This standard operating guideline provides procedures for organizing firefighting resources and operations at high-rise incidents in Palm Beach County. It outlines responsibilities for the incident commander and various units including staging two floors below the fire floor, lobby control, and elevator control. Procedures are described for fire attack, search and rescue, and ventilation in high-rise buildings. Safety considerations are emphasized due to the size and occupancy of high-rises.
1. Approved by The Fire Chiefs Association of Palm Beach County and The Fire Training Officers of The Palm Beaches
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7. The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Dispatch Protocol dictates a high rise assignment for buildings three stories and greater.
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Notas do Editor
This operation depends on all companies completing their assigned task in a timely fashion. If you are unable to complete your task in a timely fashion you need to advise command of why and what you need to complete it.
All crews operating within the structure may need to be removed if communications are not consistent. PBCFR BOSS requires new construction to meet minimum radio transmission and reception standards, if the building can not meet the standard a repeater must be installed. Existing construction is exempt.
Initial attack crews should rehab in a safe area close to the fire floor. They should not descend to street level until adequate personnel are in place to maintain the firefight.
The yellow object in the lower right corner is a door marking device. Hanging on the door handle is indicative of primary search complete. Folded and hanging is indicative of secondary search complete. The black “extra” female coupling is a Zip Nut it pushes on rather than turning on to the male.
The ECF will be able to maintain accountability for the crews that ascend and hand off the information to command/lobby control. If the company is not using the elevator take the DO with them and leave the command board in the lobby.
First in companies may lose the ability to communicate. The building systems such as a PA system in the all call mode may allow for communications from the lobby to upper floors. Phones in rooms, or cell phones may be used to call the lobby if the crews have the number. Fire service phones will have jacks near the stairs or elevators.
The lowest level of smoke detector activation is a good indicator of where the fire may be – smoke rises!
When operating in fire service mode – also called phase 2 – the buttons must be held in to control the elevator.
Checking the layout of the floors below may save your life. Know the locations of hose cabinets, stairwells and apartments. Stairwells may be your only safe refuge! There is usually a diagram near the elevator or stairs.
Help the DO only to the point that they can function on their own – get up to the fire floor!
If equipment is to be carried to staging rather than moved in the elevator make sure that you assign enough personnel so that they are carrying equipment for two floors only.
Beware of wind driven fires. Winds blowing through windows can force fire out an open apartment door and down the hallway very rapidly – faster than firefighters can move. Keep apartment doors closed and close those that have been left open ASAP. Be alert for signs of wind driven fire such as windows that have no glass but fire burning in them – the wind is blowing the fire away from the window. Apartment doors with fire blowing from the peep hole. Pressurized smoke from around apartment doors. Steel apartment doors that are glowing. Consider using the piercing nozzle from the apartment next to the fire apartment to achieve knockdown.