3 Operational Guide Chapter 2 High Rise High Riskv 1

Ottawa Fire Services Fire Operations Guide
Chapter 2
High Rise and High Risk Occupancy

Situations
Table of Contents
Purpose & Introduction
Definition of High Rise & High Risk Occupancy
Responding to High Rise & High Risk Occupancy fires
Tactical Principles (for fighting fires in High Rise
& High Risk occupancy structures)
Ventilation (in High Rises & High Risk occupancy)
Below grade tactics
Ventilation below grade
High Rises under construction
Ottawa Fire Services
Operational Guide Chapter 2
Purpose
High Rise and High Risk Occupancy fires have many similarities and thus require many of the
same Procedures, Incident Organization and Tactics. This chapter provides a source of
information to equip firefighters for an effective response to High Rise & High Risk occupancy
fires. It provides a foundation of understanding about these situational types of fires, as well as a
departmental guide for the consistent and safe mitigation of these incidents.
This chapter includes the following topics:
Definition and description
Tactical goals
Operational procedures
Distribution of duties
Safety considerations
Introduction
High Rise
Office Residential
v 1.0 Page 1 of 51
Perhaps no other fire presents a greater challenge than those in High Rise structures (also
referred traditionally as Type I construction). Because of their size, variety, and varied
occupancies, these structures require diligent fire service training, pre-fire planning, and
adherence to disciplined fire suppression procedures.
As the City of Ottawa grows, so too does the need for the Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) to keep up
with advances in fire engineering, and science, as well as procedures. Intensification of the urban
core in order to maximize land use as well as reduce the environmental cost of transportation has
lead to an increase of High Rise buildings being built in Ottawa. In addition developers are
designing buildings for more than one type of occupancy including office towers and residential
apartments.
For the purpose of this manual, High Rise Building shall be defined as any structure above six
stories in height. High Buildings are defined as buildings four to six stories.
High Risk Occupancy Structures
Hospital
Seniors Residence Church
School
v 1.0 Page 2 of 51
High Risk Occupancies include but are not limited to: Schools, Hospitals, Seniors Residences,
Daycares, Rooming Houses and in some cases, Commercial Occupancies (e.g. Shopping Malls
and Churches). Unlike High Rises these structures may be built as any Type of construction.
These structures may be only one story in height but have a very large footprint. The time of day
will increase or decrease the life risk factor and thus tactics will need to reflect these risks.
Rescue may involve numerous people and evacuation will usually be complicated due to various
factors (e.g. occupants may need to use secondary or unfamiliar exits). In some High Risk
Occupancies there may not be stairwells however there may be a maze of hallways and multiple
exit points to be searched and cleared of smoke.
Responding to Fires in High Rise and High Risk Occupancy

Situations
Four categories of buildings that require the implementation of High Rise procedures:
High rise residential buildings
High rise office buildings
High buildings. (Four to six stories)
Large footprint structures, (such as: Care and educational facilities, shopping malls,
hotels, or airports)
The running assignments dispatched to these situations depend on:

Information received by the Communications Centre
Nature of the occupancy
Pre-plan information
Identification of the building as high risk
Available water supply
Available human and physical resources at the time of the call
v 1.0 Page 3 of 51
Implementation
High Rise Procedures should be implemented if any of the following requirements are met:
The structure is defined as a High Rise/High Risk
The structure requires unreasonable evacuation time
The fire would pose the potential for significant stack effect
A large sized structure where High Rise procedures would be beneficial
Pre-planning information identifies the requirement for High Rise tactics.
Critical Areas of Operation

Experience with fires in High Rise structures have demonstrated that five (5) critical areas of
operation be established and sufficiently staffed:
Rescue and Fire Attack sector(s)
Lobby Control sector
Stairwell sector (Hallway sector for large footprint structure).
Ventilation sector
Salvage sector
Distribution of Duties
For the purpose of this chapter, the Distribution of Duties will be based on order of arrival.
Please note that the following duties assume that the first-arriving vehicle will be a pump
apparatus followed by a ladder apparatus and a 2nd pump. It shall be understood that
regardless of vehicle type, duties will be assigned according to this arrival sequence. In the
absence of orders from the Incident Commander, Company Officers will report to Incident
Commander over the radio, with the assumption of their sector.
If for any reason companies are required to deviate from the pre-assigned sequence,
Incident Command is responsible for reassigning available resources as required by the
Incident Action Plan.
For additional sectors, branches, and sections not covered, see OFS SOP FI 03.1-2001, Incident
Management System (IMS).
In non-hydrant areas it will be necessary to reallocate resources in order to secure an adequate
water supply as per SOP FI 02.1, Water Supply for Non-Hydrant Areas. Therefore any pre-
assigned duties will have to be back-filled by additional resources.
v 1.0 Page 4 of 51
Rules of Operation
As per SOP FI 03.1-2001 Incident Management System only Fire Suppression personnel
are allowed to initiate and assume Incident Command.
The first arriving Suppression firefighter initiates/assumes command and reports to
Dispatch via initial radio transmission
The first Fire Suppression officer to arrive on-scene shall assume Command
All subsequent arriving Company Officers must report to Command via radio to receive
and confirm assignments, unless reporting to a Level 2 staging area OFS SOP FI 03.1-
2001, Incident Management System (IMS)All personnel on location must ensure that
they are properly accounted for in accordance with SOP SA 02.1-2001, Firefighter
Accountability and Entry Control.
All personnel in the Hot Zone must wear full personal protective equipment (PPE). All
other personnel must wear PPE in accordance with SOP SA 03.2-2001, Hazard Control
Zones.
The initial 5 companies entering a High Rise structure shall bring, as a minimum, the following
equipment:
Hand lights
Portable radios
45mm (1 ) High Rise pack (red bag)
65mm (2 ) Extender pack (50)
Forcible entry tools
Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC)
Latch straps, door wedges, and chalk
Duties of the Incident Commander
When High Rise Procedures are used, the Incident Commander is required to direct and
coordinate the efforts of several companies without being able to see them or the immediate
results of their actions. Once Command Mode is established, it is extremely important that a
Command Post be established in a suitable location, where the Incident Commander can direct
overall operations and be available to any support agencies.
v 1.0 Page 5 of 51
Incident Commander (IC) Tasks:

Follow OFS SOP FI 03.1-2001, Incident Management System (IMS) (for all procedures
not specifically mentioned in this document).
1. The IC shall ensure that the 360 benchmark has been achieved
2. Confirm the designation of Evacuation and Fire Attack stairwells and communicate
these via radio to all on-scene and incoming personnel.
3. Ensure the five (5) sectors are assigned: Attack, Lobby, Stairwell, Ventilation and
Salvage
4. Determine the need for evacuation or shelter in place
5. Review all operations undertaken by first-arriving companies and determine the need
for changes in strategy and tactics in relation to new information received
6. Establish accountability and entry control
7. Assign a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)
8. Begin and employ the use of a Tactical Worksheet
9. Assign the second-arriving Chief Officer to the area of involvement and any other
area at risk) to establish a Fire Control Branch.
10. Establish an internal staging area (if required)
11. Ensure that communications with, among and between all sectors is maintained
12. Notify Dispatch via the radio when Benchmarks are completed and provide periodic
progress reports.
13. Establish a triage area, (if required)
14. Establish a medical support team and medical sector (if required)
15. Ensure that Hazard Control Zones have been established around the building with a
strong police presence to guard against falling debris and to regulate traffic SOP SA
03.2-2001, Hazard Control Zones.
16. Request victims assistance if required
17. Establish an information centre where media, families of occupants, and others may
be informed of developments (if required)
18. Prepare to integrate command with Emergency Management Program(EMP) that has
been adopted through By-Law No. 2011-277 by the City of Ottawa Office of
Emergency Management for large-scale incidents (Single or Unified)
19. Request a structural engineer (if required)
Note: The first four tasks must be addressed by the initial IC regardless of command mode.
v 1.0 Page 6 of 51
Duties and Sectoring

Duties of First-Arriving Firefighter or Crew of less than 4
Due to the 2 in 2 out NFPA Rule for firefighter safety the following tasks shall be performed:
Establish command and transmit radio reports as per Operation Guide Chapter 1
Perform exterior rescue if capable/required
Check the annunciator panel for the location of the alarm
Liaise with building personnel and occupants, if available
Ensure all elevators are returned to the lobby and are checked for victims
If exterior rescue is not required remain in Lobby and report face to face to first arriving
officer
Note: If the situation requires a deviation from the above duties and it is safe to do so
Company Officers can make decisions based on Risk Management Principles and Priorities
as per Chapter 1 Operations Guide.
First-Arriving Company Officer (Pump) Fire Attack Sector

