SOG 1-06 RAPID INTERVENTION COMPANY (RIC)
A. Scope:
This operational guideline shall apply to companies dispatched to an emergency scene to operate as RIC Team. A standby team of fire fighting personnel shall be immediately available to assist firefighters working in any Imminent Life Hazard (ILH) condition.
B. Guidelines:
1. When the Incident Commander determines that Firefighters must operate in an “ILH” environment, a RIC Team is to be assembled.
2. A RIC Team may be assembled utilizing any fire ground personnel provided that they are not assigned any other duties.
3. A RIC Team from a mutual aid company is automatically dispatched upon an “All Hands Operating” dispatch.
4. The RIC Team shall consist of a minimum of one officer and three firefighters that are SCBA qualified and trained in Search & Rescue techniques
5. The RIC Team shall stage near the Command Post, and the RIC Team Officer shall report to the IC that the team is available and ready to be deployed.
6. The RIC Team shall stand fast and intact (full PPE, SCBA’s, and equipment) so they are ready to take immediate action to assist firefighters in distress, or react to rapidly changing fire ground conditions.
7. RIC Team members shall monitor all radio traffic for any indication of firefighters in distress.
8. If the IC directs the RIC Team to perform duties other than those relating to its “distress duties”, an additional RIC Team should be established.
9. Large-scale incidents may require the IC to assign multiple RIC Teams, and have them staged in other divisions or entry points at the scene.
10. The RIC TEAM Officer should obtain the following information from the IC:
a. An overview of the current firefighting operations
b. Accountability of all interior firefighting personnel and their assigned tasks
c. Placement of ground ladders in each division and to each floor where firefighters are operating. (This provides a second means of egress.)
d. Location of the EMS staging area at the scene.
11. The RIC Team should assemble the following tools and equipment:
a. Standard forcible entry tools Irons, sledgehammer, rabbit tool etc.
b. Pike poles and ceiling hooks
c. Search ropes
d. Personnel Safety ropes
e. RIC bag containing spare SCBA bottle, hose, and tools (for trapped firefighters)
f. Life Safety Rope
g. Hand Lights
h. Portable Radios (for each member of team)
i. Chain saw, K12 saw, etc.
j. Thermal Imaging Camera
12. The RIC TEAM shall also have available to them:
a. A charged back-up1øhose line (if firefighting is needed to perform rescue)
b. Various size ground ladders
c. Hydraulic Rescue Tools
C. Definitions:
1. RIC – Rapid Intervention Company. A group of trained, specially equipped firefighters that is immediately available to the IC, to respond to a sudden fire ground event, which has, or may endanger other firefighters.
2. IC – Incident Commander
3.“ILH” – Imminent Life Hazard
4. Accountability – A procedure used to keep track of the number, location, and assignment of all personnel.