R.V.F.D.
STANDING ORDERS, 2004
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format]
1.
ALARMS: All available firefighters will report to the firehouse
immediately when an alarm is given by radio, pager, siren, or by other
means.
a.
The first firefighter to arrive at the firehouse will immediately
report by radio to KBT-809 "CLOSTER COMMUNICATIONS"
that "Department
Fifty-five: Firehouse is manned" and confirm the alarm
location, type of incident, and receive any size-up report from the
responding police.
b.
Qualified driver-pump operators, upon arrival, will move apparatus
onto the apron and turn on all warning lights and radios. They each will
take two (2) portable radios into the cab.
c.
All firefighters will respond from
the firehouse in full turnout gear. Turnout gear consists of fire
hood, fire helmet with ear
flaps down, fully fastened
protective coat with liner installed, bunker
pants with short boots or thigh-length boots fully pulled up, and protective
gloves, all of which are either issued by or approved by the
Rockleigh Fire Department. (Drivers need not have turn-out gear fully on
if parts of the gear interfere with their ability to drive safely. All
protective gear must be fully donned at the scene.)
2.
RESPONSE: Before leaving the firehouse, the officer and driver
of the first-due apparatus shall know with certainty the location of
incident, type of incident, and location of nearest hydrant.
a.
Apparatus assignments and manning levels: Apparatus shall not leave
the firehouse with less than the minimum manning level unless ordered
otherwise by the Incident Command Officer. Apparatus shall never carry
more men than the specified maximum. The order of apparatus response and
manning levels for ALL alarms is as follows:
(1)
First out - Command Unit: Normally R-1
(mini-pumper/command
unit) responds first with
minimally one officer or acting officer and a maximum two (2) firefighters
(including the officer) to function as a "Fast
Attack or Command Unit". The Command
Unit shall call KBT-809 CLOSTER
COMMUNICATIONS with a response report. On arrival at the scene, the Command
Unit will initiate the Incident
Command System, broadcast a size-up
report to all units, and initiate investigation.
(2)
Second-out - Engine Company: Normally R-2
or R-3 (maxi-pumper)
responds second with a minimum of three (3) firefighters and a maximum of
five (5) firefighters to function as an "Engine
Company". Once responding, the Engine
Company will call the Incident
Command Officer with a manning-level report and request instructions.
The officer or senior fireman in the compliment shall be in charge of the
company and be prepared to direct Engine Company evolutions.
(3)
Third-out - Truck Company: Normally R-2
or R-3 (maxi-pumper) responds third with a minimum of three (3)
firefighters and a maximum of five (5) firefighters to function as a
"Truck Company". It
should wait on the apron for a few minutes to ensure that all responding
firefighters will make the last truck. Once responding, the Truck
Company will call the Incident
Command Officer with the manning-level report and request
instructions. The officer or senior fireman in the compliment shall be in
charge of the company and be prepared to direct "truck company"
evolutions.
b.
Apparatus safety: All firefighters must ride in seats within
the apparatus and have SEAT BELTS FASTENED. Firefighters shall ride
neither on the rear step, nor on side steps, nor in the hose bed except
when repacking supply hose. The driver shall not move the apparatus until
this order is met and the compliment of men is within specified manning
levels.
c.
Traffic laws: Fire apparatus responding to an alarm or incident or for
any purpose on any public way shall obey ALL posted speed limits and
traffic control devices with the following exceptions:
(1)
Red lights/Stop signs: Responding apparatus must come to a complete
stop at red or blinking red traffic signals, and stop signs. It then may
proceed through the stop signal (using siren, horn, and emergency warning
lights) only after ensuring that it is absolutely safe to proceed.
(2)
One-way streets: Responding apparatus (using siren, horn, and
emergency warning lights) may proceed against the indicated traffic flow
with extreme caution and only if the way is clear.
(3)
Passing: Responding apparatus (using siren, horn, and emergency
warning lights) may pass vehicles which have slowed or stopped to yield
the right-of-way to the responding apparatus, provided that it is safe to
do so.
3. AT THE INCIDENT SCENE: The
Incident Command System shall
be used and SOPs followed.
a.
The Incident Command Officer shall be first senior Rockleigh Fire
Officer on the scene. If there is no officer on the scene, the senior
firefighter at the scene shall function as the Incident
Command Officer until an officer of the Rockleigh Fire Department
arrives. Note: Un-ranked firefighter seniority is set by the level of Fire
Academy Fire-Fighter Training, not length of
time in volunteer service. The senior officer present must (by statute) be
in charge of any HAZ-MAT incident.
b.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Rockleigh Fire Department
(copies of which are in each vehicle) shall be followed to the extent
possible.
c.
Full Turn-Out Gear shall be worn by firefighters while responding and
at every incident scene.
d.
SCBA packs shall be donned before leaving the apparatus and ready to
use at all fire and HAZ-MAT incidents. Full beards, large mustaches, and
long sideburns interfere with SCBA mask seal and are proscribed by NJ-OSHA
and by the RFD.
(1)
All hose teams shall have SCBA donned and ready to use. Hose teams
operating inside structures (including overhaul) as well as outside at
vehicular fires, trash fires, and Haz-Mat incidents shall use SCBA and the
PASS device. Each team leader shall have a radio.
(2)
Search-and-rescue teams and ventilation teams shall use SCBA and the PASS
device when operating inside structures and have SCBA donned and ready for
use when working outside. Each team leader shall have a radio.
e.
Participation in inside structural firefighting or in proximity to any
fire or hazardous-materials incident is restricted to fire fighters that
are in active status, fire-academy qualified, and healthy. A minimum of
four (4) firefighters (excluding the Incident Command Officer) must be assembled before
initiating interior fire fighting operations. A FAST TEAM must be called for all interior fires.
4. THE FIRE MARSHAL AND
ARSON SQUAD:
a.
The Borough Fire Marshal is to be notified immediately
in the event of a structure fire so that an investigation can begin before
evidence is destroyed.
b.
The Bergen County Police Arson Squad must be called for serious
personal injury, death, extensive fire damage, unoccupied building,
unexplainable fire volume, or suspicious origin.
c.
"Rules of evidence":
Because the Fire Marshal can be denied access to property once
firefighters leave, a fire officer must remain in control of the scene
until an investigator arrives.
5.
RETURN TO QUARTERS: Firefighters may not leave the scene or
firehouse until dismissed.
a.
The Incident Command Officer shall notify KBT-809 CLOSTER
COMMUNICATIONS when all units have returned to quarters. He shall call
the roll and complete all necessary reports.
b.
Drivers shall park the apparatus and ensure that all electrical
systems are turned off and all radios located and returned to the
chargers.
c.
Officers or firefighters acting as officers in charge of a company
shall ensure that all equipment is secured in the proper place, portable
radios are re-charged, water tanks are filled, hose beds re-packed, and
that the apparatus cleaned (if necessary) and ready to respond to the next
alarm. All equipment in need of replenishment, repair, or replacement must
be removed from the apparatus and the Assistant Chief or Chief notified.
6.
RANGE OF OPERATION: Fire apparatus shall not to be taken from the area
defined by the Boroughs or Hamlets of Alpine, Closter, Harrington Park,
Northvale, Norwood, Palisades, Tappan, and Sparkill, except for firematic
purposes, repair, or by resolution of the Mayor and Council.
Mike Malhama, Chief
1 January 2006
