HomeMy WebLinkAbout202.014 - Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
202.014 URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE (US&R)
EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 2007
Current Revision Date: 5/29/19 Next Revision Date: 5/29/22
Author’s Name/Rank: Lupe Fernandez, Fire Captain Review Level: 1
Administrative Support:
Sherrie L. Badertscher
Management Analyst II
PURPOSE
It is the goal of the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Program to protect life and
property by provision of well trained and properly equipped first responders and
rescue specialists throughout the response area of the Fresno Fire Department
(FFD or Department).
APPLICATION
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OPERATIONAL POLICY
It is the intent of the Department to provide specially trained and certified members
for technical rescue operations. Functions involving the highest risk should be
performed by those members with the highest level of training. All Department
members must realize technical rescue operations significantly increase the
potential for injury or death to rescuers. Therefore, every attempt will be made to
notify and assign rescue specialists to any technical rescue operation.
However, it is not the intent of these procedures to unilaterally preclude any
members, who are not US&R Team members, from attempting a rescue operation.
Under the following conditions a technical rescue may be attempted:
1. An accurate size-up has been completed.
2. A risk benefit assessment has been completed and all rescue members have
been made aware of the hazards.
3. The action plan includes a contingency plan and back-up teams.
4. Standard operating procedures have been followed.
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5. Reasonable safety precautions have been taken.
6. Appropriate personal protective equipment is utilized.
7. All attempts to obtain technical assistance have been made.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
US&R Type I (Heavy) Operational Level
Rescue 11 meets the standard for Type I US&R operational level. This unit
represents the minimum capability to conduct safe and effective search and rescue
operations at structural collapse incidents involving the collapse or failure of heavy
floor, pre-cast concrete, and steel-frame construction. It is also capable of
conducting high-angle rope rescue (including highline systems), confined space
rescue (permit required), and mass transportation rescue.
US&R team members are to be operationally capable in:
1. Site safety.
2. Recognizing heavy floor, pre-cast concrete, and steel frame construction.
3. Identifying collapse and structural failure zones.
4. Conducting technical searches and implementing the building marking
system.
5. Lifting collapsed heavy floor, pre-cast concrete, and steel-frame construction
structural components.
6. Implementing a shoring plan.
7. Breaching structural components of light-frame construction.
8. Packaging and removing victims from elevated, confined, or below grade
areas.
9. Rope rescue anchors, lowering, raising, and mechanical advantage systems.
10. Fall protection systems.
11. High angle and highline rope systems.
12. Rescuing in permit required confined space.
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13. Using mass transportation for extrication and rescue.
US&R Type-II (Medium) Operational Level
The US&R Type-II Company (Medium: six (6) personnel minimum) Operational
Level represents the minimum capability to conduct safe and effective search and
rescue operations at structure collapse incidents involving the collapse or failure of
heavy wall construction, high angle rope rescue (not including highline systems),
and trench and excavation rescue.
US&R Type II team members will be operationally capable in:
1. Site safety.
2. Recognizing heavy floor, pre-cast concrete and steel frame construction.
3. Identifying collapse and structural failure zones.
4. Conducting technical searches and implementing the building marking
system.
5. Lifting collapsed heavy floor, pre-cast concrete and steel-frame construction
structural components.
6. Implementing a shoring plan.
7. Breaching structural components of light-frame construction.
8. Packaging and removing victims from elevated, confined, or below grade
areas.
9. Rope rescue anchors, lowering, raising, and mechanical advantage systems.
10. Fall protection systems.
11. High angle and highline rope systems.
12. Rescuing in permit required confined space.
13. Using mass transportation for extrication and rescue.
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US&R Type III (Light) Operational Level
Department truck companies and OES 314 meet the Type III US&R operational
level. These units represent the minimum capability to conduct safe and effective
search and rescue operations at structural collapse incidents involving the collapse
or failure of light-frame construction. They are also capable of conducting low angle
or one (1)-person load rope rescue.
Members of Type III (Light) companies will be operationally capable in:
1. Site safety.
2. Recognizing light-frame construction.
3. Identifying collapse and structural failure zones.
4. Conducting non-technical searches and implementing the building marking
system.
5. Lifting collapsed structural components.
6. Implementing a shoring plan.
7. Breaching structural components of light-frame construction.
8. Packaging and removing victims from elevated, confined, or below grade
areas.
9. Anchoring rope rescue, lowering and raising, and mechanical advantage
systems.
REGIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
California Regional Task Force – 5 (CA-RTF-5)
CA-RTF-5 is the only regional US&R task force within OES Region 5. OES Region
5 covers Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare, Merced, Mariposa, and Kern counties. A
Regional US&R Task Force is a 29-person team specially trained and equipped for a
large or complex urban search and rescue operation. The multi-disciplinary
organization provides five (5) functional elements, including supervision, search,
rescue, medical, and logistics. CA-RTF-5 is designed to be self-sufficient for the first
24 hours. Transportation and support is provided by the various sponsoring
agencies, which make up CA-RTF-5.
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PROCESS
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INFORMATION
US&R Background
US&R involves the location, rescue, and initial medical stabilization of victims
trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is the most frequent cause of victims
being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines,
and collapsed trenches.
US&R is a multi-hazard discipline, as it may be used for a variety of emergencies or
disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms and tornados, floods,
dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials
releases.
In 1995, the Department’s US&R Program began in response to an identified need
for a technical rescue resource within the response area. Initially the program began
with a limited number of members trained in basic swiftwater rescue.
The program grew to recognition as an OES Type III (light) US&R in 2001, the first
OES Type I (heavy) US&R in 2003, and additional seven Type IIIs in 2005. In 2006
the local fire, EMS, law enforcement, and public works agencies combined to
develop the California Regional Task Force -- 5 (CA-RTF-5), which is in existence
today.
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
Standard Operating Procedures Manual
Section 202.014a, Structural Collapse
http://firescope.caloes.ca.gov/ics-usar/ICS-USR-120-1.pdf
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