Saratoga County Fire Training Center
Rules, Regulations, and Standard Operating Procedures
Revised November 2007
Saratoga County Fire Training Center
Rules, Regulations, and Standard Operating Procedures
Revised November 2007
SECTION CONTENT PAGE
1 Safety at the Fire Training Center 1
2 Facility Wide Safety Procedures 2
3 Propane System 5
4 Live Fire Building/Smoke House 5
5 Guidelines for Completing the FTC request/Post use Forms 6
Fire Training Center Request Form Attachment 1
Post Fire Training Center Use Form Attachment 2
Fire Department Sign Off Attachment 3
Section 1
Safety at the Fire Training Center
Introduction
Everyone concedes that firefighting is an endeavor that is fraught with the risk of injury: and since the training evolutions attempt to replicate fire events and the fire ground, it stands to reason that fire training activities will represent an injury risk for those who participate. Indeed, within the United States in 2005, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that 7,120 firefighters were injured and 12 firefighters killed while engaged in training activities. In an attempt to provide realistic and valuable firefighter training in the safest environment possible, this training ground safety manual will serve to govern the operation of fire training activities at the Saratoga County Fire Training Center (Training Center).
In an effort to make the use of the fire training facilities a worthwhile, yet safe, training experience, Saratoga County has developed this manual, which details the operational procedures, which are to be used. The procedures set forth are the result of research and evaluation, and therefore, represent the policy of the Fire Training Center Committee. The operational procedures set forth herein are to be followed to the letter and intent by all who use this facility.
Objective
It is the objective of the Saratoga County Fire Training Center Committee that all training evolutions undertaken at the Training Center are to be carried out with emergency service personnel and spectator safety as the primary operational consideration. Participant and spectator safety shall never be compromised by any instructor, participant, operating fire department, or facility operator.
While this organization has limited control over what may be taught at the Fire Training Center by instructors from the individual Fire Departments, it is the position of the Fire Training Center Committee that personal safety should be the primary consideration in the design and implementation of all fire and emergency control techniques. The Fire Training Center Committee desires to teach the safest operational techniques in the safest manner possible.
The Saratoga County Fire Training Center Committee realizes the necessity of live fire training. With the increasing complexity of the contemporary fire problem and the continued growth of the County, The Fire Training Center Committee understands that emergency service personnel must have the most realistic training possible if they are to be adequately prepared for the fire emergencies of which they will be confronted. Therefore, with live fire training being a necessity, it is our desire to provide a safe and realistic climate for all fire training events.
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Furthermore, the Fire Training Center Committee recognizes that fact that the training facility no longer exists in a sparsely settled area of the County, but is in proximity to residential and commercial areas. The Standard Operating Procedures set forth in this manual, such as those, which limit smoke emission, were developed with the interests and well- being of our nearby neighbors. Your adherence to the procedures that follow will not only ensure your safe utilization of the facility but will demonstrate to our community that we are a dedicated and responsible group of public servants.
All scheduling will be done through the Fire Coordinator’s Office as described in this document. Fire Training Center use for New York State Fire Training Courses takes priority over Fire Department use. It may become necessary to cancel out a Fire Department Training Session to accommodate a State Training Class.
After review of these guidelines, Attachment 2 will be signed by the Chief of Department and the Chair of the Authority having jurisdiction of the Department and returned to the Fire Coordinator’s Office before use of facility.
Section 2
Facility Wide Safety Procedures
NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions SHALL be used for ALL Live Fire Training on the County Fire Training Center grounds.
The safety procedures and considerations listed below shall apply in all areas of the Fire Training Center Facility.
1. Departments desiring to use the Fire Training Center shall schedule their activities with the Fire Coordinator 15 days in advance of the scheduled event. All scheduling will be done through the Fire Coordinator at the Office of Emergency Services at 885-2232. A call shall be made to confirm date availability, at which time it will be tentatively scheduled. Details of the training will be provided utilizing the Training Center Facility Request Form (attachment 1), thus concluding the scheduling process. See Propane System section for scheduling directions.
2. All training events taking place at the Training Center shall have a Facility Operator (if required) a Safety Officer assigned to the event, and a Training Officer as assigned by AHJ who will be conducting the training, all three of which will have completed NYS Fire Training Courses 1A Live Fire Training Safety and 1B Conducting Live Fire Training.
3. No later than 15 minutes prior to the start of a scheduled training event, the participating department Officer in Charge (OIC) of the event will meet with the Facility Operator and/or Safety Officer to determine that all safety procedures will be implemented and complied with.
4. The Facility Operator and or Safety Officer shall have the authority to deny use of any area of the Fire Training Center to departments that have not implemented all applicable safety procedures.
