HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-2021-17 - Fire Department Suppression Response Time & Staffing ReviewREPORT TO:Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:October 4, 2021
SUBMITTED BY:Fire Chief Bob Gilmore, ext. 5501
PREPARED BY:Helena Foulds, Manager, Service Coordination & Improvement,
Community Services Department, ext.7193
WARD(S) INVOLVED:All Wards
DATE OF REPORT:September 24, 2021
REPORT NO.:CSD-2021-17
SUBJECT:Fire Department Suppression Response Time & Staffing Review
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That City Councilapprove the plan to increase suppression staff by 20 new
firefighters over the next four years andopen a new fire station in 2026, as outlined
in CSD-2021-17;and that the financial implications of these additionsbe referred to
the City’s annual budget process.
That staff be directed to complete a fire station location studyin 2022 to determine
the optimal location for a new fire station, and subsequent impacts on the response
zones for other Kitchener fire stations.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
Over the past several years Kitchener has experienced significant growth in its
population;and,in the number of tall buildings within the community, especially in the
downtown. That growth is projected to continue for many years to come. As a result of
this growth, the Kitchener Fire Department (KFD) is finding it difficult to respond to
emergency calls within an acceptable time.
On average, between 2016 and 2019, the KFD’s response times to medical or fire rescue
calls took longerthan the industry standard almost half of the time(43%).
An independent review of the KFD, conducted by the Fire UnderwritersSurvey, found
that KFD’s current suppression staffing levels could negatively impact fire insurance
classifications within the city if not addressed. This has the potential to increase the cost
of fire insurance within the community.
In 2017, as part of the City’s Fire Master plan,a review conducted by a third-party
consultant found that with current suppression staffing levels, there is no area of the city
where 24 firefighters can respond to a fire in a high-rise building within theindustry
standard response time.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
Despite the significant growth in the community, the KFD has fewer suppression
firefighters today than it did in 2011 (5 fewer). In 1991 the KFD had 34 firefighters on
duty at one time, today it has 35.
nd
Kitchener has the 2lowest number of suppression firefighters per 1,000 residents, and
th
the 4lowest number of fire stations when compared to 12other Ontario municipalities.
Fourof the City’s current fire stations are projected to respond to more than 2,500 calls
each this year, which is considered a “high volume” by the Fire UnderwritersSurvey.In
2019, Fire Station 2 (Guelph Street), which is the station primarily responsible for
responding to emergencycalls within the downtown, was already responding to over
3,800 calls–well above the threshold of a “high volume” station.
Growth Key Indicators (2011 -2019)
58%
Number of calls for emergency
supression response
16%
Number of residential
buildings6 storeys or more
6%
Population growth
-3%
Number of KFD Fire
supression staff
-10%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
Figure 1: Change in key growth indicators, 2011 -2019
BACKGROUND:
The KFDprovides City of Kitchener residents, visitors and businesses with protection
against loss of life, property and environmental damages caused by fires, accidents,and all
other hazards. KFD delivers fire and emergency protection services through three strategic
lines of defence: public fire safety and education;fire safety standards and enforcement;
and emergency response. This report, and staff’s recommendations contained within it, are
focused on the third line of defence, emergency response, which is provided primarily by
KFD’s Suppression Division.
Over the past 40 years, several studies have been conducted to ensure adequate
emergency responseand protectionservices across the City of Kitchener. Further, in
formulating the recommendations within this report staff have reviewed industry best
practices like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standard, the Fire
UnderwritersSurveyreview of KFD,the City Council approved Fire Master Plan and
accompanying Community Risk Profile, and data from comparator municipalitieswithin
Ontario.
2
The following provides a brief summary of the key findings from previous studies and
supporting data:
1.Fire Location Study (1981):
A fire station location study completed in 1981 found that, “existing fire protection
1
coverage was inadequate.”The report also revealed that the Kitchener Fire Department
was meeting its responsetime objective for 80.4% of the cityusing its five existing fire
2
stations.An eight station model was recommended at that time in order to achieve
3
effective fire protection coverage.Currently, the City of Kitchener operates seven fire
stations and has not yet completed the eight station model originally proposed in 1981.
