FIRE DEPARTMENT • TOWN OF NORTH BRANFORD, CT



FIRE DEPARTMENT • NORTH BRANFORD, CT

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE

FOR

DISPATCHING AND INCIDENT RESPONSE

MAY 2008

1.0 PREFACE

The Fire Department for the Town of North Branford, CT is established under Chapter 40 of the Town Code and is under the command of the Fire Chief and Board of Fire Commissioners. The Department is composed of four companies hereby referred to as Company 1, Company 2, Company 3 and Company 4. Companies 1, 2 and 3 make up the firefighting force while Company 4 provides ambulance service. Each company is under the command of a Captain with Lieutenants and Foreman assisting with unit management. In addition to these strategically placed units, a force of Fire Police Officers support department operations and is under the direction and control of the Fire Police Captain; authority arises through Connecticut General Statutes. (Fire Police units are assigned radio designations FP-1 thru FP-10)

The response to any incident requiring fire department intervention is coordinated by the town’s communication center that is housed within Police Headquarters. As such, dispatchers must be provided with and adhere to, standard operating guidelines that direct the response of fire apparatus to incidents that occur within our jurisdiction or to any community requesting mutual aid. Of utmost importance is the fact that fire services are provided by volunteer members that must be able to receive an alarm, respond to the incident scene or fire station in a privately owned vehicle (POV) and implement an action plan. Therefore, the timely dispatch of all alarms becomes paramount and is the responsibility of each dispatcher.

The North Branford Fire Department operates its communications system in the VHF frequency spectrum and licensed by the FCC under call sign KNJM-270 to operate on the following frequencies: 151.19 Mhz, 153.83 Mhz, 154.295 Mhz, 154.220 Mhz and 159.405 Mhz. In addition, UHF radios are programmed to transmit/receive on mutual aid department channels; a low power cross band repeater system In Car 1, Tower 1 and Engine Tanker 22 can be activated to communicate on low band frequencies.

Therefore, under the direction and order of the Fire Chief, this Standard Operating Guideline establishes “INCIDENT RESPONSE PROCEDURES” that are designed to provide the dispatcher with the minimum response requirements for fire, rescue, hazardous material, technical rescue and medical emergency incidents. References for these protocols include but are not limited to: OSHA Regulations, NFPA Standards, ISO rating schedules for public fire protection and CT-DPH OEMS Regulations.

FIRE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES

|Apparatus |Company 1 |Company 2 |Company 3 |Company 4 |Total |

|Engines |1 |1 |1 |0 |3 |

|Engine Tanker |1 |1 |0 |0 |2 |

|Aerial Tower |1 |0 |0 |0 |1 |

|Medium Rescue |1 |1 |1 |0 |3 |

|Light Rescue |1 |1 |0 |0 |2 |

|Brush Truck |1 |1 |1 |0 |3 |

|Ambulance |0 |0 |0 |2 |2 |

|Other |Special Hazards |0 |0 |0 |2 |

| |Unit, Boat | | | | |

|Total |8 |5 |3 |2 |18 |

3.0 FIRE DEPARTMENT RADIO CALL SIGNS – KNJM 270

Note: For Fire Department communications, dispatch shall be referred to as “NORTH BRANFORD.” The use of the terms “Headquarters, Dispatch or Control” shall be revoked.