Give initial radio report as per Chapter 1
Initiate the 360 and complete if practical. If it cannot be completed, another company
shall be assigned to complete the 360
Liaise with building personnel and/or occupants, if available.
Transmit a second radio report from the lobby as per Chapter 1.
Actions before proceeding to the emergency floor
Obtain necessary keys from building staff or Lock Box
Initial crews shall not use elevators if the reported fire is below the 5th floor.
For a reported fire on or above the 5th floor initial crew(s), using the elevator, shall exit
the elevator two floors below the fire floor:
o Examine the floor(s) below the fire-floor for conditions, location of hose cabinets,
apartment numbers, garbage chutes, emergency exits, etc.
o The initial crew advancing should report any hazards to Incident Command.
The first crew to the fire floor should immediately report whether it is safe to use
elevators
When using the elevator, assign a firefighter to be Elevator Control
o Assume the radio designation Elevator Control.
o Elevator Control reports to the Lobby Control officer and remains in control of the
elevator until released.
o Unless otherwise ordered, the elevator operator will return to the lobby whenever a
task is completed.
v 1.0 Page 7 of 51
Note: The rationale for establishing elevator control immediately is to ensure that supporting
companies can access the fire floor in a timely fashion. The elevator can play a crucial role in
transporting personnel and equipment where it is needed quickly and easily as compared to using
the stairs. It is strongly recommended that the elevator be used as a means of effective
transportation if it is determined safe to do so.
If arriving with another crew, both crews shall proceed to the emergency floor together.
Actions on arrival to the emergency floor

Transmit the Third Radio Report as per Chapter 1
Salvage Operations should start immediately.
The Fire-Attack sector is generally under the control of the first-arriving company officer.
They direct companies on the fire floor to perform rescue, contain and extinguish the fire,
ventilate the fire floor, and perform a primary search of areas involved. If flow path is identified
as a concern and desired flow path cannot be controlled, alternate fire attack tactics may be
implemented.
If the first assigned ladder company is committed, an additional ladder company/crew should be
requested, anticipating any possible external operations.
Duties of Second-Arriving Company Officer (Ladder)

Duties of second arriving officer will depend on the conditions at the scene.
For alarms calls where no fire is indicated:
Assume Lobby Control.
If a Working Fire is declared:
Determine if exterior rescue(s) is needed.
If rescue is not required and a fire is confirmed the officer proceeds with their
company to the fire floor and reports to the Fire Attack Sector (Command) for
assignment. (e.g. Rescue, back up line, control flow-path, salvage, etc.) Note: If
possible avoid congesting the fire unit.
If the ladder and the onboard pump are both being used, the Officer must ensure
there are qualified operators at both the turn table and the pump panel.
For safety reasons the area around any building should be kept clear of civilians and non-fire
emergency personnel. This Control Zone may also facilitate unobstructed ladder operations.
Therefore, it is recommended that a 60 metre Control Zone be established around the building
for fire vehicles only. An access route shall be maintained.
v 1.0 Page 8 of 51
Duties of Third-Arriving Company Officer - Lobby Control Sector

When a fire is confirmed, the third-arriving company officer reports their arrival to Command
and proceeds to the lobby with their crew to establish the Lobby Control Sector. If a chief
officer has yet to arrive on-scene to assume command, this officer can offer to accept the role
and designation of Incident Command, while still performing Lobby Control duties.
The Lobby Control officer shall clear the lobby area of all non-essential OFS personnel and
building staff or residents. Should the lobby area be compromised by fire conditions, then Lobby
Control duties shall be accomplished from a suitable safe area.
If weather permits, residents should be directed to wait outside. In inclement weather, alternative
shelter may be required. The Lobby Control officer may request, through IC, to have OC
Transpo provide buses for shelter, or to have agencies such as the Red Cross or Social Services
provide assistance. If the lobby area of an adjacent or nearby building is available, it should be
considered for temporary refuge.
The Lobby-Control officer has the following duties:
Acronym (MAKE OATMEAL)
Maintain control of the Lobby
Assist with silencing of alarm when ordered by Command
Keep IC informed of actions taken
Elevators are recalled and inspected for victims
Obtain appropriate keys and building Safety Plan

Announce instructions over the voice evacuation system when ordered by IC
Telephone systems at the panel are to be monitored i.e. firefighter telephones
Monitor the annunciator panel
Ensure the alarm is sounded
Assist with resetting the alarm system when ordered by Command
Liaise with building staff to control the buildings systems
Circumstance may dictate otherwise, but it is recommended that lobby control officer utilize
company members to assist with the many duties associated with lobby control sector. Examples
of such roles would include: assigning a member to be responsible for keys, medical equipment
that may be required, etc.
When buildings have public address systems, Lobby Control should make use of these systems
as soon as possible in order to communicate with residents and coordinate any
movement/evacuation as required. Where building supervisory staff is on location they should
provide the messages to the occupants using the public address (PA) system if equipped. Where
staff is not on location the Lobby Control Officer should ensure PA systems are used to
communicate with occupants. If a building communication system is absent or ineffective, a
backup plan such as the use of an apparatus PA system, or OFS personnel runners on the most
affected floors should be considered.
v 1.0 Page 9 of 51
Example of an initial PA Announcement for a working fire condition (both English and
French if at all possible):
Attention, Attention, this is the Ottawa Fire Service. We have a fire on the 6th floor. Remain
in your apartment. Do not use the elevator or stairs. If you need immediate help call 9-1-1.
Stand by for further information. (Repeat twice)
"Attention, Attention, ceci est le Service des incendies d'Ottawa. Nous avons un incendie au 6me
tage. Restez dans votre appartement. Ne pas utiliser l'ascenseur ou les escaliers. Si vous avez besoin
daide immdiatement, appelez le 9-1-1. Attendez pour plus dinformations. (Repeat twice)
Example of an initial PA Announcement for alarm activation (both English and French):
Attention, Attention, this is the Ottawa Fire Service. Firefighters are investigating the cause
of the alarms. Stand by for further information. (Repeat twice)
"Attention, Attention, ceci est le Service des incendies d'Ottawa. Les pompiers enqutent sur la cause
de l'alarme. Attendez pour plus dinformations. (Repeat twice)
Duties of Fourth-Arriving Company Officer - Stairwell Sector

Report arrival to IC and proceed to establish the Stairwell Sector, unless otherwise
ordered.
Enter all stairwells, physically check them for occupants and hazardous conditions, and
remove endangered occupants.
o Start at the most high risk area, usually above the fire floor, checking each
hallway for smoke/fire conditions
An initial report on smoke conditions in the stairwells, as well as regular updates on
changing conditions shall be transmitted to command.
Establish a timetable for re-examining stairwells to ensure that no other occupants have
entered stairwells and are in danger.
Assist Ventilation Sector officer to coordinate any ventilation requirements in the
stairwells, (e.g. when a door or hatch is opened inform Ventilation Sector Officer)
The Stairwell Sector Officer shall identify which stairwell leads to the roof and establish
vertical stairwell ventilation, if required, in conjunction with the ventilation sector.
Large foot print structures will require crews to monitor all hallways for smoke, fire
conditions and occupants.
All personnel of the fourth-arriving company, including the apparatus operator, will be
assigned to Stairwell Sector. Additional equipment to be carried by the Stairwell Sector
includes, but is not limited to the following:
(4) spare air cylinders and carry bags
Ventilation Crew bag (Ladder belt, Bolt cutters, door wedges)
Available appropriate keys from the lobby control officer
v 1.0 Page 10 of 51
Duties of Fifth-Arriving Company Officer - Ventilation Sector

Report arrival to IC and establish the Ventilation Sector, unless otherwise ordered.
Confirm, via radio, the attack and evacuation stairwells.(If required assigned, or revise
them, through IC, if new information becomes available.)
The ventilation sector shall perform the following duties:
Size-up the situation focusing on flow path.
Ensure that stairwells are pressurized, (evacuation 1st, then attack stairwell).
Ventilate the fire floor to assist fire attack, when requested by the fire attack Officer.
Horizontal ventilation on the fire floor should be undertaken to minimize the amount of
smoke entering the stairwell.
Monitor the effects the exterior environment is having on ventilation activities (e.g.
wind-driven events)
Check the floor above the fire floor for smoke extension and ventilate as required.
Create and implement a ventilation plan for the entire structure.
Additional Considerations: If it is necessary to direct smoke into a stairwell to improve
conditions on the fire floor, the ventilation officer must coordinate this procedure with the
Stairwell Sector Officer. It is critically important that smoke not be directed into any stairwell
until occupants are removed and doors or hatches at the top of the stairwell have been opened to
allow for smoke to escape. Although the ventilation and stairwell sectors are to cooperate, they
have very different responsibilities. The two sectors should never be interchanged.
The officer must liaise with the fire-attack sector officer and the stairwell-sector officer to ensure
that the ventilation plan complements operations in these sectors.
Additional equipment for use by the initial Ventilation Sector Officer could include the
following:
Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fans with extension cords
Appropriate keys for tasks
Forcible entry tools (including bolt cutters)
Carbon monoxide detector
Battery-operated reciprocating saw and spare blades
Duties of Sixth-Arriving Company Officer Salvage Sector

Report arrival to IC and establish Salvage Sector, unless otherwise ordered.
The salvage sector should perform the following duties:

Size-up the situation and develop a salvage plan.
Bring appropriate equipment when assigned to Salvage Sector.
v 1.0 Page 11 of 51
Duties of First-Arriving Pump Operator

