FIRE IN THE WORKPLACE - FIRE TEAM

ACTIONS BY THE FIRE TEAM LEADER

1. Contact the Emergency Control Center (ECC) and determine the location of the fire.
2. Ensure the local Fire Deparment has been contacted and is on their way.
3. Respond to the fire team assembly point and brief the fire team on actions required.

Respond to the scene of the fire and assess the fire and surrounding areas.

4. Determine if it is safe to enter the area.
5. If deemed safe, instruct the fire team members to approach and extinguish the fire.
6. Provide immediate feedback to the ECC on actions taken and planned.
7. 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.
8. Once extinguished, provide immediate feedback to the ECC.
9. Monitor the situation for any reignition and provide immeidate feedback to the ECC if conditions change again.
10. 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.
11. 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.

1. Obtain the necessary PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required to fight the fire.
2. Make sure team members are divided into groups of two (2) - Buddy system.
3. Wait for instructions from the fire team leader after he completed an assessment of the fire.
4. Cautiously approach the fire making sure not to inhale any harmful gases or smoke.
5. Assess the type and size of the fire and determine if it is safe to attempt extinction.
6. If safe to do so, isolate the power supply (if applicable).
7. Choose the correct type of extinguishers in relation to the class of fire.
8. 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.
9. If the fire is outdoors, determine the wind directions and approach the fire from the upwind side.
10. Start extinguishing the fire from a safe distance, gradually moving closer as the flames and heat subside.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. In the event of a class A fire, remove the fuel to ensure the fire does not smolder and reignite at a later stage.
14. 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).
15. Keep the area clear of any curious persons as the smoke released from smoldering material is still toxic and could be lethal.

1. If you did not have any formal fire fighting training, do NOT try to extinguish the fire yourself.
2. Do NOT try to return to your desk or office while evacuation is in progress.
3. Do NOT leave the premises before you reported for Roll Call.
4. Do NOT go back into the building until it has been declared safe to do so.
5. Do NOT panic. Try to remain calm and do NOT run.