KING COUNTY FIRE MODEL PROCEDURE Section 15 Abandon / Withdraw

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1 KING COUNTY FIRE MODEL PROCEDURE Section 15 Abandon / Withdraw Adopted 1/21/07 Revised 6/5/ PURPOSE 1.1 This model procedure is endorsed by the King County Fire Chiefs Association as a template for operations and training for all fire departments in King County. 1.2 It is imperative that all King County Fire and EMS agencies be able to respond urgently to emergency situations that jeopardize firefighter safety. For that purpose, all King County Fire and EMS agencies shall utilize clear, dedicated, and standardized emergency signals and terminology. 1.3 At any time during emergency operation, conditions may necessitate the immediate removal of all personnel operating in a particular area or structure. This procedure shall represent the established signals to be utilized when such notification and movement of personnel becomes necessary. 2.0 REFERENCES 2.1 Model Procedures Guide for Structural Firefighting second edition 3.0 DEFINITIONS 3.1 Abandon: An immediate and rapid exit from the hazardous zone or structure. This may require sacrificing or discarding equipment in order to facilitate the immediate and rapid exit. Firefighters may have to continue operation of hose lines to protect lives and effect a safe abandoned operation. Firefighters should make every effort to exit as a team. 3.2 Emergency Traffic: Announced over the radio, indicating that a message involving firefighter safety is about to be communicated. Air Restricted to Emergency Traffic Only : No radio communications, unless from the IC, are to be sent unless they meet the threshold of Emergency Traffic. Example - Command, E10 Emergency Traffic. 3.3 Evacuate: This term shall be used in reference to removing civilians from a hazardous zone or structure. 3.4 Mayday: A single word distress call, made three times ("Mayday, Mayday, Mayday") to indicate that a firefighter/unit is in immediate danger Section 15 Abandon/Withdraw Page 1 of 6 Revised: 6/5/2017

2 and requires immediate assistance. Example - Command E71, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. 3.5 PAR: Personnel report from the company level on crew integrity as requested by the IC. 3.6 Priority Traffic: Radio communications that could alter the incident action plan, usually considered bad news; e.g. uncontrolled fire in a concealed space, victim found, high heat, and unable to complete assignment. Example Command E11, Priority Traffic. 3.7 Roll Call: An accountability report from all company officers of an individual crew assigned to the hazard zone, or Division or Group supervisors reporting on all personnel working in a specific geographical area of the hazard zone at one specific area in the incident. 3.8 Routine Traffic: Normal fire ground communications that include orders, progress reports, initial radio reports and command transfers. 3.9 Withdraw: This is a planned or orderly withdrawal/removal of firefighters from the hazardous zone or structure. Firefighters generally should exit as a company or team with all hose, tools and equipment. 4.0 ABANDONMENT POLICY 4.1 In general, the abandonment order shall be given whenever building collapse or partial collapse is imminent or suspected, an immediate explosion hazard is noted, water supply is lost to the interior attack crews, or any other reason deemed necessary to save lives. Either the Incident Commander (IC) or Incident Safety Officer (ISO) can give the abandonment order. 4.2 Any firefighter or officer operating at an emergency scene may initiate the abandonment process through the IC or ISO. The member making notification by radio shall immediately notify the IC with "Emergency Traffic" and state the need and reason for abandonment. 4.3 Upon receipt of an abandonment recommendation, the IC shall quickly make the final determination to abandon. However, the ISO can independently contact the dispatcher and initiate the abandonment process if there is an imminent life threat. If the IC or ISO determines abandonment is necessary, they will initiate the following procedure. 5.0 ABANDONMENT PROCEDURE 5.1 Incident Commander As soon as the IC or ISO determines that abandonment is necessary they should announce over the tactical channel: Section 15 Abandon/Withdraw Page 2 of 6 Revised: 6/5/2017

3 Emergency Traffic All Units at X- Command Abandon the building Immediately, or a specific area of the structure or property Repeat this command three times IC will contact the Communications Center on the assigned tactical channel, advising: Emergency Traffic State that the structure, portion of the structure, or area must be abandoned, and request the Abandonment Tone be transmitted over the air After the abandonment tone is transmitted, Driver/Operators will initiate the air horn/abandonment alert IC will prepare to conduct a roll call If the current talk-group is congested with other incidents, the IC should request that those incidents are reassigned to a different talk-group. 5.2 Communications Center Upon receipt of an abandonment order, the Communication Center shall: Transmit the high/low abandonment tone on the affected talk-group(s) Announce the abandonment message as received from the IC or ISO on the tactical frequency and all other appropriate frequencies. This transmission will be repeated twice Restrict radio communications to emergency traffic only and close the tactical frequency for radio traffic only related to the abandonment Maintain restricted radio traffic to facilitate completion of the roll call. 5.3 Fireground Apparatus Operators Once the abandonment tone is transmitted, apparatus operators who are with their vehicle at the incident shall activate the air horn for a count of 5-10 seconds in duration with a five second pause, then repeat this two more times No lines should be shut down unless directed to do so by the IC. 5.4 Personnel Operating on the Fireground If an abandonment notification is given, all personnel shall make a rapid exit from the structure with their teams intact taking only the equipment necessary to facilitate a safe and expeditious escape Branch Directors, Division and Group Supervisors, Company Officers (CO), and Team Leaders (TL) should verbally acknowledge to their Section 15 Abandon/Withdraw Page 3 of 6 Revised: 6/5/2017

