Fire ServicePre – Incident Planning

“Before We Respond”

Peter Vlahos, LieutenantBloomfield Twp. Fire Department (MI)

Objective

To gain a basic understanding of the importance and purpose of pre-incident planning and how to conduct a thorough pre-incident inspection of a given target hazard in his/her community.

Overview

• Purpose of pre-incident planning• National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA) 1620 Recommended Practice for Pre-Incident Planning

• Types and uses of pre-incident plans• Steps for conducting pre-incident plans• National Institute for Occupational Safety

and Health (NIOSH) Firefighter Fatality Cases – Reported and Pending

Purpose of Pre-incident Planning

Pre-incident Plan- A systematic method of gathering and recording facts for the purpose of problem identification / analysis and information retrieval.

Purpose of pre-incident planning cont.

Reasons for Pre-incident planning:

1. Identify target hazards in the community

2. Identify problem areas requiring built-in-systems to reduce life and property losses

a. Fire sprinkler system

b. Early warning detection – smoke detectors

c. Compartmentalization – smoke doors

3. Identify Fire Department Limitations

4. Access to right information at right time

5. Aids in speed of decision making

6. Reduces guesswork based on lack of or poor information.

Purpose of pre-incident planning cont.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1620 - Recommended Practice for Pre-Incident Planning:

Recommended practice which addresses the protection, construction, and operational features of specific occupancies to develop pre-incident plans for use by responders to manage fires and other emergencies using available resources. Pre-incident planning involves evaluating the protection systems, building construction, contents, and operating procedures that can impact emergency operations.

Types and uses of pre-incident plans

Types of Pre-incident plans:

1. Hazards to firefighters – a written description of inherent dangers to firefightersa. Hazardous materialsb. Building Constructionc. Shafts/drop-offs, etc.

2. Floor plan – detailed interior diagram, including:

a. Each floor

b. Location of Fire Protection Systems

c. Utility / maintenance rooms : Gas, electric, water

Types and uses of pre-incident plans cont.

3. Plot plan – drawing that displays an outline of target buildings and surrounding area:

a. Accessible and inaccessible areas for fire equipment

b. Roads, buildings, obstaclesc. Apparatus placementd. Water Sources

Types and uses of pre-incident plans cont.

Steps for Conducting Pre-Incident Plans

1. Make appointment – state purpose as information gathering 2. Approaching Building a. Exposures b. hydrant / water locations c. road access to site 3. Exterior Inspection

a. construction / dimensionsb. fire escape / stairwayc. Fire department connection (FDC)d. Means of egress / ingresse. Obstructions

Steps for Conducting Pre-Incident Plans4. Interview owner / manager/ occupant(s) a. Explain purpose of visit b. Nature of occupancy/contact information/hours c. Number / location of people d. Contents e. Handicapped 5. Roof inspection a. Building layout b. Construction c. Exposure problems from roof vantage point d. Firewall location and condition e. Methods of ventilation

Steps for Conducting Pre-Incident Plans

6. Interior Inspection a. Each floor - sketch of all pertinent findings

- Utilities, EXITS, fire department equipment access

b. Attic Area – note construction c. Life Hazard

1. Types of fire loads 2. Hazardous Materials3. Storage Locationsd. Extinguishing and alarm systems

Steps for Conducting Pre-Incident Plans

7. Conclusion a. Review all information- research any

information that may be unfamiliar. b. Estimate and discuss potential fire problem(s)c. Determine strategies and tacticsd. Review all information with all employees and

shifts e. Organize information into a usable formf. Update and maintain filesg. Keep information available for use at

emergencies1. Pre-Incident Plan Book

2. On Board computers3. Dispatch

Centers

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH FIREFIGHTER FATALITY

REPORTS (NIOSH) (click on each NIOSH Recommendation for pdf report)

2/21/06 Alabama- Two Firefighters killed when struck by wall collapse NIOSH Recommendation #2 of 4 “Conduct pre-incident planning and inspections of building within their jurisdiction to facilitate development of safe fire ground strategies and tactics.” (F2006-07)

8/27/06 New York- Two Firefighters killed in commercial building floor collapse NIOSH Recommendation #1 of 2 “Consider the possibility of substandard structures when building information is not available from pre-incident plan.” (F2006-27)

12/30/06 Texas Firefighter killed by awning in commercial fire NIOSH Recommendation #3 of 10 “Conduct pre-incident planning and inspections of building within their jurisdiction to facilitate development of safe fire ground strategies and tactics.” (F2007-01)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

PENDING Firefighter fatality reports (NIOSH)

3/7/2008 Salisbury, N.C.- Two Firefighters killed in Millwork fire: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/15525002/detail.html

7/6/2008 Teague, TX- Fire Chief killed from wall collapse:http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/23951994.html

8/18/2008 New York, NY-Two Firefighters killed in commercial building fire: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/18/nyc.fire/index.html

6/18/2008 Charleston, S.C., Nine Firefighters killed in furniture store fire: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/19/national/main2947210.shtml

Melvin Edward Champaign

Firefighter 16

Theodore Michael Benke / Captain 16

Bradford Rodney “Brad” Baity Engineer 19

Charleston, South Carolina June 18, 2007

William H. “Billy” Hutchinson, III

Captain 19

Michael Jonathon Alan French Engineer 5

James “Earl” Allen Drayton / Firefighter 19

Brandon Kenyon Thompson

Firefighter 5

Louis Mark Mulkey Captain 15

Mark Wesley Kelsey / Captain 5