FLINT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT



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| |FLINT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT |

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| |STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE |

Guideline Number: 410.15

Guideline Title: Lock-in/Lock-out

Adopted: 10/1/2013

Rescinds: New

Approved By: (Chief)

I. PURPOSE:

To define the guidelines and responsibilities for firefighters responding to lock-in and lock–out situations.

II. DISCUSSION:

Generally, lock-out situations are handled by the fire department as a service to the public, with certain actions required to ensure the fire department is opening a lock-out situation for the rightful owner and to ensure the fire department is free of liability. Other situations, especially lock-ins, present an emergency need to have the fire department force entry. In these situations ownership and fire department liability are not critical considerations. Providing this service can aid in promoting positive public relations with the citizens of the community.

II. GUIDELINE:

The following guideline is in the recommended order of implementation, reflecting the relative priorities on a lock-in/lock-out scene.

1) The appropriate apparatus shall respond to the location. Refer to SOG 400.04 APPARATUS RESPONSE.

2) Incident Command shall be implemented following SOG 402.01 INCIDENT COMMAND.

3) Vehicle Lock-Ins/Lock‐Outs

a) The Flint Hill Fire Department will respond to gain access to vehicles when any of the following conditions exist:

i) An infant, child, ill or unconscious person is locked inside a vehicle and unable to exit by his/her own means. (Priority 1)

ii) The rightful owner or person having control of the vehicle has:

1) Left the engine running and a dispatcher or Officer in Charge ascertains that the vehicle is on fire, or is likely to cause an exposure fire (e.g., a car parked over leaves or brush). (Priority 1)

2) Emergency medication locked inside that is needed.

3) Requested assistance from the Fire Department due to locking keys in the vehicle.

iii) A pet is locked inside a vehicle and the situation is life threatening.

iv) To assist the York County Sheriff’s Department, EMS, or other law enforcement agency.

4) Structure Lock‐Outs

a) The Flint Hill Fire Department will respond to gain access to residential, commercial or similar structures when any of the following conditions exist:

i) An infant, child, ill or unconscious person is locked inside and is unable to exit the structure by his/her own means. (Priority 1)

ii) A fire hazard is present (e.g., food on the stove).

iii) The rightful owner or person having control of the property has left emergency medication locked inside.

iv) The rightful owner or person having control of the property has requested assistance from the Fire Department due to inability to gain access by normal methods.

v) To assist the York County Sheriff’s Department, EMS, or other law enforcement agency.

5) Additional Considerations

a) Any requests for lock–out assistance not meeting the conditions specified in the preceding sections will be honored unless circumstances dictate otherwise. Examples would be the inability to establish ownership, or refusal to release the fire department from liability from damages.

b) Repetitive requests from the same party will be brought to Fire Chief’s attention in order to determine the proper handling of any future requests.

c) All fire companies will carry the tools needed to open doors to structures and vehicles.

6) Consent Forms

a) All fire companies will carry the 410.15 Forcible Entry Release Form releasing the Flint Hill Fire Department of any liability for damage done while unlocking a vehicle or structure.

b) The person requesting lock‐out assistance (owner, occupant, police officer, etc.) will sign the Forcible Entry Release Form. The form should be signed before FHFD members take any action, unless timely emergency action is necessary.

c) Ownership or legal, lawful user should be verified by reasonable and prudent efforts of the Officer in Charge. Examples of this proof may include driver’s license, a phone call to the owner, tax record lookup, registration verification, etc.

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