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HomeMy WebLinkAbout208.002 - Department Response Procedures STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES 208.002 DEPARTMENT RESPONSE PROCEDURES EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 2007 Current Revision Date: 9/17/19 Next Revision Date: 9/17/24 Author’s Name/Rank: Timothy J. Fulmer, Administrative Battalion Chief, Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Sherrie L. Badertscher, Management Analyst II PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide standard procedures for members of the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) utilizing Department vehicles or apparatus APPLICATION This policy applies to all supervisors and members who operate Department vehicles and apparatus. OPERATIONAL POLICY Officers and apparatus drivers will be familiar with, and comply with the California Vehicle Code (CVC), Article 2 Effect of Traffic Laws, Sections 21055, 21056, and 21057 and Chapter 4, Right of Way, Sections 21806 and 21807 when operating Department vehicles. Department licensing requirements shall be strictly adhered to (See: Administrative Manual, Section 105.001, Driver License Requirements). Smoking in the immediate area while refueling apparatus is prohibited. Drivers will occupy the operator's seat on the apparatus before starting the motor. Anytime a fire apparatus is placed in pump gear or PTO, approved Department chocks will be utilized in addition to the apparatus air parking brakes to secure the vehicle from movement. With the exception of a pump and roll operation. Section 208.002 Page 1 of 8 Apparatus air parking brakes and apparatus bay parking stops or approved Department chocks will be utilized to secure all apparatus when parked in quarters, with the exception of staff vehicles. Prior to responding, members will ensure all equipment is safely stowed, appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is donned, and all crew members will utilize seat belts. Firefighters may wear their seat-mounted SCBAs prior to responding or while en route, as long as the SCBA is worn safely and the member remains seat belted at all times. Note: Engineers do not need to wear their turnout coats while driving. EMERGENCY RESPONSE: In all cases, where practicable, emergency response will be along pre-arranged routes. Upon initial notification of emergency dispatch, all on-duty firefighting members will immediately and continuously prepare for a response until assured their unit is not directed to respond. Note: Company officers are responsible for the correct interpretation of alarms. Once designated unit(s) has/have been identified by vocal dispatch, apparatus and crew members will begin response (whether from in or out of quarters) to the designated location within 60 seconds between the hours of 0700 – 2200, and within 90 seconds between the hours of 2200 - 0700. Code 3 responses are restricted to Department apparatus equipped with emergency lights and sirens while responding to emergency incidents or directed by a superior officer. 1. Apparatus will not respond Code 3 if the apparatus emergency lights or siren are inoperable or defective. 2. Staff and support members will not respond Code 3 unless directly involved with the abatement of the emergency, assigned to a safety position or directly involved in incident management. 3. Fire apparatus are to be operated as emergency vehicles only while required warning devices are used, as provided by law. Note: Emergency lights will not be used while apparatus are returning to quarters. Section 208.002 Page 2 of 8 When responding Code 3, apparatus will not pass each other unless disabled or delayed. Racing with apparatus at any time is strictly prohibited. Department non-firefighting vehicles (e.g., battalion chief, PIO, training officer, investigator) will yield the right of way to firefighting apparatus while responding Code 3 to alarms. Any apparatus responding Code 3 must come to a complete stop when a school bus is displaying its flashing red lights and/or stop signal arm. The apparatus will not proceed past the school bus until the flashing red light signal and/or stop signal arm, cease operation. Once the right-of-way is determined to be clear, the Code 3 response will be resumed (CVC 22454). Note: School buses displaying flashing red lights, which are across a divided roadway, need not delay a Code 3 response. Section 21056 of the CVC does not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE All apparatus responding to alarms are to be under absolute control when approaching and crossing controlled intersections and intersections on local streets (neighborhood streets encompassed by the main streets, arterials, and/or collectors). While traversing a controlled intersection with a green light in the direction of travel, the speed of the emergency vehicle should not be greater than the posted speed limit. While traversing a controlled intersection with a red light or stop sign in the direction of travel, the speed of the emergency vehicle should not be greater than that enabling the vehicle to come to a complete stop without collision in the event the apparatus’s right of way is violated. It may be necessary to come to a complete stop and cautiously proceed after it has been determined the