2.Fire Location Study (1990):
In 1990, anotherfire location study was completedto evaluate existing service levels,
including response times, and to make a recommendation on a 10-year fire station
location/relocation strategy.
The 1990 study concluded that the Kitchener Fire Department was meetingthe first truck
4
response time objective for 66.5% (one-third) of the City,which is a 13.9% decrease
from the previous 1981 study.The 1990 study estimated that by the year 2000
5
approximately 35% of the City would not receive adequate fire protection.
Aseven-stationmodel was analyzed; however, this configuration also revealedthatonly
79% of the city would receive adequate coverage within the first truck response time
6
objective.More importantly, the seven station model did not accountfor the high levels
of urban growthand intensificationthat Kitchener is currently experiencing.
Likethe study conducted in 1980, this study referenced the creation of an eight-station
model to serve the entire community.
3.Fire Master Plan (2017)
In 2017, City Council approved the Fire Master Plan as the guiding strategic document
for the Fire Department. The master planincluded a response analysis report conducted
by Dillon Consulting. Thefindings in the Dillon Consulting report are based on historical
data from 2011 to 2015.
The reportstates thatwith current staffing levels, the KFD can only cover 27% of calls
7
with 14 firefighters on scenewithin the NFPA 1710 standard response time which
demonstrates a further decrease from the 1990 Fire Location Study.More importantly,
fire suppression response in a high-rise building requires 24 staff to execute a safe
emergency response.The report found that “there is no area of the city where 24
8
firefighters can respond to acall within the NFPA 1710 standard.”
1
1991 Fire Station Location Study, page 1
2
1991 Fire Station Location Study, page 10
3
1991 Fire station Location Study, page 12
4
1991 Fire Station Location Study, page 12
5
1991 Fire station Location Study, page 13
6
1991 Fire Station Location Study, page 13
7
City of Kitchener 2017 Fire Master Plan, Appendix E, page 27
8
City of Kitchener 2017 Fire Master Plan, Appendix E, page 27
3
4.Fire Underwriters Survey(2019)
The Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) represents approximately 90% of Canada’s private
sector property and casualty insurers. They provide data on public fire protectionfor fire
insurance statistical and underwriting evaluation.
In 2019, FUS assessed Kitchener’s fire defense for fire insurance grading and
classification purposes. The review identified several areas for improvementincluding
9
available suppression resources.The report stated,“improving response capabilities
across the City, along with staffing in both suppression and prevention would ideally
10
result in the largest impact to current fire insurance classifications.”
As the City of Kitchener growsin population, high rise development and call volume for
emergency response,the need for fire protection also increases. If no action is taken to
addresscurrentsuppression staffing,the FUS scorecould be negatively impacted, which
has the potential of increasingtheinsurance rates for property owners.
REPORT:
Suppression Division Overview
KFD’s Suppression Division provides critical fire suppression services as well as first
response to fire emergencies, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, and other
disasters.In addition, this division responds to incidents that require specialized rescues
(i.e. vehicle extrications, confined space rescue, ice and water rescue, trench and structural
collapse and more). Further, this division also supports the provision of some fire prevention
and fire public education programming to the community.
Currently, the SuppressionDivision consists of 183 firefighters divided into four platoons
located at seven fire stations across the city.
Over the years, as the community has grown, the KFD has made severaloperational
changes to find efficiencies and alleviate the growing demand for service on the Suppression
Division, without addingadditional staff. Those changes include:
removing an aerial truck from service resulting in a reduction of two firefighters from
the minimum staffing level, and capital savings associated with maintenance and
operation of the aerial truck;
removing a permanent staff member on the tanker truck resulting in a reduction of
one firefighter from the minimum staffing level;
reducing Station 3response to the downtown core from five to four firefighters
resulting in a reduction of one firefighter from the minimum staffing level;
reducing each platoon by one firefighter through attrition (four firefighters in total);
funding a new full-time position in the Fire Prevention division by reducing one
platoon in Fire Suppression by one firefighter;
upgrading technology in the Communications division to improve the EMS notification
systems to allow call data to interface directly with the Kitchener Fire dispatch system;
9
2019 Fire Underwriters Survey –City of Kitchener, page 2
10
2019 Fire Underwriters Survey –City of Kitchener, page 6
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installingmobile data terminals (MDT's) in the cabs of fire apparatus allowing fire
dispatch to communicate electronically with all apparatus; and,
integrating Direct Detect with fire dispatch.