5. The use of accelerants shall be prohibited on the Fire Training Center Grounds.
6. All live fire training evolutions will be ignited by the Facility Operator (Propane System only) or Designated Ignition Officer with charged hose line back up and OIC approval.
7. The facility operator and/or safety officer shall have the authority, regardless of departmental rank or seniority, to intervene, alter, suspend or terminate any training evolution when, in their judgment, a potential or real danger or an unsafe condition exists.
8. The safety procedures outlined in this manual shall be adhered to at all times.
9. Department appointed Safety Officers will be required to use as guidelines the procedures outlined in the National Fire Protection Association 1521 standard as it pertains to safety officers.
10. It is the responsibility of each individual to conduct him/herself in a professional manner when within the confines of the Fire Training Center. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to
a. Horseplay/water fights
b. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on facility grounds
c. Arriving on the Training Grounds while under the influence of intoxicating substances.
d. Unauthorized and unsafe activities such as ladder sliding
e. Using a piece of equipment in an unsafe manner or in a manner for a purpose different from which it was designed or intended to be used by the manufacturer.
11. Anyone actively engaged in a training event at the Fire Training Center, will be dressed in full protective clothing. Protective clothing for all firefighters shall meet current NFPA standards or OSHA 1910.132 – 1910.140. If this is not the case, the trainee will not be allowed to participate in burn or extrication evolutions.
The wearing of full protective clothing shall be for the duration of the training event. During periods of hot or humid weather, the Officer in Charge of the training event may direct personnel to establish a safe zone in which trainees may remove their protective clothing. These members may not re-enter the training area red zone until they have properly donned their full protective clothing.
12. Spectators, which shall be defined as those who are not participating in the training event excluding the Facility Operator, and/or Safety Officer, shall not observe a training evolution except in the prescribed safe zone or designated spectator area. Upon completion of the training event and/or evolution, the Officer in Charge of the Department’s training activity may, after consultation with the Facility Operator or Safety Officer, allow for the purposes of instruction, inspection, and consultation, a spectator within the red zone. Spectators so admitted shall be escorted by members of the participating department, and such spectators shall not be allowed to enter any area in which active fire suppression or training activities are underway. The participating department shall assume all responsibility for the safety of any spectator so entering the training zone.
13. Each application to use the Fire Training Center shall specify the instructional objective of the training event and the teaching method or methods, which will be employed.
14. Prior to the start of any training evolution, the Officer in Charge of the participating Fire Department shall make certain that all participants are thoroughly briefed and aware of the objectives of the evolution. They should be versed in their respective roles within the training event.
15. The Department is responsible for maintaining all records, by law, to include a list of attendance for drills.
16. Any injuries, which occur at the training center requiring treatment at a Medical Facility, will be verbally reported to the Fire Coordinator ASAP. A written report will be submitted to the Fire Coordinator’s Office within 48 hrs or next business day. The report will highlight the type of injury, severity, how it occurred, cause, date, time, and what was being done at the time of the injury.
17. Training that causes damage to the training facility is forbidden. (Example: forcible entry by kicking or prying doors).
18. Any damage or unsafe conditions shall be reported to the Fire Coordinator’s Office. If damage causes a condition, which poses a threat of injury, immediate notification shall be made to the Fire Coordinator for immediate action, including temporary use stoppage of the facility.
19. Any damage, which occurs at the training center, which is not from normal use, will be billed to the Department causing the damage. All grounds and buildings shall be cleaned of garbage and burned material. Any cleaning which has to occur due to the tower being left in unclean conditions will also be billed to the Department last using the tower.
Section 3
Propane System
Note: Departments wishing to use the Propane Training System will need to contact the Zone Deputy Coordinator to establish common available dates. Common dates will be cleared with the Fire Coordinators Office @ 885-2232. Upon date clearance, the Training Center Facility Request Form (attachment 1), will be submitted.
1. It is the duty of the Deputy Coordinator or Facility Operator to notify the County Fire Control Center before the burning drill begins and at the conclusion of its use.
2. A minimum of one 3" supply line and two attack lines of 1 ½" each or greater with a 1 ½” or greater backup line, shall be in place and charged before the evolution begins.
3. All participants shall wear full protective gear to include SCBA in full when actively involved with Live Fire Evolutions. (See Section 2, Item 11)
4. There shall be a Fuel Cell Operator and Safety Officer in place prior to the ignition of the evolution. Both the fuel cell operator and safety officer will have two- way communication to facilitate the safe execution of the training evolution.
5. It is the duty of the safety officer to establish a safe zone no less then 50 feet around the perimeter of the evolution.
