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Pro-Active Rapid Intervention Teams

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No one used to like being the RIT team.  I used to hate it and I would do everything possible to get out of it.  Then one day I realized how stupid I was being – being assigned rapid intervention could be viewed as a compliment.  Essentially, the IC is saying – I trust you so much that if the WORST POSSIBLE THING that could happen, happens – I trust you to handle it.

  5thstnw5505v_07 firehousephotos003

So why did/do people “hate” being RIT?  Usually because they’re go-getter firemen who want to be working and they see RIT as standing around.  And in many places, that’s what RIT used to do, or still does.  But somewhere along the line, we got smarter…  Companies assigned to RIT can also accomplish tasks that prevent the RIT team from being deployed.  

Of course the first argument here is that if the RIT team is working, they are not rested and ready to perform a firefighter rescue if nessecary.  Agreed.  When you’re RIT – there is a fine line between doing too much and doing nothing.  Here are my thoughts:

  • The RIT should not engage in any activities that, if abandoned, would create a more hazardous situation.
  • Members of the RIT should not perform any activities that require donning their SCBA mask.
  • If the RIT leader identifies a task that violates the above rules yet, in his opinion, must be immediately completed for imminent safety reasons he should consult with the IC for direction before engaging.

So what are some tasks that a pro-active RIT can perform?

  • The RIT could fix the placement of these ladders and clear the other windows for egress.

    The RIT could fix the placement of these ladders and clear the other windows for egress.

    Circle-check of the building.  This should have been performed by an initial company already, but this gives the RIT a chance to see the whole building and the firefighting operations underway.  The RIT can spot potential problems, plan for deployment, and identify safety issues.  If the building is too large, then that means additional RIT teams are needed and the IC should be made aware.

  • Place additional ground ladders for egress.
  • Force additional doors for egress.
  • Ventilate & clear additional windows, as appropriate, for egress.
  • Forcing this exterior door & removing the security gate could prevent, or aide, a RIT deployment later.

    Forcing this exterior door & removing the security gate could prevent, or aide, a RIT deployment later.

    Control gas & electric utilities, if located on the exterior.

  • Remove security bars & gates.
  • Un-kink hoselines.   

Other tasks for the RIT leader:

  • Don’t get sucked in to the above tasks.  Keep an eye on your crew and make sure they’re not crossing the threshold and becoming too involved.
  • If possible, consult with the IC.  Get and idea what’s going on, what companies are doing what, and if the fire is going out or heading south.
  • Brief your team.  If you get deployed, who is bringing what & doing what?

Also on TraditionsTraining…

Posted by Nick Martin on January 31, 2009 • Filed under: RIT / Survival, Tips & Skills • Tagged: ,
  • Robby O

    Hey Nick first off I think the article is great and it is something we practice when we are assigned RIT.

    You made the statement that you don’t feel the RIT should perform duties that require them to don there SCBA face piece. When we establish RIT it is required for all RIT members to be in there facepiece sith the regulator hanging (we utilize the MSA MMR which allows this). I feel that this makes the team ready for deployment at a moments notice even when performing other tasks.

    Another thing we do is post members on all 4 sides of the building in order to keep eyes on the changing fire conditions for the IC (this is after additional laddders and other tasks have been done) we stay electronically teathered to each other and usually within visual contact of one other RIT member. If activation is required we simply team back up at the appropriate side of the building and enter.

    What are your thpoughts on these techniques? How do you guys deploy your RIT?

    Thanks again for the great and thought provoking articles.

  • Robby O

    Hey Nick first off I think the article is great and it is something we practice when we are assigned RIT.

    You made the statement that you don’t feel the RIT should perform duties that require them to don there SCBA face piece. When we establish RIT it is required for all RIT members to be in there facepiece sith the regulator hanging (we utilize the MSA MMR which allows this). I feel that this makes the team ready for deployment at a moments notice even when performing other tasks.

    Another thing we do is post members on all 4 sides of the building in order to keep eyes on the changing fire conditions for the IC (this is after additional laddders and other tasks have been done) we stay electronically teathered to each other and usually within visual contact of one other RIT member. If activation is required we simply team back up at the appropriate side of the building and enter.

    What are your thpoughts on these techniques? How do you guys deploy your RIT?

    Thanks again for the great and thought provoking articles.

  • Danny Doyle

    Nick,

    Awesome post! Proactive RIT is what it’s all about. Most people think of reaction when RIT comes to mind. Being able to deploy after the MAYDAY is called. Well thats true… To an extent! The main job is to prevent! If the RIT team can prevent a mayday by opening up, placing ladders, clearing bars, or providing essential information to the IC. Such as building conditions or other hazzards. Hopefully we keep the brothers and sisters out of a bad sitution or at the very least provide a quick alternative.

