Fire Survival Guidance

Updates

This presentation looks at updates to the current FSG training as per Home Office Circular 1 0/93

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Background

• Policy 790

Policy 790 FSG Calls lays out the requirement for increased resources when Control take and begin to deal with FSG Calls.

It has been agreed that attendances to incidents from which FSG calls are received will be supplemented/upgraded.

This will be implemented by Control when FSG is being given.

This training is based on identifying a FSG Call and the required actions depending on the premise and amount of FSG Calls being dealt with.

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Policies/Instructions

The changes to FSG Calls are reflected in:

• FSG RIF (will be updated for go live)

• High Rise Policy

• Policy 790 Fire Survival Guidance Calls

• Policy 539 Emergency Call Management

These changes have had implications on various instructions as listed:

FSG Policy

Operational HR Policy

FSG Calls Policy 790

Emergency Call Management Policy 539

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What is a FSG Call?

When the caller believes that they are unable to leave the premises due to the effects of fire and where the Control Officer remains on the line providing the appropriate

advice.

The call continues until either the caller is able to leave by their

own means is rescued by the LFB or the telephone line is cleared .

Definition of a FSG call taken from Policy 790 FSG Calls

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When FSG isn/t necessary

If the fire is NOT in the caller's flat and they are NOT

affected by HEAT or SMOKE it is usually safest for them

To remain in their flat - If they ARE being affected

They should get out and stay out

If they remain in their flat and their situation changes

they should GET OUT AND STAY OUT- If they -. . . -.. --· ... -....... -. --A variety of incidents can generate multiple calls from occupiers uncertain of the situation. For example, fire in a chute attached to a block of flats. Callers may seek advice or offer further information such as smoke in corridor.

During these calls Control provide current Fire Safety advice to callers that they are usually safest to remain in their property if not affected by fire, heat or smoke. Callers will be adviced to leave if the situation changes and they become affected by fire, heat or smoke. Alternative they can recontact LFB on 999 for further advice.

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10/93

Control should deal with calls in accordance

with Fire Survival Circular 10/93 as per

previous Fire Survival Guidance training

using the 4 principles

ESCAPE, ASSESS, PROTECT, RESCUE.

The current FSG training is to be adhered to. This update training covers the additional actions to be taken.

Escape - can the caller get out, if not why?

Assess- what's going on, where is the fire, where is the caller are they ok etc.

Protect- caller cannot get out -offer fire safety advice as per the FSG RIF

Rescue- re-assess, has an escape route become available or assist in rescue.

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Assess and Escape

Can the caller get out of the property?

YES - Get out and stay out!

NO- Why not, what is preventing this? Do you

have an alternative escape route?

Firstly assess and help the caller to escape,

Can they get out - YES - Get out and stay out.

No - Why can't the caller get out, what is preventing this.

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Protect and Rescue

You have established the caller cannot get out of

the premise.

• Protect - get to a place further from the fire/ a balcony/ a flat roof etc. Offer Fire Safety advice.

• Rescue -Assess the situation/ has an escape route become available. Assist in rescue.

You has established the caller is trapped in the premise.

Protect the caller as per FSG RIF

Continously re-assess the situation as it may change rapidly. An escape route may become available.

Rescue- Assist with the rescue, update crews on the situation.

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Attendance for FSG Calls

Two levels of attendance

• Single FSG Call in premise other than HR

• Single FSG Calls in HR or • Multiple FSG Calls (any premise type)

The new changes when FSG is required is as follows:

There are now two levels of attendance in response to FSG Calls.

These depend on the amount of FSG calls and the premise type.

•A single FSG Call in a premise that is NOT High Rise

•Multiple FSG Calls in any type of premise or a Single FSG Call in a premise that IS High Rise

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Single FSG- NOT High Rise

• Persons Reported lTC PR to be used (along with initial lTC)

• Initiated by Control

• No change to PR attendance/Plans

• IC should still send a message confirming PERSONS REPORTED

When a Single FSG Call is being received in Control to a premise other than a High Rise, Control are to upgrade the incident using lTC PR in conjunction with the appropriate lTC i.e. A 1 ,PR

This will generate 1 x SM 1 x CU 1 x FlU and the normal PR plans.

