Document Citation: Wis. Adm. Code Comm 30.14

Header:
WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
CHAPTER COMM 30. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS
SUBCHAPTER IX -- EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

Date:
08/31/2009

Document:
Wis. Adm. Code Comm 30.14 (2011)

Comm 30.14 Emergency operations

(1) INCIDENT MANAGEMENT. Every fire department shall:

(a) Conduct emergency operations and other hazardous situations, including training exercises, in a manner to recognize hazards and to prevent accidents and injuries.

(b) Establish an incident command system which has written guidelines applying to all fire fighters involved in emergency operations and which identifies fire fighter roles and responsibilities relating to the safety of operations.

Note: Suggested Operating Guidelines have been developed and published by the Wisconsin technical college system board. Copies of the Suggested Operating Guidelines are available at all technical college district campuses.

(c) Train fire fighters involved in emergency operations in the incident command system established under par. (b) and assign safety responsibilities to supervisory personnel at each level of operations.

(d) Require the officer in command of an emergency operation to be responsible for the overall safety of all fire fighters and activities occurring at the scene of the operation.

(e) Require the officer in command of an emergency operation to establish an organization with sufficient supervisory personnel to control the position and function of all fire fighters operating at the scene of that emergency operation to ensure that safety requirements are satisfied.

(f) Use a standard system to identify and account for the assignment of each fire fighter at the scene of an emergency operation.

(g) At an emergency operation where special hazards exist, require the officer in command to assign qualified personnel with specific responsibility to identify and evaluate hazards and to provide direction with respect to fire fighter safety during the operation.

(2) INCIDENT SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. (a) Every fire department shall:

1. Provide sufficient personnel to safely conduct emergency scene operations and limit such operations to those that can be safely performed by the personnel available at the scene.

2. If inexperienced fire fighters are working at an emergency operation, provide direct supervision by more experienced officers or members.

(b) If any fire fighter is operating at an emergency operation and his or her assignment places him or her in potential contact with motor vehicle traffic, that fire fighter shall wear:

1. The helmet specified under s. Comm 30.11 (2) or alternate protective headgear providing equivalent protection; and

2. A garment with fluorescent retroreflective material.

(3) RESCUE OF MEMBERS. (a) A fire fighter using self-contained breathing apparatus and operating in an interior structural fire shall operate in a team of 2 or more fire fighters. Except in the case of a structural fire which is in the initial or beginning stage and which can be controlled or extinguished by portable fire extinguishers, a back-up team of at least 2 members wearing self-contained breathing apparatus shall be available at the scene for rescue if the need arises. One back-up team member with a charged line shall be committed to a safe non-affected area in or near the structure. The other back-up team member shall remain within voice contact and may be assigned to additional roles so long as this individual is able to perform assistance or rescue activities without jeopardizing the safety or health of any fire fighter working at the scene. In all structural fires in which fire fighters use self-contained breathing apparatus, at least one additional member shall be assigned to remain outside the structural fire and monitor the operations.

Note: It is not the intent of this rule to prevent any number of persons from responding to a fire call, setting up equipment and initiating exterior suppression at the fire scene. Also, it is not the intent of this rule to prohibit an individual fire fighter from taking an action to preserve the life or safety of another person.

(b) At emergency operations, the officer in command shall evaluate the risk to fire fighters and, if necessary, request that at least basic life-support personnel and patient transportation be available.