intersection is clear. The same caution is required when traversing local intersections. Department apparatus are to be used only for authorized purposes. The carrying of civilian passengers is at the company officers discretion, keeping in mind the mission and core values of the Department. Section 208.002 Page 3 of 8 At the company officer’s discretion, firefighters are encouraged to periodically trade seats with the engineer for continued driving experience, including Code 3 driving to emergencies not requiring apparatus operator skills on scene. PREPARING FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Members who drive fire apparatus should familiarize themselves with the practices and procedures relative to water supplies, fire streams, pump capacities, motors, and other conditions, which will enable them to efficiently perform their duties. Members who drive fire apparatus should acquaint themselves with the topography, physical conditions, and other matters affecting response in their districts. Prior to leaving the station in response to Code 3 alarms, drivers should turn on headlights, clearance lights, and emergency red lights. RESPONSE TO UNSECURED MEDICAL AIDS: At the discretion of the company officer, units may respond Code 2 to unsecured medical-aid scenes. Companies should only respond Code 2 to an unsecured scene when responding from their first-in district to locations within their first-in district. Apparatus should stage in a safe location that is in proximity to the incident. Upon receipt of information that the scene has become secure, equipment en route or staged will immediately begin responding Code 3. Dispatchers should advise responding companies of the nature of the incident, whether or not a police officer is at the location, and all pertinent known information regarding scene security. The decision of when it is safe to proceed to the location is determined by the company officer. The only deviation to this is when police officers at the scene advise units not to enter. FREEWAY RESPONSES: Companies using freeways for emergency response may use all required emergency warning devices when necessary to request the right-of-way from other vehicles. The number one lane (inside, far left) should be used when responding Code 3. Upon arrival at vehicle accidents or other emergencies on a freeway, emergency apparatus may, when necessary, be used as temporary blockades positioned upstream from the incident activity area(s) to protect the emergency scene from oncoming traffic. When not used for traffic control or temporary blockade, apparatus Section 208.002 Page 4 of 8 are to be positioned as far off the freeway as is practical. Officers are to expedite emergency roadside operations in order to reduce exposure to personnel and minimize the time apparatus placement affects traffic flow. When apparatus are parked within traffic lanes, the emergency warning lights, vehicle clearance lights, and directional light bars (if available) will be turned on. If apparatus are positioned out-of-normal traffic lanes, vehicle clearance lights will be turned on. The use of four-way flasher lights and directional light bars (in flasher mode) is optional. Emergency lights and white strobe lights may be turned off. WATER TENDER RESPONSE: Due to the well-documented dangerous handling characteristics of water tenders, these additional response guidelines will promote safe driving practices. At the beginning of the shift, the company officer should task the most qualified and experienced engineer to drive the water tender in emergency response. Staffing levels permitting, consider assigning two (2) members to respond on the water tender. The vehicle should respond at or below the posted speed limit. When traversing a controlled intersection with a red light or stop sign in the direction of travel, the speed of the emergency vehicle should not be greater than that enabling the vehicle to come to a complete stop without collision in the event the apparatus’s right of way is violated. It may be necessary to come to a complete stop and cautiously proceed after it has been determined the intersection is clear. The same caution is required when traversing local intersections. APPARATUS AT INCIDENTS: When practical, apparatus should be left running at idle in order to cool the turbo charger. Company officers have discretion as to when the engineer will remain with the apparatus and when the apparatus is to be shut down and left unattended. Care should be exercised in parking apparatus at an emergency. Unless otherwise directed, the roadway in the immediate vicinity of an emergency should not be obstructed by apparatus, nor will fire hydrants, apparatus, or railroad tracks be blocked unnecessarily. Section 208.002 Page 5 of 8 Once on scene, emergency lights should be utilized as needed to provide for scene safety of personnel. Nonessential lights should be shut down. Apparatus should not be driven over hose lines except in case of absolute necessity. Police action should be requested when fire hose is driven over by drivers of unauthorized vehicles PROCESS This section intentionally left blank. INFORMATION Responding to emergencies is a major cause of firefighter line-of-duty injuries and death. Historically, approximately one-quarter of all firefighter line-of-duty deaths