RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM
Firefighting is an inherently dangerous job and becomes more dangerous every day. Because of this, guidelines are set to give order and ensure proper function of any procedure or activity involved in firefighting, while maintaining the highest level of personnel safety as possible.
Rapid Intervention Team:
A Rapid Intervention Team is a team of dedicated firefighters (a minimum of 4) who are properly trained, equipped, and assembled at a designated area on the scene of an incident with the sole purpose of effecting a rescue of fellow firefighters who become lost, trapped, disoriented or down due to injury at an emergency incident.
Responsibilities of the Rapid Intervention Team:
The Rapid Intervention Team is responsible for being equipped and prepared to perform a rescue of fellow firefighters under conditions where firefighters cannot rescue themselves. This could be at a any working structure fire or any special operation incident where firefighters are subject to immediate danger of injury in the event of equipment failure
The tactical priorities for rapid intervention are:
1. Evaluate building construction, occupancy, fire load, roof loading and the potential ingress and egress for firefighter rescue.
2. Continually evaluate fire conditions.
3. Continually monitor the location, crew sizes, and duties being performed on the incident scene.
4. Assemble personnel and equipment and review assignments.
5. Coordinated through command
6. Deploy as a rescue team when instructed by the Incident Commander.
7. Breech doors, windows, and walls as as needed when deployed for rapid intervention.
8. Maintain crew accountability at all times.
A democratic approach is utilized to draw on the abilities and knowledge of the team members, as well as foster the T.E.A.M. mentality – Together Everyone Accomplishes More. No team member should feel any less important than any other member because all are an important part of the team’s success.
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