4 respective supervisors (the one holding their passport) that they received the abandonment order. This acknowledgment should be made while the companies and teams are exiting and should not interfere with the abandonment efforts Once companies and teams are clear of the building or hazardous area, they shall notify their supervisor face-to-face as a priority. The supervisors should then prepare for a roll call If unable to review all personnel assigned to you, a Mayday shall be transmitted It is possible that as an IC you may be operating in a jurisdiction with no abandonment signal or procedure, or one that is not familiar to all personnel operating on the emergency scene. You may also have companies operating in King County who are not aware of our procedure. It shall be the responsibility of the IC to assure that all personnel are aware of the abandonment signal and procedure to be utilized for the duration of the emergency. Likewise, if a King County company is operating in an area not covered by the King County policy, the CO is responsible for knowing the emergency signal used in that area. 5.5 Roll Call 6.0 WITHDRAW The IC will initiate a roll call using the radio and passport accountability system to verify the status of all personnel at the emergency scene as follows: The IC shall initiate the roll call by announcing, Emergency Traffic, all units prepare for a roll call COs and TLs will determine the status of their assigned personnel and report to the appropriate Division or Group Supervisor, who will report to the IC COs and TLs should report to their Division or Group Supervisors face-to- face whenever possible to help keep the radio frequency clear COs and TLs not assigned to a Branch, Division or Group, report directly to the IC The IC should start the roll call with the crews operating in the area requiring the roll call followed by members not in immediate danger As requested by the IC, report the status of assigned personnel. (i.e. Engine 42 all accounted for. ) If unable to account for all companies, a Mayday shall be transmitted. Section 15 Abandon/Withdraw Page 4 of 6 Revised: 6/5/2017

5 6.1 Incident Commander and Incident Safety Officer The IC or ISO may decide that a safe withdraw from a building or portion of a building is necessary. This may be decided when the need arises to account for all personnel and/or there is a change in tactics, such as offensive to defensive When the decision is made to withdraw, the IC will broadcast the order to withdraw from the building and request PAR report from companies on their exit. The order to withdraw, as opposed to the order to abandon is given only when there is no imminent risk to firefighters. 6.2 Communications Center The Communications Center can repeat this request if asked to do so. No abandonment tones will be imposed. 6.3 Personnel Operating on the Fireground 7.0 RESPONSIBILITY If a withdraw notification is given, all COs and TLs operating within a structure or hazard area shall acknowledge the receipt of the withdraw order and exit the area in an orderly fashion. Personnel should take their equipment and hand lines with them. COs and TLs should report PAR when they are clear of the structure or hazardous area, preferably face-toface Once companies and teams are clear of the building or hazardous area, they shall notify their supervisor face-to-face as a priority. The supervisors should then prepare for a roll call. 7.1 The IC shall ensure compliance as outlined in this procedure. 7.2 Suppression personnel shall be aware of this system and the need for immediate action on their part to abandon any structure or hazardous area and quickly account for all assigned personnel. 7.3 When abandonment order is transmitted, driver/operators in close vicinity of the incident are responsible to activate their air horns for a count of 5-10 seconds with a 5 second pause then repeat two more times. 7.4 Dispatch is responsible to transmit the abandonment tones over the air when requested. 7.5 It is possible that one particular abandonment signal may not provide effective notification on every emergency scene. It shall be the IC's responsibility to use all methods at their disposal to assure that all personnel have received the order for abandonment. Section 15 Abandon/Withdraw Page 5 of 6 Revised: 6/5/2017

6 8.0 KC Chiefs Directive This procedure was adopted by the King County Fire Chiefs as a standard for all fire departments as a county-wide standard. Other than numbering this procedure to match the local system, it shall be placed in the located department s SOG/SOP verbatim, to insure county wide standardization. Any changes to this procedure shall have the concurrence of the King County Fire Chiefs Association. Section 15 Abandon/Withdraw Page 6 of 6 Revised: 6/5/2017