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PURPOSE

To establish safe operating procedures for missing or trapped firefighters or other circumstances where firefighters are compromised in a hazardous area.

PROCEDURE

• Command Responsibilities
  • If a company or individual firefighter cannot be located through a PAR, or any other time a firefighter is missing, a Mayday message will be transmitted.
  • The Incident Commander will respond to a Mayday by modifying the incident action plan to address both the firefighter rescue and firefighting operations. This plan must include
    • Commit the Two-Out or RIT team.
    • Establish a defensible space.
    • Order additional resources.
    • Establish a rescue branch.
    • Maintain RIT.
    • Assign a separate TAC channel.
    • Assign a safety officer.
    • Order support resources.
    • Mandatory notifications.
• Firefighter Rescue Branch
  • Assignment of firefighter rescue operations to a branch permits concentrated focus on this critical activity while continuing ongoing firefighting efforts.
  • Key components may include
    • Firefighter Search Group.
    • Fire Control Group.
    • Firefighter Rescue Branch Staging.
    • Firefighter Extrication Group.
    • Medical Unit.
    • Firefighter Support Group.