Annapolis Fire Department Operating Policy Manual Chapter 7: Operations

7.47 Response Policy Effective: 01/26/2018 Revised:

Approved by: David L. Stokes, Sr. Fire Chief

7.47.1 Purpose Each year in the United States, many firefighters and citizens are killed or injured as a result of accidents involving emergency vehicles responding to calls with emergency lights and sirens activated. National studies have shown that many responses do not justify high speed (lights/siren) emergency responses.

The purpose of this section is to provide response procedures that will enhance the safety of our firefighters and the citizens we serve while responding to requests for fire department service. The Fire Department recognizes it is impossible to develop a policy that covers every situation or condition. Therefore, the Fire Chief, Deputy Chiefs or duty-officers shall have the authority to alter response priorities on a case-by-case basis based on location of the incident, time of day, traffic issues, weather conditions, knowledge of structure/exposures and other mitigating factors. However, in doing so the Standardized Principles of Risk as outlined in NFPA 1500 shall be the guiding factor to determine the risk-benefit of altering this policy.

Responses to mutual aid incidents shall follow the guidelines of that respective jurisdiction.

7.47.2 Turnout Time Defined

Time interval that begins once a unit receives notification of an incident and ends once that unit goes responding.

7.47.2.1 Turnout Time

Departmental guidelines for turnout times is 60 seconds for EMS incidents and 80 seconds for fire and special operation incidents. Company Officers shall assure that crews respond in a timely manner. Any EMS or suppression unit that does not respond within 180 seconds shall submit a special report thru the chain of command detailing the delayed response.

7.47.3 Response Priorities Defined Departmental vehicle response to any incident shall be in accordance with the following Priority Response Levels. 7.47.4 Responses 7.47.4.1 Emergency (Hot) Response

Emergency (Hot) Response by all responding units - Emergency Responses are for those incidents that involve immediate and/or potential life threatening situations, where a delay in response may cause further harm to human life. This type of response requires:

A. All responding units utilize all emergency warning devices (visible/audible) at all times. B. Speed is not to exceed ten (10) miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Section 7.47 Page 1 of 5

C. Drivers operate with due regard for the safety of all persons; maintain control of the vehicle at all times; obey all applicable motor vehicle laws for emergency vehicles and other applicable sections of this OPM. D. All emergency medical dispatches shall be classified as a Hot Response.

7.47.4.2 Non-Emergency – Cold Response Non-Emergency (Cold Response) – Non-emergency responses for those instances that do not require immediate mitigation.

A. During this response, audible/visual warning devices are not utilized, posted speed limits are not exceeded, units are not operated above safe driving speeds for conditions and all traffic laws are obeyed.

7.47.5 Communication Procedures A. The Fire Communications Center will announce the response level: Respond or “Respond Cold” during all dispatches when the tactical channel is assigned. Example:

1. “Units respond on Echo” 2. “Units respond Cold on Kilo”

B. Upon arrival of the first due unit and immediately upon completion of a size-up, when feasible an announcement shall be made advising all responding units to reduce their response to a Cold (non-emergency) response.

1. This shall also apply to all medical incidents where an assessment indicates a priority three (3) or a priority four (4) patient.

C. A continued Emergency response of units to an incident shall only occur when the following conditions/situations are present:

1. Announcement of entry into an IDLH without a RIC. 2. Smoke or fire evident.

D. Regardless of the type of incident or incident status, the following units will not be permitted to respond Hot (emergency conditions).

1. Public Information Officer. 2. Chaplains. 3. Fire/Safety Inspectors.

E. Medical transport priorities as established by Maryland medical protocols shall be in accordance with the response levels listed below:

1. Priority 1 - Hot (emergency). 2. Priority 2 - Hot (emergency). 3. Priority 3 - Cold (non-emergency). 4. Priority 4 - Cold (non-emergency).

F. Medical Units clearing Medical Facilities

1. Anne Arundel Medical Center – Units go available immediately upon leaving the facility.

2. Other Facilities – Units shall go available from the incident and then depress Status 7 (Unavailable) and monitor Alpha. This will show the unit unavailable utilizing the Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL). Units

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shall notify Fire Alarm if they are the closet Medical Unit for a Priority Call in the area while traveling back to the City Limits. Units shall use Status 6 (Available) when approaching the City limits.

G. Fire Marshal Office Responses (Uniform Personnel)

1. Fire Investigators/Inspectors shall respond cold to requests for a Fire Investigator or Fire Inspector. The Incident Commander may request a Fire Investigator/Inspector to respond hot if the situation merits a hot response. 2. Fire Investigators shall respond as dispatched by Fire Alarm to Explosive Incidents. 3. Fire Investigators and Fire Inspectors may respond hot to Fire/EMS incidents within and surrounding the Annapolis City limits if they are the first due unit or their response will enhance the staffing on the initial response. However, Standardized Principles of Risk as outlined in NFPA 1500 shall be the guiding factor in determining the risk-benefit of responding hot.