RADIO ID ASSIGNMENT TASK FORCE #

Car 1 Fire Chief

Car 3 Deputy Chief

Car 4 Deputy Chief Training Officer

Car 5 District Chief

Car 6 District Chief

Car 7 Fire Marshal

Car 71 Fire Inspector

Car 72 Fire Inspector

Engine 1 Company 1 1

Engine Tanker 11 Company 1 1

Rescue 1 (Light Duty) Company 1

Rescue 11 (Medium Duty) Company 1 1

Special Hazards Unit Company 1

Brush 1 Company 1

Rescue Boat & Trailer Company 1

Engine 2 Company 2 2

Engine Tanker 22 Company 2 2

Rescue 2 (Light Duty) Company 2

Rescue 22 (Medium Duty) Company 2 2

Brush 2 Company 2

Engine 3 Company 3 3

Rescue 3 (Medium Duty) Company 3 3

Brush 3 Company 3

Ambulance 4 Company 4

Ambulance 44 Company 4

In addition to the above, mutual aid jurisdictions have been issued two (2) portable radios programmed to transmit/receive on North Branford Fire Department radio frequencies and directed to contact “NORTH BRANFORD” using their jurisdictional name and unit number upon entering our town. (i.e., BRANFORD ENGINE 1, EAST HAVEN TOWER 1, DURHAM TANKER 1, GUILFORD ENGINE 163, WALLINGFORD ENGINE 7 and NORTH HAVEN ENGINE 7) Chief Officer’s in contiguous towns also have radios programmed to our channels and will use their car number when communicating with units. It shall be the policy of the North Branford Fire Department to utilize “plain English language” for all radio communications (Ref: NIMS)

4.0 RADIO TRANSMISSION PROCEDURES

All North Branford dispatchers shall use the following sequence of actions and plain English language to verbal messages when transmitting all fire and EMS alarms via fire department radio channels. The initial dispatch for all incidents shall take place using the “GROUP TX” button on the dispatch console. This will ensure that the dispatch information is transmitted on all relevant channels.

EMS INCIDENT

• “Stand by for Company 1 Medical Dispatch”

• Channel 1:EMS Tone Alert followed by dispatch information and cross streets and any other relevant information

• Repeat of response location/type while units are enroute to the incident

FIRE/RESCUE INCIDENT

• “Stand by for Company 2 Fire Dispatch”

• Channel 1: FIRE Tone Alert followed by dispatch information and cross streets and any other relevant information – see below

o “TASK FORCE 2, ENGINE 3, RESCUE 3, ENGINE 1 AND TOWER 1 respond to a reported structure fire 1500 Middletown Avenue – fire in a second floor bedroom – cross streets are Foote Hill and Forest Roads”

o The use of the term TASK FORCE denotes the response of all units from that designated station. Additional units are verbalized in the radio transmission.

• Repeat of response location/type while units are enroute to the incident

2ND ALARM OR GREATER

Upon receipt of a request to transmit a 2nd or greater alarm from the Fire Chief or Incident Commander, the following action shall be taken by the dispatcher:

• Call the respective mutual aid department(s) as listed in the CAD and provide all details for their response (i.e., request for Engine, Tower, Rescue, Tanker etc.)

• Provide exact location with cross streets

• Advise them of radio channel operations and next,

o Channel 1: FIRE Tone Alert “A Second Alarm has been transmitted for ________________________ (give location) and the following mutual aid units are responding.”

Note: During structure fire or extraordinary incidents, the dispatcher shall pay particular attention to both Fire Dispatch and the Fire Ground Tactical radio frequencies. In general, incident scene operations will take place on the tactical channel and if necessary, command operations may occur on the Dispatch channel. There may be times in which an Incident Commander divides incident scene operations into tactical level management units, assigning geographical locations onto other radio frequencies not monitored by dispatch (CT Group Call [CTGP] channels).

5.0 USE OF THE TERM “MAYDAY”

The use of the term “MADYDAY” in the fire service indicates that firefighters is trapped, disoriented or lost while operating on the incident scene and they require immediate assistance. When the “MAYDAY” term is transmitted, the dispatcher shall focus all attention to the fire incident until this signal is cleared – there must be no other interruptions. Any information received by the dispatcher that is related to the transmission of the “MAYDAY” signal shall be immediately to the Incident Commander. Upon the transmission of this signal, the Incident Commander shall implement a “Rapid Intervention Team- RIT” and begin a “Personal Accountability Report-PAR.” The dispatcher may be directed to commence a roll call of all units operating at the emergency incident scene and report back to the Incident Commander. This information shall be documented into the communications center CAD.