The combined result of these operational changes is that todaythe Suppression Division
of KFD is operating with a total of five fewer firefighters than it was in 2011, despite
the growth pressures experienced in the community.
In addition to these operational changes and efficiencies, over many years KFD has sought
to find creative opportunities to generate revenue to help offset operational costs through
programs such as the Fire Marquee program of charging insurance companies for certain
operational costs and the expansion of Direct Detect where possible.
1.Growth and Intensification
Population Growth
Population growth is an important consideration in fire suppression because call volume and
total number of emergency incidents increases as population increases. The City of
Kitchener has been growing at a steady rate. The population increased by approximately
51,468 residents between 2006 and 2021 and this trend is expected to continue,bringing
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the total population to 322,000 residents by 2041.Overall, Kitchener can expect
approximately 117,332 new residents between 2006 and 2041.
The population forecast in Figure 2(below) does not account for new construction and
development. An increase in residential development will have an even greater impact on
overall population growth.
Total Population
350,000
322,000
304,214
286,486
300,000
271,196
256,136
233,222
250,000
219,153
204,668
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
20062011201620212026203120362041
Historical Growth (Statistics Canada)
Future Growth Projections (Region of Waterloo Forecast)
Figure 2: total population, 2006 -2041
Tall buildingDevelopment
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Region of Waterloo population forecast for the City of Kitchener, 2021
5
Building height is an important consideration in fire suppression because the number of
firefighters increases from 15 to 24 when responding to a fire in a tall building(e.g. high-
rise). Figure 3shows that the City of Kitchener is projected to more than double the number
of buildings greater than six storeys by 2030. This projection only includes future
developments staff are aware of at various phases (i.e. pending approval, approved, under
construction, built, occupied) –which means the growth in these types of building is likely to
bemuch more than shown in Figure 3.
# of Buildings 6 Storeys or More
250
227
200
141
150
117
103
100
50
0
2000201020202030
Figure 3: increase in number of buildings more than 6 storeys
Emergency Response Call Volume Growth
Call volumefor an emergency response from KFDhas increased 14.51% between 2016
and 2019. Fire Station 1(Headquarters),Station 2(Guelph Street)andStation 5(Queen’s
Blvd)already receive more than 2,500 calls per year which is considered“high volume”by
the Fire Underwriters Survey. Station 4(Fairway Road)is also expected to reach the 2,500
calls/year benchmark within the next year.
It is important to note that the Suppression Division responds to every fire response call with
the same level of urgencyand staffingregardless of incident type because they do not know
the severity of the emergency until they arrive on scene. When the KFD receives a Fire or
Fire-Alarm call they send the same number of staff and apparatus because they do not know
what kind of response is required until they arrive. Once the KFD assess the situation, they
can send resources back (if the call is a false alarm) or request for additionalsupport if
necessary.
6
Number of Calls per Year
15,019
16000
14,806
14,018
13,115
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
2016201720182019
MedicalFire - AlarmRescueFirePublic AssistanceTotal
Figure 4: number of calls per year, 2016 –2019
As shown in Figure 4 (above), KFD plays a critical role in partnering with paramedic services
to respond to medical emergencies within the community. Suppression staff are trainedto
the red cross first responder (RCFR) level anddelivercardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
and automated defibrillator procedures. Fire apparatus are also supplied with life saving
equipment that allows firefighters to begin lifesaving efforts before paramedics can arrive on
scene. KFD is often the first to arrive on a medical emergency call and can perform
necessary life-saving procedures until paramedics are able to arrive and take over care for
the patient.