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Nature Dispatch Response Type Units Code Alarms Sounding Local Alarm Emergency 1 Engine, 1 Truck CO Detector Local Non-Emergency Squad 38, Closest CO Unit if Squad 38 unavailable Alarms Local Emergency 1 Engine, 1 Truck High Life Alarms Still Box Emergency 2 Engines, 1 Truck, Squad 38/Truck, BC Appliance Fire Still Box Emergency 2 Engines, 1 Truck, Squad 38/Truck, BC Boat Fire - Marina Box Emergency 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, Squad, BC, EMS36, 1 Medic, 3 Fireboats , SOC35 Boat Fire - Water Marine Local Emergency 3 Fireboats, 1 Engine, BC, SOC35 Brush Fire Local Emergency 1 Engine Brush near Structure Still Box Emergency 2 Engines, 1 Truck, Squad 38/Truck, BC Controlled Burning Local Non-Emergency 1 Engine Confined Fire - Local Alarm Emergency 1 Engine, 1 Truck Manhole Confined Fire - Vault Still Box Emergency 2 Engines, 1 Truck, Squad 38/Truck, BC Dumpster Local Emergency 1 Engine Dumpster – Attached Box Alarm Emergency 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, Squad, BC, EMS36, 1 Medic Electric Wires Local Non-Emergency 1 Engine Odor Smoke (Area) Local Non-Emergency 1 Engine Gas Line Struck Still Box Emergency 2 Engines, 1 Truck, Squad 38/Truck, BC Odor Gas (inside) Still Box Emergency 2 Engines, 1 Truck, Squad 38/Truck, BC Service Call Local Non-Emergency 1 Suppression Piece Apartment Fire Box Emergency 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, Squad, BC, EMS36, Medic Dwelling Fire Box Emergency 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, Squad, BC, EMS36, Medic Building Fire Box Emergency 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, Squad, BC, EMS36, Medic Dwelling/Building Box Emergency 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, Squad, 3 Tankers, BC, Non-Hydrant Area EMS36, Medic High Rise Fire HR Box Emergency 5 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Tower, Squad, BC, EMS36, 2 Medics Working Fire WFD Emergency ALS, Fire Investigations, SOC35, Air Wagon, Dispatch Rehab, Coffee Wagon Fire Task Force FTF Emergency 3 Engines, 1 Truck, Fire Investigations, SOC35, Air Wagon, Rehab, Coffee Wagon Water Supply Task WSTF Emergency 1 Engine, 2 Tankers, Water Supply Unit Force Barn/Garage/Shed Still Box Emergency 2 Engines, 1 Truck, Squad 38/Truck, BC Vehicle Fire Local Emergency 1 Engine Landing Site Local Emergency 1 Engine HazMat Local HM Local Emergency HM 38, SU38, Engine, BC, SOC35 HazMat Box HM Box Emergency Box Alarm plus HM Units Suspicious Package Local Emergency ESU, FIB Assist Evacuation Local Emergency ESU, FIB Contaminated Article HM Local Emergency Squad 38, SU38, ESU, FIB, BC, SOC35

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MVC – Entrapment Rescue Box Emergency Squad, 2 Medics, Engine, Truck, BC, EMS36 MVC - Fire Rescue Box Emergency Squad, 2 Medics, Engine, Truck, BC, EMS36 MVC Rescue Local Emergency 1 Suppression Piece, Medic MVC – Rollover Rescue Still Emergency Squad, Medic, Engine, BC, EMS36 MVC – Rescue Local Emergency 1 Suppression Piece, 1 Medic, EMS36 Pedestrian/Bike/ Motorcycle High Angle Technical Emergency 2 Medics, 1 BC, EMS36, 1 Engine, SOC35, 1 Rescue Box Squad, 1 TRR, 1 Truck, 1 Tower MVC – Building Technical Emergency 2 Medics, 1 BC, EMS36, 1 Collapse Unit, 1 Rescue Box Engine, 2 Rescue Units, SOC35 C-Space Technical Emergency 2 Medics, 1 BC, 1 CSPC, 4 Engines, 1 Safety Rescue Box Officer, SOC35, 1 Squad, 1 Tower, 1 Truck Water Flow Local Emergency 1 BC, 2 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Truck/Squad Large Brush Box Emergency 1 Medic, 1 BC, 3 Brush Units, 3 Engines, 1 Brush/Wildland Safety Officer, 1 Tanker

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