In addition to the member verbalizing their “MAYDAY” signal, the activation of their EMERGENCY SIGNALING DEVICE ON THE PORTABLE RADIO MAY BE ACTIVATED. Upon its activation, a message will be displayed on the dispatch consoles’ Unit Identification Monitor and the activated radio is automatically placed into the transmit mode in a hands-free operation. A disabled member can then provide verbal messages to anyone monitoring the Dispatch frequency. When order to do so, the dispatcher shall clear and reset the ID unit. (SOG reference document)

6.0 USE OF THE TERM “EMERGENCY TRAFFIC”

The use of the term “EMERGENCY TRAFFIC” in the fire service relates to urgent situation that may occur during Fire/EMS operations. It is the intent of the member transmitting this signal to obtain the undivided attention of the dispatcher and or Incident Commander and transmit essential information related to incident operations. This message must be acknowledged without delay. (SOG reference document)

7.0 MUTUAL AID RESPONSE

The Town of North Branford provides and receives mutual aid fire protection, rescue and EMS assistance from contiguous communities including but not limited to: East Haven, North Haven, Wallingford, Durham, Middlefield and Branford. Based upon need and necessity, additional services can be provided beyond these boundaries and upon request by any Chief Officer or Incident Commander shall be dispatched without delay. The Connecticut Statewide Fire Rescue Response Plan may be implemented under direction of the Fire Chief during times of conflagration or unusual circumstances.

8.0 NEW HAVEN AREA SPECIAL HAZARDS TEAM

The North Branford Fire Department is a member of the New Haven Area Special Hazards (NHASH) Team. This regional hazardous material response unit is one of the State’s recognized regional team that provides hazmat mitigation at the technician and specialist level to the thirty (30) communities within DEMHS Region 2. The team is composed of five (5) geographic divisions, North (Wallingford FD/CYTEC), East (Guilford FD), South (New Haven FD/PD), West (Milford FD) and Valley (Derby FD). Personnel and equipment from surrounding agencies supplement each core division. In the event that a hazardous material incident occurs within this town and requires intervention by technicians and or specialists, a regional response may be requested by the Fire Chief or Incident Commander. The dispatcher shall, upon such notification, call SCC C-MED and request a NHASH Team response following the reference chart attached to this document. (see reference document)

9.0 TECHNICAL RESCUE OPERATIONS

In the event that a technical rescue incident occurs within this jurisdiction, the dispatcher shall initiate a “TECHRES” response following the appropriate protocol. If the situation is beyond the expertise of this department, the Fire Chief or Incident Commander may request specific resources from mutual aid departments. Technical rescue incidents may include but are not limited to: confined space incidents, high angle or slope rescues requiring rope operations, swift water incidents and trench/structural collapses.

10.0 CONTINUNITY OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

The primary communications medium for the Town of North Branford Fire Department is the high band radio system. All dispatching of fire and EMS apparatus takes place in Channel 1 (Primary Dispatch) while Channel 2 is used for fire ground operations. Channel 1 is a repeater channel and Channel 2 is a simplex operation that is monitored by the town’s communications center. Additional local and statewide interoperability frequencies are programmed into all mobile and portable radios, providing additional options for incident scene operations,

As a secondary means of maintaining communications, the dispatch center, all mobile and portable radios are also programmed with the South Central Connecticut fire radio network (154.295 Mhz). Numerous communities monitor this system and New Haven C-MED conducts a daily radio test. In the event of a complete communication system failure, this department can use this simplex radio network for communications. Additionally, if the North Branford 911 PSAP suddenly fails, the dispatching of apparatus can be provided through the Guilford Fire Dispatch Center. Another level of communications can be implemented through the use of the State’s 800 Mhz ICALL/ITAC system, deployment of the CT Mass Decontamination Trailer and or portable interoperability mixers.

11.0 RELATED DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS

• This document shall serve as a reference for all North Branford Communications Center dispatchers and, establishes the minimum level of apparatus response to all fire, rescue and EMS incidents. Dispatchers that deviate from this directive shall be able to support their decision(s) and if so ordered, document said actions to the Fire Chief.