The first-arriving pump operator develops a water supply plan.
Monitor radio communications for further orders.
Connect to the building standpipe system(s) and supply the system when indications of
fire or instructed.
Duties of Second-Arriving Pump Operator
The second-arriving pump operator assists the first arriving pump operator in securing
a water supply
The operator shall then position their pump at a hydrant on a large, unused water main in
case additional water supply is required and notify IC.
Remain with vehicle and be prepared for pump operations.
Duties of First-Arriving Ladder Operator

Position the elevating device anticipating possible use. If external rescue is required,
position the elevating device for rescue.
Remain with vehicle and be prepared for further assignment
Complete a 360 when assigned
Duties of First-Arriving District/Sector Chief

Assume command by following the transfer-of-command procedures as outlined in OFS
SOP FI 03.1-2001, Incident Management System (IMS)
Establish and announce a stationary command location.
Ensure the Five critical sectors are assigned: Attack, Lobby, Stairwell, Ventilation and
Salvage
Review and continue to develop the IAP.
v 1.0 Page 12 of 51
Duties of Second-Arriving District/Sector Chief

Report to the Command post to review current company and sector assignments
including an overview of the IAP.
When directed by the IC, proceed to the area of involvement (including areas at risk)
in order to establish a Fire Control Branch. This Branch will be announced via radio
and all personnel involved in fire operations will now report to this Chief Officer.
At a typical High Rise situation this Chief Officer will supervise the activities of all
sectors and companies operating on the fire floor, the floor above the fire floor,
and the two floors below the fire floor (if applicable).
At a High Risk situation this Chief Officer will supervise the activities of all sectors
and companies operating in the area of involvement and the areas at risk.
This Chief Officer liaises with the ventilation and stairwell sectors as required and
provides regular and concise updates to IC.
Duties of Third-Arriving Chief Officer

Report to the Command post and reviews current company and branch/sector
assignments and receives an overview of the IAP
They will then assume the role of Command Aide and assist the IC
Higher-ranking Chief Officers

Refer to IMS procedures.
Duties of the Accountability Officer

The Accountability Officer shall report to the Command post upon arrival and review all
company locations and assignments. After conferring with command, the officer shall assume
the duties of the Accountability Officer as outlined in SOP SA 02.1-2001, Firefighter
Accountability and Entry Control.
Duties of the Rapid Intervention Team

Upon arrival, the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) shall report to command to review all
company locations and assignments. RIT shall then advance to the Internal Staging area (if
established) or the floor below the fire floor and carry out its responsibilities, as outlined in SOP
SA 06.1-2001, Rapid Intervention Team.
Duties of the Incident Safety Officer

Upon arrival, the Incident Safety Officer shall report to command and assumes duties as
outlined in SOP SA 03.3-2001, Incident Safety Officer Duties and Responsibilities.
v 1.0 Page 13 of 51
Rehabilitation Sector
Rehabilitation is an important sector for fighting fires in High Rise structures. Whenever
possible, the Rehabilitation Sector should be situated on the floor below the Staging Area. This
location will allow for companies to descend only a few floors for rehabilitation, rather than
several floors to the street. This close proximity will thus provide for a quicker turnaround time
and allow the Incident Commander to better manage personnel. SOP SA 01.1-2001 REV-
Fireground Rehabilitation
Rescue and Evacuation Sector
Command should establish a Rescue and Evacuation Sector whenever it is in the best interest of
occupants to be evacuated due to an immediate life safety hazard. The Rescue and Evacuation
sector officer will develop a plan, request resources from command, and perform the following
tasks:
Evacuate persons in greatest danger first; which includes those closest to the fire and
those in areas in which there are heavy concentrations of smoke.
Designate specific areas for evacuation and assign companies to those areas or floors
in order to assist with evacuation.
Identify safe evacuation routes.
Consider protecting occupants in place if the evacuation route is unsafe.
Provide frequent progress reports to command
Internal Staging Sector

An Internal Staging Sector is a safe, livable area, usually one or two floors below the fire floor in
a high-rise building, where firefighting personnel and equipment can be assembled.
In selecting a location for the Internal Staging Sector, travel distance from that location to the
fire floor should be as short as possible.
For a lobby or basement fire, it may be located on the street.
When one is required, command shall establish an Internal Staging Sector and designate a sector
officer in charge. The main duties of the Internal Staging Sector Officer are to maintain an
adequate cache of equipment, such as:
Air cylinders
Medical equipment
Additional hose lines, and forcible entry tools
Salvage Equipment
The equipment shall be assembled in a suitable location. The Internal Staging Sector Officer
must also ensure adequate replacement personnel for the Fire-Attack Sector.
v 1.0 Page 14 of 51
Equipment Supply Sector

The Equipment Supply Sector is used to relay equipment from the ground floor stairwell
entrance to the internal staging area floor whenever elevators are not available
Command will assign officers and firefighters necessary for relaying equipment
The stairwell that will be used for relaying equipment will be communicated to command
Approximately one person shall be assigned per two floors for purposes of relaying
equipment
Medical Branch
The medical treatment and triage sector should be under the control of a paramedic supervisor.
The medical treatment and triage sector shall have the radio designation of Medical Branch
and shall report to the Incident Commander.
The Medical Branch shall be established by EMS in an appropriate area which ensures:
It does not inhibit fire operations or movement of personnel and equipment
It is suitable for patient care, i.e., where patient care can be provided in a non-toxic
environment, and free from the potential for medical equipment to become contaminated
from smoke
It is close to efficient transport of patients
It is safe for both patient(s) and EMS personnel
Duties of Subsequent-Arriving Companies

Any subsequent-arriving companies shall report to IC by radio. Command shall establish a Level
II Staging Sector (when necessary) depending on the requirements of the incident. If this
Staging Sector has been established, arriving companies shall report to the Staging Officer in
accordance to SOP FI 03.1-2001 Incident Management System
v 1.0 Page 15 of 51
Evacuation E Fire Attack

Stairwell Stairwell
L
Ventilation Sector E Ventilation Sector
V
A
Ventilation Sector T Fire Attack Sector Fire
O
Control
R Branch
2nd DC
Medical Support Team C Salvage Internal Staging
O
Entry Control RIT Stairwell
N
Sector
Stairwell T
r
Sector R
O
L Rehab
Lobby Control
Ventilation Sector
Ventilation Sector
Accountability Incident Command
1st DC and 3rd DC
60 metre Control Zone for

Fire Vehicles only
Medical Branch
Level 2 Staging
Figure 1
v 1.0 Page 16 of 51
Fireground Communications
There are 2 Main concerns regarding communication at a High Rise fire:
1. It is usually impossible to view all areas of concern.
2. It is difficult to maintain adequate communications using portable radios due to the mass
of concrete and steel used to build the structure that blocks radio transmissions.
There are a number of steps that can be taken to improve internal radio communication:
Position vehicles equipped with a mobile radio repeater on as many sides of the
building as possible
Changing the location of the portable radio a few feet in one direction or another
Locating/positioning the radio closer to a window or an outside wall
Placing the antenna against or outside a window
If the fire is on one of the top floors, transmitting from the roof
Locating/positioning radios close to or inside stairwells
Use of talk-around feature as per SOP CO 01.1 Radio Communication Procedures
In order to reduce radio traffic, use face-to-face communication whenever possible, at the
sector level.
Communication Alternatives
In addition to mobile and portable radios, the following are examples of alternate
communications:
Built-in voice communication systems
Firefighter telephones
Elevator telephones
Landline and cellular phones
Messengers and runners
Apparatus public address systems
Individual apartment intercom systems
v 1.0 Page 17 of 51
Tactical Principles for Fighting Fires in

High- Rise High Risk structures
Controlling a fire in a building that towers above the height and reach of apparatus and hose
streams is a challenge. As a result time and distance become tremendously important
considerations for the Incident Commander. Many tasks considered routine in conventional
structural firefighting can be often difficult and time consuming in a high-rise fire. Tasks such as
locating the fire, selecting the fastest and safest method of reaching the fire, and the correct
placement of hoselines on the fire floor all take more time in a high-rise fire. Fire companies may
also be physically taxed before they even attack the fire, especially if they have had to climb
several flights of stairs to reach the fire floor.
With this in mind Incident Commanders at high-rise fires must be aware of the need to establish
appropriate work cycles. Similarly Incident Command should establish cylinder exchange
stations as required for crews working on air in stairwells.
Logistical and engineering problems can be as challenging as the fire itself. Accessing service
rooms, obtaining keys, and determining paths for pressurization and ventilation are some of these
challenges.
Entry and Use of Stairs

