HIGH RISE

FIREFIGHTING
IN THE
SUBURBAN
ENVIRONMENT

What is a high-rise?
Generally speaking, any
building which is 6+
stories tall OR where the
highest floor intended for
regular occupancy is 75
feet or greater above the
lowest level of Fire
Department access
qualifies as a high-rise.

Practical terminology for operations

A high-rise is any fire-resistive
(Type I construction) building
which is taller than the working
length of the responding FDs
laddering capabilities, or one in
which all firefighting operations
must be conducted from the
interior due to a lack of windows.
Examples???

What About Residential High Rise

Buildings??
Also Type I, fire resistive
construction
May be sprinklered
throughout, only in
common areas, only in
individual tenant units, or
not at all depending on
age and location
Significant life hazard on a
24/7 basis

High-Rise Facts
Basic facts about most commercial high-rises:
Multi-tenant
Type I Fire Resistive Construction
All structural elements of the building are fire
resistive material (e.g., concrete, steel, etc.)
Monitored fire alarm system
Sprinklered
Fire Control Room
Fireproof Stairwells
Elevators with Phase II/Firemans Service

So its a tall building with a fire in it.

Whats the big deal?
Construction: the structure may not burn, but there
are features that work against us!
Core construction = large open floor space in
newer style buildings
Staggering amount of combustibles
Vertical shafts and other openings
Curtain-walls
High-hazard environment when fire has
possession of the space

Yeahand what else makes it such a big deal???

The OCCUPANTS!
The occupants of any
high-rise are the
weak link in the
chain of fire safety!!

Human Behavior in High-Rise Fires

Behavioral scientists have studied survivors of
9/11/01 and other disasters for response patterns
10% - 15% remain calm and act quickly and
efficiently
15% descend into a hysteria
Vast majority: do nothing!! Bewilderment
Freezing behavior = deep seated prey vs.
predator reaction

Lack of Preparedness = WEAK LINKS!!!

Only 45% of the WTC
survivors knew the
buildings had 3 stairwells
Only 50% knew the
rooftop doors would be
locked

Strategic Plan for High-rises

DETERMINE the specific fire floor.
VERIFY the location of the fire before
committing handlines to operations.
Begin a CONTROLLED evacuation!

Extract those in immediate danger first.

Prevent panicky exit by those not in danger through
pre-fire education, zoned fire alarms, use of the
buildings public address system.
Search the fire floor, ALL floors above, elevator cars,
AND STAIRWELLS!!

More Strategy
Gain CONTROL
of the BUILDING
SYSTEMS
(HVAC, PA, fire
pump, elevators,
etc.)
CONFINE the fire
EXTINGUISH the
fire

High-rise Fire Facts

There have never been more
than three fatalities in a high-rise
building fire when the building
has an operational sprinkler
system.
In 95%+ of high-rise fires, the
activation of 1 or 2 sprinkler
heads has controlled or
contained the fire to the area of
origin.
High-rises are SAFER than
garden apartments, townhomes
and SFDs!

Factors that make these challenging fires

Quirky air movement and mechanical air movement
systems.
Reflex time is much higherfrom the time the alarm is
transmitted until the time an effective stream is placed on
the fire.
Building systems dont always cooperate.
Significant commitment of resources required merely to
support firefighting operations on an upper floor or floors.
And..

The Occupants!!

And the
crowds!!

Consider The Need For Immediate

Enhanced EMS Response!

Smoke Travel
Stack effect: normal movement of
air in a buildingHot air risesCold
air sinks
Inverse stack effect: tall, a/ced
building on a hot daycold air pulls
the smoke down below the level of
the fire!! VERY CHALLENGING!!
Mushrooming: smoke spreads out at
a sealed point
Stratification: smoke rises to a point
where it cools to ambient air
temperature

STAIRWELL BASICS
Designate one stairwell for fire
attack and one for evacuation.
The goal is to protect in place
as many people as
possible.hence the
importance of keeping people
on their floor if it is not in alarm
or ordered for evacuation.
Occupants will then be
ordered to use a particular
stairwell for evacuation.

Exit Strategies
Occupants should be taught to apply
their emergency evacuation plan, but
also to use common sense.
Get them to a smoke-free stairwell!
Do NOT let them use the elevators!
Physically challenged individuals
should be brought to a centralized
safe area on the floor or in the
stairwell. Someone should remain
with them.

Elevators
Elevators are inherently unreliable in
fire situations.
If the initiating alarm device is in an
upper floor elevator lobby, the
elevator machine room, or the
hoistway, all elevators will recall to
the lobby. (Phase I service)
If the initiating alarm device is on a
floor, the elevators may continue to
run normally until placed in
Firemans Service by the FD.