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Call Volume Growth–Station #2 (Guelph Street)
Call Volume for Fire Station 2
4500
3,865
4000
3,731
3,507
3500
3,110
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2016201720182019
Figure 5: call volume for Station 2
Fire Station 2 is located on Guelph Street and provides service to a wide geographic area,
including communities as far as North Bridgeport all the way to Cherry Hill and Mill-
Courtland. Station 2 also serves the downtown core which continues to grow and intensify
(including the addition of many new tall buildings). Station 2 is Kitchener’s busiest fire station
and already receives a high volume of calls. The black line in Figure 5(above) represents
the FUS benchmark for high-volume and Station 2 has been operating above this
benchmark (2,500 calls/year) since 2016. Station 2 is significantly impacted by high-rise
response and intensification within the downtown core.
The opening of a new Fire Station (as recommended in this report) to support thegrowth in
thedowntown will allow the response areas for otherstations to be adjusted,which will help
reduceresponse times to emergency callsin many parts of the City.Staff are recommending
that alocation studybe completed in 2022 to determine the most strategic location for a new
fire station to help alleviate the pressure on Station 2 and the other fire stations.
2.Response Times
NFPA 1710 Response Time Standard
The NFPA(National Fire Protection Association)is the most highly recognized fire service
association North America. The NFPA is an international non-profit organization that was
established in 1896. The organization’s mission is to reduce the burden of fire and other
hazards on quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards,
research, training and education. NFPA is recognized as one of the world’s leading
advocates for fire prevention and an authoritative source on public safety.
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Over the past decade, many fire departments across Ontario have beenmoving towards
using thestandards established by the National Fire Protection Association tohelp to set
their response times. While there is nolegislated requirement for City to meet NFPA
standards,the province of Ontario adopted NFPA as the standard in 2013.
One of the recommendations contained within the City Council approved Fire Master Plan
(2017), was to conduct a review of KFD’s emergency response capabilities against the
NFPA1710standard.That standard specifies requirements to deploy fire suppression
resources in order to protect residents and firefighter safety.
NFPA 1710 states that 90% of the time:
an initialresponseoffour firefighters should arrive on scene within five minutes and
20 seconds for a fire/rescue call and five minutes for a medical call.
afull response of 15 firefighters should arrive on scene within eight minutes for a
single detached home;and,
afull response of 43firefighters should arrive on scene within 10 minutes for a
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building more than six storeystall.
Fire Responses in Tall Buildings
Responding to a fire rescue or other emergency call within a tall building requires additional
staff to be on scene in order to ensure firefighter and resident safety. It also requires
additional time in order to reach the scene (vertical response).
TheNPFA 1710standard also lays out the number of firefighters that should be deployed
to respond to different types of fire rescue emergencies. The following chart demonstrates
the increased number of fire suppression staff required to respond to fires within a building
of six storeysor more versus fires within a single detached dwelling.
Industry
Type# of FirefightersTime
Standard
Initial response (all 45 minutes 20 seconds NFPA 1710
fire/rescue calls)
Full response for a 158 minutes NFPA 1710
detachedsingle dwelling
home
Full response for 2410 minutes KFD Fire
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buildings more than 6 Master Plan
storeys
The Dillon report in the 2017 Fire Master Plan concluded that, with current staffing levels,
the KFD can only respond to 27% of calls with 14 firefighters on scene within the NFPA
standard response time and there is no area of the City where 24 firefighters can respond
12
The NFPA 1710 indicates 43 firefighters required for emergency response in a building more than six storeys;
however, the Kitchener Fire Master Plan amended this number to 24, which was approved by Council in 2017.
13
City of Kitchener 2017 Fire Master Plan, Appendix E, page 27
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to a fire in a high-rise building within the NFPA 1710 standard which is a concern given the
significant growth in high rise developments, especially in the downtown area.
Further, the NFPA 1710 standard indicates that 43 firefighters are required for a high-rise
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response. However, the 2017 Fire Master Plan recognizes 24 firefighters as a more
reasonable response. This approach aligns with other Ontario municipalities who are also
unable to assemble 43 firefighters on scene for a high-rise emergency response.
