HomeMy WebLinkAbout104.002g - Water Rescue Team
ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
COMMITTEE AND TEAMS
104.002g WATER RESCUE TEAM (WRT)
EFFECTIVE: JULY 2020
Current Revision Date: 07/06/20 Next Revision Date: 07/06/22
Author’s Name/Rank: Jeffrey Guynn, Fire Captain Review Level: 3
Administrative Support:
Leslie Oulashian,
Management Analyst II
Section 104.002g
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to institute guidelines for the establishment and
organization of a Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) Water Rescue Team
(WRT).
APPLICATION
It is Department policy to provide water rescue, under water search and safety
precautions, to the general public and its members in the mitigation of emergency
operations. The formation of a WRT 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 WRT Members are qualified, certified, and staffed.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
In order to provide water rescue capabilities, the Department will maintain a
Water Rescue Team. It is the goal of the WRT 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 WRT
will meet, as needed, to address improvements for a WRT response to the
following incidents:
• Water Rescue
• Wide Area Flood
• Dive Operations for Evidence Search
Section 104.002g
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• Vehicle Search
• Swiftwater Rescue
WRT Team members are required to complete 72 hours of continuing education
(CE) annually. (See certification requirements below.)
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
1. The WRT consists of the following:
a. Assigned members:
i. Three captains
ii. Six engineers
iii. Three firefighters
b. Non-assigned members:
i. 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:
a. Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1
b. Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced
(Recognized equivalent: Swiftwater Technician Advanced –
Rescue 3)
Section 104.002g
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c. Swiftwater Boat Operator
(Recognized equivalent: OES Swiftwater Boat Operator)
d. State Fire Marshal Trench Rescue
e. SCUBA certification in Basic and Advanced
f. PADI Public Safety Diver and PADI Public Safety Diver -
Surface Supplied Dive (Recognized equivalent: Fresno Fire
Public Safety SCUBA Operations)
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, WRT 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 as follows:
a. Annual Certification Requirements:
i. Completion of team qualifications.
ii. Completion of 72 hours of approved CE provided within
the last year (12 months).
a) CE will be scheduled by the WRT coordinator for
the calendar year.
iii. Participation in at least two of the quarterly WRT 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.
iv. Successfully pass the Swim test (202.14g) within the past
12 months.
Section 104.002g
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INFORMATION
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DEFINITIONS
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CROSS REFERENCES
Administrative Manual
Section 104.002, Specialty Teams General Guidelines
Standard Operating Procedures
Section 202.014d, Water Rescue Team
NFPA 1006 and 1670
Current MOU between the City of Fresno and Local 753