FD Use Of Elevators
We will use the elevators as
long as it is safe to do so.
We WALK the stairs if the fire is
reported on or below the 6th
floor.
An 8-year study in NYC
revealed that in 178 high-rise
fires, the elevators failed on
37% of those fires.

Dangers of High-rise Fires

This photo was taken on the
initial fire floor at One Meridian
Plaza in Philadelphia.
Three firefighters died at this
event. Disorientation, poor
communications, and inadequate
fire streams, in addition to the
difficult interior conditions
contributed to their untimely fate.
Expect this kind of scene at any
free-burning fire in a commercial
high-rise.

How HOT Can It Get???

The Hazards Are Outside, Too

Notice how the street
is covered with
shards of broken
glass.
It all came from many
stories up.falling
swords!!

SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR

SUBURBAN HIGH RISE OPERATIONS

FIRE OPERATIONS STRATEGIC FACTORS

Units are assigned to tasks and locations in
a priority order.
Chief officers must still assess the situation
and adjust the game plan accordingly.

KEY ASSIGNMENTS FOR CHIEF

OFFICERS

Incident Command
Suppression
Search & Evacuation
Planning & Logistics
Operations
Lobby Control
EMS
Others?????

UNIT DISCIPLINE
High level of discipline is
required.
Failure to follow any portion
of the operational plan can
lead to a breakdown of the
entire operation and could
result in firefighter injury.or
worse.

Quick Overview of FD Ops

Suggested Resources

4 engines
2 ladder trucks
1 heavy rescue
1 EMS unit
2 Battalion Chiefs
2 EMS Supervisors

A minimum of 26 firefighters, 2
EMS providers and 4 command
officers.

FIRST ENGINE
Park away from the building
& abandon the rig
SIZE-UP
Proceed to reported fire floor
after gaining information.
Sources??

SECOND ENGINE
Water Supply
Crew goes to fire floor with
the crew of the 1st engine
SECOND ENGINE
SHOULD NOT TAKE OR
BE ASSIGNED
COMMAND!

THIRD ENGINE

TRY TO SEE ALL SIDES OF BLDG

ASSUME COMMAND ABSENT THE CHIEF
COMMAND AT F.C.R.--- WHY HERE?
CREW TO LOBBY CONTROL
CONTROL ELEVATORS, SYSTEMS, PEOPLE
TRACK UNITS / ACCOUNTABILITY

FOURTH ENGINE
WATER TO SECONDARY FDCs
CREW TO FLOOR ABOVE FIRE -- SECOND TRUCK
WILL JOIN
CHECK FOR EXTENSION AND OCCUPANT
STATUS

FIRST TRUCK
PARK ON FIRE FRONT IF ACCESSIBLE
CREW TO FIRE FLOOR WITH FIRST ENGINE
EVERYBODY GOES IN

SECOND TRUCK
EVERYBODY GOES IN
CREW GOES TO FLOOR
ABOVE FIRE, LINK UP WITH
FOURTH ENGINE
IMMEDIATE RESCUES? GET
THEM, BUT COMMUNICATE
WITH COMMAND!!!

RESCUE COMPANY
PARK AWAY FROM THE BUILDING!!!!
CREW GOES TO FIRE FLOOR
IF FIRST TRUCK IS ALREADY ON SCENE, CREW
POSITIONS IN THE ATTACK STAIRWELL JUST
BELOW FIRE FLOOR AS R.I.T.

EMS UNIT
POSITION IN LOBBY WITH STRETCHER AND EMS
EQUIPMENT (GEAR AND SCBA??)
ASSESS SITUATION FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE
EVACUATING, COMMUNICATE FINDINGS, AWAIT
ORDERS

EMS SUPERVISORS
REPORT TO COMMAND
POST
IF MULTIPLE PATIENTS
ARE ENCOUNTERED,
EXPECT TO BE ASSIGNED
AS EMS BRANCH
DIRECTOR
Also, Medical Unit Leader
for OUR people.

CHIEF OFFICERS
FIRST CHIEF - COMMAND
SECOND CHIEF TACTICAL COMMAND
POSITION IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION
ON THE FIRE FLOOR(S) UNLESS COMMAND
ASSIGNS OTHERWISE.