Figure6shows that, on average between 2016 –2019,Kitchener met the NFPA 1710
response time standard for initial response 57%of the time.In 1990, the KFD met theCity’s
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first due response time for 66.5% of the city.Thisdownwardtrend is likely to continue if
the appropriate resources are not allocated to reflect the City’s growth.
Average Number of Times
NFPA Total Reponse Time Standard was Met
(2016 -2019)
5,815 (43%)
7,707 (57%)
YesNo
Figure 6: NFPA 1710 response time met (yes/no)
*Total response time includes the time from which acall is received in the station to when the first truck arrives on scene
Figure 7 and 8 (below) show that, for example,of the 43% of calls that didnotmeet the
NFPA 1710 standardin 2019,the response time was an average of 2 minutes 20 seconds
longer thanthe standard for fire/rescue calls and 1 minute 26 seconds longer thanthe
standard for medical callsin 2019.
Response time and depth of response (number of personnel on scene) are critical factors
when responding to an emergency (medical, fire or rescue). Adhering to these standards for
both response time and number of personnel on scene can have a life-saving effect. For
example, a house fire can double in size every minute and the survivability of a heart attack
14
See Appendix A, section 5.2.4.3 for full details on full response for high-rise buildings.
15
The City did not use NFPA 1710 standard in 1990. At that time, response times were measured against a Council
approved standard.
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reduces significantly after four minutes. It is essential that the Kitchener Fire Department
make every effort to adhere to the NFPA standard to ensure the safety of all citizens.
Average KFD Total Response Time Above
NFPA 1710 for Fire/Rescue Calls (5:20+)
0:02:27
2:23
2:20
0:02:23
0:02:18
2:13
0:02:14
0:02:10
0:02:05
2:02
0:02:01
0:01:57
0:01:52
0:01:48
2016201720182019
NFPA Fire/Rescue 5:20+
Figure 7: average time above the NFPA standard for fire/rescue calls
Across all of Kitchener response timesarefrequently impacted by apparatus responding
outside theirowndesignated station area. For example, if Station 2 is busy responding to a
call in the downtown, and it receives a second call to respondto an emergencyin the Kiwanis
area (which is also within their response zone), another station will need to travel from
across the City (e.g. Stanley Park, Forest Heights) in order to respond to the call in Kiwanis.
This need to respond outside of a station’s assigned response zone adds a significant
amount of time to a response andcauses a ripple effect when stations are consistently
travelling further from their response zones.
Average KFD Total REsponse Time Above NFPA 1710 for Medical
Calls (5 min+)
0:01:31
1:26
0:01:26
1:23
0:01:22
0:01:181:16
1:14
0:01:13
0:01:09
0:01:05
2016201720182019
NFPA Medical 5:00 min +
Figure 8: average time above the NFPA standard for medical calls
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3.Comparison of Ontario Fire Departments (2021)
Information from 12 Ontario municipalitieswas collected to better understand how the KFD
ranks compared tofire departmentsserving similar communities.Comparator municipalities
were selected based on total population, population density, and assessment value most
like the City of Kitchener.Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph werealsoincluded as Regional
comparators although they are smaller in population and geographic size.
Compared to other cities, Kitchener has the second lowest number of firefighters per
1,000 peopleand is the lowest among regional comparators.
Number of Firefighters per 1,000 people
1.40
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Figure 7: number of firefighters per 1,000 people
Compared to other cities, Kitchener is the fourth lowest when comparing the total
number of fire stations per 1,000 peopleand is the lowest among regional comparators.
Number of Fire Stations per 1,000 people
0.050
0.045
0.040
0.035
0.030
0.025
0.020
0.015
0.010
0.005
0.000
Figure 8: number of fire stations per 1,000 people
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RECOMMENDATIONS:
In order to respond to the significant growth occurring within the City(population,tall
buildingsand calls for emergency service), and to help improve response times to fire rescue
and medical calls, staff recommend hiring 20 new firefighters over the next four yearsand
opening a new fire station in 2026.Adding a new fire station would help the KFD respond to
the significant population and tall building growth (particularly in the downtown),andto
improve suppression response times from stations across the city.
