BOMB THREAT - FIRE TEAM
On receiving an alarm of a fire in your area, the fire team must do the following:
ACTIONS BY THE FIRE TEAM LEADER
- Contact the Emergency Control Center (ECC) and determine the location of the fire.
- Ensure the local Fire Deparment has been contacted and is on their way.
- Respond to the fire team assembly point and brief the fire team on actions required.
- Determine if it is safe to enter the area.
- If deemed safe, instruct the fire team members to approach and extinguish the fire.
- Provide immediate feedback to the ECC on actions taken and planned.
- Constantly survey the conditions around the scene of the fire and take appropriate action if conditions change, i.e. wind changes, smoke logging, fire spread, etc.
- Once extinguished, provide immediate feedback to the ECC.
- Monitor the situation for any reignition and provide immeidate feedback to the ECC if conditions change again.
- If the fire occurred indoors, ventilate the area by opening all doors, windows and switching on as much fans as possible. Keep air conditioners off.
- Keep all persons out of the affected area to prevent inhalation of toxic gases released when material is still smoldering and to preserve the area for the purpose of a fire investigation.
Respond to the scene of the fire and assess the fire and surrounding areas.
FIRE TEAM - RESPONDING TO THE SCENE OF THE FIRE
- Obtain the necessary PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required to fight the fire.
- Make sure team members are divided into groups of two (2) - Buddy system.
- Wait for instructions from the fire team leader after he completed an assessment of the fire.
- Cautiously approach the fire making sure not to inhale any harmful gases or smoke.
- Assess the type and size of the fire and determine if it is safe to attempt extinction.
- If safe to do so, isolate the power supply (if applicable).
- Choose the correct type of extinguishers in relation to the class of fire.
- If the fire is indoors, safely approach the fire always making sure an escape routes remains available and accessible,i.e. the back to a door principle must apply.
- If the fire is outdoors, determine the wind directions and approach the fire from the upwind side.
- Start extinguishing the fire from a safe distance, gradually moving closer as the flames and heat subside.
- A secondary extinguisher should either be used in conjuction with the first, or kept as a back up if the first attempt is not succesful.
- Once the fire has been extinguished, slowly back away from the fire and never turn your back on the fire. Monitor the condition from a safe distance to ensure it does not reignite.
- In the event of a class A fire, remove the fuel to ensure the fire does not smolder and reignite at a later stage.
- Once certain that the fire is completely extinguished, close off the area and prevent further tampering with the fire scene to enable a fire investigation (if deemed necessary).
- Keep the area clear of any curious persons as the smoke released from smoldering material is still toxic and could be lethal.
What NOT to do in the event of a fire:
- If you did not have any formal fire fighting training, do NOT try to extinguish the fire yourself.
- Do NOT try to return to your desk or office while evacuation is in progress.
- Do NOT leave the premises before you reported for Roll Call.
- Do NOT go back into the building until it has been declared safe to do so.
- Do NOT panic. Try to remain calm and do NOT run.
ALSO SEE:
|
|
|
|
|
