Approved by The Fire Chiefs Association of Palm Beach County and The Fire Training Officers of The Palm Beaches

To provide a standardized method of

organizing resources, developing

strategies, and managing tactical

operations that protects life and

minimizes damage at high rise incidents.

This S.O.G. is intended to provide a

starting point from which to build an

incident organization that will sustain

firefighting and rescue efforts during

a high-rise fire.

Deals with first alarm assignment Based on “company” concept. A

company is a minimum of 4 personnel. Identifies pre-assigned duties This S.O.G. is designed to be objective

oriented, based on human resource requirements. Incident commanders must address these objectives in priority order while providing adequate human resources.

Staging- Two floors below the fire floor. SCBAs, necessary tools and equipment.

Base- Two blocks away from the scene.

E.C.F.- Elevator Control Firefighter, controls the operation of the elevator.

Lobby Control- Level 3 accountability of all personnel above the first floor. Controls elevators not in use by ECF and access to stairwells.

Access to fire floor

Rescue of occupants

Fire control

Exposure protection

Ventilation/Smoke spread

The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Dispatch Protocol dictates a high rise assignment for buildings three stories and greater.

The hazards to firefighters are

magnified exponentially due to the

size, height, and potential high

occupancy loads present in high-

rise buildings.

If 800-mhz radios are ineffective in a high rise

building, then the simplex “talk-around”

channels should be used. Simplex channels

are 14A, 14B, and 15A for PBCFR system.

Simplex channels have a limited range of

approximately one mile.

 

The Incident Commander should assign a

Communications Aide to monitor the

working simplex channel. Dispatch is

unable to hear or record transmission of

simplex channels. Any assignment of

alternate channels should be done prior to

entry if possible.

Initial fire attack crews will likely experience a delay in getting relief or help.

High-rise structures can hide a significant amount of smoke and/or fire, making it difficult to determine the scope of the incident from outside the structure at the time of arrival.

Successful high-rise operations are

offensive in nature and require an

aggressive, well-staffed, well-

coordinated attack of the fire.

In most high-rise fires, the occupants

will benefit from an immediate

aggressive fire attack in conjunction

with comprehensive rescue,

evacuation and ventilation efforts.

Apparatus Placement• Address side/main entrance of building in

position for aerial use

Primary Objective• Fire Attack

Provide Arrival Report• Call for additional alarms, if needed

• High rise pack (minimum 100’ 1 ¾” hose, combination nozzle high-rise double gated wye, spanner wrenches)

• TIC, portable radio, hand lights, spare SCBA cylinder (only if taking the elevator), building & elevator keys

• Forcible entry tools.

Proceed to Lobby• Obtain keys, building phone handsets, lobby phone

number Alarm Panel

• Check panel to determine location and type of alarm Establish Command

• Advise floor, method of ascent, and PAR Accountability Level

D/O will be the Elevator Control Firefighter w/ tactical accountability board and UIP’s.

• If no elevator used, leave tactical accountability board in the lobby for lobby control personnel.

Method of Ascent• Stairs• Elevator

Use Elevators with Caution • 90% fail at approx. 20 minutes• Consider only if fire is above the7th floor• Exit elevator 2 floors below reported fire

floor• ECF will use “Fire Service” mode

The elevator must have a Fire Service Elevator Control switch

Always check the elevator shaft for smoke – do not use the elevator if smoke is present.

Always check the elevator shaft for water – do not use the elevator if water is present.

Floor Conditions

•Check floor conditions and floor layout as the company ascends

•Check at least every 5 floors•Assess need for ventilation •Exit two floors below fire floor

The company will assess for future staging location

•Two floors below fire floor•Check conditions for future Staging•Determine stairs closest to fire (attack

stairwell) •ECF will leave spare SCBA cylinders two

floors below fire floor for future staging.• If no ECF, leave spare cylinders in the

lobby.

Identify Evacuation and Fire Attack Stairwell • Announce over radio I.E. “North side stairwell

# 2 is attack stairwell.” “South side stairwell #1 is evacuation stairwell.” Use the names that are provided on the building signs.

• Perform ventilation assessment – request as required

The company will proceed to the fire floor

Constantly assess the need for ventilation and request through command (if available). Ensure that a hose line is readily available and charged prior to making this request as fire conditions may change drastically with ventilation.

Hook to standpipe in stairwell of fire floor if fire conditions permit, flake hose up the stairs and back down.

If fire conditions do not permit hook up in the fire stairwell hook to standpipe on the floor below.

Advise dispatch, or E.C.F. “ E-4 entering 21st floor on fire attack with a par of 3.”