The recommendation to hire 20 new staff over four years and then relocate 20 firefighters
to the new stationin 2026(once it opens)will allow the department to spread the operating
costs over a four-year period rather thanincur those costsall at once. Further, the
department will be able to focus on talent attraction, recruitment and service delivery over a
four-year periodas oppose to attempting to hire allthose staffwithin one year.
The recommendation to open a new fire station in 2026 will complete the eight-stationmodel
which was recommended in the 1990 Fire Station Location Study. Staff recommend a
comprehensive location study be completed in 2022to identify a specific location for Station
8as well as make recommendations for potential land acquisition (e.g. purchase,
development, partnership, utilization of existing city property, or expansion of an existing
station).
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core fire suppression and emergency response services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The financial implications of staff’s recommendation to increase suppression staff by 20 new
firefighters over the next four years are outlined below. Staff are recommending these
financial impacts be referred to the City’s annual budget process.
20222023202420252026Total
Operating budget increase
required289,818 580,058 662,173 653,118 435,493 2,620,659
Tax Levy Impact
0.22%0.44%0.50%0.49%0.33%1.98%
Each new firefighter hired requires outfitting in personal protective equipment. The capital
cost of these items’averages $23,000/year and will also be referred to the 2022 budget
process for tax supported funding.
The capital costsof the new fire station and related truck(s) are eligible for development
charge (DC) funding. The City is currently conducting a DC background study and will bring
an updated DC by-law to Council for approval in 2022. The new fire station and related
truck(s) will be included in a future capital budget once the DC by-law is updated.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the council
committee meetingand will be subject to the 2022 budget engagement process should
Council approve of staff’s recommendations.
APPROVEDBY: MICHAEL MAY, DEPUTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
APPENDICIES
Appendix A -NFPA 1710 Standard Summary
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Appendix A –NFPA 1710 Standard Summary
The following terms and standards are directly from the NFPA1710 Standard for the Organization and
Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations
to the Public by Career Fire Departments 2020.
Important Terms
Alarm Answering Time:The time interval that begins when the alarm is received at the
communication center and ends when the alarm is acknowledged at the communication center.
Alarm Processing Time:The time interval from when the alarm is acknowledged at the
communication center until response information begins to be transmitted via voice or electronic means
to emergency response facilities (ERFs) and emergency response units (ERUs).
First-Due Response Zone:The geographic area surrounding a fire station in which a company from
that station is projected to be the first to arrive on the scene of an incident.
Turnout Time: The time interval
that begins when the emergency
response facilities and
emergency response unit’s
notification process begins by
either an audible alarm or visual
annunciation or both and ends at
the beginning point of travel time.
Total Response Time:The time
interval from the receipt of the
alarm at the primary emergency
response facilityto when the first
emergency response unit is
initiating action or intervening to
control the incident.
Travel Time:The time interval
that begins when a unit is en
route to the emergency incident
and ends when the unit arrives at
the scene.
High-Hazard Occupancy:
These occupancies include
schools, hospitals, and other
special medical facilities, nursing
homes, high-risk residential
occupancies, neighborhoods with
structures near one another,
high-rise buildings, explosives
Figure 10: NFPA 1710 Response Objectives
plants, refineries, and hazardous
materials occupancies.
Figure 9: NFPA 1710 Response Objectives
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NFPA 1710 Standard for Apartment Initial Full Alarm Assignment Capability(5.2.4.3)
The initial full alarm assignment to a structure fire in a typical 1200 ft² apartment within a three-story,
garden-style apartment building shall provide for the following:
1.Establishment of incident command outside the hazard area for the overall coordination,
direction, and safety of the initial full alarm assignment with a minimum of two members
dedicated to managing this task (2).
2.Establishment of two uninterrupted water supplies at a minimum of 400 gpm (1520 L/min), with
each supply line maintained by anoperator.