    Robby, I know the question was directed to Nick but… Sounds like you guys have put some thought and training into your RIT preparation! That alone deserves a pat on the back. Sounds like you guys are also acting in a proactive mode. Being able to react in a RAPID way is great. However the need to adapt to a sitution is essential. I’ve always found it easier to put my facepiece on with a combat ready state of mind than to work with it on not using air. Particularly in a cold enviroment the facial heat along with breath can fog up the best of masks!

  • http://TraditionsTraining Danny Doyle

    Nick,

    Awesome post! Proactive RIT is what it’s all about. Most people think of reaction when RIT comes to mind. Being able to deploy after the MAYDAY is called. Well thats true… To an extent! The main job is to prevent! If the RIT team can prevent a mayday by opening up, placing ladders, clearing bars, or providing essential information to the IC. Such as building conditions or other hazzards. Hopefully we keep the brothers and sisters out of a bad sitution or at the very least provide a quick alternative.

    Robby, I know the question was directed to Nick but… Sounds like you guys have put some thought and training into your RIT preparation! That alone deserves a pat on the back. Sounds like you guys are also acting in a proactive mode. Being able to react in a RAPID way is great. However the need to adapt to a sitution is essential. I’ve always found it easier to put my facepiece on with a combat ready state of mind than to work with it on not using air. Particularly in a cold enviroment the facial heat along with breath can fog up the best of masks!

  • Nick W

    Nick, Great article! I’ve had the same approach for some time now, and 33 might have been the start to such thinking(but im not too sure). I have been reading everyone of your articles since you started the blog, you usually hit everything I’d say, so I, as usual keep a low profile. This particular article strikes a nerve with me. A couple years ago, I responded with my volly company(in Balto Co.) to a working townhouse fire. We were the 2nd ladder company to respond and assigned the RIC. It was a MOG rowframe w/smoke still pushing upon our arrival. Not only was my first reaction to check the rear(take a ladder as well), But Brian Rayner (who comments here) was on the 1st due ladder co. and had requested a portable ladder to the rear(for the just in case scenario). Being part of the RIC, I turned to my OIC and told Him I was headed out back to place a ladder. He began to scream and told me there was no way I was to move from the front yard(outstanding firemen!) We went back and fourth a couple times, and within a week, I had been suspended for a 30 or 90 day period. Til this day, he is still a Lt. and still walks around with his hands in his pockets and yells at people on fires. I just don’t get it!!!

    Be Safe,
    Nick Weiland

  • Nick W

    Nick, Great article! I’ve had the same approach for some time now, and 33 might have been the start to such thinking(but im not too sure). I have been reading everyone of your articles since you started the blog, you usually hit everything I’d say, so I, as usual keep a low profile. This particular article strikes a nerve with me. A couple years ago, I responded with my volly company(in Balto Co.) to a working townhouse fire. We were the 2nd ladder company to respond and assigned the RIC. It was a MOG rowframe w/smoke still pushing upon our arrival. Not only was my first reaction to check the rear(take a ladder as well), But Brian Rayner (who comments here) was on the 1st due ladder co. and had requested a portable ladder to the rear(for the just in case scenario). Being part of the RIC, I turned to my OIC and told Him I was headed out back to place a ladder. He began to scream and told me there was no way I was to move from the front yard(outstanding firemen!) We went back and fourth a couple times, and within a week, I had been suspended for a 30 or 90 day period. Til this day, he is still a Lt. and still walks around with his hands in his pockets and yells at people on fires. I just don’t get it!!!

    Be Safe,
    Nick Weiland

  • http://www.TraditionsTraining.com/ Nicholas Martin

    Robby,

    Danny summed it up pretty good – it seems like you guys have a plan, which is over half of the battle. Its refreshing to see more & more companies being pro-active and looking less like lawn-shepards. I would agree with Danny on the issue of the facemask. My personal preference is to not wear it unless I’m breathing out of it. To me there are issues of visibility, communication, and increased work effort. Like Danny said, if you stay “Combat Ready” you can easily don your SCBA mask in under 20 seconds with a little bit of practice.

    Nick W,

    I know you know that I know exactly what you’re talking about. That can be a very frustrating situation. In any department there is a different between having the “rank” and having a “clue” – they do not always coincide. That being said, I wasn’t there so I don’t know his thought-train or the circumstances. Being that it was a MOG – maybe it was too far (100+ feet?) to the end of the group and he was concerned about crew continuity or something.