Control will determine that the call is a PR due to the fact FSG is being provided as the caller is unable to leave the premise. However, the IC should still send a message confirming PERSONS REPORTED. Upon receipt of this message the Incident Description field should be amended and not before. Leaving the Description filed empty is a prompt for the OIC to send the relevant message.

FIRE SURVIVAL GUIDANCE IN PROGRESS AT THIS INCIDENT should be placed in the Additional field of the NIF until the FSG call has been resolved. This is to prepare crews that they will receive information via RT in relation to the callers situation etc.

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Multiple FSG calls or Single FSG call in High Rise

• New lTC FSG to be used (along with PR and initial lTC)

• Initiated by Control

• Generates- 1 x SM 1 x CU 1 x PL

Plan item to inform Duty BCSM

(as well as the PR attendance of 1 x SM 1 X CU 1 X FlU)

The attendance attached to the new lTC FSG is a discrete attendance. This means the attendance will not be calculated in any subsequent upgrades. It is specifically for FSG Calls.

FSG will be used in conjunction with the appropriate lTC and PR. This will ensure that the PR attendance is also mobilised. For example A 1 ,PR,FSG

FIRE SURVIVAL GUIDANCE IN PROGRESS AT THIS INCIDENT should be placed in the Additional field of the NIF until the FSG call has been resolved. This will alert crews to expect information via RT in relation to the callers situation etc.

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Passing information to IC

• Initial details- number of persons involved, their location ...

• FSG Continues- Gather further information whilst providing advice

• Information required as per Control Information form (see handout)

• Changing Talk Group

Control will pass the initial details to the IC such as how many people are involved, their location in the premise etc.

As the FSG call continues, Control will assess and re-assess gathering further information to assist the I C.

Control will attempt to gather all the information required on the Control Information Form and pass to the I C.

(See next slide for further information on Control Information Form)

If Staffing levels permit, M2FH FLONOPS01 could be used (if a large number of FSG Calls are happening) to free up the main scheme radio

Please be aware that there may not be crew available to check individual flats where the caller has remained inside but is not affected by fire, heat or smoke

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Control Information Form

• Control will gather required information for each FSG Call

• RT Op will pass all information recorded word for word to IC as a priority message

• ICP will complete the form for each FSG call and pass to the CU

All messages to and from the incident ground are to be recorded in ProCAD and repeated back to confirm information is correct as is current procedure.

Control are required to gather the information as required in the Control Information Form. Control does NOT have to record the information on the form and store it anywhere, this is to assist you so you know what the IC requires.

All gathered information does have to be recorded in ProCAD as is current procedure.

The RT Operator is to pass ALL information as it is written to the IC as a priority message. The IC should repeat the information passed back to the RT Op for confirmation. And vice versa.

The IC will record all the information passed on the Control Information Form for each FSG Call which are to be referenced by flat number.

(See next slide for explanation of fields on form)

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Control Information Form

• Premise Number • Name of caller (not to be passed via RT) • Number of persons within location • Location within premises and access points • Condition within property (heavy smoke etc) • Proximity to fire • Advice given to caller by control (stay low, shut doors etc.) • Time call received by control • Time updated (time control updated ICP) • Addition information (elderly, disabled, child, near to church etc.)

This information must be passed to the Incident ground when available. If you are unable to contact the ICP the information must be passed to another resource in attendance. They will record the information and pass to the ICP.

The ICP must confirm with Control when they receive the information.

•Name of caller- not to be passed by RT- This is due to the possibility of information being published on press reports before the police have confirmed fatalities or injuries or spoken to families.

•Access points- this means can FFs gain access via a back balcony or front door, window etc.

