Starting a Rapid Intervention Team

[fyrmedik]

My department is considering creating a rapid intervention team for not only our district, but others as well. Any suggestions?

[ALSfirefighter]

Start with the basics. They are always the most important. Also setting up a committee with experience to lay out policy and SOG's helps, ends arguments quick as to what direction you want your team to go in. We have a proactive team, throws ladders and gets rid of hazards, we also have a team next to us that sits in front of the bldg. with its $hit in a stokes, staring at what still needs to be done.

The biggest thing is don't rush it, take a few months to get as much training in as you can. Also we run a system for the voluteers that they have to have so many hours of RIT training per year to stay on the team. We had a member who had every drill a 'required' one, numbers started draining fast. Just my .03. I like to throw a little extra in.

[Temptaker]

You might want to take a look @ http://www.rapidintervention.com

[RyanEMVFD]

that is an excellant website that temptaker posted. almost all of the information you require can be found there. also a forum there to post on and SOPs online that you can look at.

[KURITInstructor]

My department is in the middle of a large scale RIT training. (We call it RIC, Rapid Intervention Crew). I would be glad to E-Mail our Power Point Preasentation to you. and some practical outlines. This class was a countywide class. E-Mail me if you want at bspini@jocofiredist2.org RIT needs to be tought to everyone not just some.

[goober]

We just finished a course called "Saving Our Own". We learned a version of the Denver Project. One of the originators, Chief Laskey, is the chief of a nieghboring town. We also learned ladder bail, rope bail, SCBA un-intanglement, and various drags. Was quite an eye opener in several ways. I would highly recommend all of this training whether you plan to be on RIT or not.