Normal entry into a high-rise building is no different from entry into any other type of structure
if the building is not secured. If it is secured however, obtain keys from the lock box if available.
If, in the event of a true emergency, there are no keys available, forcible entry will be required to
gain entry.
Upon entry, crews should take note of any noticeable pressure differential inside the building and
inform IC.
If stairs are to be used to reach upper floors keys to provide entry to the stairwell and subsequent
floors may need to be obtained from a lock box or building supervisory staff. Personnel should
still however carry a forcible entry tool to enable access to doors that may be jammed due to fire
exposure even if keys are available.
Before entering onto the fire floor, familiarize yourself with the floor layout of a floor(s) below.
Remember if the fire is below the 5th floor, initial use of the elevators to the fire floor may be of
little help and should be avoided. When stairwells are used to reach the upper floors in a high-
rise building, Officers must remind personnel to pace themselves. Little can be gained from
running up several floors, if the firefighter is exhausted upon arrival at the fire floor. A short rest
before reaching the fire floor will allow personnel to work effectively when they are required to
perform their tasks.
v 1.0 Page 18 of 51
Obtaining Information and Locating the Fire

The location of a fire is not often obvious in high rise. In addition the problem of locating a fire
increases with the height of the structure and the size and layout of the individual floors. There
are however several sources of information that may assist in locating a fire area in a large
structure:
Prior to entering all members should look for visual indicators of a fires location as well
as any rescue requirements. Note: In sealed buildings where windows have not yet failed,
there may be no visual indications outside the building.
Upon arrival in the lobby, the Company Officer shall:
o Check the annunciator panel to determine the location of the alarm
o Obtain information from building staff/occupants in the lobby
o Check the buildings fire safety plan
o If possible, information from one source should be confirmed by another. Building
occupants or staff may be excited and offer information that is not complete. They
may be reacting to smoke that is present from a fire on another floor.
o Mechanical devices such as smoke or heat detectors may also indicate there is fire or
smoke on several floors. In reality, the fire may only be on one floor with heat or
smoke transfer activating devices on other floors. Fire usually travels upward, so the
lowest indicated floor (or area) should be investigated first.
v 1.0 Page 19 of 51
Advancing Hoselines
Direct attack
If conditions permit, the first fire-attack hoseline should be connected to the standpipe
connection on the fire floor. This method enables firefighters to keep the stairwell doors on the
fire floor closed, reducing the amount of heat and smoke entering the stairwell.
In open-concept office buildings and below grade operations, a lifeline should be attached to the
exit door and advanced to the hose cabinet to enable firefighters in finding their way back when
visibility is reduced. Strategically placed hand lights on flash cycle can also provide firefighters
guidance back to stairwells or an area of refuge.
The importance of properly stretching the initial attack line cannot be overstated. When
stretching a hoseline from the floor below the fire floor, personnel should:
Confirm that the standpipe outlet is operational prior to connecting the initial attack line.
Use the 65mm extender hose
Ensure that the hose is laid to one side of the stairway
Flaked above the landing on the fire floor
The nozzle firefighter should ensure that the hose is not gathered in a pile on the landing,
as this may impede opening the door to the fire floor
Charge the hoseline and adjust the flow pattern prior to advancing into the hallway.
The officer in charge of fire attack should utilize a thermal imaging camera and direct the
firefighter on the nozzle accordingly.
Note: The thermal imaging camera is an effective method for determining heat and fire location.
However, upon arriving at a closed door with a suspected fire behind it, the nozzle operator can
paint the door (spray a very small amount of water mist) in an effort to determine where the
evaporation of the water stops. The line on the door may show the level of the heat in the fire
compartment.
Fire personnel shall always use water application methods that reduce the possibility of flashover
in accordance with OFS training. Remember: Smoke is fuel! Properly apply hose streams into
the smoke layer, in such a way as to not disrupt the thermal layer. This can reduce temperatures
in the gaseous layer and prevent flashover.
v 1.0 Page 20 of 51
Indirect Attack
Conditions that may prevent direct attack include wind driven fires, adverse flow-path(s), or a
super heated environment. When a direct attack compromises the safety of fire personnel an
indirect attack shall be used initially. When safe for personnel, direct attack tactics shall be used
to fully extinguish the fire. The following are examples of Indirect Attack:
Using an elevating device to apply agent from the exterior
Using Specialized Nozzles such as a Bresnan nozzle lowered from the floor above
Flanking by directing the agent from adjacent balconies or breaching wall(s) of adjacent
unit(s), etc.
For more information on indirect tactics refer to IFSTA Essentials 6 Chapter 17
Hoselines for a High Rise Fire

An extensive fire involving more than one room can create untenable conditions that can quickly
overwhelm a single 45mm attack line. If the fire is extensive or if there is an excessive build up
of heat in the hallway, more than one 45mm or a 65mm hand line may be required. The Fire
Attack Officer shall determine if larger diameter hoselines will be required.
Note: A backup line of equal or larger diameter should also be laid from a separate hose cabinet.
This can be accomplished by the second crew to the fire floor.
Due to natural draft conditions in high-rise buildings, the flow of heat and smoke is toward
vertical openings like stairwells and elevator shafts. This tendency can create difficult conditions
for manoeuvring attack lines on the fire floor while attempting to confine a fire.
Every effort should be made to keep the fire away from stairwells and elevators where it can
easily migrate upward. Under most circumstances, the fire should be attacked from one stairwell
only. Coordination and communication is necessary to prevent opposing hoselines, which could
endanger firefighting personnel and occupants.
Early consideration must also be given to the extension of fire to other floors. This can occur
through the process of vertical lapping or auto exposure on the exterior of the building, as well as
extension through open shafts like elevators, stairwells, or improperly sealed penetrations. In any
extensive high-rise fire, vertical extension must be considered and additional resources utilized
accordingly.
v 1.0 Page 21 of 51
Search & Rescue

OFS search indicators:
Figure 2
When conducting primary searches, OFS utilizes IFSTA Essentials 6 door Marking System
when searching rooms. A secondary search is required once a fire is under control and it is safe
to do so. To indicate that a secondary search has been completed, the X indicating the primary
search completed is circled.
v 1.0 Page 22 of 51
Ventilation in High-Rise and High Risk Occupancies

Victims often succumb to smoke inhalation at fires, rather than the fire itself. Although a fire
may be confined to a specific area, smoke migration creates a potential life safety hazard far
beyond that area. Smoke travels by various means throughout a structure regardless of the
structures size and height. There have been cases where occupants on floors far removed from
the fire floor have perished due to smoke migration.
Smoke Migration
The following factors may cause smoke to spread to areas outside a fire compartment:
Effect of Weather:
o Wind direction and speed
o Barometric pressure
o Temperature
Flow Paths
Temperature effects created by the fire
Stack effect
Smoke stratification
Mechanical air-handling systems
Effect of Weather
External conditions, such as: wind, barometric pressure, temperature, etc., may cause smoke to
move away from a fire area towards various parts of a building. Under certain conditions, wind
action can cause smoke to move vertically within a building, but its main effect is to cause air or
smoke to move in a horizontal direction toward the leeward and side walls. It is wise to take note
of the direction and speed of the wind at the time of the fire as it can have a major effect on flow
path and the spread of fire within the building. A phenomenon referred to as a Wind Driven Fire.
Flow Paths
Refer to Chapter 1
Temperature Effects Created by Fire
Heat generated by fire increases gas temperature, which in turn forces smoke outside of the fire
compartment by means of thermal expansion and stack action. For any given increase in
temperature of a fire compartment, there is a corresponding increase in the volume of gas. This
gas is forced outside from an area of high pressure towards an area of low pressure, as a result of
thermal expansion of smoke volume that increases in pressure as long as the temperature in the
compartment continues to rise.
v 1.0 Page 23 of 51
Stack Effect
Stack effect is defined as the vertical, natural air movement throughout a high rise building
caused by a difference in temperatures between the inside and outside air. Stack effect in a
building is like stack effect in a chimney. Stack action in winter causes air to flow into a building
at low levels and out at upper levels. This effect occurs when dense colder air infiltrates the
building at a low level creating a draft in a shaft such as a stairwell or elevator. The cold air
displaces the warmer air creating upward-flowing currents of air movement.
Reverse flow patterns occur in summer in air-conditioned buildings when inside temperature is
lower than outside temperature, although the temperature differences are less in summer than in
winter. Stack effect can be responsible for a significant smoke migration in a high rise building
fire. The magnitude of stack effect is a function of several factors:
Difference in temperature between inside air and outside air
Building height
Air seal of the exterior walls
Air leakage between floors
Figure 3
v 1.0 Page 24 of 51
Stratification of Smoke and Fire Gases

The creation of layers of smoke and fire gases on upper floors in high rise buildings is a serious
concern. Smoke and fire gases produced by a fire can accumulate at various levels within the
structure unless the building is properly ventilated. Stratified smoke and fire gases may have lost
their heat, but still present an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health
(IDLH). Occupants in areas of a building where smoke is stratifying should be moved to a safe
area. For this reason firefighter SCBA must not be removed until a contaminated area is deemed
to be safe by command.
Effects of Air-Handling and Smoke Control Systems