result from vehicle accidents while responding to or from emergencies. Proper knowledge and compliance with the California Vehicle Code, Department response procedures, and defensive driving precautions can greatly reduce these occurrences. DEFINITIONS Code 2: A call accompanied by a Code 2 designation is to be responded to immediately. Emergency lights and siren will not be used, and all traffic laws are to be observed. Code 3: A call accompanied by a Code 3 designation is an emergency call and response is immediate. Emergency lights and sirens are required on a Code 3 response, with sirens being used appropriately. CVC 21055: The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 21350), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 21650), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 21800), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 21950), Chapter 6 (commencing with 22100), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 22348), Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 22450), Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 22500), and Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650) of this division, and Article 3 (commencing with Section 38305) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 38312) of Chapter 5 of Division 16.5, under all of the following conditions: (a) If the vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call or while engaged in rescue operations or is being used in the immediate pursuit of an actual or Section 208.002 Page 6 of 8 suspected violator of the law or is responding to, but not returning from, a fire alarm, except that fire department vehicles are exempt whether directly responding to an emergency call or operated from one place to another as rendered desirable or necessary by reason of an emergency call and operated to the scene of the emergency or operated from one fire station to another or to some other location by reason of the emergency call. (b) If the driver of the vehicle sounds a siren as may be reasonably necessary and the vehicle displays a lighted red lamp visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and pedestrians. A siren shall not be sounded by an authorized emergency vehicle except when required under this section. CVC 21056: Section 21055 does not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway, nor protect him from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise of the privileges granted in that section. CVC 21057: Every police and traffic officer is hereby expressly prohibited from using a siren or driving at an illegal speed when serving as an escort of any vehicle, except when the escort or conveyance is furnished for the preservation of life or when expediting movements of supplies and personnel for any federal, state, or local governmental agency during a national emergency, or state of war emergency, or state of emergency, or local emergency as defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code. CVC 21806: Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, the surrounding traffic shall, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer, do the following: (a) (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed. (2) A person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety. (b) The operator of every street car shall immediately stop the street car, clear of any intersection, and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed. (c) All pedestrians upon the highway shall proceed to the nearest curb or place of safety and remain there until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed. (Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1154, Sec. 68. Effective September 30, 1996.) CVC 21807: The provisions of Section 21806 shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property. Section 208.002 Page 7 of 8 CVC 22350: No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property. CVC 22454: (a) The driver of any vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking, from either direction, any school bus equipped with signs as required in this code, that is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading any schoolchildren and displays a flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 25257, if equipped with a stop signal arm, visible from front or rear, shall bring the vehicle to a stop immediately before passing the school bus and shall not proceed past the school bus until the flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, if equipped with a stop signal arm, cease operation. (b) (1) The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway or multiple-lane highway need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus that is upon the other roadway. (2) For the purposes of this subdivision, a multiple-lane highway is any highway that has two or more lanes of travel in each direction. CROSS-REFERENCES California Vehicle Code, DIVISION 11- Rules of the Road, Chapter 1, Obedience to and Effect of Traffic Laws, Article 2- Effects of Traffic Laws, Sections 21055, 21056, and 21057, and Chapter 4, Right of Way, Sections 21806, 21807, 22350 and 22454 Standard Operating Procedures Manual Section 207.001, General Guidelines Section 207.002, Apparatus Backing Section 203.013, Traffic Safety Section 208.002 Page 8 of 8