Chesapeake Fire Department
QA  Program   

Fire Training Topic  3

EVACUATION 

When a hazardous condition is found at an incident requiring the immediate evacuation of personnel, (“Evacuate the Structure”) all personnel shall remove themselves from the hazardous area to a designated location and provide a PAR to the Incident Commander.  (Evacuate, Regroup, Recommunicate, and Redeploy)  The following procedures shall be followed: 

1.         The Incident Commander shall advise all units on the scene that an evacuation is taking place.  The Tac Channel(s) shall be used.

Example:      "Battlefield Blvd. Command to all personnel, “evacuate the structure” and meet at Engine 6 in front of the building!"

2.         The Incident Commander shall have all apparatus drivers signal with rapid, continuous blasts of the vehicle air horn as a second means of alerting personnel to leave the hazardous area. Apparatus engaged in pump operations will utilize the canister air horn carried to sound a continuous blast.

3.        The Incident Commander shall advise the dispatcher on the Fire Command channel of the evacuation.

Example:      "Battlefield Blvd. Command to Dispatch, I've ordered an evacuation of the structure at 1675 Battlefield Blvd."

 

EMERGENCY TRAFFIC 

There will be times when urgent messages need to be communicated to personnel at an incident.  When personnel need to provide an urgent message (other than a MAYDAY) to the Incident Commander, dispatcher or others, the term “Emergency Traffic” shall be used.  The following procedures should be followed: 

1.         Personnel requesting “Emergency Traffic” shall identify themselves to the Incident Commander or dispatcher as appropriate.

2.        The Incident Commander or dispatcher shall restrict radio traffic for the specific personnel.

3.         The personnel requesting “Emergency Traffic” shall proceed with the message.

4.         The message shall be repeated by the IC or dispatcher.  Normal radio traffic shall then resume if allowed by the IC and/or dispatcher. 

Example:      

 Engine 4:     Engine 4 to Command, “Emergency Traffic”!

Command:   Volvo Command to all units, “Emergency Traffic.”  Go ahead Engine 4.

Engine 4:      All units be advised the overhead on Side C (Charlie) is about to collapse, all units stay clear.

Command:   Command to all units, per Engine 4, the overhead on Side C (Charlie) is about to collapse, all units stay clear.  Command to all units, resume all normal radio traffic.