Combination Nozzle (FOG)

• 100’ of 1¾” flowing 150 GPM at 50 psi

• May cause disruption of thermal layering.

Smooth Bore (Breakaway)

• 100’ of 1¾” flowing 185 GPM at 50 psi

• 15/16” Tip

• Reduces steam in non-vented areas, maintains better visibility.

Water weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon.

Multiply 150 or 185 gallons per minute by the weight of water.

Equals 1250 to 1500 pounds of water per minute.

High-rises are not designed to sustain that much weight in one small area.

Side A of the building

Prepare for victim rescue

Prepare for portable stand pipe evolution – last resort for water supply.

The following system shall be utilized to avoid

duplication of effort. The high rise pack should

be equipped with a piece of chalk, a construction

crayon or a commercial door marking device. As

crews enter a floor or room, a single large

diagonal line, along with the company

designation, shall be marked on the entry door.

When the floor or room has been searched, a

second diagonal line is marked on the door to

complete the “X”. The door shall be left closed

to minimize smoke and fire spread. This can be

repeated to indicate completion of secondary

search.

Water Supply Pump to the Standpipe/ sprinkler no more than

200 psi Position apparatus to supply FDC. Back Up Meet with attack company to ascertain need for

back up line. If not required, assume RIC function in fire floor stairwell

Rapid Intervention Crew An entire company (minimum 4 personnel)

should be assigned as the RIC and will be deployed to the fire floor stairwell.

 

The company will proceed to the lobby area

and if a Chief Officer has not yet arrived, the Officer will establish/assume command.

The company shall commence with lobby control operations.

Assign one member of company as Site Access Control Leader to initiate Level 3 Accountability. Gather UIP’s from previous arriving companies.

Forcible entry tools, life safety/search rope

Hand lights, pike poles/hooks

Portable radios TIC

Spare SCBA cylinders

Tactical accountability boards

UIP EMS equipment

(airway, backboards)

Companies that enter the lobby from this

time forward will need to be tracked by unit

identification, number of members, where

they are going, stairwell or elevator

number being used, time they went up, air

supply and to whom they will be reporting.

Return all other elevators to ground floor and verify that all occupants are removed

  Control stairwell access Contact building engineer or fire protection service contractor

Check and gain control of HVAC systems Fire pumps/control room Emergency generator

  Establish movement of equipment to two floors below fire for future Staging

The ECF will deliver spare SCBA cylinders,

along with ropes, hose and nozzles, pike

poles/hooks to two floors below the fire. If

elevators are not being used, stockpile the

equipment in the lobby.

The ECF will deliver the company to two

floors below the fire.

The company will ascend using the

“attack” stairwell to the floor above the

fire(may have to use “evac” stairwell

depending on fire conditions)to access the

floor above.

Constantly assess ventilation needs and request through command. Always ensure that fire attack has an operating hose-line prior to request.

Forcible entry tools

Hand lights

Portable radios, TIC, UIP and a door

marking device.

Check floor above fire for extension and

smoke conditions

Perform search

Perform evacuations and rescue as required

Assess the need for ventilation and request through command. Always ensure that fire attack has an operating hose line prior to request.

This company is working above the fire without spare SCBA cylinders and must pay close attention to their position in the building and their air supply.

Request re-assignment when completed. Do not self deploy to the floor above. Spare SCBA cylinders must be retrieved before deployment above the fire.

The company will determine the number of

stairwells in the building and their location

prior to entry.

The ECF will deliver the company two floors

below the fire.

Constantly assess the need for ventilation and request through command.

The company will ascend to the top of the “attack”stairwell (may have to use “evac” stairwell, depending on fire conditions) search the top of all stairways and the top floor.

The company will then complete a search of all stairwells.

Forcible entry tools

Hand lights

Portable radios, TIC, UIP and a door marking

device.

One spare SCBA cylinder for each member, to

remain with them while above the fire floor.

Assume command of incident. Transfer will be from unit in lobby. If transferred from lobby, a face-to-face would be appropriate if possible.

Establish an effective exterior command post.

Obtain progress of fire conditions and call for additional resources, if necessary.

Make specific assignments in priority order for additional Chief Officers:

Fire Floor Division Supervisor Lobby Control Unit Leader Floor above fire division supervisor Incident Safety Officer Operations (two floors below fire) Identify incident objectives and assign

additional personnel accordingly.

Remember that per the National Fire Service Incident Management System Consortium publication “Model Procedures Guide for High Rise Firefighting” it will take three companies of four personnel to keep one hose-line flowing continuously and three more companies for each additional hose-line.