Rapid

Intervention

for

Engine

Companies

LA County Fire Department

Objectives • Review two-in/two-out policy & procedures.

• Identify rapid intervention crews (RIC)

responsibilities.

• Demonstrate RIC procedures.

• Identify RIC team size-up considerations.

• Discuss RIC team configuration and leader

duties.

• Demonstrate RIC pre-operations.

• Discuss considerations for RIC operations in

large buildings.

• Demonstrate proper command procedures for

firefighter emergencies.

• You've carefully thought out all the angles.

• You've done it a hundred times.

• It comes naturally to you.

• You know what you're doing, its what you've

been trained to do your whole career.

• Nothing could possibly go wrong, right ?

Is this just a routine fire?

Think Again.

Now you’re in trouble.

Who’s coming to get you?

Let’s turn that around.

You’re responding to a confirmed

structure fire. You receive the

assignment of RIC. Everyone’s

shoulders drop.

RIC?!? We don’t want RIC! We

want to fight fire!

Let’s take a brief

moment to

remember why we

need RIC.

Companies should

feel privileged and

honored to receive

the assignment of

RIC.

Now let’s train to be

a well prepared RIC

to help prevent

another name from

being added to that

wall.

When do we need a

RIC and is it

mandatory?

Two-In/Two-Out Crew Policy

NFPA 1500 requires

RIC’s whenever

employees are exposed

to IDLH conditions.

RIC will be

assigned on

all working

structure

fires,

confined

space

rescue,

building

collapse,

trench

collapses,

tunnel fires,

high rise

fires, dive

rescue, and

other high

risk

incidents.

Who establishes

RIC?

Two-In/Two-Out Crew Policy

IC’s Shall:

• Ensure compliance with the Two-In/Two-

Out Rule established by NFPA, OSHA, and

Cal OSHA.

• Establish one Stand-by Crew, preferably

one engine company

• Immediately implement a rapid

intervention operation whenever a

“Mayday” is reported.

(Volume 10, Chapter 3, Subject 4)

Who is responsible

for RIC?

Overhead personnel shall

ensure compliance with the

“Two-In/Two-Out” rule and

that RIC capabilities are

appropriate for their area of

responsibility. (Volume 10, Chapter 3, Subject 4)

Is one RIC enough?

Multiple RIC’s may be

established when it is

determined that a single

RIC cannot provide timely

intervention.

RIC

vs.

Standby Crew

Standby Crew

A Standby Crew

usually consists of

members from the

first in unit (2 in & 2

out). This should be

considered temporary

until additional

resources arrive to

establish a RIC.

In accordance with NFPA 1500

Article 6-4.4.2, during the initial

stages of an incident (i.e., one

company on-scene), only one

member of a two-person standby

crew may be permitted to perform

other duties such as apparatus

operator, IC, or safety officer.

Standby Crew

Example for a typical 4

person engine:

• Capt. sizes up & passes

command

• Capt. & FF 1 don PPE’s

and assume fire attack

• FF 2 assumes door

control as part of

standby crew

• FFS is 2nd member of

standby crew while

pumping in full PPE

w/SCBA ready

Upon arrival of

additional

resources, the IC

shall designate a

RIC Company with a

RIC Leader.

Squads and/or

EST’s may augment the RIC.

You have received

the assignment of

RIC.

Now what?

RIC PROCEDURES

• RIC Team shall report

to the Command Post

in a full state of

readiness.

• RIC Leader reports to

the IC for status

report, location of

resources,

Division/Group

Supervisors and their

location.

• Obtain Personnel

Accountability

System (PAS) roster

from the IC (can be

obtained from Fire

Office daily by BC).

• RIC Leader assigns a

member to document

the location of

resources.

RIC Leader shall

provide a briefing to

RIC team.

• Current conditions

• Known hazards

• Location of

personnel

• RIC plan of action

for “Mayday”

When an assisting

agency is responding

into Los Angeles

County Fire

Department (LAC)

jurisdiction, a LAC

unit should be utilized

for RIC purposes and

the assisting agency

used for other

assignments.

RIC’s establish an

equipment pool

based on the

potential rescue

problems that may be

encountered at the

incident.

EQUIPMENT POOL

THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA

LIGHTS AND LIGHT STICKS DEBRIS BAG

FORCIBLE ENTRY TOOLS

EXTRA SCBA

SENSIT GAS DETECTOR AND

TAC STICK (for electrical) ROPE BAG AND DROP BAGS

FLAGGING AND

HAZARD TAPE

APPROPRIATE SAWS

As the RIC, what

information should I

consider when

formulating a plan?

It begins with a RIC

size up.

• What Safety Controls

need to be

established?

• Consider the

survivability profile of

firefighters. Are they

in immediate danger?

