Mask fogging while on RIT standby

[FWDbuff]

so while placing a RIT team on standby, does this mean the IC will have to stage additional companies to extricate? Also since we're on the topic, the mask fogging up can be prevented by rain-x or "low abrasive toothpaste".

Good idea- rub a flammable liquid into your mask.

[6Duron1]

eh, it works for paintballing and diving.

[53fireman]

The RIT serves many other functions on the fireground as well that will ease their job should a MAYDAY situation arise - throwing ladders, utility control, identifying access/egress points, marking sides of the building, staging tools & equipment, and knowing where the next hoseline may come from if needed. You can't size up a building properly with a facepiece on, how are you going to perform any of those other functions with one on?

[nameless]

eh, it works for paintballing and diving.

paintballing and diving don't take place within a burning building

[ziggy171]

I agree with 53fireman. In our area the RIT is active on the fireground. They never engage in an activity that they can't drop at a second's notice and report to their point of entry. They do recon of the building, harden entrance/egress points, ladder upper story windows etc. They will have all their equipment staged and ready to go if they are needed. It's worked very well for us.

[yjbrody]

They do recon of the building, harden entrance/egress points, ladder upper story windows etc.

I hope you meant soften entrance/egress points.

[ziggy171]

Lol, "secure" may have been a better word. In other works they make sure they are open and stay open, ie chock doors open, take off hinges, use webbing, etc.

[fmbamember]

It shouldn't be the same RIT team sitting there for the entire operation. They should be switched out as well. Especially if it's hot or freezing.

While rehab is important you must remember that each time a ric is swapped you must have a full briefing. Even with the briefing there is still a loss of information. The original ric has studied building blueprints as well as locations of operating units. Constantly swapping them out does more harm then good. Besides...10 seconds to don a mask should be considered as part of the normal response.

[fmbamember]

The RIT serves many other functions on the fireground as well that will ease their job should a MAYDAY situation arise - throwing ladders, utility control, identifying access/egress points, marking sides of the building, staging tools & equipment, and knowing where the next hoseline may come from if needed. You can't size up a building properly with a facepiece on, how are you going to perform any of those other functions with one on?

Very good point. While the ric team is performing these other functions (the ric is doing their job by preventing emergencies before they happen) they should simply have their mask hanging from the regulator at their side. By the time they are briefed to deploy the mask should be on.

[ChiefKN]

While rehab is important you must remember that each time a ric is swapped you must have a full briefing. Even with the briefing there is still a loss of information. The original ric has studied building blueprints as well as locations of operating units. Constantly swapping them out does more harm then good. Besides...10 seconds to don a mask should be considered as part of the normal response.

Blueprints?

Wow.... I've never seen a set of plans on any actual structure fire.

[BoxAlarm187]

The original ric has studied building blueprints as well as locations of operating units.

Studied building blueprints??

[fmbamember]

Studied building blueprints??

That is pretty standard for high rise fires in my department. The command post is given a set of blue prints and if the ric is forward staged they will take a copy with them.

[fmbamember]

Blueprints?

Wow.... I've never seen a set of plans on any actual structure fire.

See my post about high rise fires but we also try to include blueprints on larger structures in with our preplans. They are beneficial in giving alternate means of access/egress for where members are operating.

[BoxAlarm187]

That is pretty standard for high rise fires in my department. The command post is given a set of blue prints and if the ric is forward staged they will take a copy with them.

An actual set of building blueprints from the building engineer? Who's responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and verifying these?

[CaptOldTimer]

lol, in VA when I was observing they kept their truck doors open in the bay to minimize response time. Really if it takes you ten seconds to open a door, then you don't need to be a driver. Saving time isn't that necessary, but you should be confident in your speed and skills that you shouldn't have to worry about those extra five second. Kind of like the CPAT.

Leaving to doors of the rig opened while sitting in the bays is usually for to keep the air movement going inside the cab and to make one less step to boarding the rig when you are making a call.

I can and open the door in less than a second to get in the cab.



Also I call bs on the blueprints on the fire scene.

As many times I have been to high rises, I have never seen a set of blueprints or any other colored prints!!

You have watched Towering Inferno too much!

[6Duron1]

we have preplans to act as "blueprints"

[NickIF]

LOL being masked up is absolutely ridiculous. There's a lot of things the RIT team should be doing though (360/ongoing assessment of conditions, throwing ladders, etc) Not just standing around with your thumb up your ***. If you're a good firefighter it should take you less than 10 seconds to mask up with your gloves on.

[6Duron1]

if you're confident in your equipment, it should take less than 10 secs.

[Bones42]

if you're confident in your equipment, it should take less than 10 secs.

If your not confident in your equipment...you have no right to be part of a FAST/RIT/RIC team. Period.

[fmbamember]

Leaving to doors of the rig opened while sitting in the bays is usually for to keep the air movement going inside the cab and to make one less step to boarding the rig when you are making a call.

I can and open the door in less than a second to get in the cab.



Also I call bs on the blueprints on the fire scene.

As many times I have been to high rises, I have never seen a set of blueprints or any other colored prints!!

You have watched Towering Inferno too much!

You can call BS all you want cappy but yes we have them for the larger buildings. The security at the front desk brings them out as soon as we get there.