KITCHENER FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATING PROCEDURE

Subject: EVACUATION OF FIRE FIGHTING PERSONNEL Page: 1 of 1 Prepared By: K. KARLEY Date Prepared: 2004-07-15 No: SUP - 605 Approved By: Date Revised: 2005-03-30 Section: SUPPRESSION

1. PURPOSE:

1.1 To establish the operating procedure for the purpose of alerting personnel of the need to immediately evacuate an area at the

emergency scene, when a condition is observed that effects the imminent safety of personnel.

2. DEFINITION:

2.1 Interior fire fighting operations should be abandoned when the extent of fire prohibits control or the structure becomes unsafe to

operate within. ie rapid changing conditions, unstable structure, explosion potential.

3. RESPONSIBILITY:

3.1 All personnel are responsible for the safety of each other. 3.2 Officers shall assess fire conditions at all times and notify Incident Command (IC) of any changes. 3.3 Anyone observing hazardous or unusual circumstances shall notify I.C. immediately. 3.4 Incident commander is responsible for initiating the evacuation signal and ensuring that a complete evacuation has taken place.

4. PROCEDURE:

4.1 The incident Commander shall be notified immediately when the safety of personnel is in question. 4.2 The Inicident Commander shall advise all responders on scene that an evacuation shall take place by using the following

procedure. 4.2.1 The Incident Commander will direct dispatch to activate the “ Emergency Alert Tone” and announce “ Emergency

Traffic, Emergency Traffic, All personnel evacuate the building”. 4.2.2 The Incident Commander shall direct an apparatus driver to signal with 3 X 3 second blasts of the air horn. Pause 10

seconds and repeat the procedure. {6 Total Blasts } 4.2.3 Upon hearing an emergency alert signal all personnel shall immediately exit the building to a point outside an

established perimeter or beyond the range of any structural collapse, locate and remain with assigned crew. 4.2.4 The incident commander shall call a PAR when any evacuation is ordered. 4.2.5 Officers shall account for their crew and report PAR to command. 4.2.6 The Incident Commander shall report to dispatch the results of the PAR.

5. REFERENCE:

5.1 K.F.D. Accountability System

6. EXPLANATORY:

None.