HomeMy WebLinkAbout208.005 - Ambulance Response to Structure FiresEffective Date: April 2017 Kevin Reynolds, Fire Captain
Current Revision Date: 07/11/2025 Section 208.005
Next Revision (1) Date: 07/11/2028 Page 1 of 3
Fresno City Fire Department
200 Standard Operating Procedures Manual
SECTION 208.005 AMBULANCE RESPONSE TO STRUCTURE FIRES
PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to provide a guideline for Emergency Medical Service
(EMS) unit response to reported residential and commercial/industrial structure fires.
APPLICATION
This procedure is to be used by Fresno County EMS Communications Center
personnel when dispatching structure fires. It is also provided for Fresno Fire
Department (FFD or Department) suppression personnel as a guide for EMS
response to structure fires.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
It is the policy of the Department to provide at least one advanced life support (ALS)
EMS unit at all residential and commercial/industrial structure fires.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
DISPATCH:
Upon notification of a residential or commercial/industrial structure fire:
1. The Communications Center is to dispatch the most appropriate EMS
unit along with the responding fire units.
2. The EMS unit responds code 2 and monitors the assigned operations
channel while enroute. If a working fire is declared, the EMS unit
upgrades response to code 3.
Effective Date: April 2017 Kevin Reynolds, Fire Captain
Current Revision Date: 07/11/2025 Section 208.005
Next Revision (1) Date: 07/11/2028 Page 2 of 3
3. The EMS unit reports arrival to the incident commander (IC) and
communications on the assigned operations channel. Unless directed
otherwise, the EMS unit stages out one (1) block.
4. If the EMS unit arrives prior to FFD, they report their arrival to the
Communications Center on their assigned Med Channel and report
any pertinent information. The EMS unit stages out from the incident
to allow for fire apparatus access. Once FFD resources are on scene,
the EMS unit is to announce their presence to the IC on the assigned
operations channel.
Upon notification of a structure fire in a high life hazard building:
1. The Communications Center is to dispatch three (3) EMS units, an
EMS Field Supervisor, and the EMS Duty Officer.
a. Basic Life Support (BLS) units may be included in this
response.
2. These resources are to respond Priority 2 (code 3).
3. The first arriving EMS resource is to contact the IC and determine if
the remainder of the EMS response should continue or cancel.
4. If the balance of the EMS response is cancelled, an ALS, EMS unit is
to remain on scene as the stand-by until released by the IC.
RELEASING/CANCELLING:
1. The EMS units are cancelled with the balance of the alarm or released
at the discretion of the IC.
INFORMATION
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Effective Date: April 2017 Kevin Reynolds, Fire Captain
Current Revision Date: 07/11/2025 Section 208.005
Next Revision (1) Date: 07/11/2028 Page 3 of 3
DEFINITIONS
1. Med Channel: UHF Operations radio channel assigned to the
responding ambulance by the Fresno County EMS Communications
Center. This channel is used for communications between ambulance
personnel and the Fresno County EMS Communications Center.
2. High Life Hazard Building: Commercial or residential structure with a
large number of occupants or patients requiring EMS assistance for
evacuation or continued care and treatment. Board and care, hospitals,
and residential care facilities are examples of these buildings.
CROSS-REFERENCES
No cross-references recognized.