGEN IS AN ESSENTIAL
NEED OF THE HUMAN BODY
 SCBA Constraints
 Experience (training)

 Individual physical abilities

 Our SCBA
AIR Usage Fact
The average consumption
rate is 170 to 200 psi per
minute
How long will your
4500 psi bottle
last?

If you don’t know-then start

training to find out!
RIC Deployment
 The Rule of Three
 Plan on using at least three crews
once you have been deployed
 Who takes care of the first in RIC
once they have been deployed
 Who is the RIC for the rest of the
crews still operating
On average, it will take at
least 12-14 firefighters to
rescue one member
 What Information Do I
Need Upon Deployment
L.U.N.A.R.
 Location of the  Assignment (what
he/she was doing
down firefighter
 Radio (do they have
 Unit assigned to a radio)
 Name of the down  Resources (what
firefighter resources will the
RIC crew need)
 First In Objectives
FOR THE RIC
 Search and locate

 Landmark

 Check air amount and integrity of the

SCBA unit

 Initiate a P.A.C.C.A.N. report

Phases of A Fire
Fighter Rescue
SEARCHING, PACKAGING &
REMOVING
 Search
(types)
 Audible search (using a PASS
device)
 Radio assisted search
 Following the hose line
 Rope assisted search
 Thermal imaging camera
Packaging
 SCBA harness

 Webbing/hose
strap

KEEP IT BASIC!
 EXTRICATION
 Come out the same way the
structure was entered

 Use the nearest opening

HOSE LINE USE FOR ASSISTING
IN SEARCH

Pros & Cons

 Existing Hose Line
 Pros:  Cons:
 Leads to the down  Does it actually lead
to the down FF
FF
 Is the line working
 Line is charged properly
and ready  Which way leads out
 Established  How do we landmark
anchor point the end of our search
 Taking In A Charged Line
 Pros:  Cons:
 Protection for us  Air management
and the down FF  Extremely
 Anchor point to laborious
safety  Hose lines are
 We know where used to fight fires
the line has
traveled
 Dry Line
 Pros:  Cons:
 Air management  Introduce oxygen
 Less labor into atmosphere
intensive  How long will it
 Greater flexibility take to get water
 Anchor point to when you need it
safety
 Search Line
 Pros:  Cons:
 Air management  No protection
 Labor to deploy is
from fire
minimal
 Flexible/Mobility  Takes time to
 RIC members know become proficient
their way in and out
 Great for land
marking search path
 Why Use A Search Line
 Less labor intensive to deploy than
a hose line
 Increases crew
accountability/integrity
 Increases speed and efficiency
during search
 Increases knowledge of depth and
direction
 Closing thoughts
 We lose over 100 firefighters each
year to some of the same common
denominators
 Discipline on the fire ground is
essential
 Drilling and training is the core of
our profession
 Stay informed and educated!
 QUESTIONS
CONCERNS
COMMENTS?
Let no firefighter’s spirit say
the lack of training/drilling led
to his/her demise