• Department Officer’s shall exercise good judgment in response to all incidents and when necessary, place units back in service as soon as possible. Also, if the first due unit arrives and determines that no other units are needed, responding units should be cancelled. When appropriate and if not cancelled by a fire department officer on scene, the response to incidents by units may be downgraded from Priority 1 to 2.

• The first arriving unit at any scene shall implement an incident management system by acknowledging their arrival and announcing “command.” From that point forward, communications from dispatch to the scene shall be coordinated through “command.”

• When a fire/EMS dispatch occurs, a reasonable period of time shall be afforded for the first assigned company to sign on the air. If the dispatcher determines that such time has been allowed and the first due units have failed to sign on, dispatch shall respond a comparable apparatus from a different company. A Chief Officer may order such deployment without delay.

• When companies are dispatched to an automatic fire alarm (AFA) and upon arrival their size-up indicates no evidence of smoke or fire, the Incident Commander shall exercise good judgment and either cancel or allow other units to continue their response at road speed (Priority 2).

• When companies are dispatched to an automatic fire alarm (AFA) and a subsequent call is received by the dispatch center confirming “No Smoke or Fire,” the first due units shall continue at road speed (Priority 2) for the purposes of investigation and all other units returned to service.

• Calls for service that involve a high risk to the safety and health of responders, appropriate scene size up, staging and requests for further assistance shall be exercises by on-scene personnel.

• Upon receipt of a request for a public service type call (i.e., basement pump out, unsecured structural components, etc), a Chief Officer should be contacted for apparatus assignment.

• Apparatus responding to alarms shall be staffed with appropriately trained and equipped personnel. When a unit responds to an incident in other than their first due district, members should report to the assigned station and ride on responding apparatus. This action serves to minimize privately owned vehicles (POV’s) parking at the emergency incident scene.

• During times of limited resource availability (i.e., normal business hours on weekdays), it is preferred that the first due Engine responding to a “Structure Fire” from Station 1 and 2 is an Engine Tanker. Engine Tankers should be the unit responding to the “CAD Category: CAR and BR.”

• During periods where numerous incidents occur simultaneously and if a unit is not already assigned to an alarm, Company Officers shall attempt to provide adequate staffing for Engines, Engine Tankers, Rescues and the Tower. Extreme environmental conditions may dictate an alteration to response protocols; a Chief Officer of the department will make this decision.

• With regards to “Structure fires” occurring in non-hydranted areas, an Engine Tanker shall serve as a nurse-tanker for the first due Engine. If the Incident Commander implements the use of a portable pond operation, the second due engine will be responsible for on-scene drafting while the third due becomes responsible for fill-site operation.

• When the on-duty ambulance is assigned to an alarm and a second EMS call is received and the EMD Protocol determines that only an ambulance is to respond, the Rescue Company assigned to that district shall respond.

• Upon receipt of a request to “assist a fall victim,” the Rescue Company assigned to that District shall respond for assistance.

• The response to incidents involving the suspected or threatened use of explosive devices is guided by the Police and Fire Department’s “Operational Guideline” issued August 20, 2007. (Attached for reference)

• In addition to those units assigned to a “Water Rescue” incident, the dispatcher shall anticipate and prepare to request assistance from the following Department’s for a Dive Team request: Branford Fire, Guilford Fire, CT State Police Emergency Services Unit or New Haven Police Department’s Emergency Service Unit. Also, the Incident Commander should consider the activation of Life Star and or CSP Trooper 1 as an additional resource. Remember: the timely notification of resources may impact survivability.

• When extraordinary situations occur or if the dispatcher experiences an unusual problem associated with fire department operations, they are hereby instructed to immediately contact a Chief Officer.

12.0 EFFECTIVE DATE OF SOG

This Standard Operating Guideline shall be effective 0800 hours on Friday, May 23, 2008.

PER ORDER OF:

WILLIAM SEWARD, III

FIRE CHIEF

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