ISOFR: Fire Department Resource, Fire Fighter, Fire Safety, Fire Protection, Arson Investigation, WMD

Fire Service consists of individuals who, on a full-time, part-time, or on a volunteer basis, provide life-safety services, including fire suppression, rescue, arson investigation, public education and prevention.

Firefighters
Company Officers
Fire Marshal's Office
Urban Search and Rescue Teams (USAR)
Technical Rescue Teams

In today's world, Fire Service faces a greater threat of terrorism than ever before. For this reason, it is necessary for first responders to obtain the training and experience needed to fulfill their mission of curtailing disasters and most importantly, saving lives.

By definition, a HEAVY RESCUE UNIT is referred to as follows:

Specialized emergency response personnel who are trained to use strategy, tactics and operations for locating, extricating and treating victims of structural collapse.

By definition, a SEARCH AND RESCUE UNIT is referred to as follows:

Search and Rescue includes technologies that will enhance present capabilities used to locate humans in collapsed buildings and similar hazard areas.

By definition, a WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION is referred to as follows:

Title 18 U.S.C. 2332a. Defines a weapon of mass destruction as 1) any explosive, incendiary, poison gas, bomb, grenade, or rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, a missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, or a mine or device similar to the above; 2) poison gas; 3) any weapon involving a disease organism; 4) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.

TERRORISM, by definition, is referred to as follows:

A violent act or an act dangerous to human life, in violation of the criminal laws of the United States of any segment, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives (US Department of Justice).

Training Level Guidelines for Fire Service:

Awareness-Level:
This addresses training requirements for firefighters who are likely to witness or discover an event involving the terrorist/criminal use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or who may be sent out to initially investigate a report of such an event. Generally, these personnel should carry out all actions from within the cold zone. If personnel find themselves in the warm or hot zone, they are to move from that zone and encourage others, if ambulatory, to move to a staging area away from the immediate threat.

Awareness-Level Guidelines for Firefighters:

Recognize hazardous materials incidents.
Know the protocols used to detect the potential presence of WMD agents or materials.
Know and follow self-protection measures for WMD events and hazardous materials events.
Know procedures for protecting a potential crime scene.
Know and follow agency/organization's scene security and control procedures for WMD and hazardous materials events.
Possess and know how to properly use equipment to contact dispatcher or higher authorities to report information collected at the scene and to request additional assistance or emergency response personnel.

Performance-Level:
This level is divided into two parts with a separate set of training guidelines for each. The training guidelines for firefighters at the performance level target firefighters who will likely respond to the scene of a hazardous materials event or a potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) event. These firefighters will conduct operations within the warm zone and/or the hot zone (if properly trained and equipped) at the scene of a potential WMD or hazardous materials incident. It is expected that firefighters trained for performance level A will work in the warm zone and cold zone and support firefighters working in the hot zone. Firefighters trained for performance level B will work in the hot zone as well as in the other zones set up on the incident scene, as needed.

Performance-Level A (Operations Level) Guidelines for Firefighters:

Have successfully completed adequate training at the awareness level for events involving hazardous materials and for WMD and other specialized training.
Know the Incident Command System and be able to follow Unified Command System procedures for integrating and implementing each system.
Know how the systems integrate and support the incident.
Be familiar with the overall operation of the two command systems and be able to assist in implementing the Unified Command System if necessary.
Know and follow self-protection measures and rescue and evacuation procedures for WMD events.
Know and follow procedures for working at the scene of a potential WMD event.

Performance-Level B (Technician Level) Guidelines for Firefighters:

Have successfully completed training at the awareness level and performance level A for events involving hazardous materials, WMD, and other specialized training.
Know and follow self-protection measures and rescue and evacuation procedures for WMD events.
Know and follow procedures for performing specialized work at the scene of a potential WMD event.
Know and follow Incident Command System and Unified Command System procedures and steps required to implement each system.
Understand how the two systems will work together.

Planning & Management-Level:
This addresses training requirements for fire department senior officers who are expected to be part of the leadership and management team that will likely respond to an event involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Fire department senior officers will be involved in planning for and managing the emergency scene and will help implement the on-scene command post. These officers are expected to manage firefighters and other allied emergency responders, who will support the ongoing operations to mitigate and control the hazardous agents and materials, using any available resources to safely and sufficiently resolve the event. Generally, fire department senior officers should take all actions from within the cold zone (sometimes from within the warm zone). It is expected that fire service managers will be integrated into the overall command structure that is implemented for the management and supervision of resources and assets being deployed to mitigate and recover from an overall WMD emergency event.

Planning & Management-Level Guidelines for Firefighters:

Have successfully completed training in Awareness, Performance, and Management levels for events involving hazardous materials and WMD.
Know the procedures of the Incident Command System (ICS) and Unified Command (UC) and the steps required to implement each system.
Understand how the systems are integrated and implemented to work together and what information the on-scene manager needs from the fire department manager.
Be familiar with the full range of incident command functions and be able to fulfill any functions related to fire department operations.
Know protocols for securing, mitigating, and removing hazardous agents or materials that may be WMD agents or materials.
Know and follow self-protection and protective measures for emergency responders at the scene of WMD and hazardous materials events.
Understand how the Incident Action Plan is developed and know what assets are available for controlling WMD and hazardous materials events, in coordination with the on-scene incident commander (IC). In collaboration with the on-scene IC, be able to assist in planning and determining operational goals and objectives to bring the event to a successful conclusion.
Know and follow procedures for protecting a potential crime scene.
Know and follow department protocols for medical monitoring of response personnel involved with or working at WMD and hazardous materials events.

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