Section 4
Live Fire Building/Smoke House
1.Prior to use, the building will be inspected, by conducting a walk through with the following in mind:
Ø Checking for existing damage to the facility, which shall be documented.
Ø Confirm any damage is not severe enough to affect the safety of training participants.
Ø Ensure that no unauthorized persons, animals or objects are in the structure.
Ø Check Thermo Coupling/Temperature Monitor for proper operation.
Ø Check that ALL doors are unlocked.
2. Each participant must be in full protective gear (See Section 2, Item 11)
3. A training tower operator and/or safety officer must be utilized at all evolutions.
4. All participants entering the building will have SCBA on and in full use at all times when actively engaged in live Fire Training.
5. When the temperature in any room exceeds 1000 degrees F, training will cease, the area will be evacuated. Hand lines from a safe area will be used to extinguish the fire and the room will be ventilated.
6. All fire loads must be approved by the operator before use and listed on the training center application. (Not to exceed 150# per OFPC Live Fire Training Policy.)
7. During live fire operation, the two in, two out rule will be in place at all times, and the backup team will be suitably equipped for emergency entrance to the structure or props in accordance with NFPA 1403. The back up team will consist of personnel with out any other assignment or obligation for that scenario.
8. NO FIRES WILL BE SET IN THE TOWER SECTION OF THE METAL LIVE FIRE TRAINING STRUCTURE.
9. The Smoke House (concrete building previously used for live fire training) will be used for firefighting training activities which does not include the use of live fire. Smoke will be generated through the use of artificial smoke producing devices.
10. At the completion of the training exercise, all burn materials will be placed in the dumpster, the floors will be swept, and all drains will be cleared.
Section 5
Guidelines for completing the Fire Training Center Request/Post Use Forms
The Fire Coordinators Office is contacted at 885-2232 prior to any request form being submitted. This is done to confirm availability of desired date to minimize paper work. Upon confirmation of an available date, official notification will follow using Attachment 1.
1. If only Classroom is to be used, be sure that all equipment that will be needed is listed (ex: AV Equipment, VCR, number of tables and chairs, etc.). The contact person’s home and work phone numbers should be provided in the event of a scheduling conflict.
2. ALL facilities needed are to be indicated. For example, for a drill using the burn room, the burn room and hydrants should be checked. Should the classroom be needed in addition to an outdoor facility, this should be noted.
3. A brief description of the training to be conducted shall be included on the request form.
At the completion of the Training, a post FTC Use Form (Attachment #2) shall be filled and submitted. All information shall be filled out and forwarded to the Fire Coordinator’s Office.
Name of Department: Date: ____________
OIC: Phone:(H) (W)
Date requested for training: Time start: End:
Please describe training objective and methods to be used:
Facilities to be used: (Check all which apply)
Steel Burn Building _____ Concrete Smoke House _____ Hydrant System _____
Rail Car Simulator _____ Spill Pit Simulator _____
Class Room Facility _____
# Tables _____ # Chairs _____ VCR/TV _____ Overhead _____
This completed form should be faxed to 884-4707, mailed or delivered to the Fire Coordinator, Office of Emergency Services, 25 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
Name of Department: Date: ____________
OIC: Phone : (H) (W)
If yes, describe:
Was any damage done to building? Yes _____ No _____
If yes, describe:
Was notification of damage made? Yes _____ No _____
If Yes:
Notification made to: on at
Name Date Time
Training Officer Safety Officer
Facility Operator (if required)
This completed form should be faxed to 884-4707, mailed or delivered to the Fire Coordinator, Office of Emergency Services, 25 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
October 2007 Revision
Date:
As Chief of the Fire Department, I fully endorse the Saratoga County Standard Operating Procedures, which govern all training evolutions performed at the Saratoga County Fire Training Center located on County Farm Road in Ballston Spa, NY. I have read all the rules and regulations and understand them in their entirety. It is the commitment of this Department to adhere to all safety regulations and guidelines set forth in the Saratoga County Standard Operating Procedures Manual. I understand it is my responsibility to educate my Department on this document, and the use of the Saratoga County Fire Training Facility.
Personal Safety is of primary concern when training exercises are taking place on the Fire Training Center Grounds. It is, therefore, our duty as a department to use all stated regulations in this manual, as well as those outlined in all applicable NFPA and OSHA Standards, as guidelines. I understand, further, that non-compliance with any portion of the Standard Operating Procedures could result in a suspension of training ground privileges if steps are not made to correct those infractions.
I also understand my department is financially responsible for damaged caused to the training facility, which is not from normal use.
Signed: Chief of Department
Chair of Governing Body