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Example of message from Control

E351 FROM M2FS PRIORITY OVER

E351 FROM M2FS FSG CALLER IN FLAT 61 2 PERSONS IN MAISONETTE IN REAR BEDROOM ACCESS VIA FRONT DOOR ON

STH

FLOOR PREMISES FILUNG WITH SMOKE ABOVE SCENE OF FIRE ADVISED TO STAY BY WINDOW CALL RECEIVED AT 2300HRS ADDmONAL INFORMATION WINDOW FACES LONDON BRIDGE OVER

E351 REPEATS MESSAGE BACK TO CONTROL

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Informing Control of actions taken

• Control kept informed of actions taken to resolve FSG Call

• Further information provided to control from the incident ground.

• IC may consider informing Control to alter advice given to caller in exceptional circumstances e.g. //attempt to leave property~~.

Control should be kept updated with actions that have been taken on the incident ground to resolve FSG calls.

A nominate officer (SM or above) will liaise with the OOW in regards to the casualty Information Form (explained later) This may change the advice being given to the caller.

The IC may consider informing Control to alter any advice given to the caller in exceptional circumstances. For example, you may be adviced to tell the caller to attempt to leave the property. However this advice may be contrary to the National Policy for FSGs so the IC should liaise with the Officer in Charge in Control to agree the change of advice.

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Example message from Incident

M2FS REFERENCE FLAT 61 ONE ADULT

FEMALE AND ONE CHILD RESCUED FROM

FLAT 61 BY BA CREW VIA INTERNAL

STAIRCASE SUFFERING SMOKE INHALATION

TACTICAL MODE OSCAR OVER

An example RT message from the incident ground

As with all RT messages, Control should repeat the message back to confirm it is correct.

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Casualty Information Form

• Carried on CUs

• Use to record information in relation to casualties trapped or missing

• Allows accurate transfer of information between CUs and incident ground

• Command Support System (CSS)

The casualty information form is carried on CUs and is used to record information relating to FSG Calls where people are trapped or missing.

The form allows accurate transfer of information between the CUs and the incident ground.

(look at form)

The CSS has a message screen that records messages sent to and from the incident ground once a CU has been mobilised. Messages sent by RT relating to FSG Calls are recorded here. Control Sups have access to CSS and sensitive information relating to specific calls can be communicated by this method. (Policy 722 CSS)

Note- The IC will appoint a dedicated officer as FSG Co-ordinator (SM or above) to gather information relating FSG Calls. This officer will contact OOW to gather latest information and pass latest information on progress of FSG Calls.

CU has the number for the Command Critical Phone in Control. This is to be used for passing life critical information only.

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Staff Welfare

• Traumatic experience

• Investigations/inquiry

• A&C - Provide support

Staff may have a traumatic experience when dealing with FSG Calls.

Managers will put in place measures to minimise the impact this has on staff. Advisory and Counselling are available to provide support to staff that may be needed beyond that which Managers can provide.

Managers should ensure that individual debriefs take place to identify actions taken which may assist later during any investigations/inquiries that may take place.

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Re-cap - Control functions • Caller cannot Escape - FSG Identified - Open FSG RIF

• Use PR if single call (not HR)

• Use PR and FSG if Single call in HR or Multiple calls (any premise)

• FIRE SURVIVAL GUIDANCE IN PROGRESS in Add field- Mobilise further attendance

• Pass initial details to IC via RT (Clear precise messages)

• Protect the caller and re- assess the situation

• Gather information to be passed to IC as per Control Information Form

• Re-assess situation and assist with Rescue

Once a FSG call has been identified open the FSG RIF

This will prompt you to use PR or PR and FSG depending on the amount of calls and property type involved. (or prompt you to get a colleague to do this for you)

The FSG RIF will also provide the necessary advice to be given to callers and the questions to ask depending on premise type.

The additional field should be annotated with FIRE SURVIVAL GUIDANCE IN PROGRESS for the duration of the FSG call. The Inc Description should not be amended until the IC has sent a message confirming PERSONS REPORTED.

Gather information to be passed to crews (copies Control Information forms will be placed in the draws at each position for information)

Assess and re-assess the situation throughout the call in order to protect and assist with the rescue of the caller.

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Operational

• The Control Information Form will be completed on the Incident Ground for each FSG Call

• The Casualty Information Form will be completed and stored on the CU

• Control will receive updates in regards to FSG Calls and any advice to be given

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Any questions?

Now for the Q&A!!

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