Air handling systems can significantly contribute to smoke movement in a building. There are
many different types of air handling systems in modern high-rises. The Ontario Building Code
(O.B.C.) Regulations include Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) requirements that
consider smoke movement. Depending on the occupancy, some Type I buildings have zoned
HVAC systems designed to pressurize means of egress as well as hallways in the event of a fire.
HVAC operating notes:
Refer to a buildings fire safety plan for information on the air handling system.
Most air supply and recirculation systems will shut down on activation of a fire alarm
signal in order to stop the circulation of smoke and heat.
An air handling system should only be shut down if the system is working against the
ventilation effort and the control of smoke movement.
The decision to shut down a system should come from the Incident Commander. If a
shutdown is to be attempted, the building engineer must be contacted immediately.
A firefighter equipped with a portable radio should accompany the building engineer
when on-site.
The building engineer and the firefighter should remain at the HVAC controls ready to
reactivate the system in the event that the shutdown has a detrimental effect on smoke or
fire conditions.
Care must be taken when attempting to activate or shut down fan units. The units are not
designed to take sudden changes in direction or to be shut off and turned back on without
a time lag. Dampers and fan motors can be damaged by improper operation.
Care must be taken to ensure that manual ventilation does not overcome any automatic
system.
v 1.0 Page 25 of 51
Tactical Ventilation in High-Rise High Risk Occupancies

Tactical Ventilation is the systematic directing of fire gases, heat, and smoke out of the building
through prescribed channels. The ventilation of these building presents some unique problems
due to the fact that there are limited openings to the exterior. Stairwells are primarily designed to
evacuate occupants and must not be used for ventilation until evacuation is complete.
Tactical ventilation should only occur on the fire floor to the degree that will provide sufficient
relief as dictated by life safety requirements.
The main concern of ventilation during fire attack is to control the flow path of fire and eliminate
the smoke and toxic gases as efficiently and safely as possible.
Horizontal Ventilation should be the preferred option to ventilate the fire floor, unless a wind-
driven condition exists. Horizontal ventilation tends to be the most efficient way to ventilate a
fire floor.
It is ideal when a fire can be vented through the involved unit by using Positive Pressure
Ventilation (PPV)
Use of Horizontal ventilation is particularly useful in keeping stairwells clear of smoke.
If the fire has self-vented, once extinguished, a fog stream (creating hydraulic ventilation) may
be used to remove smoke and heat from the fire compartment without contaminating other areas
of the high-rise.
Horizontal Ventilation
Figure 4
v 1.0 Page 26 of 51
The following considerations should also be taken into account:

The path that products of combustion will seek to reach the exhaust opening
Condition and location of occupants and firefighters who might be in the path of
exhausting products of combustion
Status of the exhaust vents and position charged exposure lines
If conditions are such that attack crews are able to enter the fire unit, they will ventilate while
attacking the fire.
Breaking windows in a high-rise can be dangerous and should only be performed if deemed
absolutely necessary in consideration of life safety.
Any time a large window is removed the safety of personnel operating in the area must be
considered and the opening shall be barricaded.
o A barricade such as a large piece of furniture or ladder should be placed in front
of the window to prevent anyone from accidentally falling through the opening.
Horizontal ventilation by means of breaking windows can be complicated and dangerous,
and requires permission from the Incident Commander.
Breaking windows should be performed under the supervision of a Company Officer in
conjunction with the Ventilation Sector Officer.
Another factor to consider when glass is being broken is the safety of personnel and civilians on
the street below.
Heavy glass plates can ride on air currents and land several blocks from the fire scene.
Police should clear the area within several blocks of the building if windows need to be
broken.
Vertical ventilation (post extinguishment) can be difficult to accomplish as well as being

potentially hazardous in some cases, but it can be an effective means of removing smoke from a
building.
PPV will greatly increase the speed and effectiveness of vertical ventilation by creating a
positive pressure within the stairwells to allow for smoke to travel upwards on currents of
fresh air.
Smoke should not be vented into a stairwell when occupants are using the stairway to escape.
Stairwells being used for ventilation must be checked continuously to ensure that no occupants
have entered.
v 1.0 Page 27 of 51
Stairwell Venting or Pressurization in High-rise Buildings

High-Rise Ventilation/Pressurization
There are two ventilation/pressurization phases for a fire in a high-rise building:
1. Pressurization before/during fire attack.
2. Ventilation after extinguishment.
Stairwell Pressurization before Fire Attack

Pressurization of the evacuation stairwell is the first priority before fire attack. This should be
achieved using the highest CFM fan(s) available. This will ensure smoke is contained to the area
of origin and migration into the hallway and stairwells is limited. Doors to the fire apartment and
stairwells should be kept closed if possible. Similarly pressurization of the attack stairwell will
help fire-attack Companies advance to the fire. This task should be completed after the
evacuation stairwell is pressurized (see Figure 5).
Pressurization before Fire Attack

Figure 5
Some high-rises have stairwells that are automatically pressurized. PPV will help to accelerate
this process. In winter, the colder, heavier, outside air naturally moves to the area of lower-
pressure in the stairwell. Therefore the door to the outside (usually at the bottom of the stairwell)
must be kept open to enhance this movement of air, while the door to the roof must remain
closed.
Conversely, summer temperatures are often too warm for air to naturally flow into the bottom of
the stairwell. If this natural pressurization cannot be achieved, steps may be taken to perform
mechanical stairwell pressurization (HVAC/PPV).
v 1.0 Page 28 of 51
Mechanical stairwell pressurization cannot be accomplished without sufficient personnel.

Additional arriving companies can assist by bringing fans to the front of the building. Ventilation
Sector will then place the fans in operation. All stairwells are to be continuously monitored by
the stairwell sector for smoke conditions and to ensure occupants are using the evacuation
stairwell that is free of smoke.
PPV must not be initiated until authorized by incident command! Following ICs orders it
can be used at all high-rise building fires after the following information is obtained:
Approximate location and intensity of the fire
Potential for fire spread
Clean air inlets for fans are located and identified
Exhaust vents are as close as possible to the fire
Communications with exterior companies must be established and maintained throughout the use
of PPV. In addition fans must not be left unattended during PPV operations. A radio-equipped
firefighter must continually monitor each fan placement. If negative results are encountered after
the introduction of PPV, the operation of fans should be discontinued.
For horizontal ventilation in a high-rise building, the stairwell door should be kept closed on the
fire floor until the fire-attack companies are ready to enter. Fans should be set to seal the
stairwell doors at ground level. If the stairs only open into a lobby, another fan should be set to
seal the main exterior entrance to the lobby, allowing the ground floor to become pressurized.
v 1.0 Page 29 of 51
Stairwell Ventilation after Extinguishment

After the fire has been extinguished, Ventilation Sector shall ensure the entire building is fully
ventilated. The building is not safe for occupants until all products of combustion are removed
and air quality is confirmed. The Ventilation and Stairwell Sectors must work together to
develop a detailed plan to rid the building of smoke.
Considerations for venting after extinguishment:
Vertical opening location(s), i.e. stairwell roof hatch
Possible negative effects of smoke movements
Vertical Ventilation after Extinguishment

Figure 6
After extinguishment, ventilation of the products of combustion can be achieved vertically
through the attack stairwell by opening vents in the following order:
1. Open the top vent in the attack stairwell.
2. Open the door leading into the attack stairwell.
3. Open the door leading into the evacuation stairwell.
v 1.0 Page 30 of 51
A residential high-rise should be vented after extinguishment using the following method (as
illustrated in Figure 6):
Vent vertically through the stairwell equipped with a bulkhead door or hatch to roof
or exterior, when feasible.
Companies should coordinate efforts when opening doors for ventilation.
Companies should begin on the ground floor and move upwards. When a floor is
vented, companies should proceed to the next floor above and repeat the procedure
until the entire building is vented.
If the only stairwell opens to the lobby, another fan should be set to seal the entrance
of the lobby, in order to pressurize the ground floor lobby area.
Coordinating a ventilation plan requires a great deal of radio airtime. Officers should consider
requesting through IC and Communications additional radio channels for Ventilation and
Stairwell Sectors. This will facilitate these sectors to coordinate a ventilation plan without
adversely affecting overall fireground communications.
Additional PPV fans and companies will be required if the building has multiple stairwells or a
unique layout. It is important to remember that only one stairwell should be used for ventilation
and others should be pressurized to allow for safe evacuation. This ensures that all the smoke and
heat is channelled in one direction making the ventilation process more efficient. All stairwells
must be continuously monitored however to ensure evacuating occupants are not in danger.
Occupant Safety
The most effective means to ensure occupant safety is an aggressive fire attack, coupled with
limited evacuation specific to those occupants in immediate danger. Total evacuation of a high-
rise building (under fire conditions) is not always practical and can also reduce the effectiveness
of firefighting efforts. Confining the fire to as small an area as possible and moving those
occupants directly affected to a safe location minimizes the life hazard problem. The IC should
decide whether to evacuate the occupants or have them shelter in place.
Shelter in Place
Occupants should be sheltered in place when:
Their unit is not compromised or in danger
The flow path(s) will be negatively affected by the opening and closing of doors
Sufficient resources are unavailable to properly evacuate or secure safe evacuation routes
Premature evacuation hinders fire operations
v 1.0 Page 31 of 51
Evacuation
In high-rise apartment buildings, most fire fatalities occur in the apartment of origin. The
second most common area for fatalities are stairwells. Fire personnel must:
Exercise strict control of all stairwells.
Employ every option available to communicate with the building occupants.
If a public address system is available, a message shall be communicated instructing the
building occupants as to what actions, if any, they should take.
Personnel assigned to Evacuation Sector should assess the risk/benefit analysis and determine the
appropriate level of evacuation required for the circumstance, including:
In general evacuation usually starts with the fire floor with subsequent floors being be
evacuated based on the risk to occupants.
The occupants of the fire floor should, if possible, be moved to a safe refuge area (usually
at least) three floors below the fire floor.
Any occupants at risk above the fire floor(s) should be moved to a safe refuge area.
Occupants below the fire floor can usually remain sheltered in place in order to keep
corridors and stairwells free.
Occupants should never be moved to a floor where an internal staging area has been
established
Whenever possible evacuations should be managed to avoid interference with
firefighting operations.
Salvage
Construction methods used in high rise buildings create many paths for products of combustion,
as well as water to travel through the structure. This condition, coupled with the fact that high-
rise buildings often contain important documents and equipment, requires that salvage operations
be given prompt attention.
When a salvage problem exists, the Incident Commander must assign a salvage sector early in
the incident.
Refer to the most current IFSTA Essentials of Fire fighting and Fire Department
Operations Manual Salvage techniques
v 1.0 Page 32 of 51
Overhaul
In all fires, a complete and thorough search for any hidden or remaining fire must be preformed
to ensure complete extinguishment.
Refer to the most current IFSTA Essentials of Fire fighting and Fire Department
Operations Manual for Overhaul techniques
Below-Grade Fire Operations