3.Establishment of an effective water flow application rate of 300 gpm (1140 L/min) from three
handlines, each of which has a minimum flow rate of 100 gpm (380 L/ min), with each handline
operated by a minimum of two members to effectively and safely maintain each hand-line (6).
4.Provision of one support member for each attack, backup, and exposure line deployed to
provide hydrant hookup and to assist in laying of hose lines, utility control, and forcible entry (3).
5.Provision of at least two victim search-and-rescue teams, each team consisting of a minimum of
two members (4).
6.Provision of at least two teams, each team consisting of a minimum of two members, to raise
ground ladders and perform ventilation (4).
7.If an aerial device is used in operations, one member to function as an aerial operator and
always maintain primary control of the aerial device (1).
8.At a minimum, an initial rapid intervention crew (IRIC) assembled from the initial attack crew
and, as the initial alarm response arrives, a full and sustained rapid intervention crew (RIC)
established (4).
9.The establishment of an initial medical care component consisting of at least two members
capable of providing immediate on-scene emergency medical support, and transport that
providesrapid access to civilians or members potentially needing medical treatment (2).
10.Total effective response force is a minimum of 27 (28 if an aerial device is used).
NFPA 1710 Standard for High-Rise Initial Full Alarm Assignment Capability (5.2.4.4)
The initial full alarm assignment to a fire in a building with the highest floor greater than 75 ft (23 m) above
the lowest level of fire department vehicle access shall provide for the following:
1.Establishment of a stationary incident command post outside the hazard area for overall
coordination and direction of the initial full alarm assignment with a mini-mum of one officer with
an aide dedicated to these tasks and all operations are to be conducted in compliance with the
incident command system (2).
2.Establishment of an uninterrupted water supply to the building standpipe/sprinkler connection
sufficient to support fire attack operations maintained by an opera te and if the building is equipped
with a fire pump, one additional member with a radio to be sent to the fire pump location to monitor
and maintain operation(1/1).
3.Establishment of an effective water flow application rate on the fire floor at a minimum of 500 gpm
(1892 L/m) from two handlines, each operated by a minimum of two members tosafely and
effectively handle the line(4).
4.Establishment of an effective water flow application rate on the floor above the fire floor at a
minimum of 250 gpm (946 L/m) from at least one handline, with each deployed handline operated
by a minimum of two members to safely and effectively handle the line (2).
5.At a minimum, an initial rapid intervention crew (IRIC) assembled from the initial attack crew and,
as the initial alarm response arrives, a full and sustained rapid intervention crew (RIC) established
(4).
6.Provision of two or more search-and-rescue teams consisting of a minimum of two members each
(4).
7.Provision of one officer, with an aide, dedicated to establishing an oversight at or near the entry
point on the fire floor(s)(2).
8.Provision of one officer, with an aide, dedicated to establishing an oversight at or near the point
of entry on the floor above the fire(2).
9.Provision of two or more evacuation management teams to assist and direct building occupants
with evacuation or sheltering actions, with each team consisting of a minimum of two members
(4).
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10.Provision of one or more members to account for and manage elevator operations(1).
11.Provision of a minimum of one trained incident safety officer (1).
12.Provision of a minimum of one officer two floors below the fire floor to manage the interior staging
area(1).
13.Provision of a minimum of two members to manage member rehabilitation and at least one of
the members to be trained to the ALS level(2).
14.Provision of an officer and a minimum of three members to conduct vertical ventilation operations
(4).
15.Provision of a minimum of one officer to manage the building lobby operations(1).
16.Provision of a minimum of two members to transport equipment to a location below the fire floor
(2).
17.Provision of one officer to manage external base operations (1).
18.The establishment of an initial medical care component consisting of a minimum of two crews
with a minimum of two members each with one member trained to the ALS level capable of
providing immediate on-scene emergency medical support, and transport that provides rapid
access to civilians or members potentially needing medical treatment(4).
19.Total effective response force is a minimum of 42 (43 if the building is equipped with a fire pump).
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