    However, in my opinion, a rear size-up is mandatory and there are pro-active RIT concerns to be addressed on side C. Some options for him could have been to inform the IC that a 2nd RIT needs to be placed on side C due to access limitations. Another option would have been to use an adjoining row-home to access the rear.

    All in all, keep the faith and spread the good word. Eventually it’ll get around & you can snidely say “I told you so” ;-)

    Take care,
    -Nick

  • http://www.TraditionsTraining.com Nicholas Martin

    Robby,

    Danny summed it up pretty good – it seems like you guys have a plan, which is over half of the battle. Its refreshing to see more & more companies being pro-active and looking less like lawn-shepards. I would agree with Danny on the issue of the facemask. My personal preference is to not wear it unless I’m breathing out of it. To me there are issues of visibility, communication, and increased work effort. Like Danny said, if you stay “Combat Ready” you can easily don your SCBA mask in under 20 seconds with a little bit of practice.

    Nick W,

    I know you know that I know exactly what you’re talking about. That can be a very frustrating situation. In any department there is a different between having the “rank” and having a “clue” – they do not always coincide. That being said, I wasn’t there so I don’t know his thought-train or the circumstances. Being that it was a MOG – maybe it was too far (100+ feet?) to the end of the group and he was concerned about crew continuity or something.

    However, in my opinion, a rear size-up is mandatory and there are pro-active RIT concerns to be addressed on side C. Some options for him could have been to inform the IC that a 2nd RIT needs to be placed on side C due to access limitations. Another option would have been to use an adjoining row-home to access the rear.

    All in all, keep the faith and spread the good word. Eventually it’ll get around & you can snidely say “I told you so” ;-)

    Take care,
    -Nick

  • http://www.goodwillfireco.org/ Chris Good

    Another great article!

    Our RIT splits into two groups, the RIT Recon Team and RIT Heavy Team, our RIT Recon Team takes minimal tools (Irons, Thermal Imaging Camera, RIT Pack, and Search Rope) and they then complete a 360 check of the building. The Recon Team usually consists of two senior firemen. The RIT Heavy Team consists of the remainder of the firemen on the engine and any later arriving firemen, this also includes the RIT Officer, whom the RIT reports to.

    I disagree with always wearing your mask but if it works for you then go for it. Sounds as if Robby’s department has their stuff together and they train on it.

    A couple of things I’d like to add here…..

    1. No one takes the RIT’s tools, we’ve encountered this before with a rather heated exchange, they understood!

    2. You’re almost of the edge of freelancing on the fireground but not quite there, you’re the eyes and ears of the Incident Commander and the rest of the firemen working at the fire, like everything else we do teamwork is neccesary and everyone must have reliance that you are going to do your job and not just play the part!

    3. The only person that can stand down the RIT, is the Incident Commander.

    4. If you see something that can vastly improve safety on the fireground report it and do it! Even basic tasks can get screwed up, if they’ve only taken the glass out of the window take the rest of it out. It’s hard to not get tied up into the incident but sometimes you have to get things done so that the RIT Group reduces its chances of going in to pull someone out.

    I know a lot of this seems pretty basic and it is but it is common mistakes that lead to failure!

  • http://www.goodwillfireco.org Chris Good

    Another great article!

    Our RIT splits into two groups, the RIT Recon Team and RIT Heavy Team, our RIT Recon Team takes minimal tools (Irons, Thermal Imaging Camera, RIT Pack, and Search Rope) and they then complete a 360 check of the building. The Recon Team usually consists of two senior firemen. The RIT Heavy Team consists of the remainder of the firemen on the engine and any later arriving firemen, this also includes the RIT Officer, whom the RIT reports to.

    I disagree with always wearing your mask but if it works for you then go for it. Sounds as if Robby’s department has their stuff together and they train on it.

    A couple of things I’d like to add here…..

    1. No one takes the RIT’s tools, we’ve encountered this before with a rather heated exchange, they understood!

    2. You’re almost of the edge of freelancing on the fireground but not quite there, you’re the eyes and ears of the Incident Commander and the rest of the firemen working at the fire, like everything else we do teamwork is neccesary and everyone must have reliance that you are going to do your job and not just play the part!

    3. The only person that can stand down the RIT, is the Incident Commander.

    4. If you see something that can vastly improve safety on the fireground report it and do it! Even basic tasks can get screwed up, if they’ve only taken the glass out of the window take the rest of it out. It’s hard to not get tied up into the incident but sometimes you have to get things done so that the RIT Group reduces its chances of going in to pull someone out.

    I know a lot of this seems pretty basic and it is but it is common mistakes that lead to failure!

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