For several reasons, fighting fires below grade can prove to be more difficult than fires at grade
level or above. To begin with, vast areas including distance of travel to reach the fire area will
compound normal fire operations. Therefore many tasks considered routine in a fire at grade
level or above tend to be more time consuming in a below-grade fire. Elevators should not to be
used for below-grade firefighting unless deemed safe and approved by Incident Command.
A heavy fire load can exist because of:
locker rooms and storage areas
workshops, mechanical and utility room
garbage rooms
underground parking large number of vehicles
Additional hazards for firefighters to be aware of when performing below grade operations:
swimming pools
exercise rooms
hydro vaults
multiple levels
High-voltage rooms, hydro vaults, and bus ducts can be encountered below grade. As a result,
water run-off from attack lines may have to be monitored to ensure against electrical contact. In
addition, possible contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polyvinyl chlorides
(PVCs) must be considered if the fire is in or threatening a hydro vault. Under no circumstances
are these vaults to be entered even if a fire is present! These vaults are to remain locked and are
only accessible by hydro personnel. Refer to SOP SA 03.4-2002 Electrical Safety for Fire
Fighters
v 1.0 Page 33 of 51
Below-Grade Communications
Communications below grade can be hindered because of the mass of concrete, steel, and even
the heavy concentration of smoke. The first-arriving officer at a below-grade fire shall ensure
activation of vehicle repeater(s) as soon as possible in order to maintain radio contact. Portable
radios that cannot stay in contact with a tower shall be set to the vehicular repeater (VR_CONV)
frequency, as per SOP CO 01.3-2003 Vehicle and Portable Radio Operating Procedures.
In situations where radio communications cannot be maintained, the following options should be
considered:
Establish a communications relay using the portable radios as walkie-talkies by
switching the channel to talk-around feature to ensure adequate communications.
Note:
o When using talk-around a separate radio will be required to monitor the
operational channel.
o Communications will not receive firefighter down notifications if radios are
set to talk-around function, nor will radios on this setting receive emergency
evacuation tones.
If available use the internal communications system (fire phones), which include
telephone handsets in small red cabinets in hallways. A firefighter can be assigned to
use this system as a link between Fire Attack and the Lobby Control Officer.
Use a series of firefighters as runners from one area to the next. If this is being done
in the Hot Zone, it should be performed using line of sight so that no firefighter is
alone.
Evacuation
Below-grade evacuation can be difficult under fire conditions as there will be fewer available
means of egress. Exit points may only be at grade level, forcing building occupants to travel
upward to evacuate. For this reason, the outside perimeter of the building should be surveyed for
fire escape stairwells that may originate below grade. Rescue and evacuation are of prime
concern because there will be no windows or balconies for the occupants to use as temporary
areas of refuge.
v 1.0 Page 34 of 51
Locating the Fire

Locating a below-grade fire can be difficult because of the heavy build-up of smoke and heat that
has not found a natural ventilation point to the exterior. The fire may also be in a location that
could require firefighters to travel considerable distances through a maze of hallways and
corridors. A thermal imaging camera (TIC) is an essential tool in locating the seat of the fire.
Firefighters should also listen carefully for the following sounds, which may assist them locating
the seat of the fire:
Popping sounds (aerosol cans exploding, or pop cans expanding due to gas expansion).
Glass breaking.
Water flow, from sprinklers.
Crackling and sputtering sounds.
The fire-attack officer can request that the alarm system be silenced as the company makes the
initial attack. This will aid in locating the fire and also improve company communications.
If the stairwells do not provide a safe means of access to the fire area, advancing attack lines
down ramps to underground parking garages should be considered. This tactic will provide
companies involved in fire operations with a direct lifeline to safety.
Firefighter Safety during a Below-Grade Fire
The location of a below-grade fire can be the greatest hazard for firefighters due to the distance
from the work area to an area of safe refuge. For a below-grade incident, fire companies should
use a hoseline or lifeline as standard equipment, as well as a thermal imaging camera (TIC) and
portable lighting and radios.
Below-Grade Fire Attack Tactical Considerations
Advancing hoselines to reach a below-grade fire can be difficult. The location of the fire may
require long hose lays requiring doors to remain open, thus allowing smoke and heat to enter
critical areas above. Hoselines stretched from fire apparatus parked on the street should be
considered if advancing from the exterior into the parking garage. These same hoselines can also
act as a means of escape for firefighters who may become disoriented when exiting the building.
Instead of advancing through hallways with high heat, crews should consider access through the
parking garage.
Additional crews must support the attack crews with hoselines ensuring that these areas are safe
for the attack crew. Due to the time it will take to advance, the attack crew may have to be
replaced before they reach the seat of the fire.
Attacking a fire in an enclosed below-grade storage area, with only one access point and no other
vent openings, will require alternative tactics such as using the parking garage to access the
basement.
v 1.0 Page 35 of 51
The following tactics should be considered:

Block/Prop an open garage doors prior to entry, consider any negative flow-path effects.
Advance adequate hoseline (e.g. 65 mm) with gated Wye to the basement entrance. A
highrise hoseline which will enable crews to reach the seat of the fire.
Note: In most modern high-rise buildings the sprinkler system should keep the fire in check until
firefighters can fully extinguish the fire.
Below-Grade Ventilation
Ventilation for a below-grade fire can be a complex problem. Because there is very little natural
ventilation below grade, heat and smoke can rapidly build to dangerous levels and hamper
firefighting efforts. Concrete can absorb a great deal of heat, but the heat sink effect will
eventually cause the concrete to radiate heat back into the fire compartment, increasing
temperatures. Ventilation will not only remove smoke and heat from the fire but also absorbed
heat from the concrete.
Due to the fact that natural ventilation is rarely effective below-grade, mechanical ventilation
might be the only successful method of ensuring adequate ventilation. Positive pressure
ventilation (PPV) fans, water fog hose streams, and the buildings own air handling system
should all be considerations. Stairwells and elevator shafts may become the only avenues for
smoke and heat to travel, thus placing evacuating occupants and firefighting attack companies in
a hazardous situation. If the building is equipped with underground parking, the entrance and exit
ramps could provide the safest and most effective path for ventilation.
v 1.0 Page 36 of 51
Below-Grade Ventilation in High-Rise Buildings

If the stairs only open into a lobby, then the lobby should be pressurized. (see Figure 7.)
Figure 7
The Incident Commander should ensure there is a vent to the outside prior to pressurizing the fire
area. For a fire that has not self-vented, prior to the arrival of the first fire companies, once crews
have entered and extinguished the fire ventilation will need to be established by opening a
window and/or door in the fire unit. Thus, when the stairwell door to the floor is opened for the
fire attack, the floor will become pressurized.
For a below-grade fire in a high-rise building, there are several possible horizontal ventilation
options:
Loading dock entrances
Basement exterior doors
Exhaust fans
Parking garage entrances
Windows
v 1.0 Page 37 of 51
Other Below-Grade Options for Ventilation

