Tactical Withdrawl, Emergency Evacuation And FF Emergency (PN 496)

Question 1

How is ‘Tactical Withdrawal’ defined?

Answer 1

‘Removal of Personnel from a specific area of potential danger in a safe and planned manner’

Question 2

1.2 Incident Commanders (IC) must consider an operational plan for tactical withdrawal or emergency evacuation

Answer 2

This should be done in such a way as to withdraw those personnel at greatest risk while protecting access and egress routes. This is to ensure that personnel are removed from areas of risk in a controlled and safe manner when the risk becomes unacceptable regardless of control measures available

Question 3

1.3 All officers and firefighters are to ensure

Answer 3

that safe access and egress routes are provided and maintained for all personnel committed to the scene of operation

Question 4

1.4 The IC should ensure that any other agencies present know the evacuation signal and nominated location for Roll Call to take place

Answer 4

This information should form part of inter-agency briefings.

Question 5

2.1 Tactical withdrawal is

Answer 5

the removal of personnel from a specific area of potential danger in a safe and planned manner

Question 6

2.2 A tactical withdrawal will normally be implemented by

Answer 6

the IC, Operations Commander, Sector Commander or Safety Officer. In circumstances where unsafe conditions are detected which necessitate a tactical withdrawal and it is not practicable to pass the information via the command structure, any firefighting personnel may initiate the procedure but the IC must be informed as soon as possible.

Question 7

2.3 When a tactical withdrawal is initiated the IC shall:

Answer 7

• Plan and initiate the phased withdrawal of crews, ensuring those in the area of greatest risk are withdrawn first. This may require other crews to maintain safe egress routes until all personnel have withdrawn.
• Brief all sector commanders and relevant crews of the plan.
• Remember that BA team(s) can be evacuated via the telemetry entry control board ‘selective evacuation’ procedure or by handheld fireground radio if deemed more appropriate.
• Send an Informative Message to Brigade Control outlining details of the tactical withdrawal.

Question 8

3.1 An emergency evacuation is

Answer 8

the immediate and controlled withdrawal of all personnel from the scene of operations to a place of safety

Question 9

3.2 An emergency evacuation will be initiated whenever

Answer 9

unsafe conditions are detected which place personnel at an unacceptable risk when assessed against the benefits of being within this location.

Question 10

3.3 An emergency evacuation will normally be implemented by

Answer 10

the IC, Operations Commander, Sector Commander or Safety Officer. In circumstances where unsafe conditions are detected which necessitate an emergency evacuation and it is not practicable to pass the information via the command structure, any firefighting personnel may initiate the procedure but the IC must be informed as soon as possible.

Question 11

3.4 Emergency evacuation will be initiated using the following actions:

Answer 11

• Repeated short blasts on the Acme Thunderer whistle.
• BA teams evacuated via the telemetry entry control board ‘evacuate all’ function.
• It is important to remember that teams can also be evacuated by radio if it is deemed more appropriate.
• A priority message is also to be transmitted to all crews ( including BA teams) via fire ground radios ordering an emergency evacuation. This message may include important safety information and consideration should be given to inform all BA teams of important information before evacuation if possible. If it is not possible to inform a BA team(s) of the need to evacuate, the IC having regard to the risk to personnel, will commit a BA emergency team to investigate and ensure that the evacuation signal continues to be sounded in the area of the BA team’s entry point

Question 12

3.5 Upon hearing the evacuation signal personnel will, if possible:

Answer 12

• Repeat the signal.
• Withdraw from the scene of operations to a place of safety.
• Assemble at the booking-in point, i.e. Initial Command Pump (ICP) or Command Unit (CU) unless directed otherwise.

Question 13

FIREFIGHTER EMERGENCY

. Whenever it is established or there is strong evidence to suggest that one or more firefighters or personnel working under the control of the LFB are unaccounted for and/or in need of rescue the IC will immediately send the following priority message:

Answer 13

‘From (Name of IC) at (address of incident), Firefighter Emergency, Tactical Mode Oscar.

Question 14

4.4 As soon as possible after sending a FFE message, an informative message is to be sent stating

Answer 14

• Description of the circumstances.
• Number of persons unaccounted for and/or in need of rescue.
• Details of action being taken e.g. Emergency Evacuation, Tactical Withdrawal or BA crews searching.
• Declaration of the size of the incident i.e. the total number of pumping appliances attending the incident (not including those dispatched specifically for the Firefighter Emergency).
• Tactical mode – as it is likely crews will still be within the hazard area during the FFE the tactical mode will be ‘Offensive’ until all personnel are removed from the identified hazard area.

Question 15

Examples of messages

Answer 15

From (Name of IC) at (Address); partial collapse of first and second floors, two firefighters unaccounted for, emergency evacuation in progress. This is a 6 pump fire, tactical mode oscar.
Or: − From (Name of IC) at (Address); Partial collapse of first and second floors, two firefighters unaccounted for, 3 BA crews searching on ground floor. This is an 8 pump fire, tactical mode oscar.

Question 16

4.5 On receipt of the FFE message, Brigade Control will mobilise the following:

Answer 16

• 6 Pumps (inc 3 PL with WMs in charge);
• 2 Fire Rescue Units (FRU);
• Fire Investigation Unit (FIU);
• Command Unit (CU);
• An ambulance;
• Press Liaison Officer (PLO);
• Fire Safety Officer (FSO);
• 3 Station Managers;
• Group Manager;
• Deputy Assistant Commissioner;
• Senior Accident Investigator (SAI).

Question 17

If the size of the incident is subsequently increased

Answer 17

, the mobilising system will not include the resources ordered for ‘FFE’ when calculating the additional attendance required

Question 18

4.7 On receipt of the FFE message, London Operations Centre (LOC) will inform the following:

Answer 18

• Duty Assistant Commissioner;
• Duty Deputy Assistant Commissioner;
• C700 (Commissioner’s office);
• Director’s staff officers;
• Officer of the Day (OoD);
• Operations Review Team (ORT);
• Urban Search and Rescue tactical advisor;
• Duty Radio Officer;
• Duty Press Officer;
• Counselling & Wellbeing.

Question 19

4.12 Whenever the FFE message is sent, it will be necessary to carry out a

Answer 19

Roll Call as soon as practicable to establish the number of persons unaccounted for.

Question 20

5. 3 The IC may oversee the roll call or nominate an officer to perform this function.
6. 4 At the roll call, each appliance commander will:

Answer 20

(a) Report to the booking-in point and retrieve their appliance nominal roll board;
(b) Take a roll call of their appliance crew and report the outcome to the IC or nominated officer;
(c) Return the appliance nominal roll board to the booking-in point;
(d) All senior officers and any other personnel on the incident ground are to report to the booking in point to allow a full roll call to be completed;
(e) Where a nominal roll board has not been retrieved, the ICP/CU officer will immediately notify the IC

Question 21

All officers and firefighters to ensure that

Answer 21

safe exit routes are provided and maintained for all personnel committed to the scene of operations