Burlington County

 Techincal Rescue Guideline

www.bcfirechiefs.org

adopted November 12, 2003

I.           Purpose

A.     The purpose of this guideline is to establish a guideline for securing resources for response to incidents requiring a technical rescue capability.  Burlington County has limited technical rescue capability within the county and may require mutual aid to bring these types of incidents to a successful conclusion.

II.          Intent

A.       The intent is to initiate this guideline when the local jurisdiction requests technical rescue assistance.

III.        Definition

A.     Technical Rescue Incident is defined as any incident having at least one victim trapped, buried, confined or otherwise endangered in a location that requires rescuers with specialized skills and training to extricate them.  These incidents include but are not limited to:

1.        Structural or Building Collapse

2.        Trench Rescue

3.        Confined Space Rescue

4.        Swift Water Rescue

5.        High Angle Rescue

IV.        Procedure for Central Communications

A.     Upon mutual aid request from the incident commander, for a technical rescue company not identified in the local grid and depending on the location of the incident, notification shall be made to the Cherry Hill Fire Department at (856) 662-1111 or Mercer County TF801 at (609) 799-0110.

1.        Cherry Hill Fire Department Technical Rescue will be the primary technical rescue for the following districts:

2.        Mercer County TF 801 will be the primary technical rescue for the following districts:

3.        Large Scale Incidents may require notification to the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 1 at (609) 882-2000.

B.       Notification shall be made to the Burlington County Fire Coordinator and EMS Coordinator.

C.       Notification to Burlington County Health Department for atmospheric metering support for the rescue company.

D.       Notification to Burlington County OEM.

V.         Guideline for the Incident Commander

A.      The incident commander while waiting for a the technical rescue company shall insure the following tasks are accomplished:

1.        Size up of the incident, identification of potential hazards.

2.        Establish a command post.

3.        Notify the Local Office of Emergency Management.

4.        Have a full first alarm assignment available, approximately fifteen firefighters with confined space awareness training available on scene to perform various support functions.

5.        Establish a safe perimeter around the site.

6.        Establish a collapse zone if applicable.

7.        Gather all available witnesses and make the available to the Technical Rescue Officer when they arrive.

8.        Collect any other data regarding the location of the rescue such as blueprints or drawings of the site, chemicals on location, and any other information that may be pertinent to the rescue.

9.        Establish an aero medical helicopter-landing zone.

VI.       Guideline for the Fire Coordinator or Deputy Fire Coordinator

A.      Report to the command post and provide incident command support. 

B.       Coordinate with County Office of Emergency Management.

C.      Insure adequate fire and rescue protection is available in the region for response to additional incidents.

D.      Request mutual aid assistance as necessary following normal protocol, and plan for resource replenishment as necessary.

E.        For long term incidents, establish an incident support team to work in shifts for the duration of the incident.

VII.      Guideline for Technical Rescue Company

A.     Upon arrival the Technical Rescue Company Officer shall interface with the incident commander.

B.      The Technical Rescue Company will follow their established guidelines for response dealing directly with the rescue function and coordinate with the incident commander.

VIII.   Resources Expected from Technical Rescue Company

A.     In the case when the Cherry Hill Fire Department is requested for a technical rescue, they will send their Technical Rescue Company out of Station 13-3.

1.       Capabilities:

a.         Building Collapse Rescue

b.         Confined Space Rescue

c.         Heavy Rescue

d.         High Angle/Rope Rescue

e.         Swift Water Rescue

f.           Trench Rescue

B.      In the case when Mercer County Task Force 801 is dispatched, the following units will be dispatched by Mercer County:

·        Lawrenceville - Special Services 23, Ladder Tower 23

·        Pennington Road, Ewing - Rescue 32, Special Services 32

·        Bristol Myers-Squib - Special Services 27

·        Plainsboro - Rescue 49

·        Princeton - Rescue 168, Special Services 168

·        MICU Unit with Tour Chief (EMS team for rescuers, not trapped patient)

·        Mercer County Fire Coordinator.

1.       Capabilities:

a.         Collapse

b.         Confined Space Rescue

c.         Heavy Rescue

d.         High Angle Rescue

e.         Trench Rescue

IX.         Closing

A.     All fire departments in Burlington County shall be given a copy of this plan.  All Chief Officers shall become familiar with this plan.

B.     Any plan previously published which conflicts with this plan are hereby rescinded.