The alternatives offered in this section should not supersede the experience, initiative, or
ingenuity of the Incident Commander. An adequate risk-benefit analysis should be performed
prior to the introduction of any of these alternative options for ventilation (see Figure 8).
The advantage of these options is that they will increase the speed of ventilation.. The
disadvantage is that the attack stairwell is the same as the evacuation stairwell. (Other
advantages and disadvantages are listed below.)
Figure 8
Using a stairwell for ventilation may be the only option available (see Figure 8). The
disadvantages of this option are that it is difficult to monitor the entire ventilation stairwell.
The disadvantages of using any upper floor for ventilation (as shown in Figure 8) are two-fold:
1. The floor will sustain smoke damage
2. The products of combustion can contaminate the ventilation stairwell above the
ventilation floor.
3. Increased requirement for resources to insure occupants are safely away from
ventilation stairwell.
Using an alternate opening on another floor may be the most effective option to remove smoke.
This exhaust opening could be an exterior door from a stairwell, exterior door of a garbage room,
etc. The method chosen should have the least negative impact
v 1.0 Page 38 of 51
Elevators
Firefighter operations in high rise buildings often rely heavily on the use of elevators. If the fire
is below the 5th floor however, initial use of the elevators for quick access to the fire floor may
be of little help and should be avoided. In addition elevators must not to be used for accessing
below-grade fires. Below-grade fires can be exceedingly challenging and use of the elevator can
create more problems than benefits. Upon arrival at the recall level, elevators should always be
checked for any occupants.
The first arriving officer should take the time to try to acquire:
Keys, access card or specialty device to access floors. Take only the keys necessary.
Manually activate the phase one recall switch at the elevator lobby.
Inspect the elevator shaft(s) for indications of problems. If it has been determined that
shafts are safe, elevators may be used.
Insert elevator key into the in-car key switch and turn to ON position. This will put
the elevator into phase two operation. For each operation the button is to be depressed
and held until the operation is completed.
Avoid taking non-fire personnel in an elevator to investigate alarms when the cause of
the alarm is unknown.
Exit the elevator 2 floors below the fire floor and proceed via stairs
If an elevator acts erratically or malfunctions:
Never use the stop button on the in-car elevator panel.
o Use of the in-car stop button can leave firefighters stranded between floors.
(The follow pictures show three different types of stop buttons.)
Exit at the next possible level by pushing the floor buttons in the direction of travel. (That
is, if problems occur at the 5th floor level, push 5, 6, and 7 in rapid succession.)
v 1.0 Page 39 of 51
If the car does not stop (momentarily) turn the in-car emergency switch to HOLD, if
available. This will cancel all registered calls and bring the elevator to a controlled stop at
the next available floor.
If the elevator is equipped with a call cancel button, pushing it will cancel all in-car calls
and stop at next available floor. Temporarily turning the in-car emergency switch to the
OFF position will also cancel all registered car calls and bring the elevator to a controlled
stop.
If the car stops using any of these techniques, push and hold the door open button and
exit. At which point inform Lobby Control that the car is out of service and clearly mark
it as such, so that it is not mistakenly used by incoming fire crews.
More information on Elevators will be available on future hyperlinks
Fire Alarm Systems

The most common protective feature in high rise high risk buildings is the fire alarm system. A
properly designed, installed, maintained, and tested fire alarm systems limit property loss and
loss of life regardless of the building occupancy. Each of these systems is designed to fulfill the
following specific needs:
To notify occupants of a fire.
To summon assistance to start or to assist in fire control activities.
To supervise fire control and suppression systems to ensure that operational status is
maintained.
To initiate a wide variety of auxiliary functions involving environmental, utility, and
process controls, including control of elevators.
Once activated, a fire alarm system shall not be manually silenced unless it has been
confirmed by OFS, in accordance with approved procedures as detailed in the Fire
Safety Plan, a fire emergency does not exist.
v 1.0 Page 40 of 51
Engineered Protective Features of Fire Alarm Systems

Engineered protective features include the following items:
Main fire alarm control and annunciator panels
Automatic detectors for smoke, heat, fire gas, laser, and spark (may be equipped with
some or all)
Manual pull stations
Voice evacuation systems and firefighter telephones
Fire dampers and pressurization fans
Elevator recall and firefighter service systems
Standpipe systems, hose cabinets, and portable extinguishers
Water-based systems: sprinkler, deluge, pre-action, and spark arrest
Clean agent systems: carbon dioxide, argon, wet chemical, and aqueous film-forming
foam (AFFF)
Automatic Fire Alarm Systems

Automatic fire alarm systems are initiating or alarm devices connected to a fire alarm control
panel and may be installed in any type of building. When a device is activated, the fire alarm
control panel sounds the warning signal and, if equipped, engages auxiliary relay circuits. These
systems may be conventional or addressable:
Conventional fire alarm systems have multiple devices connected to form a zone.
Zones report to the fire alarm panel indicating a general area of the building where
the alarm originated.
Addressable fire alarm systems do not have zones and are designed to report the
exact location of a device in alarm condition to the alarm panel. In addition, they are
equipped with digital displays indicating the first alarm received by the panel. To use
control features, firefighters must acknowledge the fire panel by pressing the Alarm
Acknowledge push button. This button will have a red light, (lit or flashing) nearby.
With the control active, use the scroll feature to check for multiple alarms prior to
cause investigation.
More information on Alarm Systems will be available on future hyperlinks
v 1.0 Page 41 of 51
High-Rise buildings under Construction

Fires can spread rapidly in any building under construction. Large undivided floor space
combined with variable combustible fire-loads can create conditions for significant fire
involvement. While these buildings are constructed as fire-resistive, it is ill-advised to treat them
as such while they are under construction.
During construction, concrete floors require time to properly cure after pouring. For normal
strength concrete, the accepted curing time is approximately 28 days. Because of unreasonable
wait-times for curing, engineers have designed systems whereby floors are poured every 48
hours using wood or steel forms used in combination with steel jack posts in order to support
each floor assembly during curing. Quite often, floors under construction resemble a literal forest
of jack supports and columns.
This period in the life of a high-rise is the most dangerous due to the following:
Floor slabs and columns have not reached their maximum load-bearing potential.
Jack posts supporting combustible forms can create a dangerous environment within
which to fight a fire.
If a fire involves the actual concrete forms, (which are usually made out of wood) there is
significant potential for collapse.
Hoselines may become entangled around support posts. Firefighters must take care not to
dislodge any support posts while advancing hoselines. Incident Commanders should
consider using master streams from elevating devices for fire control and cooling if
collapse is a consideration.
v 1.0 Page 42 of 51
Depending on the height of the building being constructed, it may or may not be equipped with a
dry standpipe system, which can be used for firefighting operations.
The decision by an Incident Commander to attack a fire offensively in a high-rise under
construction should include a decision-making process that addresses the following
considerations:
Fire Ground Priorities Risk assessment (i.e. survival profile), as well as crew safety
Rescue and evacuation
Building height
Size and location of the fire
Concrete curing time(s)
Visibility and vantage points from which to mount fire operations, such as
neighbouring buildings
Whether or not the fire involves contents or combustible forms, and/or supports
Water supply
Collapse potential
If fire companies can quickly and effectively extinguish the fire, then a rapid offensive attack
may be considered. Master stream positions should be established early to ensure a seamless
transition from offensive to defensive operations.
In addition, firefighter safety becomes more of a challenge in high rise buildings under
construction because of the following factors:
Unprotected void spaces
Increased trip and fall hazards
Entanglement hazards (like concrete form supports, wires, etc.)
Limited access to upper floors due to construction materials
Exterior combustible sheathing and tarps
Propane or natural gas heaters (used for concrete curing in cold weather)
Different stages of development for different floors, making orientation difficult
Lack of directional placards for stairwells and floors
Potential for wind driven fires because of open areas
Poor lighting and visibility
Lack of permanent structural stair cases
v 1.0 Page 43 of 51
Stability of tower cranes can also be adversely affected by heat or flame. Protective hoselines
should be positioned to cool cranes in order to prevent collapse should fire be encroaching. As
well, cranes should not be used as vantage points for directing hose streams into the structure
because they are not designed for this purpose. An Exclusion Zone around a crane should be
established if the fire is not initially contained. Incident Commanders must attempt to anticipate
fire spread and have fire companies assigned to limit fire spread whenever feasible.
v 1.0 Page 44 of 51
Appendix
High rise/High risk Quick Reference Sheet
The initial 5 companies entering a High Rise structure shall bring, as a minimum, the following equipment: Hand lights, Portable
radios, 45mm (1 ) High Rise pack (red bag), 65mm (2 ) Extender pack (50), Forcible entry tools, Thermal Imaging Camera
(TIC), Latch straps, door wedges, and chalk
Apparatus Duties First Arriving Company Officer (Pump)-Fire Attack Sector