If so, let the IC know.

• Do I have an alternate

plan (P.A.C.E.) ?

RIC Team Size-Up

RIC Team Size-Up

What is the fire doing?

SOC/BAG

Building (SOC)

• Size

• Occupancy

• Construction

Fire travel (BAG)

• Where has the fire Been?

• Where the fire is At?

• Where is the fire Going?

RIC Team Size-Up

• Volume-Amount of

smoke

• Velocity-Speed of

smoke

• Density-Thickness

of smoke

• Color-Stage of

heating & what’s

burning

RIC TEAM

CONFIGURATIONS

TEAM CONFIGURATIONS

3 Member Team

#1 - Leader (TIC)

#2 - Search/Rescue

#3 - Anchor/Control

4 Member Team

#1 - Leader (TIC)

#2 - Search/Rescue

#3 - Search/Rescue

#4 - Anchor/Control

TEAM CONFIGURATIONS

5 Member Team

#1 - Leader (TIC)

#2 - Search

#3 - Search

#4 - Rescue

#5 - Anchor / Control

TEAM CONFIGURATIONS

6/7 Member Team

#1 - Manager/Anchor

#2 - Leader

#3 - Navigator (TIC)

#4 - Search

#5 - Search

#6 - Rescue-Air Supply

#7 - Rescue - Extrication

As RIC, be active.

Constantly update your

situational awareness.

This begins with RIC

pre-operations.

SOFTENING THE

STRUCTURE

• Reassess fire ground conditions

(RIC size up is continuous).

• Anticipate and/or forecast

possible exits and entries.

Throw ladders where exits may

be needed.

RIC PRE-OPERATIONS

RIC has now been

activated due to a

Mayday situation.

Put your planning to

work.

Review RIC

videos posted

on Blackboard.

LARGE AREA SEARCH

CONSIDERATIONS

• Difficult to perform

• Requires discipline and training

• Not an exact evolution

• No two areas alike

• Provide multiple points of building egress

• Guard against tunnel vision

• Continually monitor for changing heat

conditions

• Use separate tactical channel

LARGE AREA SEARCH

CONSIDERATIONS • Continually update escape routes based on

predicted fire and crew movement

• Sometimes the rear of the building may be best

access to the Firefighter (Carson Incident)

• Commercial RIC: Establish Safety Controls-

Exits/Ladders/Lights/Location of personnel

• 3-stripe “NO GO” areas (i.e; Facades/Walls)

• Rapid Safety RECON of building and report findings

back to IC and/or Safety Officer

• Augment RIC team as necessary (hazmat, EST, etc.)

• Consider additional RIC Team for large buildings

Expectations of

command during

firefighter

emergencies.

EXPECTATIONS OF COMMAND

Use the tools available to you.

FF MAYDAY / E-TRIGGER ACTIVATION (Command)

Look at radio screen

and document Radio ID.

If time permits, identify

individual using

battalion PAR.

FF MAYDAY / E-TRIGGER ACTIVATION (Command)

Transmit: “All units hold radio traffic for a

MAYDAY. Unit calling Mayday identify.”

Receive & Document WHO • Name(s) & Unit(s)

WHAT • Lost

• Trapped

• Injured

• Low air/SCBA malfunction

WHERE • Floor

• Side

• Area

• Division

• Other

• Reassure the

MAYDAY firefighter

• Advise them to

follow GRAB LIVES

• Talk them through • Stay calm

• Activate PASS

• Control breathing

• Shine light

• Finding an exit

• Feel for hose

• Request additional alarm(s)

• Request additional

ambulance(s)

• Request communications

plan if not yet assigned

• Assign additional

resources to augment RIC

• Establish additional

RIC(s) for operations and

rescue ops

• Command structure;

separate FF emergency

operations from tactical

operations

• Assign RIC Group

supervisor

• Consider different

channel for

suppression operations

–Keep rescue ops on

original channel

–Consider radio

procedures for

assisting agencies

• Don’t abandon the

suppression needs

Re-evaluate the Incident Action Plan

RIC ACTIVATION COMMAND

CONSIDERATIONS

• Building structurally

compromised?

• Fire complicating RIC

operations?

• Can operations affect a

rescue?

• Do fire fighters need rehab?

RIC ACTIVATION COMMAND

CONSIDERATIONS

Terminate the Mayday

• Conduct PAR after rescue confirmed.

• IC terminates Mayday when all accounted for.

• IC confirms all injured firefighters treated and/or transported.

REMEMBER

• Always have two exits.

• Make sure your RIC team knows where these exits are.

• Never put yourself or your RIC team in a position where you have to count on others to get you out.

Director of Training

Battalion Chief Derek Alkonis

LACoFD Training Services Section

(323) 881-2436