HomeMy WebLinkAbout104.002f - Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team
ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
COMMITTEE AND TEAMS
104.002f URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE (US&R) TEAM
EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 2007
Current Revision Date: 11/15/18 Next Revision Date: 11/15/20
Author’s Name/Rank: Marc Ognibene, Fire Captain Review Level: 2
Section 104.002f
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to institute guidelines for the establishment and
organization of a Department Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Team.
APPLICATION
It is Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) policy to provide urban search
and rescue response capabilities in the mitigation of emergency operations. The
formation of a US&R Team is to help facilitate this policy.
Note: Reference Administrative Manual, Section 104.002, Specialty Team
General Guidelines, for information pertinent to all specialty teams.
This policy addresses how US&R Team Members are qualified, certified and how
the team is to be staffed.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
US&R Team: In order to provide US&R capabilities, the Department will maintain a
US&R Team. It is the goal of the US&R Team to comply with the professional
qualifications set forth in NFPA Standard 1006 and the operations and training
standard for technical search and rescue incidents set forth in NFPA 1670. Unless
otherwise specified by the Fire Chief, the US&R Team will meet, as needed, to
address improvements for a US&R response to the following incidents:
• Structural collapse
• Rope rescue
• Confined space
• Water rescue
• Trench rescue
US&R Team members are required to complete 72 hours of continuing education
(CE) annually. (See certification requirements below.)
Section 104.002f
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OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
1. The US&R Team consists of the following:
• Assigned members:
o Six captains
o Nine engineers
o Six firefighters
• Non-assigned members:
o Any additional members deemed necessary by the Fire Chief to
assist in carrying out the team’s mission.
2. Selection/Assignment of Team Members:
Refer to Administrative Manual, Section 104.002, Specialty Team General
Guidelines
3. Team Qualifications:
• State Fire Marshal Rescue System 1
• State Fire Marshal Rescue System 2
(Recognized equivalent: FEMA Structural Collapse Technician, 80 Hours,
Fresno Fire)
• State Fire Marshal Confined Space Rescue Technician
• Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1
• Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced
(Recognized equivalent: Swiftwater Technician Advanced – Rescue 3)
• Swiftwater Boat Operator
(Recognized equivalent: OES Swiftwater Boat Operator)
• State Fire Marshal Trench Rescue
• SCUBA certification in Basic and Advanced
• PADI Public Safety Driver and PADI Public Safety Driver - Surface
Supplied Dive (Recognized equivalent: Fresno Fire Public Safety SCUBA
Operations)
Section 104.002f
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Note: The Special Operations Chief can accept educationally similar
courses as a substitute for the above-listed courses based on a review of
course objectives and/or equivalencies.
4. Certification:
As with the firefighting profession in general, US&R Team members must stay
abreast of current industry standards to provide an effective and professional
product to the community. Team members can be required to reach certification
status by meeting the minimum requirements outlined below.
• Annual Certification Requirements:
1. Completion of team qualifications.
2. Completion of 72 hours of approved CE provided within the last
year (12 months).
a. CE will be scheduled by the US&R Team coordinator for the
calendar year.
3. Participation of the quarterly US&R Team meetings per year. Missed
quarterly meetings can be made up by meeting with the team’s
coordinator and reviewing minutes, on their own time.
a. Time spent at team meetings will count towards CE
requirements.
4. Successfully pass the following skills competency tests within the past
12 months:
Swim test (202.14g)
Agility test (202.14g)
Skills test (202.14h)
INFORMATION
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DEFINITIONS
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Section 104.002f
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CROSS REFERENCES
Administrative Manual
Section 104.002, Specialty Teams General Guidelines
Standard Operating Procedures
Section 202.014, Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)
NFPA 1006 and 1670
Current MOU between the City of Fresno and Local 753