Rit team - help!!!!

[bowstringtruss]

HELP!!!!
SEVERAL OF OUR AREA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES HAVE DECIDED TO BAN TOGETHER TO CREATE AN AREA RIT TEAM. THIS TEAM WOULD BE COMPRISED OF A FEW QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS FROM EACH OF THE AREA COMPANIES AND WILL RESPOND TO STRUCTURE FIRES IN ANY OF THE COMPANIES AREAS. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS BUT ARE NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO OFFICIALLY START IT. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY STANDARDS OUT THERE FOR RIT TEAMS? ANY OTHER INFORMATION ANYBODY COULD SHARE ON THIS SUBJECT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL. WE ARE IN THE INFORMATION GATHERING STAGE AND COULD USE ALL THE RESOURCES WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON!
THANKS IN ADVANCE!

[FFTrainer]

Take a look at NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program
Also take a look at OSHA 1910.134.

The OSHA standard doesn't necessarily state the requirements of a team, but it does recommend it's creation and presence at a scene.

Hope this helps.

[par1]

Several states have started developing RIT related training programs (such as the mayday firefighter down class). I just recently finished the class it is a great class and will probably become mandatory training, as well it should. It consists of about a half day classroom and a day and a half practical training. It covers some standards governing RIT teams, use of equiptment and rescue techniques. This type of training would definatly be of some help to your RIT personel. I am not sure what other states have these programs but the state of VA is one of them.

[Scene25]

Do you already have the RIT course? If not, contact the Allegheny County Fire Academy and ask how you can get a class together. Jim Crawford from Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire did a class for my area. We had members from Clairton, Glassport, and Jefferson 885 attend, and the class was really very helpful. Jim is a great instructor and he has some good idea's on how to set up your SOP's.



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John Williams
NRFF1/EMT
Clairton Fire Dept