First 1st radio report as per Chapter 1
Arriving Initiate SLICE-RS
1st Pump Initiate the 360 and complete if practical. If it cannot be completed, another company shall be assigned to complete the
360.
Liaise with building personnel and/or occupants, if available.
Transmit a 2nd radio report from the lobby as per Chapter 1.
Actions before proceeding to the emergency floor
Obtain necessary keys from building staff or Lock Box
Initial crews shall not use elevators if the reported fire is below the 5th floor.
For a reported fire on or above the 5th floor initial crew(s), using the elevator, shall exit the elevator two floors below the
fire floor:
o Examine the floor(s) below the fire-floor for conditions, location of hose cabinets, apartment numbers, garbage
chutes, emergency exits
o The initial crew advancing should report any hazards to IC
The first crew to the fire floor should immediately report whether it is safe to use elevators
When using the elevator, assign a firefighter to be Elevator Control
o Assume the radio designation Elevator Control.
o Elevator Control reports to the Lobby Control officer and remains in control of the elevator until released.
o Unless otherwise ordered, the elevator operator will return to the lobby whenever a task is completed.
The third radio report from location of the alarm/fire as per Chapter 1
v 1.0 Page 1 of 51
Apparatus Duties of Second Arriving Company Officer (Ladder)-Under Fire Attack Sector
Second
If a Working Fire is declared:
Arriving
Determine if exterior rescue(s) is needed.
1st Ladder
If the ladder and the onboard pump are both being used, the Officer must ensure there are qualified operators at
both the turn table and the pump panel.
If rescue is not required and a fire is confirmed the officer proceeds with their company to the fire floor and reports to the Fire
Attack Sector (Command) for assignment. (e.g. Rescue, back up line, control flow-path, salvage, etc.)
Note: If possible avoid congesting the fire unit.
v 1.0 Page 2 of 51
Apparatus Duties of Third Arriving Company Officer-Lobby Control

Third Maintain control of the Lobby
Arriving Assist with silencing of alarm when ordered by Command
2nd Pump Keep IC informed of actions taken
Elevators are recalled and inspected for victims
Obtain appropriate keys and building Safety Plan

Announce instructions over the voice evacuation system when ordered by IC
Telephone systems at the panel are to be monitored i.e. firefighter telephones
Monitor the annunciator panel
Ensure the alarm is sounded
Assist with resetting the alarm system when ordered by Command
Liaise with building staff to control the buildings systems
Example of an initial PA Announcement for a working fire condition (both English and French if at all possible):
Attention, Attention, this is the Ottawa Fire Service. We have a fire on the 6th floor. Remain in your apartment. Do not use
the elevator or stairs. If you need immediate help call 9-1-1. Stand by for further information. (Repeat twice)
"Attention, Attention, ceci est le Service des incendies d'Ottawa. Nous avons un incendie au 6me tage. Restez dans votre
appartement. Ne pas utiliser l'ascenseur ou les escaliers. Si vous avez besoin daide immdiatement, appelez le 9-1-1. Attendez
pour plus dinformations. (Repeat twice)
Example of an initial PA Announcement for alarm activation (both English and French):
Attention, Attention, this is the Ottawa Fire Service. Firefighters are investigating the cause of the alarms. Stand by for
further information. (Repeat twice)
"Attention, Attention, ceci est le Service des incendies d'Ottawa. Les pompiers enqutent sur la cause de l'alarme. Attendez
pour plus dinformations. (Repeat twice
v 1.0 Page 3 of 51
Apparatus Duties of Fourth Arriving Company Officer-Stairwell Sector

Fourth Report arrival to IC and proceed to establish the Stairwell Sector, unless otherwise ordered.
arriving Enter all stairwells, physically check them for occupants and hazardous conditions, and remove endangered occupants.
3rd Pump o Start at the most high risk area, usually above the fire floor. checking each hallway for smoke/fire conditions
An initial report on smoke conditions in the stairwells, as well as regular updates on changing conditions shall be
transmitted to command.
Establish a timetable for re-examining stairwells to ensure that no other occupants have entered stairwells and are in
danger.
Assist Ventilation Sector officer to coordinate any ventilation requirements in the stairwells, (e.g. when a door or hatch is
opened inform Ventilation Sector Officer)
The Stairwell Sector Officer shall identify which stairwell leads to the roof and establish vertical stairwell
ventilation, if required, in conjunction with the ventilation sector.
Large foot print structures will require crews to monitor all hallways for smoke, fire conditions and occupants.
All personnel of the fourth-arriving company, including the apparatus operator, will be assigned to Stairwell Sector.
Additional equipment to be carried by the Stairwell Sector company includes, but is not limited to the following:
(4) spare air cylinders and carry bags
Ventilation Crew bag (Ladder belt, Bolt cutters, door wedges)
Available appropriate keys from the lobby control officer
v 1.0 Page 4 of 51
Apparatus Duties of Fifth Arriving Company-Ventilation Sector

Fifth Report arrival to IC and establish the Ventilation Sector, unless otherwise ordered.
Arriving Confirm, via radio, the attack and evacuation stairwells.(If required assigned, or revise them, through IC, if new
4th Pump information becomes available.)
The ventilation sector shall perform the following duties:
Size-up the situation focusing on flow path.
Ensure that stairwells are pressurized, (evacuation 1st, then attack stairwell).
Ventilate the fire floor to assist fire attack, when requested by the fire attack Officer.
Horizontal ventilation on the fire floor should be undertaken to minimize the amount of smoke entering the stairwell.
Monitor the effects the exterior environment is having on ventilation activities (e.g. wind-driven events)
Check the floor above the fire floor for smoke extension and ventilate as required.
Create and implement a ventilation plan for the entire structure.
The officer must liaise with the fire-attack sector officer and the stairwell-sector officer to ensure that the ventilation
plan complements operations in these sectors.
Additional equipment for use by the initial Ventilation Sector Officer could include the following:
Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fans with extension cords
Appropriate keys for tasks
Forcible entry tools (including bolt cutters)
Carbon monoxide detector
Battery-operated reciprocating saw and spare blades
v 1.0 Page 5 of 51
Operator Duties
Duties of First-Arriving Pump Operator

The first-arriving pump operator develops a water supply plan.
Connect to the building standpipe system(s) and supply the system when indications of fire or instructed.
Duties of Second-Arriving Pump Operator
The second-arriving pump operator assists the first arriving pump operator in securing a water supply
The operator shall then position their pump at a hydrant on a large, unused water main in case additional water supply is
required and notify IC.
Remain with vehicle and be prepared for pump operations.
Duties of First-Arriving Ladder Operator

Position the elevating device anticipating possible use. If external rescue is required, position the elevating device for rescue.
Remain with vehicle and be prepared for further assignment
Complete a 360 when assigned
Duties of First-Arriving District/Sector Chief

Assume command by following the transfer-of-command procedures as outlined in IMS
Establish and announce a stationary command location.
Ensure the Five critical sectors are assigned: Attack, Lobby, Stairwell, Ventilation and Salvage
Review and continue to develop the IAP.
v 1.0 Page 6 of 51

3 Operational Guide Chapter 2 High Rise High Riskv 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

3 Operational Guide Chapter 2 High Rise High Riskv 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ottawa Fire Services Fire Operations Guide

High Rise and High Risk Occupancy

High Risk Occupancy Structures

Seniors Residence Church

Responding to Fires in High Rise and High Risk Occupancy

The running assignments dispatched to these situations depend on:

Critical Areas of Operation

Duties of the Incident Commander

Incident Commander (IC) Tasks:

Duties and Sectoring

First-Arriving Company Officer (Pump) Fire Attack Sector

Actions on arrival to the emergency floor

Duties of Second-Arriving Company Officer (Ladder)

Duties of Third-Arriving Company Officer - Lobby Control Sector

Obtain appropriate keys and building Safety Plan

Duties of Fourth-Arriving Company Officer - Stairwell Sector

Duties of Fifth-Arriving Company Officer - Ventilation Sector

Duties of Sixth-Arriving Company Officer Salvage Sector

The salvage sector should perform the following duties:

Duties of First-Arriving Pump Operator

Duties of First-Arriving Ladder Operator

Duties of First-Arriving District/Sector Chief

Duties of Second-Arriving District/Sector Chief

Duties of Third-Arriving Chief Officer

Higher-ranking Chief Officers

Duties of the Accountability Officer

Duties of the Rapid Intervention Team

Duties of the Incident Safety Officer

Internal Staging Sector

Equipment Supply Sector

Duties of Subsequent-Arriving Companies

Evacuation E Fire Attack

1st DC and 3rd DC

60 metre Control Zone for

1. It is usually impossible to view all areas of concern.

Tactical Principles for Fighting Fires in

Entry and Use of Stairs

Obtaining Information and Locating the Fire

Using an elevating device to apply agent from the exterior

For more information on indirect tactics refer to IFSTA Essentials 6 Chapter 17

Hoselines for a High Rise Fire

Search & Rescue

Ventilation in High-Rise and High Risk Occupancies

Stratification of Smoke and Fire Gases

Effects of Air-Handling and Smoke Control Systems

Tactical Ventilation in High-Rise High Risk Occupancies

The following considerations should also be taken into account:

Vertical ventilation (post extinguishment) can be difficult to accomplish as well as being

Stairwell Venting or Pressurization in High-rise Buildings

Stairwell Pressurization before Fire Attack

Pressurization before Fire Attack

Mechanical stairwell pressurization cannot be accomplished without sufficient personnel.

Stairwell Ventilation after Extinguishment

Vertical Ventilation after Extinguishment

Below-Grade Fire Operations

Locating the Fire

The following tactics should be considered:

Below-Grade Ventilation in High-Rise Buildings

Other Below-Grade Options for Ventilation

Fire Alarm Systems

Engineered Protective Features of Fire Alarm Systems

Automatic Fire Alarm Systems

High-Rise buildings under Construction