FIRST UNITS UP
FIRST ENGINE AND FIRST
TRUCK (OR RESCUE)
PROCEED AND WORK
TOGETHER
2 1/2 OR 1 3/4 HOSE LINES?
TRUCK OR RESCUE
SHOULD DO THE RECON
ONLY AFTER FIRE IS
LOCATED, I.D. THE ATTACK
STAIRS

SECOND ENGINE
SUPPLY SYSTEMS
CHECK PANEL
CREW TO FIRE FLOOR AND
JOIN FIRST ENGINE
OFFICERS OF THE 2 ENGINES
MUST COMMUNICATE! THE
SECOND ENGINE IS THERE TO
SUPPORT THE FIRST.

THIRD ENGINE

ASSUME COMMAND (??)

LOBBY CONTROL
ELEVATORS
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
CONFIRM ATTACK AND
EVAC STAIRS

FOURTH ENGINE
COVER FLOOR ABOVE FIRE
OBJECTIVE IS CHECK
EXTENSION
ALSO OCCUPANT
SITUATION

COMMUNICATE YOUR
SITUATION

RESOURCE COMMITMENT

SMOKE OR FIRE
SHOWING, OR
CONFIRMED FIRE,
ORDER SECOND AND
MAYBE THIRD ALARM.
ADDITIONAL RESCUE
SHOULD ALSO BE
ORDERED.

INTENT IS FOR THIS

ADDITIONAL HEAVY
RESCUE COMPANY TO
BECOME R.I.T.
CONSIDER ASSIGNING
AN ENGINE WITH THEM.

HIGHRISE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

SUPPORT FUNCTIONS
High rise buildings pose different
problems.
Their configuration affects the ICS.
Location of Staging (and other
special functions) is unique.

INITIAL ALARM
Commitment of resources is
critical.
High potential for life loss.
Most departments increase
the number of units initially
dispatched to a high rise
incident.

INITIAL or FIRST ALARM (contd)

Most departments do not
dispatch enough first alarm
resources to handle the full
potential of the incident.
Should contain enough resources
to handle immediate work.
Should include enough members
to support initial actions in
Operations, Lobby Control,
Stairwell Support, Staging, and
Systems.

FIRST ALARM
Resources should be sufficient to:
Provide prompt investigation and location of fire.
Start initial attack.
Handle immediate support functions.

FIRST ALARM
Resources dispatched should be standard.
Additional resources should be called when firstarriving company has indication of working fire.
This early call minimizes REFLEX time.
Additional resources should be directed to Base area.
Base should be located in close proximity to the incident.

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS
(EXAMPLE)
This example uses four-person engine
staffing and 3 person truck and rescue
company staffing at a working highrise
fire.
Note that it is the number of members
that is critical, not the number of fire
department apparatus.

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS (EXAMPLE)

(cont'd)
Hypothetical fire situation:

Fire is on 10th floor of a 14-story building.

Potential exists for fire extension to 11th.
Elevators cannot be used.
Smoke conditions exist on two floors
above the fire floor.
Rescue/Evacuation procedures are
needed.

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS
(EXAMPLE) (cont'd)
Basic functional organization:

10th floor fire attack

11th floor
Lobby Control

Total basic commitment:

2 engines, 1 truck + 1 rescue (RIT)

1 engine, 1 truck
1 engine (divided)
7 companies

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS (EXAMPLE)

(cont'd)
Minimum additional resources called at recognition of
working fire (second alarm only):
Rescue/Evacuation 2 companies
Staging
2 companies
RIT
1 company

Total resources for basic working fire: 12 companies

NOTE: Several critical tasks are still not assigned!!!

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS (EXAMPLE)

(cont'd)

Of these 12 companies:
Seven are assigned to fire
attack.
Five set up support
operations.

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS
A moderate highrise fire requires a minimum of 12 companies (or
approximately 45 members).
This does NOT count chiefs/command officers

Adequate supervision is critical!! Its a safety itemthe NIOSH

Reports tell us so in almost every fireground fatality report.

The type of fire illustrated in the example may require up to 100

members.
Additional chief officers should be dispatched to manage ICS
functions.

Resource Commitment
Prepare to lose the elevators in 20
minutes or less
Units for Stairwell Support

EMS Task Force?

Relief crews
Other needs of the incident?

Specialty Units

Sowhats the take-away?

Regardless of your departments
staffing and resources, the following
key items MUST be managed at any
high-rise incident: fire suppression,
water supply, search and rescue,
ventilation, overhaul, salvage, logistical
support, EMS for occupants, EMS for
our people, public affairs, liaison with
other agencies, and more.
Your mission is to plan for the high-rise
incident nownot on the fly.

THANK YOU
AND
BE SAFE!!
Chuck Ryan
Battalion Chief
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
Chuck.Ryan@fairfaxcounty.gov